There are so many things to do in Dundee, and it’s only a 30-minute drive away from Perth, an hour from Stirling or an hour and 15 minutes from Edinburgh.
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Contents
Things to do in Dundee
Taking a road trip to Dundee is a great way to spend a day or part of it. There are many more things to do in Dundee than I have listed here, suitable for all ages. For my visit, I started on the Esplanade, where you’ll find car parking areas.
The car park where I parked was a pay-and-display located next to Discovery Point on the riverfront.
You can also walk along the Esplanade with views of the Tay Road and Rail Bridges.
V&A Dundee
The V&A building on the Dundee waterfront is not only an incredible design, but it also holds exhibitions of other works in the design world and more.
This is one of the things to do in Dundee that I can highly recommend.
Visiting is free, although some exhibitions may require an entry fee. If you want a snack, you have the choice of two cafes, one on the ground floor and another on the first level, with views over the River Tay.
Hours
- Daily 10.00 – 17.00
Price
Free, although paid exhibitions are available.
Where It Is
You’ll find the V&A at 1 Riverside Drive next to the river and the RSS Discovery. It’s a short walk from the pay-and-display car park.
Discovery Point
Discovery Point is where you will find the RSS Discovery and the Discovery Centre. It’s situated next to the V&A on the waterfront.
Here in Dundee, the RSS Discovery was built and took the hand-picked crew of Captain Scott, including Ernest Shackleton, on their voyage and adventure to Antarctica.
In the Discovery Story, you can learn all about the Antarctic expeditions, what conditions were like, how they survived (or didn’t), and much more. Additional exhibitions are scheduled, subject to change; please check the website for updates.
Hours and Prices
Mon-Sat 10 am – 5 pm except Sunday 11 am – 5 pm
We are closed on 24, 25, 26, 31 December and 1 & 2 January.
To book and view the available passes, click here.
Where It Is
You’ll find the RSS Discovery next to the river on Riverside Drive, next to the pay-and-display car park.
City Centre
Desperate Dan and Minnie the Minx
Walking up the city centre will give you plenty of sights to see, and things to do in Dundee, including the statues of Desperate Dan and Minnie the Minx in the city square.
Where It Is
You’ll find the statues on Main Road in Dundee near City Square.
City Square
In front of Caird Hall is City Square, a great place to sit and take in all that is going on around you. Caird Hall is a concert auditorium, so it tends to be busy during concerts.
St. Mary’s Parish Church
If churches are more your style, St. Mary’s Parish Church may be worth visiting. The Church is open to visitors on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from June to August, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Please organise your time well if you want to go inside. You may also want to check the website before going, just in case something has changed.
Where It Is
You’ll find St. Mary’s Parish Church on Nethergate, just a five-minute walk from the city square.
Conclusion
Dundee has so much to see and do that you should consider spending more time when you visit. It has all that Scotland offers, wrapped up in a compact city for you to explore.
I didn’t get to see the following attractions. Still, if you have more time, you should consider visiting the McManus Art Gallery and Museum, the Dundee Science Centre, the Verdant Works Museum, and the HMS Unicorn while in Dundee.
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I never made it to Dundee. I wish I had. The V and A sounds brilliant so someday I may go back to Scotland and visit Dundee. Thanks for sharing.
You’re welcome, Maryanne. I hope you get to visit the V and A one day soon.
I’ve been to Scotland but never to Dundee, I’d love to explore more corners of the country like this. Especially if they have free exhibits! In the States I’ve been to museums that have artifacts from Shackleton’s expeditions, it’s always cool to tie my grasp of history together by visiting the origin point where things began; when I get interested in a particular musician or author or explorer from history, I love going to their hometown or places that were significant to them during their most active years.
You would love Dundee, Claire. There is so much history in the museums, and of course you have the ship the RSS Discovery, that took Shackleton to Antarctica.
Dundee sounds like a great destination for a weekend trip! Would love to see the statue of desperate Dan haha
I hope that you get to visit one day and get a selfie with Desperate Dan.
Dundee looks like an incredible city. You always hear about Edinburgh and Glasgow but sounds like this should be up there!
I think it should be, Roisin. There is more to see than I have put as well as I didn’t have enough time.