11 Amazing free things to see & do in Aberdeen

Breathe in the coastal air as its whips off the North Sea air with a stroll along Aberdeen’s sweeping beachfront. Walk or cycle along the promenade, watch surfers or simply find a spot on the sand and enjoy the views out to sea. Keep your eyes peeled for the bottlenose dolphins which can sometimes be seen breaching around the mouth of the harbour or take the kids to the new play park which opens this autumn.  

Explore Aberdeen Beach 

Swap the city’s bustling granite streets for some natural respite among the woodland trails and spacious greenery at Hazlehead Park. Follow paths beneath the trees, meander through the park’s gardens or let wee ones burn off some energy in the play areas and maze. Pause by Piper Alpha Memorial in the rose garden, a poignant tribute to those who lost their lives in the 1988 North Sea oil platform disaster. With heaps of space explore, it’s a prime spot to spend a leisurely hour or more.   

Enjoy Hazlehead Park 

Discover how the sea has shaped the fortunes of Aberdeen at this thoughtfully curated museum overlooking the lively harbour at Shiprow. Trace its maritime story from the days of fishing, trade and shipbuilding to the pivotal discovery of North Sea oil in 1970 to today’s evolving energy industry while taking in some incredible artefacts. There’s an immense nine-metre model of the Murchison offshore platform, deep-sea diving suits, and archaeological treasures raised from the sea floor. From the upper floors, watch the ships coming and going from the port.  

Visit Aberdeen Maritime Museum 

Stop and admire the soaring spires and ornate granite façade of Marischal College, one of Aberdeen’s most beloved buildings. Once part of the University of Aberdeen campus and now home to Aberdeen City Council, the landmark is a striking fusion 19th-century design with the characteristic masonry that earned the city its ‘Granite City’ nickname. Inside the quadrangle just outside, pause for a picture with the grand bronze statue of Robert the Bruce before exploring more of the city centre.   

Discover Marischal College 

This small 17th-century prison reveals a darker side of Aberdeen’s history. Explore the original gaol cells where generations of prisoners, from petty thieves to Jacobite rebels, awaited trial, execution or transportation, and discover how crime and punishment changed over the centuries. The museum is currently closed to the public for renovations but is expected to reopen in spring 2027. 

Learn more about Tolbooth Museum 

Step inside the light and airy interior of Aberdeen Art Gallery, home to a collection spanning 700 years of art and design. Start in the grand Sculpture Court before exploring 18 galleries filled with paintings, sculpture, fashion and decorative arts. Look out for colourful works by the Scottish Colourists and Joan Eardley, alongside internationally renowned artists including Barbara Hepworth, Francis Bacon and Tracey Emin, as well as a rare surviving portrait of Queen Victoria as a blushing young newlywed clad in white.  

View the stunning collections of Aberdeen Art Gallery 

Just west of the city centre lies one of the city’s best-kept secrets. This wee oasis is a delight to explore with a myriad of paths snaking among verdant flowerbeds and romantic rockeries, with ornamental bridges arching over sparkling streams from cascading waterfalls. Formerly a private garden, the gardens really come into their own when the rhododendrons and other blooms burst into colour and in autumn. In short, it’s a great place for a spot of quiet contemplation after a busy day of sightseeing and shopping.   

Take a wander through Johnston Gardens 

Walk through the district of Old Aberdeen will make you feel as though you’ve stumbled back in time. Spanning the historic heart of the University of Aberdeen campus, take in landmarks like St Machar’s Cathedral alongside King's College, the Chanonry, and Sir Duncan Rice Library, and follow the High Street past handsome granite buildings and traditional cottages. Continue towards the River Don and Seaton Park, or seek out the medieval Brig o’ Balgownie, which has spanned the river for hundreds of years. 

Experience the charm of Old Aberdeen 

Step inside one of Aberdeen’s oldest buildings at St Machar’s Cathedral, an imposing granite landmark that has overlooked the River Don since the 12th century. Look up at its remarkable 500-year-old heraldic ceiling, decorated with 48 coats of arms representing the kings, nobles and church figures. Take the time to appreciate other details like its intricate stained-glass windows and an ancient Pictish cross before venturing outside to the atmospheric churchyard and the remains of the medieval transepts.  

Pay a visit to St Machar’s Cathedral 

With its distinctive crown tower rising above Old Aberdeen, King’s College Chapel stands at the heart of the University of Aberdeen. Completed around 1500, inside you’ll find a beautiful interior with ornate wooden features which survived the Reformation alongside a stunning series of stained-glass windows completed in the 19th and 20th centuries. Afterwards, stroll through the atmospheric university quarter, where cobbled streets, ancient buildings and leafy squares reveal a different side of the Granite City.  

Visit King’s College Chapel 

A fun way to explore Aberdeen is by tracking down the eclectic array of statues and public artworks that grace its city centre. This trail brings together 20 such landmarks, from The Poised, a gleaming leopard waiting to pounce high above Marischal Square to The Mannie, a larger-than-life bronze fisherman gazing towards the harbour dreaming of his next catch and, most iconic of all, the William Wallace Statue standing proud opposite His Majesty’s Theatre.  

Follow the Aberdeen Sculpture & Curios Trail | PDF 5,7MB 

This list was created by VisitScotland to showcase a range of experiences. It isn’t ranked in any specific order.