One of the reasons I used to love living in Aberdeen was all the things there are to do in the city and around. I am always so excited to be back in the city for work as well as to see friends. In this blog I am sharing some of my favourite places in Aberdeen City, including where to stay, places to visit and free things to do as well as places to eat.
AD - I was kindly invited by Park Inn by Radisson to stay for one night with breakfast on a gifted basis, however all opinions stated in this post are my own.
Where to stay
Located right in the city centre, Park Inn by Radisson is a great place to stay to explore the city while also having a quiet night away from the busy traffic. The rooms are clean, the beds are comfortable and the staff are friendly and welcoming.
The buffet breakfast has continental as well hot food, including eggs, beans, mushrooms, sausages, cereal, soya milk, fruit, yogurts, tea and coffee, fruit juices, and more.
While I was there, I also had dinner at their on site restaurant and the food was delicious. I had the vegetable wellington and my friend had a burger and we both enjoyed them.
Free things to do
There are tons of free things to do in the city and there is something for everyone, whether you are interested in nature, arts, history, architecture, or just want to relax. Here are some of my favourites:
-Art Gallery
-Provost Skene's House
-Mural trail
-Beach and Footdee
-Watch dolphins at Torry Battery
-Take a walk along River Dee
-Explore Old Aberdeen and Seaton Park
-Duthie Park and Winter Gardens
-Maritime Museum
-Cove Bay
Day Trips from Aberdeen
Although there are loads of places to visit in the city, there are also great bus links to the rest of Aberdeenshire, including castles, hiking trails in the Cairngorms National Park, fishing villages, whisky distilleries and more. You can check out my ebook about travelling Aberdeenhsire by bus here which includes more than 50 destinations you can visit,
You can also check out my Youtube channel and Instagram @marisa.vogiatzi for more content about travelling without a car.
Where to eat
Aberdeen is a great place for foodies and as a vegan, I absolutely love all the yummy options the city has to offer. Here are some of my favourite places, some are 100% vegan and some just have vegan options but you don't have to be vegan in order to visit or enjoy some of these places, they are loved by many locals and visitors.
-BioCafe
BioCafe is located at Rosemount Viaduct, and it's a refined sugar-free cafe with a huge variety of vegetarian, vegan and gluten free food. I especially like their hot dogs and waffles and colorful smoothie bowls.
-Roots
They have a food truck down at Aberdeen beach but they also do home deliveries. They have a variety of burgers, chicken wings, loaded fries and other yummy sides as well as dessert and milkshakes. Their Southern fried chick’aint, the roots signature loaded fries and the mac n cheese with bacon crumble are some of my favourites.
-Foodstory
Foodstory, which is located on Thistle Street, is a vegetarian cafe with tons of vegan food as well as gluten free options and they serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. It’s such a cosy cafe and they often have different events on such as live music and workshops.
-The Vegan Bay Baker
The Vegan Bay Baker is located on Castlegate and I usually get some pastries for breakfast before heading down to the beach for a walk. I post about his pastries all the time on Instagram, and the doughnuts are definitely the best doughnuts I’ve ever had and I’m sure everyone who has tried them will agree. He has some amazing products such as yumyums, bread, butteries, shortbread, sausage rolls, savoury pies and so much more and they’re all vegan.
-Cup
They have a huge collection of teas, and other hot drinks and they have plenty of vegan options on their menu. They are located right in the city, just off Belmont Street. And they also have the cutest decor.
-Revolution de Cuba
Revolution de Cuba which is on Belmont Street, has amazing Latin inspired food and again, many vegan options and loads of gluten free ones as well. And of course, their cocktails are incredible and it’s always a fun atmosphere and the staff are friendly and welcoming.
Getting there
There are a few different ways to get to Aberdeen without a car from many parts of Scotland. You can get a Megabus for as little as £4.99 from Edinburgh, Fife, Glasgow, Inverness, Dundee, and Perth and it drops you off at the bus station at Union Square. You can also get the train from most of the places mentioned above.
Once you are there, it’s a very walkable city but it is also very easy to get around by bus. You can check out FirstBus website for more information on the bus routes, times and ticket prices.
Have you visited Aberdeen before? If so, what was your favourite place?
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