tour buses in aberdeen

Sightseeing Day Coach Tours from Aberdeen | Go Scotland Tours

Search lists, search filter, current selection, tour duration, attractions, whisky tour.

Speyside Private Whisky Tour from Aberdeen

• Tour ID: 1157
• Tour theme: Aberdeen Day Tours (Group Tours) , Historic and Cultural Tours ,
• Duration: 1 Day - 8 hours approx.
• Starts from: Aberdeen

From Aberdeen we tour to Speyside Malt Whisky Country, Glenlivet Distillery, Speyside cooperage and Glenfiddich Distillery are some of the highlights of tour.

Private Tour

Loch Ness and Inverness Private Tour from Aberdeen

• Tour ID: 1283
• Duration: 1 Day - 12 hours approx.

Aberdeen Loch Ness and Inverness day tour. Traveling in a small grouped tour from Aberdeen to Johnstones Cashmere, Elgin, Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle, Inverness.

Royal Deeside and Balmoral Castle Private Tour from Aberdeen

• Tour ID: 1156
• Duration: 1 Day - 7 hours 30min approx.

From Aberdeen we travel West following the River Dee see and hear about this historic Glen, a visit to Balmoral Castle, Highland Holiday home of Royal Family...

Scotland Castle Country Private Tour from Aberdeen

• Tour ID: 1158

Privately guided tour from Aberdeen to Scotlands Castle Country.Today we visit two very different castles - Dunottar Castle, Crathes Castle and Falls of Feugh.

Private Whisky and Castle Tour from Aberdeen

• Tour ID: 1159

Aberdeen Whisky and Castle private day tour from Aberdeen we travel North from Aberdeen city, Glen Garioch Whisky Distillery and then the mystical Fyvie Castle.

Private Tour to Glamis Castle and St Andrews from Aberdeen

• Tour ID: 1160
• Duration: 1 Day - 9 hours approx.

On this day tour from Aberdeen we visit Glamis Castle, the childhood home of Elizabeth, the Queen Mother and the home of golf St Andrews, University, Cathedral.

Aberdeen Private City Tour

• Tour ID: 1155
• Duration: 1 Day - 6-8 hours approx.

Aberdeen City Tour takes you on a voyage of discovery of Aberdeen. Kings College, St.Machar Cathedral, Footdee Village, Aberdeen harbour, Duthie Park, Granite..

From The Blog

Whisky Day Tours from Edinburgh

Destination guide, follow us on facebook, follow us on instagram.

Tours by Start City

Scotland tours by type, tours by operator.

7 Harbour place

Edinburgh, United Kingdom, EH15 1tq

• Cookie Policy

Our Partners

Phone Number: 01224 742 444

Mobile number: 0743 653 4628, email address: [email protected].

• Our Vehicles
• Places to Visit
• About Duncan
• Short Tours
• Flexible Tours
• Tour Prices
• Castle Tours
• Whisky Distillery Tours
• Aberdeen City Tour
• Macallan Distillery Tour
• Testimonials

aberdeen city tour

Duncan's tours scotland city tours.

Aberdeen City Tours taking 2 to 3 or 4 hours and other City Tours in Scotland if the Tour lasts longer than 2 days.

This Tour comprises of driving around the Aberdeen City centre in our 6 seat luxury minibus to see the main clock tower in Union Street / Broad Street.

Also to see Union Terrace where you see the statues of William Wallace and Robert Burns, Albert and King Edward as well as His Majesties Theatre, Central Library and the Denburn Park area and Golden square at the rear of the music hall in Union Street the main street in Aberdeen.

Further on over the bridge at Schoolhill you see the Art Gallery with the statue of the lion in front and the Robert Gordon University and then Mariscal College building with the majestic cleaned and ornate granite now occupied by Aberdeen city council near the historic Provost Skene's House.

The Castlegate square can be seen at the top end of Union Street as you pass into King Street that heads north for 2 miles to the old Aberdeen city area where the universities were founded by Lord Elphinstone in 1494 are located next to Kings college chapel with the impressive stained glass windows, organ and very good acoustics.

Then we go over the Bridge or (Brig) of ( o) Don on the northern edge of the city to see the Brig O Balgownie originally built in the year 1320 some 700 hundred years old the oldest bridge in the UK. In Balgownie Road not far away there is Thomas Glover's house he was an Aberdonian who helped build the Japanese navy and helped set up the Mitubushi car giant who lived from 1838 to 1912.

Then we drive along the Aberdeen seafront which is called the Sunset Boulevard by the Golf Linx, Pitodrie football stadium ( the first covered seated stadium in the UK around the year 1900) , Ice Arena and the round red roofed Beach Ballroom built in 1930's past the amusement park and Double Trees hotel to Fittie at the foot of the Dee river which flows into the harbour. This is a very quaint old terraced fishing village with ornate sheds and gardens of the seashell and gnome kind by the entrance to Aberdeen Harbour and Control Tower to manage the flow of Oil support vessels and North Link Ferry that goes to Orkney and Shetland in the far north each day.

We continue around the Aberdeen harbour to the Victoria bridge past the old Tram shed over the river Dee to an area called Torry and follow the road with a good view of the Silver Darling seafood restaurant and entrance to the Aberdeen harbour. On this coastal road we have another golf course called Nigg and a lighthouse and a twin fog warning horn before we come into the next bay at Nigg itself alongside Torry on the south side of the city.

We also visit the very nice free entrance Duthie Park winter gardens with greenhouses that house warmer climate plants of all kinds with a nice cafe' alongside.

