Best Areas to Stay in Aberdeen, Scotland

Aberdeen City Centre is the city’s main administrative, business and shopping district.

This bustling area located north of the River Dee and close to the city’s docks is home to the main historic and cultural attractions in Aberdeen.

The Aberdeen Art Gallery is the main art exhibition space in the city. Founded in 1884, this large museum is noted for its fine collection of modern Scottish and international art, including works by Ken Currie, Gilbert & George, Ivor Abrahams, Bridget Riley and Bruce McLean.

A few blocks southeast, next to the harbour, lies the Aberdeen Maritime Museum. Set in a number of historical buildings, including the former Trinity Congregational Church, the Aberdeen Maritime Museum focuses on the story of the city’s long relationship with the sea. Meanwhile, the Tolbooth Museum, situated in a former jail, contains exhibits of prison cells and police-related artefacts.

St. Andrew’s Cathedral was opened in 1817 and is built using local granite in a neo-gothic style. Meanwhile, the Kirk of St Nicholas dates from medieval times and is one of Aberdeen’s most recognisable landmarks.

Aberdeen City Centre is crossed from east to west by Union Street, a major shopping thoroughfare. Union Square Shopping Centre, located right next to the city’s main railway station, is home to several high-street retailers, department stores, a food court, and a 10-screen cinema. For a more upscale experience, Bon Accord Aberdeen, located on George Street, offers upmarket fashion boutiques, cafes and restaurants.

Aberdeen railway station, the city’s main transit hub, provides frequent connections to other Scottish cities like Inverness, Edinburgh and Glasgow, plus services to London and Birmingham.

As is to be expected, the City Centre also offers the widest selection of accommodation options in Aberdeen. From plush five-stars to family-run guesthouses, you’ll find it here.

We have chosen the City Centre as the best area to stay in Aberdeen thanks to its perfect mix of attractions, shopping and nightlife options, and transport connections.

Located a couple of miles north of the City Centre, Old Aberdeen was established in the 14th century as a separate burgh (township).

As its name implies, Old Aberdeen is home to some of the oldest buildings in the city, including St Machar’s Cathedral and Kings College, which was to become Aberdeen University.

This quaint area is full of tourist attractions and medieval charm. Some other sights in Old Town Aberdeen include the Cruickshank Botanic Garden, the University of Aberdeen Zoology Museum, Seaton Park and Brig o’ Balgownie, believed to date back to the late 13th century.

This area is also home to the Chris Anderson Stadium and Kings Links Golf Course. Established in 1872, this 18-hole golf course offers a traditional layout and sea views.

The accommodation offer in this Aberdeen district is comprised mostly of independently-owned guesthouses and student accommodation, many of which double as hotels during the summer or holiday periods.

Old Aberdeen is connected to Aberdeen City Centre by several bus lines.

Rubislaw is an area located around Queen’s Road and Rubislaw Den North and South, directly west of Aberdeen City Centre.

This upper-class Aberdeen District is noted by its many Victorian-style mansions and gardens.

Probably the most popular attraction in this area is the Gordon Highlanders Museum, a military museum offering interactive maps, uniforms, artefacts and weaponry displays showcasing the 200-year history of the Gordon Highlanders army regiment.

Not far, you’ll find Johnston Gardens, a beautiful public green space full of local and exotic plants. The park comes alive in the spring and summer, when the rhododendrons, spring bulbs, heathers and alpines blossom.

Rubislaw is connected to Aberdeen City Centre by bus. The journey takes about 10 minutes.

The accommodation offer in Rubislaw is characterised by a mix of guesthouses, B&Bs and small hotels, many of which are set in historical Victorian mansions.

Duthie Park is located south of Aberdeen City Centre.

This expansive public park opened in 1883 and was gifted to the city by Miss Elizabeth Crombie Duthie.

Duthie Park is one of Aberdeen’s most visited tourist attractions thanks to its wonderfully restored Victorian features. The park includes a Band Stand, several fountains and ponds, play areas and a café.

The David Welch Winter Gardens were added to the park in the 1900s and are home to one of the most visited public indoor plant collections in Scotland.

Some 800 metres north, hidden within a historic railway arch, lies the City of Aberdeen Distillery, the first legal distillery in Aberdeen.

Most of the accommodation in this area can be found around the lovely Bon-Accord Street and further south around the park.

As with the rest of Aberdeen, this area is well-connected by the city’s bus system.

The Event Complex Aberdeen (TECA) was opened in August 2019 and is a world-class concert, exhibition and congress complex.

Located 8 kilometres northwest of Aberdeen City Centre, this large complex, Europe’s largest new events centre, is home to P&J Live, a multi-purpose indoor arena, plus two onsite hotels and development land.

Around 2 kilometres north lies Aberdeen International Airport. Aberdeen’s main gateway and Scottland’s third-busiest airport offers several connections mainly to destinations in Scotland, England Ireland, Scandinavia and Southern Europe.

The areas around TECA and the airport are some of the best areas to stay in Aberdeen for business travellers, event-goers and visitors on a stopover.