Aberdeen Lodging and Attractions

Aberdeen, the 'Silver City' in the county of Aberdeenshire, is located 117 miles north-east of Edinburgh on the North Sea coast between the mouths of the rivers Don and Dee, and is Scotland's third largest metropolis. Due to the enormous supply of crude oil from the North Sea, it is often called “Oil Capital of Europe” thereby achieving the status of Offshore Capital of Europe. Aberdeen is also is often called the "Granite City" because of its buildings, which are constructed largely of pink and gray granite.

Aberdeen has a total population of about 212,125, and ethnic groups comprised of English, Scottish, Irish, Welsh, Ulster, West Indians, Indians, Pakistanis, and others. The city experiences a temperate climate with an overall temperature of 46.2 degrees Fahrenheit (7.9 Celsius.) May to September is the best time to visit, with long hours of daylight.

Aberdeen International Airport is situated 7 miles from the city centre in Dyce and offers a wide range of domestic and some international flights like British Airways, BMI, Easyjet etc. Buses are operated by First Group, Stagecoach Group, and First Aberdeen, which has the largest share of routes with 22 services running throughout the city. Aberdeen also has regular rail services to Glasgow and Edinburgh, including long distance trains to London. Regular trains run north westerly towards Inverness and north to Dyce for the airport.

Main tourist attractions in Aberdeen include Aberdeen Art Gallery, displaying a diverse collection of works of art, such as work by the Impressionists and the Scottish Colorists; Provost Ross' House, the third oldest dwelling in Aberdeen; James Dun’s house, now a museum featuring temporary exhibitions; Aden’s Country Park, which covers about 230 acres on the Buchan Estate which dates from the 18th Century; King's College Conference Centre; Provost Skene’s House, a good example of early burgh architecture; Braemar Castle, built in 1628 by the Earl of Mar; Doonies farm, one of the largest collections in Scotland of endangered breeds of farm animals; the Northeast Falconry Visitor Center, featuring spectacular falcons, owls and eagles and regular daily flying demonstrations; and Marischal College.

There are several family-run Bed and Breakfast’s, guest houses, and hotels in Aberdeen. Visitors can check out a wide choice of Aberdeen hotels for free. Some of the best theaters can be found at King Street, Tarves, Union Street, and Rosemount Viaduct, whilst Market Street, Nicholas Lane and Union Street house some of the best nightclubs and pubs. As for shoppers, the main shopping districts focus on specialty shops such as those on Chapel and Thistle streets, as well as the reputed chains on George and Union streets.

The city’s most popular festivals and events include Aberdeen International Youth Festival, with around 1000 young people from the world's finest youth orchestras, bands, dance and theatre groups coming together; Aberdeen Jazz Festival; Aberdour Festival, music, dance and creativity from around the world including bellydancing, henna painting, tabla drumming etc; Aberdeen Highland Games, competitions showcasing the skills of sportspeople, dancers and musicians from all over Scotland; Devron Festival, celebrating years of musical fireworks; and the Spirit of Speyside Whiskey Festival.