Another place to visit is the Maritime museum at Ship row with free entrance and the Stratosphere near the Beach Ballroom.We also explain and show visitors the site by the Queens Road, Aberdeen of Rubislaw Quarry the deepest manmade hole in Europe at 465 feet to the bottom lower than sea level. This large hole in the ground was quarried for 200 years using its grey granite that was used to build most of Aberdeen Silver city city between 1871 and 1971 when labour was much cheaper.

Nearby we show visitors the Gordon Highland regimental army museum and Hazlehead Park on the west side of the city.

Please note the cost of a city Tour is £40 per hour in either of our 6 seat minibus or 4 seat estate car and we will take one or two persons, but it would be the same price.

Looking for a guided tour of the Highlands? Find out more about our range of chauffeur driven tours of Scotland.

Welcome to Duncan's Scottish Highland Tours where we offer a diverse range of personalised and quality Tours of Scotland and the Highlands suited to you.

Quick Links

If you prefer a more personal approach, you can contact us directly:

THE 10 BEST Aberdeen Bus Tours

Bus tours in aberdeen.

• Cultural Tours
• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Walking Tours
• Sightseeing Tours
• Private Tours
• Ports of Call Tours
• Literary, Art & Music Tours
• Wine Tours & Tastings
• Ghost & Vampire Tours
• Self-Guided Tours & Rentals
• Multi-day Tours
• Photography Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Likely to Sell Out
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Balmoral & Royal Deeside Tour

2. Coastal Villages of Aberdeenshire

3. Dunnottar Castle and Royal Deeside Small-Group Tour from Aberdeen

4. Balmoral & Historic Castles Private Tour from Aberdeen

5. North East Coastal Trail Small Group Day Tour from Aberdeen

6. Loch Ness and the Highlands Small-Group Day Tour from Aberdeen

7. Aberdeenshire Private Half Day Castle & Historic Building Tour

8. Taste of Scotland Tour

9. St Andrews and Dundee Small-Group Tour from Aberdeen

10. Taste of Aberdeenshire

11. Scottish Highlands & Inverness Tour

12. Speyside Whisky Trail Day Tour from Aberdeen Including Admissions

13. Aberdeen & Shire Castle & Distillery Private Group one Day Tour

14. Private Balmoral Glamis Dunnottar Castles Tour from Aberdeen

15. Best Scottish Whisky Distilleries Private Tasting Trip plus optional Castle Tour

16. Private Full Day History and Nature Tour from Aberdeen

17. TOUR ALL THE FLAVORS OF SCOTLAND & SKYE! 5 days + 4 nights.

18. Aberdeen Airport/Train/Harbour transfer & Private Guided Tour

19. 4 Day Shetland Tour Experience

20. 4 Day Shared Shetland Tour

21. 4 Day Shetland Tour Experience

22. Aberdeenshire and Royal Deeside Private Half-day Castle Tour

23. 3 Days Tour Viking Express A Shetland Experience

24. Aberdeen Historical & Turbulent Times Walking Tour

25. Aberdeenshire Castles Cows and Whisky Private Day Trip

26. Aberdeen's Ancient Heritage and Folklore

27. 7 Day Private Guided Tour of Scotland inc Hotel Accommodation

28. 4 Day Shetland Tour Experience

29. 3 Day Tour Viking Express- A Shetland Experience

30. Dunnottar & Deeside Castle & Distillery Private one Day Tour & Photo Workshop

What travellers are saying.

• Dunnottar Castle and Royal Deeside Small-Group Tour from Aberdeen
• North East Coastal Trail Small Group Day Tour from Aberdeen
• Balmoral & Royal Deeside Tour
• Loch Ness and the Highlands Small-Group Day Tour from Aberdeen
• Coastal Villages of Aberdeenshire

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser .

Aberdeen-Tours&Excursions and tours from Aberdeen

Aberdeen tours, welcome to aberdeen-tours thank you for visiting.

We offer one day sightseeing tours from Aberdeen city.

-Tours from Aberdeen Since 2007-

-update on covid-19 (coronavirus).-.

All tours are currently closed, we have taken the advise of the U.K Government. This guidance is for everyone. It advises on social distancing measures we should all be taking to reduce social interaction between people in order to reduce the transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19). Our tours are classed as a social interactive event therefore we will be closed until further notice. Please keep safe.

Fàilte (Welcome in Gaelic)

Bookings and Payments can also be taken at iCentre:

Summer Tours from April 2020 - October 2020.

Our winter 2019/20 aberdeen tours.

A selection of Day Trips, Sightseeing tours from Aberdeen- All tours with a local Scottish guide

Our seven scheduled full day tours from Aberdeen, all these tours start from Downtown Aberdeen. Heading out from the city your experienced Driver/Guide will give you a fully commentated tour as you travel on your selected Aberdeen Tour with us. Tour listings below include our Winter tours that operate from November-March. just click away......for full details.

Deeside Whisky Tour

From Aberdeen our Deeside Whisky Tour, Lochnagar Whisky Distillery and Deeside views.

Highlights of this Aberdeen Day Tour Braemar and Lochnagar Distillery

Loch Ness Tour

From Aberdeen with visit Loch Ness and Mountain View route.

Highlights of this Aberdeen Day Tour Loch Ness and Mountain Route

Aberdeen City Tour

Aberdeen City tour hear and see all about the Granite City of Aberdeen .

Highlights Old Aberdeen, Sea Front, Harbour and Duthie Park

Whisky and Castle Tour

Delgatie Castle and Glendronach

From Aberdeen our Whisky and Castle Tour.

Highlights of this Day Tour Glendronach Distillery and Delgatie Castle

Glenfiddich Whisky Tour

Speyside Whisky Tour of Glenfiddich Distillery .

