Airport
Aberdeen Airport
IATA Code: ABZLocation: The airport is situated seven miles (11km) northwest of Aberdeen.
Time: GMT (GMT +1 between last Sunday in March and Saturday before last Sunday in October).
Contacts: Tel: +44 (0)870 040 0006.
Transfer to the city: Aberdeen and Inverness train services run from the local station at Dyce, which is just a short taxi ride from the airport. The main line station is in Aberdeen city centre where there are frequent services to all parts of Scotland and England. Regular bus services operate from the airport to Aberdeen city centre for appriximately £1.50-1.70, and takes roughly 30 minutes. Services are less frequent at weekends than on weekdays.
Taxis: Comcab taxis are available outside the terminal, where a taxi marshaller will assist you in finding a cab. Taxis can be pre-booked via the Comcab Website, and arranged at the Comcab booking office to the right upon entry to the terminal. The journey to the city centre takes approximately 25 minutes in light traffic, and costs roughly £15.
Car rental: Car hire companies represented at the airport include Avis, Europcar, Hertz and National/Alamo. Other off-airport operators can be contacted via the airport information desk. Hired cars can be collected on Broomfield Road, and dropped off at Car Rental Ready and Return.
Facilities: Facilities include left luggage, a bureau de change, bars, a duty free shop, business facilities, play area and several restaurants. There are no smoking facilities in the airport. The Servisair Executive Lounge is located on the first floor past security and can be prebooked online. Other airport lounges include the British Airways Terraces Lounge and the Eastern Airways Lounge, which is located near Gate 10. There are several internet cafes around the airport both before and after security, and wi-fi services operated by Boingo.
Parking: There is short-term parking at Aberdeen Airport within walking distance of the terminal, ranging from £1 for 15 minutes to £8.40 for four hours. Long-term parking at Aberdeen Airport can be accessed by a free shuttle from the terminal; it costs £9 per day and there is a two-day minimum stay.
Departure tax: None.
Website: www.aberdeenairport.com
Visit worldtravels.com for the full guide to Aberdeen. Build a complete Aberdeen travel guide and email to your clients - sign up for a trial subscription of World Travels Pro.
Aberdeen
The bustling seaport of Aberdeen is Scotland's third biggest city, and has been dubbed the Oil Capital of Europe. This alone is not likely to entice visitors to the city, other than those on business trips, but the fact that Aberdeen boasts a fascinating and bloody history, historic granite buildings, beautiful churches, attractive green spaces and plenty of Scotch whisky, just might.
Once a site of brutal conflict with the English during the Scottish Wars of Independence, the city was razed to the ground by King Edward III in 1336, but was quickly rebuilt and expanded rapidly over the centuries as it grew in prominence as a port. The 18th and 19th centuries saw an increase in elegance and style in the city, predominantly in the architecture of Old Aberdeen, an area of buildings made from the glittering local granite. Here, architectural gems include the 15th-century Kings College, the Town House, and Marischal College, one of the best examples of Edwardian architecture in Britain.
Modern Aberdeen is friendly and fun, although foreigners may struggle to understand the thick local accent. Belmont Street and surrounds are packed with restaurants, clubs, bars and live music venues; there are plenty of top-class museums and galleries including the Maritime Museum and the Aberdeen Art Gallery; and the city boasts a host of lush parks, including Duthie Park, which opened in 1883. The vibrant waterfront district also merits exploration, as well as some of the lovely sandy beaches close by.
Aberdeen also acts as a perfect hub from which to explore the beauty and majesty of the Grampian Highlands, enjoy a tipple on the Malt Whisky trail or ramble around ancient Scottish castles.
