Welcome to a fun-packed Aberdeen city centre!
There's not one but two free dinosaur trails coming in October, free activities for all ages in the October school holidays, and great offers for cheaper parking in Council car parks and the Trinity Centre Q Car Park.
These are on top of our award-winning cultural attractions, green spaces, unique heritage, and great hospitality in restaurants, pubs and cafes - we hope you enjoy your city centre!
Dinosaur trails - they're roarsome!
Iconic Bricks free dinosaur trail - Saturday 12 October to Sunday 27 October
A total of 18 dinosaur brick models have been placed across the city centre - can you find them all?
This exciting free trail will bring dinosaurs to life using model bricks, each created by Iconic Bricks.
Our handy map will help you to locate each unique dinosaur - they can be found in any order.
Below are the opening times of the businesses taking part in the Iconic Bricks Dinosaur Trail:
- Bon Accord Centre and St Nicholas Centre - Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sundays 11am-5pm
- Central Library - Mon and Wed - 9am-8pm, Tues, Thurs, Fri and Sat - 9am-5pm
- Hamish Munro Footwear - Mon-Sat 10am-5pm and Sun 11am-4pm
- Charles Michies Pharmacy - Mon-Sat 9am-5:30pm
- Geek Retreat - Mon, Tues, Thurs and Fri 10am-9pm, Wed 10am-10pm, Sat 10am-8pm, Sun 12-7pm
- Trinity Centre - Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sun 10am-5:30pm
- Union Square - Mon-Fri 9am-8pm, Sat 9am-7pm, Sun 11am-6pm
- Maritime Museum - Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 11am-4pm
- Annie Mo's - Mon-Sat 10am-5:30pm, Sun 12-5pm
The Esslemont - Wed-Fri 5pm-9pm, Sat 12-9pm, Sun 12-8pm
Hidden Lego Minifigure free trail - Saturday 12 October to Sunday 27 October
You can also look out for the Hidden Lego Minifigures, small brick figurines hidden across ten shop windows in Upperkirkgate and Belmont Street! Once each minifigure has been found, you can enter our prize draw to win one of 10 Aberdeen Gift Cards worth £20 that can be used businesses across the city!
You can use the below map to discover each Hidden Minifigure!
Additional activities - Saturday 12 October to Sunday 27 October
Fun FREE activities will be available that all ages can get involved with throughout the October holidays!
Additional activities are available to view online.
Other free fun activities
Aberdeen Art Gallery is home to one of the finest collections in the country. The collection spans 700 years and includes a staggering range of works by local, national and international artists, designers and makers.
Aberdeen Maritime Museum tells the story of the city’s long and often dramatic relationship with the sea.
Provost Skene’s House celebrates the pioneering people of Aberdeen and the North-East of Scotland who have not only shaped the city, but have also helped transform the world.
Walking trail guides - there are 27 downloadable guides which you can also print out to help you explore the beautiful and historic city of Aberdeen. Follow the maps to discover historical and natural gems around the city and you can also cycle on many of the trails
Car parking offers
Free weekend parking in selected Council car parks
Denburn car park and Frederick Street car park both will have free parking the last three weekends in October, and the first weekend in November. This period covers the school October break.
£1 after 5pm parking in selected Council car parks in October
Visitors to Aberdeen’s city centre can park in council car parks for just £1 after 5pm.
Normal charging rates resume from 8am.
The car parks for this offer are Virginia Street, the Gallowgate, Frederick Street, Summer Street, Chapel Street, West North Street, and the Denburn.
Trinity Centre Q-Park offer
This October, enjoy 20% off pre-booked parking at Q-Park Trinity Centre with the code ABRDN20.
Whether you're shopping, dining, or exploring the city, we've got your parking covered.
Offer valid until October 31.
Blue badge parking
Find out more information about where people with blue badges can park is found.
How to get to the city centre
Cars/other vehicles
There have been changes in recent years to city centre roads however access continues to car parks and motorists can still get to destinations, just by using a different route than they’re perhaps used to.
All city centre car parks can be accessed without going through the city centre bus gates. In you're unsure, here's some handy videos of how to get to car parks avoiding the city centre bus gates:-
- King Street to Market Street passing Union Square
- Queen Elizabeth Bridge Wapping Street drive to Guild Street passing the Trinity Centre car park
- Westburn Rd to Bon Accord Shopping centre car park passing Gallowgate car park
For the low emission zone, similar to those in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee, you can check if your vehicle is compliant online. Drivers of non-compliant vehicles can still access the city centre by using 10 out of the 14 city centre car parks - College Street, Union Square, Trinity Centre, Virginia Street, Frederick Street, West North Street, Gallowgate, Loch Street, Harriet Street and Denburn.
Bus and trains
First Bus services cover Aberdeen with most coming into the city centre.
Most of Stagecoach services cover Aberdeenshire coming into the city centre or to the bus station at Union Square Shopping Centre.
Trains into the city centre can be viewed via Scotrail's timetable.
Walking and cycling
You can find out where cycle parking is in the city centre online.
Other useful information
The Aberdeen Gift Card can be used in almost 350 businesses so is the perfect way to experience your city centre. Give the gift of Aberdeen and enjoy all the city has to offer. Find out more information via the Aberdeen Inspired website.
Some of the activities are thanks to funding from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.