Aberdeen, the 'Granite City', is a famous, cosmopolitan city with an international population and a booming oil industry. It is the Scotland's third largest city with an official population for the local authority estimated at 202,370. 

With its sparkling granite buildings, Aberdeen has one of Scotland’s most charming skylines. The city boasts spectacular architecture and captivating museums, fascinating history, a wealth of art and culture and a lively social scene. The city has its own golden sandy beach which is only a mile or so from its centre. The city centre features the opulent Marischal College and the colonnaded Art Gallery with its fine collection, which have been preserved as museums.

Aberdeen has won the Britain in Bloom competition a record breaking ten times, and hosts the Aberdeen International Youth Festival, a major international event which attracts up to 1000 of the most talented young performing arts companies.

Symbols of the city typically show three castles, such as in the case of the flag and coat of arms. The image has been around since the time of Robert the Bruce and represents the buildings that stood on the three hills of Aberdeen; Aberdeen Castle on Castle Hill; an unknown building on Windmill Hill and a church on St. Catherine's Hill.

The city has a wide range of cultural activities, amenities and museums. The city is regularly visited by Scotland's National Arts Companies. The Aberdeen Art Gallery houses a collection of Impressionist, Victorian, Scottish and twentieth Century British paintings as well as collections of silver and glass. The main museums are the Aberdeen Maritime Museum, Provost Ross' House, the Gordon Highlanders Museum, Marischal Museum.

Aberdeen has long been famous for its 45 outstanding lovely flower-filled parks and gardens, and citywide floral displays which include two million roses, eleven million daffodils and three million crocuses. Some of them are Union Terrace Gardens, Victoria Park, Westburn Park, Johnston Gardens, Seaton Park, Duthie Park Winter Gardens and Hazlehead Park.