2 Best Sights in Aberdeen and the Northeast, Scotland

Founded in 1593 by the Earl Marischal (the keeper of the king's mares), Marischal College was a Protestant alternative to the Catholic King's College in Old Aberdeen. The two joined to form the University of Aberdeen in 1860. The spectacularly ornate work of the main university building is set off by the gilded flags, and this turn-of-the-20th-century creation is still one of the world's largest granite buildings.

Built in 1545, this dignified medieval building is the oldest of Aberdeen's historic townhouses. Home to wealthy merchant and Provost (mayor) of Aberdeen, Sir George Skene from 1676 to 1685, it reopened after a lengthy refurbishment in 2021 as the city's newest attraction. Inside, the Hall of Heroes celebrates the achievements of local figures including artists, musicians, writers, and sporting legends.