Getting Around Aberdeen
Aberdeen offers a range of transport options for visitors, from walking the compact city centre to using buses for longer journeys. The city centre is relatively compact and best explored on foot, though some attractions lie further out and may require public transport.
Walking
Walking is an excellent way to explore Aberdeen, particularly in the city centre where you can appreciate the city's grand architecture. The city centre has a medieval layout, so carrying a map is helpful for first-time visitors. Maps are available from the Tourist Information Centre on the corner of Union Street and Shiprow, or from city bookstores. However, the city is larger than it first appears—Union Street alone is a mile long—so for journeys beyond the centre, you may want to use wheeled transport.
Buses
Buses form the main public transport system in Aberdeen. Most city buses are operated by First Aberdeen, which runs a hub-and-spoke network where most routes pass through the city centre, often along Union Street, connecting suburban areas. Services run at intervals of approximately every 15 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes in the evening and on Sundays.
To pay for a bus journey, you can use cash (no change given), a contactless bank card, or an mTicket purchased online or at Paypoint outlets. The mTicket can be displayed on your phone and is useful for day tickets or longer passes.
Useful routes for visitors include buses 1 and 2, which run from the south through Union Square transport hub and northward up King Street to Bridge of Don, Old Aberdeen, and the University of Aberdeen.
Stagecoach Bluebird also operates two cross-city routes: route 59 runs between Northfield and Balnagask via the city centre and Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, and route 727 connects Aberdeen Bus Station to Aberdeen Airport.
Night buses were reintroduced in December 2022 and returned again in 2024 and 2025, being operated by both First Bus and Stagecoach Bluebird.
Taxis
Taxis are available at the railway station and other points around the city centre. A taxi to the city centre from Aberdeen Airport costs approximately £25, while a taxi to Dyce railway station costs around £15.
Rail Network
Aberdeen has two railway stations. The main city-centre station is located on Guild Street, adjacent to Union Square, which provides a covered interchange with the bus station. A Travel Centre at the station offers information and assistance, and facilities include left-luggage storage, ticket machines, ATMs, shops, a café, and toilets. Step-free access is available to all platforms.
ScotRail services connect Aberdeen to six of the seven other Scottish cities, including Edinburgh and Glasgow, as well as many intermediate destinations via the Dundee–Aberdeen line and the Aberdeen–Inverness line. High-speed inter-city services operated by London North Eastern Railway connect Aberdeen to London via Edinburgh in just over seven hours on the East Coast Main Line. CrossCountry services also connect Aberdeen to south-west England and intermediate destinations such as Sheffield, Birmingham, Bristol, and Exeter. Additionally, the Caledonian Sleeper offers an overnight service to and from London Euston six days a week.
A regular stopping service connects Aberdeenshire towns, serving all stations between Inverurie and Montrose.
Dyce railway station is also located in Aberdeen, though it is on the wrong side of the airport runway from the terminal and is primarily useful for picking up northbound trains without entering the city centre.
Getting from Aberdeen Airport to the City
Aberdeen Airport is located in the neighbouring town of Dyce. The most straightforward way to reach the city centre is by bus. The Jet 727 (operated by Stagecoach Bluebird) is a regular airport bus service that connects the airport directly with the city centre at Broad Street and the bus and railway stations at Union Square. The service runs daily between 3am and midnight, with departures every 10–30 minutes, and the journey takes approximately 30 minutes.
Alternatively, you can take a taxi to the city centre, which costs approximately £25.
Dyce railway station is accessible from the airport, though it is a 45-minute walk away with no direct public transport connection. This option is only practical if you need to board a northbound train without visiting the city centre. Trains operate between Aberdeen and Inverness, stopping at Dyce, Inverurie, Insch, Huntly, Keith, Forres, and Nairn.
Car rental desks are available at the airport, though stock is limited and advance booking is recommended.
Long-Distance Buses
Aberdeen Bus Station at Union Square serves as the terminus for Stagecoach services to outlying villages and towns. Frequent services are available to other Scottish cities via operators including Scottish Citylink, Megabus, Ember, and FlixBus. These services pick up and drop off passengers at the bus station and at various points within the city centre, such as Union Street.
Low Emission Zone
The city centre is a Low Emission Zone. Driving a non-compliant vehicle into the designated area incurs a £60 penalty. Cars built after 2015 are generally compliant, though it is worth checking online for your specific vehicle.