Highlights of this Aberdeen Day Tour Glenfiddich Distillery

Two Castles Tour

Dunnottar and Crathes Castle Tour

From Aberdeen Dunnottar Castle and Crathes Castle sightseeing tour.

Highlights of this Aberdeen Day Tour Dunnottar Castle and Crathes Castle

Highland Mystery Tour

From Aberdeen Highland Mystery Tour .

Highlights of this Aberdeen Day Tour "don't know until we get there"

Aberdeen Private Tour

Private Tours

From Aberdeen a private tour of Castles, Whisky Distilleries of the North East of Scotland.

Highlights of this Aberdeen Day a selection of Castles and Distilleries

Booking a Private tour with Us

We pick you up at your accommodation then travel onto Castles, Whisky and Mountains.....

Private day tours from Aberdeen, you can book a private tour as a single person or small group up to seven people are welcomed on a private tailored tour of Aberdeenshire Castles or Speyside Whisky Distilleries. Your Aberdeen Private tour Starts with a pick-up from your accommodation a choice of a Heritage Tours, Distilleries, Castles, Highland Views, Coastal Villages or Highland Games can be offered on the day of the tour. These tours are a minimum of eight hours long and can be tailored to your requirements and interests. Aberdeen private tours can be booked on any day when available through our online booking system or at Aberdeen VisitScotland iCentre. Included accommodation pick up/Drop off service, experienced Driver/Guide, comfortable vehicle.

Private Castle Tours

From Aberdeen Delgatie Castle Tour

Private whisky tours.

From Aberdeen Glenfiddich Distillery

Explore our Private tours

Why choose Aberdeen Tours

We are a Local company with over twenty years experience within the tour and travel industry .

Best price guarantee

All tours on our booking system are the lowest prices available and we don't charge any fees.

Reviewed on TripAdvisor

Sadly TripAdvisor’s profit-driven practices affect both travellers and small businesses.

Professional local guides

All our guides/drivers are local North-Easters with a wealth of local knowledge and Stories .

We have listed above our Winter Tours that operate from November 2019 - March 2020. For our summer tours they run from April - October 2020.

Food delights north of scotland's food from the sea food from the land..

Ice Cream Stonehaven Harbour

Fish and Chips Buchan Coastal Tour

Ballindalloch Cakes Speyside Tour

THE 10 BEST Aberdeen Bus Tours

Bus tours in aberdeen.

• Cultural Tours
• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Walking Tours
• Sightseeing Tours
• Private Tours
• Ports of Call Tours
• Literary, Art & Music Tours
• Wine Tours & Tastings
• Ghost & Vampire Tours
• Self-Guided Tours & Rentals
• Multi-day Tours
• Photography Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Likely to Sell Out
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Balmoral & Royal Deeside Tour

2. Coastal Villages of Aberdeenshire

3. Dunnottar Castle and Royal Deeside Small-Group Tour from Aberdeen

4. Balmoral & Historic Castles Private Tour from Aberdeen

5. North East Coastal Trail Small Group Day Tour from Aberdeen

6. Loch Ness and the Highlands Small-Group Day Tour from Aberdeen

7. Aberdeenshire Private Half Day Castle & Historic Building Tour

8. Taste of Scotland Tour

9. St Andrews and Dundee Small-Group Tour from Aberdeen

10. Taste of Aberdeenshire

11. Scottish Highlands & Inverness Tour

12. Speyside Whisky Trail Day Tour from Aberdeen Including Admissions

13. Aberdeen & Shire Castle & Distillery Private Group one Day Tour

14. Private Balmoral Glamis Dunnottar Castles Tour from Aberdeen

15. Best Scottish Whisky Distilleries Private Tasting Trip plus optional Castle Tour

16. Private Full Day History and Nature Tour from Aberdeen

17. TOUR ALL THE FLAVORS OF SCOTLAND & SKYE! 5 days + 4 nights.

18. Aberdeen Airport/Train/Harbour transfer & Private Guided Tour

19. 4 Day Shetland Tour Experience

20. 4 Day Shared Shetland Tour

21. 4 Day Shetland Tour Experience

22. Aberdeenshire and Royal Deeside Private Half-day Castle Tour

23. 3 Days Tour Viking Express A Shetland Experience

24. Aberdeen Historical & Turbulent Times Walking Tour

25. Aberdeenshire Castles Cows and Whisky Private Day Trip

26. Aberdeen's Ancient Heritage and Folklore

27. 7 Day Private Guided Tour of Scotland inc Hotel Accommodation

28. 4 Day Shetland Tour Experience

29. 3 Day Tour Viking Express- A Shetland Experience

30. Dunnottar & Deeside Castle & Distillery Private one Day Tour & Photo Workshop

What travellers are saying.

• Dunnottar Castle and Royal Deeside Small-Group Tour from Aberdeen
• North East Coastal Trail Small Group Day Tour from Aberdeen
• Balmoral & Royal Deeside Tour
• Loch Ness and the Highlands Small-Group Day Tour from Aberdeen
• Coastal Villages of Aberdeenshire

The North East Coastal Trail 1 day

Look out for sea creatures, ancient castles, and beautiful beaches on this tour along Scotland’s North East Coast.

Tour Highlights

Spey Bay - A coastal reserve boasting grasslands, brackish saltmarsh, wet woodland and dolphins.

Bow Fiddle Rock - Enjoy the views and take a photo of one of the most beautiful coastal sights in eastern Scotland.

Bullers of Buchan - A remarkable collapsed sea cave and a home to Puffins, Kittiwakes, and beautiful seabirds.

Cullen - The home of one of our favourite Scottish dishes, Cullen Skink. A simple fish soup that’ll warm you up in no time.

