Aberdeen: The A-list city will charm even the most seasoned holidaymaker

IT’S an A-list location with more tourism treasures on offer than most people know.

Aberdeen is the vibrant and cosmopolitan oil capital of Europe, noted for its silvery granite buildings and golden sea sands.

Long gone is its grey and grim image of yesteryear.

Today, Aberdeen – aka the Granite City – is hailed by world travel experts as a “glittering” hidden gem to rival parts of Morocco, Japan and Holland.

Lonely Planet even ranked it among the globe’s top 10 places that deserve way more credit than they’ve been given. And we can vouch for that.

This is sun city! That fiery ball in the sky is said to shine more on Aberdeen than any other city in Scotland.

In the spring, the record 10-time winner of the Britain In Bloom Best City Award is host to thousands of golden daffodils.

And majestic rivers run through it. The great Dee and Don teem with wildlife, attracting not only anglers and nature lovers, but joggers, rowing enthusiasts and canoeists.

An exciting fusion of old and new, the Granite City’s uber-chic glass-fronted apartments and office blocks are softened by colourful parks and gardens and the
olde-worlde charm of the fishing hamlet of Footdee and the ancient cobbled streets of Old Aberdeen.

Home to the University of Aberdeen – one of Scotland’s oldest – its 12th Century cathedral is said to hold some of the remains of Sir William Wallace, while nearby Brig O’ Balgownie is thought to have been completed by Robert the Bruce.

But if its history doesn’t grab you, then this jewel of a city has plenty more on offer.

Golf fans will love the fabulous courses and there’s plenty for extreme sports enthusiasts too, from surfing on its glorious beach to
ski-ing at the dry slope at Garthdee.

Retail therapy fans can knock themselves out with five shopping centres and the Granite Mile – official address Union Street – which is lined with smaller boutiques and independent retailers. Together, they make Aberdeen one of the best places to shop in the UK.

With places to stay, a selection of cinemas, fabulous concert and theatre venues, wonderful pubs, clubs and restaurants, funfair and beach leisure complex, Aberdeen has it all.

So if you’re thinking of paying a visit, prepare to be A-mazed!