Aberdeen (UK)

Europe > United Kingdom > Aberdeen (ABZ)

The Car or no Car advice for  Aberdeen can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in Aberdeen ;  is it worth it (based on costs), and ultimately - should you rent one? (a balance of the two).

🚆 🚌⛴️ Do we need to rent a car in Aberdeen ?

These scores are based on the quality of public transport and other travel options. If these are good enough to see the main points of interest, then you don’t need to rent a car.

🇬🇧 Mode

Score
🚆 Non-car score non-car score 6

💰💶💳 Is it worth hiring a car in Aberdeen?

These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.

🇬🇧 Factor

Score
🚗 Car Score car rental availability score 7
🚗Do we need a car in Aberdeen? Is it worth it? Should we rent one? | Comment
Aberdeen is coastal, granite-grey, elegant, and full of surprising charm. It mixes city life with beaches, cliffs, and countryside in a seamless way. So, should you rent a car in Aberdeen? The answer depends on how far you want to travel beyond the city centre, because Aberdeen itself is walkable but Aberdeenshire is packed with countryside gems.

🚶 Why You Don’t Always Need a Car in Aberdeen

First of all, central Aberdeen is compact and easy to explore on foot. You can walk between Union Street, the beachfront, Old Aberdeen, and the harbour without much effort.

🌟 Go Car-Free If:

  • You are staying close to Union Street or the city centre

  • You want to explore Old Aberdeen, the University, and St Machar’s Cathedral

  • You plan to spend time at the beachfront, museums, and cafés

  • You prefer using buses or taxis for short trips

Additionally, Aberdeen has reliable public transport along main routes. Because of this, staying within the city remains simple without needing a car.

➡ In short: for a pure Aberdeen city trip, going car-free works beautifully.

🚗 When Renting a Car Becomes the Better Choice

However, if you want to explore Aberdeenshire, a car makes the trip dramatically better. Aberdeen sits at the gateway to some of Scotland’s most striking landscapes.

A Car Helps If You Plan To:

  • Visit Dunnottar Castle, perched on dramatic sea cliffs

  • Explore Royal Deeside, including Balmoral area

  • Drive the Whisky Trail or Castle Trail

  • Visit coastal villages like Stonehaven, Cullen, and Pennan

  • Hike in Cairngorms National Park

Public transport exists, but it doesn’t reach many rural sights directly. Because of this, renting a car gives you freedom, flexibility, and much more scenic access.

🚌 Public Transport Options

Even so, Aberdeen offers several helpful alternatives:

  • Buses reach Stonehaven, Ellon, and some coastal towns

  • Trains connect Aberdeen with Inverness, Dundee, and Edinburgh

  • Taxis and rideshares support short urban routes

These options are useful, but they still don’t match the convenience of driving in rural Aberdeenshire.

🧭 Quick Decision Table

Your Plan in Aberdeen Car Needed?
City centre, Old Aberdeen, museums ❌ No
Beach, harbour, cafés ❌ No
Dunnottar Castle or Stonehaven ✅ Yes
Cairngorms, Royal Deeside, Whisky Trail ✅ Yes
Multi-stop countryside day trips ✅ Yes

🎯 Conclusion: Should You Rent a Car in Aberdeen?

  • 🚫 Skip the car if you’re staying in central Aberdeen and focusing on beaches, museums, and historic neighbourhoods.

  • 🚗 Rent a car if you plan to explore Aberdeenshire’s coast, countryside, castles, and dramatic landscapes.

In the end…

Aberdeen itself is walkable and well-connected, but the wider region offers so much more. A car simply unlocks the best parts of northeast Scotland.

🚗Do we need a car in Aberdeen? Is it worth it? Should we? Destinations | Comment

🚗 ✅ ❌ Summary Table

This summary score brings how much you really need a car, whether it’s worth it, driver options, local driving rules, and an overall recommendation.

🇬🇧 Factor

Score
🚗Should You Rent a Car in Aberdeen?
 overall should you rent a car score 5
 This site is planned for full launch on 1st March 2026. Full terms, advice, FAQs, disclaimer etc to follow.