Slains Castle - This castle overlooks the cragged coastline and inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

Your journey  

A bird watcher’s dream, a curious coastal spectacle, and a little bit of Count Dracula: Sounds like an interesting trip, doesn’t it?

On this tour, you venture from Aberdeen and travel along Scotland’s North East Coast. You stumble upon strange caves and rock formations, spot dolphins at sea, and admire a grand castle that inspired scenes from Bram Stoker’s Dracula .

Your driver-guide keeps you entertained with stories from the past and will even recommend their favourite place to taste traditional Scottish Cullen Skink soup at your lunch stop in Cullen.

Join this tour, explore the shores, and discover the wonders of North East Scotland .

Tour Details

Students, seniors over 60, and children between 5 and 15 (unfortunately, we don't carry children under 5 years old)

• Pack your waterproof clothing and walking shoes
• Attraction tickets may need to be purchased in advance. More information is provided in your booking confirmation e-mail
• Transportation by a 16 seat Mercedes mini-coach
• Air conditioning as standard
• The stories and services of an English-speaking driver-guide
• Entry fees to visitor attractions

You leave Aberdeen and head for Spey Bay. Here, you have time to learn about the area and try to spot dolphins.

You then journey to Bow Fiddle Rock, one of our favourite coastal sights in Scotland. Its unusual shape being battered by waves offers an epic photo and an awesome experience.

In Cullen, you have a chance to taste Cullen Skink soup in its hometown. But don’t spend all your time savouring the flavour, because there are lovely little strolls to take around the village.

After lunch, you travel the short distance to Portsoy. This archetypal Scottish seaside town boasts the oldest harbour on the Moray Coast and shops selling unique jewellery made from ‘Portsoy Marble’.

From Portsoy, you journey to Bullers of Buchan. Here you try to count how many species of sea birds you can spot or simply admire the glorious sea scape of caves and cliffs.

Slains Castle is the next stop of your day. This grand coastal castle had its roof removed to avoid taxes. You have time here to get a photo and learn about how the octagonal room inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula .

In the early evening, you arrive back in Aberdeen.

This route may be reversed on some occasions.

Do you offer hotel pickups in the departure cities?

The UK and Ireland's historic city centres are full of narrow streets and winding roads. So, to speed up your departure, we only pick up from our central meeting points. What's more is leaving the city using the most direct route also reduces the carbon footprint of our tours.

Is there parking close to the departure point?

We don't recommend bringing your car into the centre of our departure cities. It can be hard to find parking, and there are excellent public transportation services.

When should I get to the departure point?

Arrive 15 minutes before your departure time. Due to waiting restrictions, we can't wait for you if you're late.

What happens if I'm late or miss the tour?

If you're late for your tour, our cancellation policy applies. 100% charges are applicable, and you will not be entitled to a refund or alternative.

What are your cancellation policies?

For one-day tours: You'll receive a full refund if you cancel 24 hours or more before the tour departure

For tours of between two and nine days: You'll receive a 90% refund if you cancel 15 or more days before the tour departure

For tours of 10 or more days: You'll receive a 90% refund if you cancel 21 or more days before the tour departure

For all European packaged tours: You'll receive a 90% refund if you cancel 42 days before the tour departure.

If you cancel inside these notice periods, full charges will apply and no refunds will be issued.

To cancel your booking, email [email protected] as soon as possible. The effective date of cancellation will be the date we receive written confirmation from you.

Click here to view terms and conditions

Can Itineraries change?

Your tour will always follow the itinerary as closely as possible. Your driver-guide will keep you up to date on the road, and we'll try to get in touch about any large changes prior to your departure.

Can I pre-book a specific seat?

Due to logistical reasons, we're unable to let you pre-book a seat on the bus. But our comfortable 16-seat mini-coaches have huge windows. So, you'll always get a good view.

Are there toilets on the bus?

Unfortunately, we have no on-board toilet facilities, but you'll have regular comfort breaks.

How do you cater for people with accessibility needs?

We aim to accommodate everyone. To read more information on how we do this, click here to go to our accessibility guide.

Do you take children on your tours?

We regret we don't carry children under the age of five on our scheduled tours.

You can ask us about the tours we recommend for younger children. And if your child is less than 1.35m tall, you should let us know, so we can provide them with a suitable booster seat.

How much time do I get off the bus?

We want you to enjoy Britain and Ireland. And we believe the best way to do this is to get you off the mini-coach and out exploring. So, we give you plenty of time to take photos, go walking, and explore ancient ruins.

Why do you exclude visitor attractions?

We exclude visitor attractions in your tour price because it lets you travel your way. It means you can pamper yourself with a luxury lunch or skip an attraction whenever you feel like it.

Do we need to bring our own lunch?

You don't need to. We stop in small towns, villages, and rural eateries where you can choose whatever meal pleases both your taste buds and your budget.

Should I tip the driver-guide?

Let's be honest, our driver-guides would never refuse a cheeky bonus. But it's up to you, and the amount is entirely at your discretion.

What about travel insurance?

We advise you take out travel insurance.

What is ABTOT?

You're protected by ABTOT when you chose to let us reserve your accommodation on a multi-day tour. This means you can claim back anything you've paid us if we become bankrupt. Read our terms and conditions for more information.

I have more questions, who can help me?

If you have any more questions, call us on +44(0)131 226 3133, email [email protected] , or check out our full FAQs .

Customer reviews

Please enable JavaScript to book your tour

Prices from £53.00

5 Great Day Trips From Aberdeen

Aberdeen is located on the north east coast of Scotland. Once you've explored the city architecture, take one of these day trips to uncover amazing harbour towns, perfect beaches and plenty of history.

