Aberdeen: what is it like? Am thinking of visiting for a few days.

[Wauden]

I am thinking of going to an event in Aberdeen in early summer but it depends on what Aberdeen is like to stay in. I would be travelling alone.
What I have gathered so far is:
It is a historic port;
The local stone is granite so there are lots of grey granite buildings; and
The oil business has had a big impact on the city.

What is the vibe like? What are the people like? Is there an arty area like in some university cities? What is the food like? What is the accent like? I like historic buildings and green scenery.
Any thoughts would be appreciated! Thank you.

I've only been a couple of times shopping, never really done the tourist thing but found it quite grey and like most city centres bit felt quite run down. There's some great castles to visit in Aberdeenshire but you'd need a car to get to them. The accent is Aberdonian!
If you like historic buildings and green spaces then I'd seriously consider a few days in Edinburgh if you haven't been then hop on the train up to Aberdeen.

Thanks, Emma, that is helpful. Grey is not my favourite colour! I think that I could go on a coach trip to visit castles.

Still in two minds about it...

I find the granite too imposing. A heckuva lot of grey everywhere. Nice enough city, doesn't rain as much as in other parts of Scotland. Hotel rooms can be expensive as there's a lot of demand from the oil industry people.

I don't love it though.

I live in Aberdeen and I wouldn't recommend it, to be honest.

What is the food like?
Same as everywhere else in the UK.

Aberdeen is grim tbh. Aberdeenshire is nice. Do you need to stay in the city centre for the event?

The surrounding area is the draw, not the city. Royal Deeside, the Aberdeenshire coast, etc are all beautiful and loads to do there. The city isn't really a tourist-friendly location. There's not much to do as a visitor; it's more of a living city. Dundee is better for that now.

If you get a sunny day then the granite sparkles and its lovely - grey day though then the sky, the buildings and the sea are all the same colour! Around the old university part is quite pretty, and some of the architecture around the end of Union street. I vaguely remember dragging the dc round a maritime museum and another (science maybe?) museum when they were small.
There are some nice restaurants - but because of the oil industry are perhaps more expensive than you would expect. Union street has become very rundown. There is a modern shopping mall (Union Square) beside the station.

Grey, bleak. Avoid

It's very, very... grey.

When I was there (admittedly some years back) it was basically an oil town. Not particularly inviting to the visitor.

Aberdeen can be offputting in the rain but shines in the sun - "the silver city by the golden sands".

If you are there in early June the street art festival, Nuart is on which is always good. The refurbished art gallery is good for a wet day. If it is sunny walk from the the historic fishing village of Fittie (Footdee) along the beach to the Donmouth, good for dolphin spotting and cafes. In the city centre Mackies has their only ice-cream parlour, 19.2 (miles from the farm) with loads of flavours not sold elsewhere - try buttery and jam for a local one. Aberdeen has relied too much on oil previously but now there is a lot more art and cultural stuff going on - several festivals like Granite Noir and Spectra in Feb, Nuart in June and several others, plus a new dolphin watching centre with cafe in Torry (no 12 bus from city centre). If you are looking for big shops sadly John Lewis and Debenhams closed but there are independents if you head up round Thistle Street, good eateries like Foodstory and the Breadmaker and some good zero waste shops like Refillosphy and Rosemary Planet

Several castles like Crathes and Drum are accessible by bus - I would recommend Crathes as Milton of Crathes is worth a look and there is a good cafe there or at the castle (201/210 buses to Banchory - ask the driver for directions and they will drop you at the end of the drive)

PS I am neither Aberdonian nor paid by Visit Scotland!

Ooh, just noticed all these helpful replies. Have just changed my user name. Sounds like Aberdeen can be grey and grim but that the special events enliven it.
Very interesting that the best places are outside the city!

I live in Aberdeenshire, lived in the city for 10 years. This post pretty much sums up the good things. If Nuart is well worth a look if it is on when you visit.

The city centre is rubbish, there are barely any shops in the main street except bookies and pawn shops. There are a few shopping centres but the are pretty crap. Some brilliant places to eat though, highly recommend Foodstory.

Aberdeenshire has some amazing scenery and walks. Given the choice I would stay somewhere in Aberdeenshire rather than the city. Stonehaven is a lovely seaside town and you can get a train or bus into Aberdeen from there.

Many thanks, folks, that is all so helpful.
I have decided not to stay in Aberdeen, but would like to travel around the area some time and maybe pop into the city.
Funnily enough the city was on Who Do You Think You Are last night! And it was sunny!