Car Hire Aberdeen

A quick guide to Aberdeen

From the granite-hewn buildings to galleries, churches and chapels, Aberdeen has hidden depths. Oil transformed the fortunes of the city, so there are high-end places to eat and drink, but also free museums, natural beauty and the joys of Scotland’s rural bounty outside the city.

A historical adventure

Aberdeen has a rich and interesting history, both before and after the oil boom. St. Machar's Cathedral is one of the biggest attractions in town and boasts beautiful architecture both on the exterior and the interior. It’s fortified – a rarity among cathedrals – and has sat serenely on this site for over 500 years. It took two centuries to complete the place of worship, reputed to be the burial place of one of William Wallace’s limbs.

Aberdeen is also home to Brig o’Balgownie - Scotland’s oldest bridge. It’s a charming part of the region, sitting across the River Don, creating a picturesque location that feels a world away from the more bustling parts of the city.

A golf lover’s paradise

If you’re a lover of golf, then there aren’t many places that can top Scotland – no surprise in the country that invented the game. Just over 120 km away from Aberdeen is St. Andrews Links, known as the ‘Home of Golf’. Set in pretty surroundings, you’ll be in the company of many professional players when you hit the course. You’ll also have the opportunity to visit the old course where golf was born over 600 years ago.

Scotland awaits

When you leave Aberdeen, there’s a rich variety of places that you can visit. Just under 80km away from Aberdeen is the world-famous Balmoral Castle.

This is the Scottish holiday home of the Royal family and, as soon as you arrive in the area, you’ll be able to see why. The imposing castle is a sight to behold and sits in vast grounds and gardens. It’s a wonderful place to enjoy a day out exploring the stunning estate – look out for the Garden Cottage where Queen Victoria liked to take breakfast.

You’ll find Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital city, less than three hours away. You can spend all day seeing the sights of this city or you can just see the city as a sight in itself. Walk the cobbled Royal Mile and enjoy lunch in a cafe before strolling right up to Edinburgh Castle to enjoy an incredible view across the cityscape.

All at sea

Back in Aberdeen, make time for the city’s fine Maritime Museum, which is built upon a reproduction of a North Sea oil platform. It’s not all about oil, however, as the museum also finds space to focus on fishing, whaling and shipbuilding over the years, with special attention paid to the romantic clippers that once plied the oceans, trading tea and more.

From the coast to the city and beyond, car rental in Aberdeen will let you discover this unsung but beautiful corner of Scotland in comfort and at your own pace.

Driving in and around Aberdeen

With Scotland’s handsome east coast stretching both north and south, driving in Aberdeen and beyond can be really enjoyable. Roads in this city are well-maintained and signs are easy to follow. Of course, during the commuter hours in the morning and evening, traffic can become congested, however if you do manage to avoid these times with some forward planning, you’ll find that traffic moves freely.

You’ll drive on the left and overtake on the right, as you will throughout all of the UK. The city has a number of bus lanes that carry a hefty fine if misused, so be sure to take notice of the signs whilst driving. Mobile phones are banned while driving and everyone in the car must wear a seatbelt.

Limits vary between the different types of roads, however the speed limit on the motorway is 112 km/h and, in built-up areas such as the centre of the city, 48 km/h. It’s important to note that speed limits are shown in miles per hour, and distances in miles.

With a car at your disposal in Aberdeen, you can venture beyond the city and enjoy driving across the rest of Scotland, which is truly a pleasure. The roads weave through an incredible landscape combining a soothing mix of mountainous scenes and quaint towns.

Travel north from Aberdeen and you’ll delve even deeper into the wilds of Scotland. Just over 160km away from Aberdeen on the A96 is the coastal city of Inverness, a picturesque part of the country that boasts a number of wonderful attractions and is close to Loch Ness with its mythical monster.

If you decide to head south instead, then just over 100km away from Aberdeen is Dundee. Another coastal city, it’s home to an attractive waterfront area which has many museums, ships and historical sights to keep you busy all day.