Royal Deeside Ballater and Braemar

Balmoral Castle and Gardens

© VisitScotland / North East 250 / Damian Shields

Time from Aberdeen: 1 hour 30 minutes by bus, 1 hour by car

Hop on the Stagecoach bus 201 to head west of Aberdeen to Royal Deeside.

In Ballater, visit the Old Royal Station. It was originally built for Queen Victoria so that the Royal Family could travel to Balmoral by rail. The station has now been transformed into a stunning dining experience called the Rothesay Rooms, with menus bursting with seasonal Scottish produce.

From Ballater, you can take Stagecoach bus 3 and in under 30 minutes be in the beautiful town of Braemar. Check out the Highland Games Centre to learn about the tradition and fascinating history of the Braemar Gathering. Stop for lunch at the amazing Flying Stag, the public bar within The Fife Arms, a luxury hotel with incredible design features and a stunningly extensive art collection.

Half way between Ballater and Breamar is Balmoral Castle, the holiday home of the Royal Family. If you are driving, why not check out part of the epic  Snow Roads  or  North East 250  routes?

Elgin Moray Speyside

Elgin Cathedral, also known as the Lantern of the North in Elgin

Time from Aberdeen: 1 hour 30 minutes by train or car

The charming and ancient town of Elgin is a picturesque place to explore by train with a beautiful cathedral, town square, and streets lined with lovely shops.

A short walk from the station, stop in for a coffee at Batchen Street Coffee before heading towards the lovely Elgin Cathedral, a medieval ruin with a fascinating history. Keep wandering to Johnstons of Elgin to browse the collections or take a tour of the mill at this quality cashmere clothing company, which has provided materials for luxury brands since it was established in 1797. It's also a great place to stop for lunch. It's a 20-minute walk back to the station.

Stonehaven Aberdeenshire

Dunnottar Castle

Time from Aberdeen: 25 minutes by train or car

Why not head south from Aberdeen for a memorable day out by the seaside at Stonehaven? Start with the stunning Dunnottar Castle - a truly breathtaking castle. There are buses (X7 and 107) from the town of Stonehaven to near the castle car park, or you can get there by cycling or walking the coastal route (3 miles).

In the town, try a scoop of ice cream at the legendary Aunty Betty's ice cream parlour. The harbour is also a great place to try paddleboarding with Stonehaven Paddleboarding, who offer lessons, rental and tours. Stop for lunch at The Tolbooth for delicious seafood, The Bay for fish 'n' chips, or The Marine Hotel for a hearty lunch.

Arbroath Angus

A family explore the ruins of Arbroath Abbey

© Visit Angus / Alan Richardson

Time from Aberdeen: 1 hour by train or 1 hour 20 minutes by car

For fans of Scottish history, a day trip to Arbroath is an absolute must. At Arbroath Abbey, see the place where the Declaration of Arbroath was sealed in 1320, which asserted Scotland's independence from England.

Down by the harbour you can sample the famed local delicacy, the Arbroath Smokie. A line-caught haddock, smoke-cured over smouldering oak chips, it is still made here in a number of family-run smokehouses tucked in around the harbour, including M&M Spink at 10 Marketgate.

Take a stroll along the sandy Arbroath Beach or admire the cliffs which inspired the architecture of the V&A Dundee along the  Seaton Cliffs to Auchmithie  walking route (13 km).

Fraserburgh Aberdeenshire

Fraserburgh

© Discover Fraserburgh / Damian Shields

Time from Aberdeen: under 2 hours by bus, 55 minutes by car

Head north from Aberdeen to the town of Fraserburgh on Stagecoach bus X67 and discover some truly incredible coastal treasures. Learn about the country's coolest lighthouses at the Museum of Scottish Lighthouses and admire Fraserburgh's own Kinnaird Head Castle Lighthouse beside the museum. Check out the town's Heritage Centre to learn more about the rich history of Fraserburgh.

Don't forget to try the fresh seafood. Fraserburgh is the largest shellfish seaport in Europe and there are a handful of excellent seafood restaurants in town to try. If you've got time for one more activity, venture out to Pennan for a meal at the cosy Pennan Inn. This village made an appearance in  Local Hero  (1983) - why not take a selfie at the red phone box which featured in the film?

Find experiences

JavaScript needs to be enabled to see this product search form. You can turn this on in your browser settings.

Other things you might like

4 Days in Aberdeen

10 Easy Ways to Travel Scotland by Public Transport

Day Trips & Days Out in Scotland

Tours of Scotland

Join our newsletter clan.

Get Scotland inspiration direct to your inbox. Don't miss the inside track from our Scotland experts on exciting trip ideas, unique attractions and hidden gems loved by locals.

Aberdeen City Bus Tours

Open Top Bus Tour Aberdeen

• Tour 1 – Loch Ness & the Highlands
• Tour 2 – Stirling Castle, Highland Lochs & Whisky
• Tour 3 – Rosslyn Chapel, the Borders & Hadrian’s Wall
• Tour 4 – The Best of Scotland in a Day
• Tour 5 – The Viking Coast & Alnwick Castle
• Tour 6 – St Andrews & the Kingdom of Fife
• 2 Day Tour – Inverness & the Highlands
• 3 Day Tour – Isle of Skye & the Highlands
• 5 Day Tour – The Grand Tour of Scotland
• View All Private Tours
• 1 Day Tour – The Best of Scotland in a Day
• 1 Day Tour – Loch Ness & the Highlands
• 2 Day Tour – Inverness & the Highlands
• 3 Day Tour – The Isle of Skye & the Highlands
• 4 Day Tour – Inverness & the Isle of Skye
• 5 Day Tour – The Grand Tour of Scotland
• 6 Day Tour – The Outer Hebrides & Isle of Skye
• 7 Day Tour – The Complete Tour of Scotland
• Departure Point
• Gift Vouchers
• Accommodation Explained
• Our Story – The Wee Red Bus
• John Muir Trust
• Our Vehicles
• Sustainable Tourism

VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION – All group tours depart from Bus Stand ZE, Waterloo Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3BQ (opposite Howie’s Restaurant) .

