{"id":1305,"date":"2019-10-24T08:57:53","date_gmt":"2019-10-24T08:57:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.fiveminutesspare.com\/travel\/?p=1305"},"modified":"2020-12-16T22:28:54","modified_gmt":"2020-12-16T22:28:54","slug":"aberdeen-the-five-minutes-spare-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fiveminutesspare.com\/travel\/aberdeen-the-five-minutes-spare-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Aberdeen The Five Minutes Spare Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

Aberdeen was founded before they started recording history in Britain. Technically, it was founded before America was even discovered. If that sounds like your kind of place then listen in\u2026 Here is your five minute guide to Aberdeen, as described by an actual Scot.<\/span><\/p>\n

There is an old song, supposedly written by an English composer named Mary Webb<\/a>, that goes:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Northern Lights of Old Aberdeen <\/strong><\/em>
\nMean Home Sweet Home to me. <\/strong><\/em>
\nThe Northern Lights of Old Aberdeen <\/strong><\/em>
\nAre what I long to see. <\/strong><\/em>
\nI’ve been a wand’rer all of my life <\/strong><\/em>
\nAnd many a sight I’ve seen, <\/strong><\/em>
\nGod speed the day when I’m on my way <\/strong><\/em>
\nTo my home in Aberdeen.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

And the goose bumps that it calls up and down the arms of Scots everywhere perfectly encapsulates the haunting beauty of Aberdeen.<\/p>\n

Aberdeen at a Glance<\/h2>\n
\"Aberdeen

Situated on The Rived Dee Aberdeen is best known as an Oil Industry hub, but it has plenty to offer the visitor as you will see when you read on.
Image iweta0077\/Shutterstock.com<\/p><\/div>\n

Scotland\u2019s third most populated city lies far in the wilds of the North East, settled on the Banffshire Coast<\/a> in a district all of its own. Aberdeenshire is Highland territory. It is the home of the clans Gordon and MacDuff<\/a>. It is a place that lowlanders would simply not dare to tread, in times gone past.<\/p>\n

Nowadays, we need all the tourists we can get! So come and visit Aberdeen, and let\u2019s talk about the best things to see and do while you are there!<\/p>\n

So let\u2019s pretend we only had a single day in Aberdeen. What are the five main attractions you should squeeze in?<\/p>\n

The Aberdeen Maritime Museum<\/a><\/h3>\n

This is the highest rated Aberdeen museum on trip advisor, but, while it\u2019s fascinating, we would actually suggest tourists try to take in the Tollbooth Museum<\/a> if they want to learn more about our culture. While the maritime museum has brilliant information about North Sea industry, the Tollbooth is a former 17th<\/sup> century gaol\u2026 yep, you read that correctly, it\u2019s so old it still uses the former version of the word \u2018jail\u2019.<\/p>\n

The Bullers of Buchan<\/a><\/h3>\n

OK, so technically these are outside of the city and located in Cruden Bay. That being said, our reason for putting them on the list is twofold: one \u2013 this is a spectacular collapsed sea cave that forms a geological marvel along the Scottish coastline and you might never get another chance in your life to view such a thing\u2026 and two \u2013 you won\u2019t be able to see the actual Northern Lights<\/a> from Aberdeen because of all the light pollution. You might get to see them if you hike out here in the autumn and winter months. Just saying.<\/p>\n

Union Square<\/a><\/h3>\n
\"Aberdeen

Union Square is also home to Aberdeen’s biggest shopping complex.
Editorial credit: The Dark Knight \/ Shutterstock.com<\/p><\/div>\n

This is one for the shopping lovers. Union Square is huge and jam-packed with all the retail goodness you might expect to find in one of the furthest cities from the UK capital. They have all the biggest brand names, a Krispy Kreme, and a cinema, as well as all the excuses you need to shop till you drop. There are plenty of places to eat and drink in the Square too, so go nuts.<\/p>\n

The Footdee (the Fittie)<\/a><\/h3>\n

At the foot of the River, you will find a preserved fishing village that we lovingly call \u2018the Fittie\u2019. It is full of quaint little cottages, looks like your average charming village, and has a bit of a connection to the Highland Clearances<\/a>. When the tenants of Scottish farms were turfed out to make way for sheep fields they fled to the coasts. Many of them ended up in villages just like this one. It is at once a beautiful and a haunting reminder of a past best forgotten.<\/p>\n

Aberdeen Beach<\/a><\/h3>\n
\"Aberdeen

Aberdeen Beach – where else can you see golden sand, blue skies and an Oil Tanker in the distance.
Image By OTHMAN PHOTOGRAPHY\/ Shutterstock.com<\/p><\/div>\n

It might sound like crazy talk, but for about three days every June, two days every July, and one day in every August \u2013 Aberdeen beachfront is bathed in sunshine. Recent years have seen it cleaned up, protected, and doing great by comparison to how it looked ten years ago. Locals are still a little hesitant to swim in the freezing-cold-all-year-round North Sea; but it is still a great place to catch some rays. Just don\u2019t expect any ice cream stands\u2026 it\u2019s still Scotland, after all.<\/p>\n

Where to Eat, Drink, and Party in Aberdeen?<\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Ashvale<\/a> is a favourite for bigger groups or family food. They do massive portions and the fish comes from the harbour. More importantly, the owners do a lot of community work that rewards everyone. You should eat there.<\/p>\n

Asides from the Ashvale, fine dining can be found at the Conservatory Restaurant, inside the Marcliffe Hotel<\/a>. It\u2019s actually the place you go to avoid locals since none of us can afford to eat there, but we hear tell that it is stunning.<\/p>\n

You will find the best bar, with the best cocktails in the city, on Belmont Street.\u00a0 It\u2019s called \u2018The Tippling House\u2019<\/a> and it is in a cellar. Perfect for romance, for client courting, for drinking your woes away. If you want to finish the night in style head over to Cheerz<\/a>. Everyone who is anyone will be there and it has a cool underground setting, too.<\/p>\n

Other Notable Attractions<\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

There are too many great parts of Aberdeen to accurately cover in our five minute guide\u2026 but let\u2019s try for a few more, anyway.<\/p>\n

Free things to do in Aberdeen:<\/strong><\/p>\n