Dunnottar Castle
Perhaps Scotland's most photographed ruin, perched on a sea cliff south of Stonehaven.
Scotland · Aberdeen
Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire
Top attractions, upcoming events, festivals and family activities across Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire.
About Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire
Aberdeen — the Granite City — anchors Scotland's north-east coast, ringed by some of the country's finest castles, salmon rivers and beaches. The wider Aberdeenshire region takes in Royal Deeside, the Cairngorm foothills, the fishing towns of Peterhead and Fraserburgh, and dramatic clifftop ruins at Dunnottar.
Aberdeen events range from the annual TECHFEST science festival and Nuart street art weekender to the Ballater Highland Games, Braemar Gathering (technically Deeside) and Stonehaven Fireballs on Hogmanay. This page brings together our editorial picks and a live feed of everything happening across the region.
Top attractions in Aberdeen
Aberdeen Beach & Promenade
Two miles of sand, an amusement park and a growing craft-food scene at the boardwalk end.
Balmoral Castle & Estate
The Royal Family's Deeside home — open to visitors most of the year.
Aberdeen Maritime Museum
Free-entry deep-dive into the city's fishing and offshore oil heritage.
Crathes Castle & Gardens
A National Trust jewel with painted ceilings and eight themed walled gardens.
Bennachie
A short, striking hill walk with panoramic views over Aberdeenshire's farmland.
Upcoming events in Aberdeen
See allNo upcoming events currently listed for Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire. Check back soon or browse all Scottish events.
Festivals in Aberdeen
Stonehaven Fireballs
31 DecemberA dramatic Hogmanay street ceremony where locals swing burning wire cages down the High Street.
Nuart Aberdeen
AprilScotland's leading street-art festival, transforming Aberdeen's granite walls every spring.
TECHFEST
SeptemberOne of the UK's longest-running family-friendly science festivals.
True North Festival
SeptemberA curated weekend of contemporary music at Aberdeen Performing Arts venues.
Braemar Gathering
First Saturday of SeptemberRoyal Deeside's world-famous Highland Games.
Family activities in Aberdeen
Ideas for families visiting Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire — most work rain or shine and pair well with the events listed above.
- Codona's Amusement Park on Aberdeen Beach
- Aberdeen Science Centre
- Storybook Glen family park
- Doonies Rare Breeds Farm
- Duthie Park Winter Gardens
- Cairngorm foothills at Ballater and Braemar
- Peterhead RNLI and prison museum tours
When to visit Aberdeen
Spring is Nuart season and the best time to see Royal Deeside emerge from winter. Summer brings long light evenings on the beach and Highland Games at Ballater, Aboyne, Braemar and Lonach.
Autumn deepens the colour along the Dee, and winter delivers the Stonehaven Fireballs and skiing at Glenshee.
Popular venues in Aberdeen
All venuesWe're still building our venue directory for Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire. Browse all Scottish venues.
Explore Aberdeen by category
Curated landing pages for the biggest event types in Aberdeen.
Local guides
Things to do in Aberdeen
City guide with editorial context and top picks.
Best festivals in Scotland
Where Nuart, TECHFEST and Braemar sit in the wider calendar.
Weekend events
Fresh ideas for what's happening across Aberdeen this weekend.
Family days out
Aberdeenshire attractions that keep everyone happy.
Aberdeen — Frequently asked questions
What are the Stonehaven Fireballs?
A Hogmanay street tradition where 40 or so locals march through Stonehaven swinging burning wire cages above their heads. It's free to watch and starts just before midnight on 31 December.
Can I visit Balmoral Castle?
Yes — the grounds, exhibitions and (during set weeks) the Castle Ballroom are open to the public between April and July, and again for autumn tours.
What's the best beach in Aberdeenshire?
Aberdeen Beach for the promenade and amusements, or Balmedie and Newburgh for wilder dunes and (occasionally) grey seals.
How do I get to Aberdeen from Edinburgh or Glasgow?
Direct trains run from both cities in roughly 2 hours 15 minutes. Aberdeen also has a busy airport with UK and European flights.
Is Aberdeen a good base for the Cairngorms?
Yes — Braemar is about 90 minutes' drive west along the A93, giving easy access to Glenshee ski centre and eastern Cairngorm walks.