Balmoral Castle

Aberdeen, castles & coast, tour highlights.

• Cairngorms National Park
• Crathes Castle
• Dunnottar Castle
• St Cyrus National Nature Reserve

Our route to the historic North-East takes us past Loch Leven and the fair city of Perth before arriving at the picturesque village of Dunkeld. Here you can stroll through quaint narrow streets and visit Dunkeld Cathedral.

Dedicated to St Columba and beautifully located beside the River Tay, a visit to this ancient church is a delightful start to the day.

Next we drive through Glen Shee (eyes peeled for red deer) and into the Cairngorms National Park. Following one of General Wade’s old military roads we stop at the Cairnwell Pass for fabulous Highland vistas.  At 2200 feet above sea this is the highest public road in the UK. If you have a good head for heights why not take the ski-lift to the plateau summit – possibly even ‘bagging’ one of Scotland’s famous Munros!

After lunch in the beautiful riverside village of Braemar, we stop near Ballater where our options include either a visit to the Queen’s Highland castle, Balmoral, or a tour and dram at The Royal Lochnagar malt whisky distillery.

Our journey through the stunning scenery of Royal Deeside then takes us to Crathes Castle. Turrets and towers, winding staircases, ornate ceilings and ancient sculpted yew trees combine to make every visit memorable.

An enchanting 16th-century tower house, Crathes is surrounded by 240 hectares of formal gardens, woodland walks and rolling Scottish countryside.

In the early evening we arrive in Aberdeen, our base for the night. Nicknamed the Granite City because of its sparkling stone architecture, it is better known as the Oil Capital of Europe following the discovery of North Sea Oil in the 1970s. Nestled between the rivers Dee and Don, the city has a long, sandy coastline where you may wish to enjoy an evening stroll.

Example accommodation: www.atholl-aberdeen.co.uk

First stop today is Dunnottar Castle. This dramatic cliff-top fortress and its stunning setting is one of Scotland’s most impressive castles.

You’ll have time to wander around the many ruined buildings and discover the importance of Dunnottar, an impregnable Castle that holds many rich secrets of Scotland’s colourful past.

William Wallace and Mary Queen of Scots graced the Castle with their presence. Most famously though, it was at Dunnottar Castle that a small garrison held out against the might of Cromwell’s army for eight months and saved the Scottish Crown Jewels, the ‘Honours of Scotland’, from destruction.

As we continue down Scotland’s beautiful east coast, we’ll visit the small village of St Cyrus for a walk in the adjoining National Nature Reserve.

The cliffs and dunes provide a nationally important habitat for flowering plants, birds and butterflies. We may even see some traditional salmon net fishing as we walk along the beach.

Continuing through Dundee, where we’ll catch a glimpse of Captain Scott’s ship The Discovery, we cross the Tay Bridge before arriving in St Andrews. Internationally renowned as the ‘Home of Golf’, there’s plenty of time to see the famous Old Course – a place of pilgrimage for golfers of all abilities.

St Andrews was one of the most important religious sites in medieval Europe and the ruins of the massive Cathedral are only 5 minutes walk from the Castle, perched on cliffs above the North Sea. These two historic buildings played key roles during the Scottish Reformation. There are three beaches in St Andrews – the opening scenes of Chariots of Fire were filmed on the West Sands.

The oldest University in Scotland (established 1411) is located here and its architectural legacy can be seen all over town. Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, studied and met his wife Kate Middleton here (they are known as the Earl and Countess of Strathearn in Scotland).

Mary Queen of Scots was also educated here and was probably one of the first women in the world to play golf, here on the links.

Our route back to Edinburgh takes us via the charming fishing villages of the East Neuk. We stop at Anstruther and admire its 16th century harbour, one of the most photographed in Scotland.

Once at the heart of Scotland’s 19th century herring industry, Anstruther is now a popular weekend retreat with a very pleasant mixture of boats, historic streets and visitors strolling around the harbour enjoying the famous fish and chips.

If you don’t have the time for this tour, or just want a day trip then check out the West Highland Lochs and Castles tour .

Tour 1 Loch Ness & the Highlands bus tour from Edinburgh

Tour 2 Stirling Castle, Highland Lochs & Whisky bus tour from Edinburgh

Tour 3 Rosslyn Chapel, the Borders & Hadrian's Wall bus tour from Edinburgh

Tour 4 The Best of Scotland in a Day

Tour 5 The Viking Coast & Alnwick Castle

Tour 6 St Andrews & the Kingdom of Fife

2 Day Tour Inverness & the Highlands

3 Day Tour Isle of Skye & the Highlands

5 Day Tour The Grand Tour of Scotland

Private Tours of Scotland

We use cookies to ensure the best experience on our website. By clicking Accept, you consent to store on your device all technologies described in our Data Privacy and Security .

Top Tours in Aberdeen, Scotland

Aberdeen tours.

