Dundee
Discover a reinvented city where nods to its incredible industrial past mingle with a top-notch arts and culture scene.
Why we love Dundee
Jute, jam and journalism: all famously part of the fabric of Dundee for centuries. And even today, you can immerse yourself in the city’s textile industry (discovering what jute actually is) at its top-notch museums, taste its tangy marmalade in every slice of Dundee cake, and smile at its comic creations that are found in bookshelves worldwide.
But what you might not know is that Dundee has more parkland per head than any other British city, or that Dundonians are the talented minds behind some of our most-played video games. Did you know Dundee is also Britain’s first UNESCO City of Design?
Head to the city’s sparkling waterfront, where Scotland’s first design museum makes a big impact, and climb aboard an Antarctic expedition ship for a taste of life at sea. Want more? Make Dundee your base for discovering eastern Scotland, from the Peter Pan town of Kirriemuir to Arbroath’s seafood treasures.
V&A Dundee
You’re in for a creative treat before you’ve even stepped inside V&A Dundee thanks to architect Kengo Kuma’s daring architecture, which evokes Scotland’s rugged coastline. The nation’s first design museum champions Scottish artistic talent, as you’ll see in the Scottish Design Galleries: think textiles, ceramics, illustrations and much more. Succession fans – recognise V&A Dundee from series two?
University of Dundee Botanic Garden
Get green-fingered at Dundee’s urban oasis, a showcase for British plants. Spread across 27 acres, it’s free to visit and will keep you busy for hours – especially on a sunny day. It’s a great place for the family to let off some steam, with buggy-friendly paths and baby changing facilities at the visitor centre. Here you can also pick up useful guides to the gardens to plan your visit.
SaltDog Marine
See Dundee – and if you’re lucky, its resident dolphins – on a fun-filled RIB adventure. Join SaltDog Marine on their popular one-hour trips from Broughty Ferry, where you’ll be treated to a sea-breezy new perspective on Dundee’s sights. Look out for the striking V&A Gallery and the Larick Beacon, an old pile lighthouse, as well as the odd cruise ship. There’s even a community of bottlenose dolphins who call this area home, so keep an eye out for them.
Discovery Point
In 1901, Captain Scott set sail for the Antarctic regions aboard a remarkable ship, the RRS Discovery: the last vessel of its kind to be built in Britain. Over 100 years later, the ship has returned home to Dundee, and today you can climb aboard to relive Scott and his crew’s epic adventure. Explore both above and below deck, and find out more about the ship’s post-Antarctic life, too.
Camperdown Country Park
Enjoy the fresh air in Dundee’s largest public park. It’s especially remarkable for its tree collection, with 190 different species to spot on your walk. Follow the Camperdown Tree Trail to make sure you don’t miss any. Young explorers will love the park’s state-of-the-art play area, too.
Things to do in Dundee
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HMS Unicorn
Dundee Museum of Transport
Dundee Rep
Camperdown Country Park
Discovery Point
V&A Dundee
University of Dundee Botanic Garden
McManus Art Gallery and Museum
Broughty Castle Museum
Mills Observatory
Verdant Works
Dundee Cycle Hub
Caird Hall
Broughty Ferry
HMS Unicorn
Dundee Museum of Transport
Dundee Rep
Camperdown Country Park
Discovery Point
V&A Dundee
University of Dundee Botanic Garden
McManus Art Gallery and Museum
Broughty Castle Museum
Mills Observatory
Verdant Works
Dundee Cycle Hub
Caird Hall
Broughty Ferry
Featured things to do
Salt-spritzed fun
Fancy a seafari? Hold on tight for a Rib experience on the Tay Estuary, where you might be accompanied by seals and dolphins on one of SaltDog Marine's hour-long excursions.
Learn more about SaltDog Marine’s trips
Blooming delight
In summer, the grounds of Glamis Castle are in full bloom and well worth a stroll. Don't miss the Italian Garden, designed by Queen Elizabeth II’s grandmother, and the carefully manicured Kitchen Garden.
Learn more about Glamis Castle’s gardens
Fabric flair
Immerse yourself in Dundee’s industrial heritage at Verdant Works, the city’s former jute mill that's been transformed into a museum. The best bit is, you can still see the old machines at work today.
Learn more about Verdant Works
Light it up
‘Tis the season of celebration, and the Dundee Hooley is kicking things off with a bang. Join the torchlit procession, marvel at the giant puppets, create your own lantern and dance the night away to live music.
Learn more about the Dundee HooleyPlaces to stay in Dundee
Dundee city centre
Stay at the heart of the action in Dundee city centre, with hotel and guesthouse breaks for all budgets. EmbraceScotland also has plenty of self-catering options.
West End
Soak up the student vibes of Dundee’s West End, crammed with cafes, bars and bags of independent shopping along Perth Road. For a breath of fresh air, head to the city’s oldest park, Magdalen Green, with views across the River Tay.
Broughty Ferry
You’ll find seaside charm in spades at Broughty Ferry, just four miles (6.4km) from central Dundee. Don’t miss its mighty castle, top-notch food scene and award-winning sandy beach.
Explore nearby
Getting to Dundee
Dundee is served by Edinburgh Airport, 60 miles (97km) away. The FLY coach service is the only direct public transport link between the two destinations, taking one hour 20 minutes. Dundee Airport offers regular direct flights to London Heathrow, as well as to the Scottish islands of Orkney and Shetland.
If you’re travelling to Dundee from London, you can also take the London North Eastern Railway (LNER) direct train service from London Kings Cross, which takes around 6.5 hours. There are also direct trains from Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow, all taking under one hour 30 minutes.
Direct bus services between London Victoria Coach Station and Dundee are available with Flixbus. These overnight services run daily and take around 11 hours 15 minutes. At other times, you’ll need to change buses at Glasgow.
Driving to Dundee takes less than two hours if you’re coming from Aberdeen, Edinburgh or Glasgow.
Getting around Dundee
By foot
It’s easy to explore Dundee city centre on foot. Why not bring your walk to life with one of the city’s special trails, like the Dundee Women’s Trail or Dundee Heritage Walk?
By bike
There are plenty of cycle trails in Dundee to enjoy. Saddle up for the Green Circular, a 26-mile (42km) cycle route that loops around the city. For bike hire, head to Dundee Cycle Hub on the waterfront.
By bus
Hop on board Xplore Dundee’s buses to navigate the city with ease. The open-top Discover Dundee sightseeing tour runs from May to September.
Want to know more?
For more Dundee travel tips and inspiration, VisitScotland has you covered.