Aberdeen is set to make waves in tourism this year with the launch of its brand-new open-top bus tour, the Aberdeen Adventurer. Starting April 18, this vibrant orange bus promises to showcase the Granite City’s rich history, breathtaking architecture, and stunning coastline in a fresh and exciting way.
The Aberdeen Adventurer offers locals and visitors alike a unique hop-on-hop-off experience, stopping at ten iconic locations across the city every 90 minutes. Key stops include Broad Street, Old Aberdeen, Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen Beach, and Duthie Park, among others. The full tour lasts approximately 75 minutes for those who choose to stay onboard.
Stephen Riggans, Area Director for McGill’s Buses, expressed his excitement about the launch. He commented:
“Aberdeen’s tourism scene is thriving, with around 2 million visitors a year – and we’re beyond excited to introduce ‘The Aberdeen Adventurer’ to the city!
“With the expansion of the South Harbour transforming Aberdeen into a premier cruise destination and over 70 cruise calls bringing thousands of visitors planned for 2025, there’s never been a better time to help visitors explore the Granite City.
“This new open-top tour will perfectly complement the many fantastic things to see and do in Aberdeen, offering a fresh and exciting way to experience its incredible history, breathtaking architecture, and stunning coastline.
“Whether you’re arriving by sea, discovering the city for the first time, or seeing it from a new perspective, we can’t wait to welcome you aboard for an unforgettable adventure through the heart of Aberdeen!”
Councillor Alex McLellan, convener of the finance and resources committee at Aberdeen City Council, said: “It is fantastic news that the Aberdeen Adventurer will be operating in our city in a matter of weeks.
“This provides a real opportunity for the increasing number of visitors to our city, and for those already living here, to get around Aberdeen and see everything our city has to offer.”
The initiative comes at an opportune moment as Aberdeen prepares to host major events like the Tall Ships Festival and Offshore Europe. With over 70 cruise ships expected to dock at South Harbour this year, city leaders hope the new bus service will encourage tourists to explore deeper and stay longer.
Chris Foy, Chief Executive of VisitAberdeenshire, highlighted the impact of such tours: “Studies in Birmingham and Valencia have demonstrated that sightseeing tours can influence visitors’ decisions to extend their stay and explore more. These outcomes align perfectly with our ambition to encourage greater geographic spread and reasons to stay longer in Aberdeen.”
Tickets for the Aberdeen Adventurer are priced competitively, at £15 for adults, £10 for concessions and students, and £8 for children aged five to fifteen. Children under five travel free when accompanied by an adult. Family tickets are also available for £32. Each ticket includes headphones with multilingual audio guides narrating the history of landmarks along the route.
Passengers will also enjoy exclusive discounts at local businesses like BrewDog and Mackies 19.2, enhancing their overall experience of Aberdeen’s vibrant culture.
The project is a collaboration between McGill’s Xplore, Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce (AGCC), VisitAberdeenshire, and Aberdeen Inspired.
Russell Borthwick, AGCC Chief Executive, remarked: “We’ve devised an amazing route—a first-class new product for visitors to the Granite City—and it’s a great culmination of partnership in action. See you on board!”