• Cultural Tours
• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Walking Tours
• Sightseeing Tours
• Private Tours
• Ports of Call Tours
• Literary, Art & Music Tours
• Wine Tours & Tastings
• Ghost & Vampire Tours
• Self-Guided Tours & Rentals
• Multi-day Tours
• Photography Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Likely to Sell Out
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Balmoral & Royal Deeside Tour

2. Coastal Villages of Aberdeenshire

3. Dunnottar Castle and Royal Deeside Small-Group Tour from Aberdeen

4. Balmoral & Historic Castles Private Tour from Aberdeen

5. North East Coastal Trail Small Group Day Tour from Aberdeen

6. Loch Ness and the Highlands Small-Group Day Tour from Aberdeen

7. Aberdeenshire Private Half Day Castle & Historic Building Tour

8. Taste of Scotland Tour

9. Taste of Aberdeenshire

10. St Andrews and Dundee Small-Group Tour from Aberdeen

11. Aberdeen City Centre Walking Tour (2pm)

12. Scottish Highlands & Inverness Tour

13. 500 Years of Crime and Punishment: A Self-Guided Audio Tour

14. Speyside Whisky Trail Day Tour from Aberdeen Including Admissions

15. Aberdeen & Shire Castle & Distillery Private Group one Day Tour

16. Aberdeen’s Distillery Discovery Tour

17. Private Balmoral Glamis Dunnottar Castles Tour from Aberdeen

18. Gin Tasting Masterclass in Aberdeen

19. Aberdeen's Union Street: A Self-Guided Audio Tour

20. Best Scottish Whisky Distilleries Private Tasting Trip plus optional Castle Tour

21. Private Full Day History and Nature Tour from Aberdeen

22. TOUR ALL THE FLAVORS OF SCOTLAND & SKYE! 5 days + 4 nights.

23. Aberdeen Tour App, Hidden Gems Game and Big Britain Quiz (1 Day Pass) UK

24. 3 hour Gin School Experience in Aberdeen

25. Private Aberdeen City Walking Tour

26. Skip the Line: The Gordon Highlanders Museum Admission Ticket

27. Art, History, and Hidden Gems: Aberdeen Private Walking Tour

28. Aberdeen Airport/Train/Harbour transfer & Private Guided Tour

29. Private Aberdeen Street Art Tour

30. Aberdeen Dyce Airport (ABZ) to Aberdeen - Arrival Private Transfer

What travellers are saying.

• Dunnottar Castle and Royal Deeside Small-Group Tour from Aberdeen
• North East Coastal Trail Small Group Day Tour from Aberdeen
• Aberdeen City Centre Walking Tour (2pm)
• Balmoral & Royal Deeside Tour
• Loch Ness and the Highlands Small-Group Day Tour from Aberdeen
• Scot Free Tours
• Grampian Escapes & Tours
• Grampian Escapes Tours Ltd
• Time Exposure Travel Ltd
• Aberdeenshire Tours
• Bennachie Hill Walks
• Granite Adventures
• Duncan's Tours Scotland - Day Tours
• Aberdeen Harbour Tours
• Cove Climbing

Forgot your password? Register

Have a First Bus App account?

We're sorry but you’ll need to register separately for a web account at the moment.

• Your Shopping Cart
• U22 Free Travel Scheme
• Journey planner
• Forthcoming fare changes
• Explore By Bus
• What's On?
• Aberdeen Performing Arts
• Aberdeen FC
• Service 17 & 18
• Electric Buses
• Tech the Bus - Smarter Travel
• Our Services
• Coach Trips from Aberdeen
• Our Vehicles
• Request a Quote
• Flexible Tickets
• Ticket prices
• Young Scot card scheme
• Grasshopper tickets
• Tap On, Tap Off
• Concessions
• Contactless Payments
• mTickets FAQ's
• Online tickets
• Network maps
• Hospital services
• News and service updates
• Union St Closure Diversions
• Current issues
• Planned changes
• Get news and updates by email
• Aberdeen Rapid Transit
• Help and support
• Extra Help to Travel
• Lost property
• Hate Crime Charter
• See what we're doing with your feedback
• Our criteria
• Quality Policy
• Local Market Report

First Bus Aberdeen Landing Page

Changes to fares

From 31st March 2024

Day Trips from Aberdeen

King Coaches

• Plan Journey

Welcome to First Bus Aberdeen

Your local bus service taking you into the historic city centre of Aberdeen.

With 23 bus services travelling around the city, we're making it easier than ever to get to where you need to go. Our services have connections all across the city, plan your journey on our First Bus app and explore by bus.

To help you get around with less fuss, we operate school bus services, as well as frequent hospital services.

Making Student travel more affordable

Start the academic year by taking advantage of cheaper bus travel with us. Find out more about this and how to travel easily and safely on this dedicated page First Bus Student Travel .

We're Recruiting

We are looking for qualified or trainee bus drivers, and we'd be delighted to hear from you - start your application by visiting our dedicated driver recruitment website at https://careers.firstbus.co.uk/jobs .

Travel Alerts

Albyn place emergency closure 25 april – 10 may, there will be an emergency one-way restriction on albyn place from queens cross to prince arthur street, heading to holburn junction only from 08:00 on 25 april – 17:00 10 may.

Service 11/11A heading from Queens Road to Holburn Junction From Queens Cross Roundabout: • 3rd exit onto Carden Place • right onto Prince Arthur Street • left onto Queens Road and resume normal route.

Service 13 heading from Fountainhall Road to Holburn Junction From Fountainhall Road: • 1st exit onto Carden Place • right onto Prince Arthur Street • left onto Queens Road and resume the normal route

Queens Road one way heading to Woodend 06 – 07 May

Queens road will be one way heading to woodend only between forest road and spademill road from 09:00 on 06 may until 09:00 on 07 may..

Services heading to the city centre will divert as follows:

Service 11 heading from Woodend to Holburn From the last stop before Anderson Drive: • 1st exit onto Anderson Drive • 3rd exit onto Kings Gate • right onto Forest Road • 1st exit onto Queens Road

Service 11A heading from Craigiebuckler to Holburn From Seafield Road: • 2nd exit onto Cromwell Road • 1st exit onto Forest Avenue • 3rd exit onto Queens Road and resume normal route

Nearest stops -

Service 11 - Queens Road before Anderson Drive, Queens Road after Forest Road

Service 11A - Cromwell Road, Queens Road after Forest Road

Hutcheon Street closed 21 April – 03 May

Hutcheon street will be closed from 04:00 on 21 april until 17:00 on 03 may..

