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Travelling from Aberdeen International Airport

Aberdeen International Airport Destinations

Want to escape from Aberdeen International Airport (ABZ) soon, but not sure which destinations are available at this exciting Scottish air hub?

Relax, because you’ll get all the insider info you need right here – with some extra useful facts and recommendations thrown in for good measure.

What a city Aberdeen is, though. There are so many positives, it’s almost surprising anyone wants to leave at all.

For instance, one highlight is Aberdeen Maritime Museum, which tells the story of the city's maritime history, with fascinating exhibits about fishing, shipbuilding, and the (thankfully, now defunct) whaling industry.

And sticking with the fishing theme, Footdee (Fittie) is a stunning, UNESCO-listed, fishing village, with lots of lovely winding streets and colourful buildings to wander through.

Back on dry land, you can take a cathartic walk in Duthie Park Winter Gardens. These lavish Victorian glasshouses have their own palm court, a tropical rainforest, and a Mediterranean garden.

If you’re interested in military history meanwhile, don’t miss the Gordon Highlanders Museum, which showcases one of Scotland’s most famous regiments. And culture vultures also love Aberdeen Art Gallery. This exciting institution has an immaculate collection of art, including masterpieces by Monet, Turner, and even Picasso.

Alternatively, Slains Castle is popular with history buffs and with its dramatic position overlooking the North Sea, is said to have inspired Dracula’s Transylvanian castle in Bram Stoker’s famous book.

And there’s lots more to see along Aberdeenshire’s coastal path, so if you want to get some fresh air and exercise, stroll along this sublime 60-mile stretch to take in dizzying cliffs, hidden coves, beautiful beaches and jaw-dropping North Sea vistas.

If you’re fond of a drop of the good stuff (and you’ve got a designated driver), definitely set your radar for Aberdeenshire Distillery Trail. This is a self-guided trail round some of the best whisky distilleries in the area, including Balvenie, Glen Garioch, and Glenfiddich.

Provided you can spare the time to venture a little further, Royal Deeside is a stunning area north of Aberdeen which hosts the River Dee, Loch Muick and Balmoral Castle (the Royal Fam’s preferred pad whenever they’re in the area).

And there are plenty more historic buildings in this part of the world. For instance, Dunnottar Castle looks like nothing else you’ve ever seen, perched imperiously on a rocky promontory at the mouth of the River Dee. And the 12th century St. Machar's Cathedral is one of Aberdeen’s rarest (and most impressive) icons.

And what’s impressive about Aberdeen’s physical environment isn’t just the style. It’s also the substance, because The Granite City gets its name from the elegant grey stone many of the buildings are crafted from. The Granite Mile is peppered with fine examples of beautiful local buildings, like the Tolbooth and Marischal College.

If you’re peckish after all that exploring, Aberdeen’s cuisine scene is pretty good indeed. For instance, Chaophraya is a Thai establishment serving everything from gorgeous green curry to ocean-fresh seafood, nom nom. Meanwhile, Rustico is a traditional family-run Italian joint serving all your favourite pasta and pizza dishes like mamma used to make.

Aberdeen also has a nice selection of bars, so you won’t be stuck if you fancy a refreshing evening. Welcoming pubs include The Tippling House (known for cocktails and comfy booths), College Bar (trendy industrial vibes and big screen sports) and CASC Bar (intimate whisky and cigar haunt). For something totally different though, try Krakatoa, a rock ‘n roll live music venue with a wild pirate theme.

After all that leisure (and pleasure), you’ll need some where snug to stay. Try the Marcliffe Hotel and Spa for country manor vibes complete with wine cellar, Malmaison for stylish brasserie ambience, and Residence Inn by Marriot for cosy studios and suites with gym and free breakfast.

Aberdeen International Airport destinations list

You can fly from ABZ to lots of interesting UK and Europe locations. Please check them all out below.

Aberdeen International Airport UK destinations

Arranging a work trip, family reunion or romantic weekend elsewhere in the UK?

