V&A Dundee
Kengo Kuma's cliff-inspired design museum on the waterfront — free permanent galleries.
Scotland · Dundee
Dundee & Angus
Top attractions, upcoming events, festivals and family activities across Dundee & Angus.
About Dundee & Angus
Dundee is the UK's only UNESCO City of Design and Scotland's fastest-changing city — a compact, walkable waterfront capital powered by design, gaming and the V&A. The surrounding Angus glens deliver dramatic landscapes just 30 minutes north, while the fishing town of Arbroath and championship links at Carnoustie sit within easy day-trip distance.
Dundee events lean into design, science, music and comedy — the Dundee Design Festival, Dundee Rep's year-round programme, Blend at Slessor Gardens and free open-air weekends at V&A Dundee are all fixtures of the calendar.
Top attractions in Dundee
RRS Discovery
Captain Scott's Antarctic ship, preserved next to V&A Dundee.
Dundee Law
The city's dormant volcano viewpoint — a 20-minute walk from the centre with 360° panoramas.
Broughty Castle & Beach
A free historic castle museum and a lively seaside village on the River Tay estuary.
Glamis Castle
The childhood home of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, with formal gardens and family events.
Arbroath Abbey & Smokies
The place where the Declaration of Arbroath was signed, plus the town's world-famous smoked haddock.
Upcoming events in Dundee
See allNo upcoming events currently listed for Dundee & Angus. Check back soon or browse all Scottish events.
Festivals in Dundee
Dundee Design Festival
MayA city-wide celebration of Dundee's UNESCO design status.
Dundee Blues Bonanza
JulyFree live blues across the city centre.
Angus Glens Walking Festival
JuneGuided walks through Glen Clova, Glen Prosen and Glen Esk.
The Open (rotating)
RotationalCarnoustie regularly hosts golf's oldest major championship.
Family activities in Dundee
Ideas for families visiting Dundee & Angus — most work rain or shine and pair well with the events listed above.
- Dundee Science Centre
- Camperdown Wildlife Centre
- Broughty Ferry beach and ice cream
- Verdant Works jute museum
- Glamis Castle grounds and adventure playground
- House of Dun and Montrose Basin nature reserve
When to visit Dundee
Spring and early summer suit Angus glen walking festivals; midsummer brings free festivals to Slessor Gardens.
Autumn is Dundee's design and film festival season, and winter delivers a compact but well-loved Christmas market and light show along the Slessor waterfront.
Popular venues in Dundee
All venuesWe're still building our venue directory for Dundee & Angus. Browse all Scottish venues.
Explore Dundee by category
Curated landing pages for the biggest event types in Dundee.
Local guides
Dundee — Frequently asked questions
Is V&A Dundee free to visit?
The permanent Scottish Design Galleries are free. Special exhibitions carry a ticket price, usually £8–£15.
What's a Dundee cake?
A rich fruit cake topped with concentric circles of almonds, traditionally made in Dundee since the 19th century.
How far is Dundee from Edinburgh?
Direct trains take around 75 minutes; driving is roughly 90 minutes via the M90 and Tay Bridge.
Where can I see Arbroath smokies made?
Several Arbroath smokehouses — including Iain R Spink at Auchmithie — offer live smoking demonstrations at food festivals and open days.