Services 11 and 11A will divert as follows: Services 11,11A heading from Broad Street to Berryden From Gallowgate • left onto Spring Garden • onto Maberly Street • 3rd exit onto Skene Square • continue to Hutcheon Street and resume normal route

Services 11,11A heading from Berryden to Gallowgate From Berryden • continue onto Skene Square • 1st exit onto Maberly Street • continue onto Spring Garden • right onto Gallowgate and resume normal route.

Nearest stops:

Gallowgate, temporary stop on Spring Garden, and Berryden in both directions.

Links Road/ Urquhart Road closures 15 April – 3 July

Links road/ urquhart road will see closures due to works by sgn from 07:00 on 15 april until 18:00 on 03 july..

Services will divert as follows: Phase 1 : 07:00 15 April until 18:00 27 May

Service 13 heading to Seaton  will divert from Constitution Street via Links Road, Boulevard, Beach Esplanade and resume the normal route

Service 13 heading to Scatterburn  will divert from Urquart Road via Links Road, Boulevard, Beach Esplanade and resume the normal route

Nearest Stops:

Urquhart Road, Beach Esplanade

Phase 2: 18:00 27 May until 18:00 03 July

Service 13 heading to Seaton  will divert from Links Road via Constitution Street, Park Street, Park Road, and resume the normal route

Service 13 heading to Scatterburn  will divert from Park Road via Park Street, Constitution Street, Links Road and resume the normal route

Links Road, Park Road

Provost Rust Drive Closed |24th-26th April | Services 12/23

Due to road works on Provost Rust Drive at the junction with Manor Avenue, services will divert as follows from 04:00 on 24th April until 17:00 on 26th April. 

As a result, services 12, 23 will operate a diversion. 

Service 12 heading to Heathryfold from Rosehill  will travel from Provost Rust Drive via Granitehill Road, Quarry Road, Byron Avenue, Brebner Terrace, Springhill Road and left on to Provost Rust Drive, before resuming the normal route. 

Service 12 heading to Torry from Heathryfold will travel via Springhill Road, Brebner Terrace, Byron Avenue, Deansloch Crescent, Quarry Road, Granitehill Road and Provost Rust Drive before resuming the normal route. 

Service 12 heading to Scatterburn   will travel from Granitehill Road, Provost Rust Drive, Anderson Drive, Provost Rust Drive and Granitehill Road before resuming the normal route.  

Service 23 heading to Heathryfold from Manor Avenue  will travel from Manor Avenue, Provost Rust Drive, Granitehill Road, Quarry Road, Byron Avenue, Brebner Terrace, Springhill Road, and Provost Rust Drive before resuming the normal route . 

Service 23 heading to City Centre from Heathryfold  will travel onto to Springhill Road, Brebner Terrace, Byron Avenue, Deansloch Crescent, Quarry Road, Granitehill Road, Provost Rust Drive and Manor Avenue before resuming the normal route. 

Buses will not serve Provost Rust Drive from Manor Avenue to Springhill Road.

• The nearest stops for customers will be Granitehill Road.

Great Southern Road/Holburn Street closed 19 March until further notice - Services 17,17A,18,18A,18S,172

Great southern road/holburn street will be closed heading from kincorth to the city centre..

Buses will divert as follows: Services 17,17A,18,18A,18S,172 heading from Union Street to Faulds Gate/Kincorth Normal Service

Services 17,17A heading from Kincorth to Broad Street From the King George V1 Bridge: • left onto Riverside Drive • left onto Holburn Street • 3rd exit at the roundabout onto Anderson Drive • right onto Great Western Road  • continue onto Willowbank Road • right onto Albury Road • left onto Caledonian Place • continue across the junction and continue on Caledonian Place • left onto Ferryhill Road and resume the normal route

Services 18,18A,18S,172 heading from Duthie Park to Broad Street From the King George V1 Bridge: • left onto Riverside Drive • left onto Holburn Street • 3rd exit at the roundabout onto Anderson Drive • right onto Great Western Road • left onto Holburn Street and resume the normal route

Holburn Street Closed 19 March until further notice Service 1,1A,2,2S

Holburn street will be closed from broomhill road to nellfield place..

Buses will divert as follows:

Normal service to Garthdee/Auchinyell

Service 1 heading from RGU to Holburn Junction  From Broomhill Road: • onto Anderson Drive • right onto Great Western Road • continue along Great Western Road • left onto Holburn Street • resume normal route

Service 2/1A heading from Gaitside/RGU to Holburn Street From Asda: • 1st exit onto Anderson Drive • continue along Anderson Drive • right onto Great Western Road  • continue along Great Western Road • left onto Holburn Street • resume normal route

Aberdeen Bus Tours & Charters

Aberdeen Bus Tours & Charters has been in the Tourism Industry for more than twenty years. Our knowledgeable guides have accumulated years offering memorable tours ensuring that all who have knocked on our doors, knock again.

We provide customized tour packages, transportation services for groups etc. in Atlantic Canada. We offer authentic tours to all our clients. Each individual need and want is different and we at Aberdeen go above and beyond to please and offer memorable tours. Aberdeen strives to provide prompt service and offers reasonable rates. Unlike the larger bus companies, we are not franchised. Aberdeen is locally owned and operated.

Call or Email us today to reserve a booking for an educational and adventurous tour.