There are normally only 2 reasons to visit Aberdeen and just hope you are not on a typical coach tour, you will have a lot more fun and a more interesting time on a private tour... here are the 2 reasons.

1. To visit the Jumbo Floating Restaurants

2. To take a Sampan ride around Aberdeen harbour

however Aberdeen is a little bit more interesting these days, about half an hour of walking from Aberdeen to Wong Chuk Hang can be very rewarding and about 45 minutes of walking will actually get you to Ocean Park.

Take the extra time and enjoy!

Jumbo Floating Restaurants in Aberdeen

Trust me, best visited at night time.

Unless you are on a typical coach tour it is unlikely that you will have the time or inclination to visit Aberdeen, trust me you are not missing much and it is one of those places that looks a lot better at night time. I lived in Aberdeen in the mid 1980's and it was pretty grim then and is not really any better now and you really do not want to fall into the water which is a distinct possibility when travelling on the sampan to get to this floating lump of kitsch.

Yes, I kid you not, on April 16th I almost ended up in the harbour whilst disembarking from a Sampan (due to a heavy swell the boat went up about 2ft as I was stepping onto the pier and I ended up leaping and landing on my knees! Ouch!!) I was not concerned about the knee, I was worried about picking up any number of diseased from the filthy harbour.

Personally I would not be seen dead in a place like this (and I have been twice) but to be fair it has it's attractions, it is certainly popular with your average Tour Company, the food is not bad as well but honestly it is a tourist trap BUT I have to say they look pretty impressive at night, all lit up, an excellent photo opportunity but frankly that is no reason to visit, but if you are on a coach tour you probably have no choice.

I have seen the odd low key article mentioning that there is going to be significant redevelopment in Aberdeen with the Tourist Market in mind .. as they say, watch this space.

Sampan ride around Aberdeen harbour

just make sure you do not fall into the harbour.

Of these I would heartily recommend the 2nd choice and hire a Sampan to take you round Aberdeen Harbour, it really is that interesting though perhaps not for the reasons you think.

Quite simply it is the dichotomy between the old part of Aberdeen Harbour occupied by old fishing boats, house boats, junks and sampans etc and the newer part that is the home of the Aberdeen Marina Club and the fleet of privately owned yachts and boats of the style you see on the Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.... both parts connected by the monstrosities that are the Jumbo Floating Restaurants.

I have done this ride more than a few times, you can go on a semi official Sampan and share with other tourists or as I always do, hire a less formal Sampan for HK$60 (US$7.70) per person which gets you 30 minutes of sight seeing.. If it is a slow day they will take just you and your party or single people.. You need to know that their English is at the same level of my Cantonese, ie non existent and they have a handy pre printed card in English that gives the price and terms etc.. nothing a bit of sign language and a smile won’t fix.

This gets me back to that dichotomy thingy and the reason why I am always so interested in the Aberdeen Sampan ride.. Quite simply, it is the sheer amount of floating rubbish and human waste that is apparent in the harbour, my photo’s do not do it justice... it is appalling and what makes it worse, it that it is actually worse at Aberdeen Marina Club, where multi million dollar boats are anchored in a pile of filth and rubbish, it does not smell much but I am appalled that no effort seems to be made to clean the harbour and every time I go it seems to get worse..

Trust me you really do not want to fall into the harbour