This historic city has a modern urban flair with cobbled lanes and hidden courtyards. The streets are packed with all sorts of treasures - from architectural to cafés, atmospheric booksellers, museums and floating attractions. When the sun sinks slowly beyond the River Tay and the city's buildings light up the night, you can visit one of the excellent venues for gastronomes to enjoy or visit the observatory to gaze up at the stars.
TOP 8 PLACES TO VISIT
1.FORGAN ARTS CENTRE
The Centre was established in 1978 and offers a wide variety of educational and cultural classes and events to all ages and abilities. Activities you can participate includes Pottery, Upholstery, Crafts, Painting, Floral Art, Dressmaking, Stained Class, Watercolour, Photography, Life Drawing and more. The centre offers long and short term courses.
2.THE MCMANUS ART GALLERY AND MUSEUM
The museum is an award-winning Victorian, Gothic building and is home to Dundee’s main collection over the last 400 million years since 1867. You can see fascinating insight into the art, history and environment of Dundee in one of the eight open gallery spaces. You can learn about the early man in the area, admire stunning paintings and explore artifacts from industries past and present. In addition to the permanent displays, there is a changing programme of exhibitions and events throughout the year. The retail area stocks a wide range of historical reproductions, traditional toys, books and jewellery.
3.SCOTLAND’S JUTE MUSEUM @ VERDANT WORKS
The museum is a tale of two cities, both of them Dundee. During the 19th century Dundee was a city of long working hours, poor pay and ill health. In the museum the rattle and the roar of the original restored machinery, the Juteopolis film show and computer displays transport you back over 100 years to an era when jute was king and Dundee was its realm. While the original machines roar into life, you can listen to the workers’ tales and absorb the sights, sounds and smells surrounding you. A stunning range of displays including film shows, multimedia computers and hands-on interactives, it is definitely worth visiting for the whole family.
4.DUNDEE MUSEUM OF TRANSPORT
The museum opened on Saturday 26 April 2014 (in a temporary building) and is Dundee’s latest addition to Scotland’s city of culture. The public could for the very first time see the previously hidden transport heritage of Tayside. The museum is featuring everything from a 1950s city bus to a steam-roller and a horse-drawn ambulance, a special vintage bus service is ferrying customers to the museum in style throughout the weekend.
5.THE OLD STEEPLE
For over 500 years the medieval tower in the heart of Dundee withstood the ravages of times and invading armies. A collection of medieval carved stones can be seen on the ground level of the museum. There are several fascinating rooms to explore, including the Antiquities Room and the Cap House at the top of the tower. From the top you are rewarded with an amazing panoramic view of surrounding areas.
6.LEUCHARDS ST ATHERNASE CHURCH
The 12th century best preserved Romanesque church is situated in a historic conservation setting - during the 19th century the nave was replaced. It displays remarkable exterior decoration in the form of blind arcading while inside chevron decorated arches draw the eye to the apse and beyond. Distinctive corbels of human and animal form are found inside the apse and in a course outside the chancel. Notable memorials are to Robert Carnegie (who died in 1656 in Leuchars Castle), ambassador for Mary of Guise and her daughter, Mary Queen of Scots.
7.DUNDEE SCIENCE CENTRE
The centre is a unique 4-star attraction devoted to the five senses, with over 60 hands-on exhibits depicting the senses. You can enjoy exciting hands-on science exhibitions, shows and demonstrations for the whole family. From crawling through a giant nose to challenging the robots of Roborealm, the centre will provide hours of fun and stimulation. You can enjoy the live science shows, explore space in the planetarium, move a ball with the power of your mind, morph into an ape, try out some fun science experiments, and meet the robots!
8.BROUGHTY CASTLE MUSEUM
The 15th century coastal fort now houses a museum featuring displays on the life and times of Broughty Ferry, its people, the environment and the wildlife that lives close by. In the Orchar Gallery you can see a selection of paintings from the amazing Orchar Collection. You can enjoy the spectacular views over the River Tay from the observation post. You may even be able to spot a dolphin or two.
OTHER PLACES TO VISITClepington Antique Museum
- Tatha Gallery
- Balmerino Abbey
- Caulders Cupar
- Forbes of Kingennie Country Resort
- British Golf Museum
- Discovery Walk
- Mills Observatory
- RRS Discovery
- Old Caledonia
- Ancrum Outdoor Centre
- The Scottish Antique and Arts Centre, Abernyte
- Olympia
- HMS Unicorn
- The Fun Factory
- St Marks Church
- Dundee Ice Arena
- Clare O’Niell Textiles
- Barry Mill
- Dundee Rep Theatre
Visitors will find that it is easy to reach many locations in Dundee simply by walking to them. Other transport available: bikes, buses, cars and taxis.
Scotland is best visited during late March to May and September to November months. By spring, the temperatures are warmer, although there will still be snow in the mountains of the Highlands and the Cairngorms. The summer months of June through to August are the warmest of the year.