You can fly from ABZ to all sorts of interesting locations, like Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Dundee, Inverness, Glasgow, London Stansted, London Luton, London Gatwick and London Heathrow Airport LHR. As well as Liverpool, Newcastle, Manchester and Southampton.

Aberdeen International Airport Europe destinations

Fancy a trip to Europe? ABZ offers flights to great locations like Amsterdam, Alicante, Bergen, Dublin, Copenhagen, Geneva, Dusseldorf, Ljubljana, Lausanne, Luxembourg City, Malta, Mallorca, Paris, Rome, Pristina, Stockholm, Warsaw and Zurich.

What are the best places to fly to from Aberdeen Airport?

Choose Alicante for a charismatic Costa Blanca city with outstanding beaches and a wonderful climate. You can chill out on the soft sands of Playa de San Juan, discover Santa Barbara’s romantic castle ruins, and tuck into superb seafood, tapas and paella.
Choose Dalaman for a terrific Turquoise Coast resort with a laid-back atmosphere and lovely natural scenery. Expect sun, sea, sand, boat trips and delicious local dishes like baklava hummus and kebabs.
Choose Corfu for an idyllic island with a unique history. Stroll around the old town of Corfu, visit Achillion Palace, and unwind all the way on Issos beach. And once you’ve soaked up scenery and history, try mouth-watering local cuisine like souvlaki and moussaka.
Choose Gdańsk, Poland for an ancient city with a captivating old town and electric cultural scene. As well as exploring the historical areas, you can hop on a boat to explore the River Motlawa and try local delicacies like smoked eel and goulash.

From Aberdeen to the world

Choose Malaga for warm Mediterranean temperatures and rich heritage. Pedregalejo beach is beautiful, the Alcazaba fortress is impressive, and the Picasso Museum is a kaleidoscope of unique creativity. The food’s not bad at all either, with tasty dishes like gazpacho and churros con chocolate.
Choose Stavanger for its stunning harbour and rugged friendliness. This gas and oil hub has an immaculate pedestrianised city centre, there’s an interesting Viking Ship Museum and lots of lovely local food like waffles and fish.
Choose Bourgas (Bulgaria) if you fancy a gem of a Black Sea coast resort town. The beaches are pristine and perfect for swimming, sunbathing and people-watching, the ancient ruins of Nessebar are a sight to behold, and the cuisine’s great too – especially the seafood (as you might expect).
Choose Oslo for its amazing Oslofjord setting, elegant Royal Palace, vibrant Vigeland Sculpture Park and exciting Bygdøy peninsula boat trips. Unusual food choices here include reindeer with waffles.
Choose Belfast for a fine city which has transitioned from a difficult past to a vibrant present. From the Titanic Museum to the impressive old city centre, and River Lagan walks to perfectly poured pints of the black stuff, there’s something for everyone.

Which airlines fly out of Aberdeen International Airport?

A whole host of excellent airlines fly out of ABZ.

You’ve got Aer Lingus, airBaltic, BH Air, British Airways, and Eastern Airways, As well as easyJet, KLM, Loganair, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Ryanair and Widerøe.

How can I hire a car at Aberdeen International Airport?

Hiring a car at Aberdeen International Airport is easier than you might think and there are a few easy steps to follow.

First, book your car hire in advance, because it’s the best way to get an early bird bargain and ensure you get the car you really want.

You can book directly with car hire providers or sometimes get an even better deal from aggregator sites – and since you’re here, we’re happy to recommend ourselves at Enjoy Travel!

When you get to Aberdeen International Airport, just follow the signs to the car hire pickup zone, where you’ll find the Enjoy Travel car hire booth. All you need to do next is provide your booking confirmation email and ID to the agent, collect your car keys and be on your way.

We partner with several respected car hire firms at ABZ, including Budget, Avis, Enterprise, Sixt and Europcar. Obviously, the choice of provider will depend on your chosen date and vehicle type, but convenience, keen pricing and customer service are assured regardless.

Congrats on making it to the end of your Aberdeen International Airport destinations guide – we hope you’ll agree it’s a bit of an epic! Wherever you choose to fly to, buckle up, travel safely and send us a postcard.