Glasgow to Aberdeen bus

Buses from Glasgow to Aberdeen

Buses from Glasgow to Aberdeen run regularly from early in the morning to late in the evening. The first bus leaves the station at around 03:40 in the morning and takes approximately three hours to reach Aberdeen. The latest bus departs near 23:30 and lands you in Aberdeen by just before 03:00. The buses run once to twice an hour from around 07:00 onwards. On the weekend, approximately 22 buses run the connection from Glasgow to Aberdeen a day, however you also have the additional option of catching the train to Dundee and from there making your way to Aberdeen by way of replacement bus.

Glasgow to Aberdeen Bus Times: Daily Departures

Throughout the week, Monday through Friday, there are 22 buses travelling from Glasgow to Aberdeen. These buses run from approximately 03:30 to 23:30, once or twice every hour starting from roughly 07:00. On the weekend you will find an additional six services running the connection for a total of 28 possible journey options per day, Saturday and Sunday. However, this is by way of train with a bus connection in Dundee. The first and last bus times remain the same on the weekends, at around 03:30 and 23:30, respectively.

How long is the journey by bus from Glasgow to Aberdeen?

The distance of approximately 121.5 miles (196 km) between Glasgow and Aberdeen can be covered in between 2 hours 50 minutes to 3 hours 55 minutes. When travelling on the weekends, by way of rail with ScotRail, you are required to change from train to bus in Dundee. This change over adds to the total time spent travelling. Direct buses are widely available, however. Travelling with Megabus lands you in Aberdeen with no change over required.

Girl jumping in the University of Glasgow. Source: Shutterstock

What is/are the departure and arrival stations for buses from Glasgow to Aberdeen?

Departure bus station: Glasgow, Buchanan Bus Station or Glasgow Queen Street station. On weekdays, as well as most of the services departing during the weekend, you will be leaving Glasgow from Buchanan Bus Station. This is Glasgow’s main bus terminus and is located in the centre of the city. Inside the station you will find public toilets, cash machines, a cafe as well as public phones and a post box. Glasgow Queen Street train station is located just around the corner from the Buchanan Bus Station and from here you can catch the train to Dundee for your connecting bus to Aberdeen. The train station offers, accessible toilets, baby changing facilities, refreshment facilities and public WiFi, which can be used to browse the travel magazine the Window Seat, while you wait for your bus.

Arrival bus station: Aberdeen, Guild Street bus station. This is located within walking distance from the town centre, approximately an 8 minute walk. The bus station itself does not host many facilities, only a waiting room, however nearby you can find an ATM, cafes and the central train station. Aberdeen city is very walkable, with many main attractions located near one another, but there are also public buses and train stations throughout the city if you are required to travel a farther distance, such as to Crathes Castle, for example.

Which bus companies travel from Glasgow to Aberdeen?

The main bus company travelling from Glasgow to Aberdeen is Megabus. They service all bus journeys travelling to Aberdeen throughout the week, Monday to Friday. On weekends you have the option of catching the train with ScotRail from Glasgow to Dundee and then travelling from there to Aberdeen by way of a replacement bus. For this reason, however, Megabus offers faster travel times as they drive directly to Aberdeen with no change-overs or train to bus connections required.

Megabus buses from Glasgow to Aberdeen

Megabus offers direct buses between Glasgow and Aberdeen with no services operating with a changeover. The time of the journey ranges between 2h 50min and 3h 55min. The longest journey takes place at about 07:15 in the morning while the fastest, at 2h 50min, leaves Buchanan Bus Station at approximately 08:40. The difference in journey times are a result of less or more stops at bus stations during the drive. The shortest journey is due to the fact that the bus does not stop until reaching Aberdeen whereas the earlier bus has four intermittent stops before arrival.

Bus Glasgow to Aberdeen: Services on Board

The Megabus bus between Glasgow and Aberdeen guarantees seating upon booking as well as the option of seat reservation, if you want to sit with family or friends or simply secure a window view. On board you can find free Wi-Fi and charging ports for your phone, laptop or whatever other technology that requires charging. Each passenger has an allowance of 20kg for luggage which can be stored under the bus, as well as overhead storage for your smaller luggage. There is also a toilet facility available.For passengers with disabilities, the driver is there to assist on entering the bus and locating your seat. If you require a wheelchair it is important to arrange your booking over the phone with a customer service agent in order to ensure there is available space. If space is available then the journey will be serviced by a bus with a wheelchair lift. If you are travelling with a personal care assistant be sure to mention this so a reservation on the bus can also be made for them, at no additional cost.

How to find cheap bus tickets from Glasgow to Aberdeen?

You can find cheap bus tickets from Glasgow to Aberdeen online. For instance, using the Omio website shows you which bus journey is the cheapest and the results can be ordered by price of travel. Check out the About Omio page for more information. You can save more on your journey by booking your ticket a while in advance and being flexible with your departure dates and times can offer you the best deals. Booking online shows cheaper prices than booking through a ticket office at the bus station. The cheapest option to reach Aberdeen from Glasgow is the direct bus, if you plan on travelling by train and connecting by bus in Dundee, the expenses rise significantly.

Dunnottar Castle in Aberdeen. Source: Shutterstock

To Aberdeen by bus—travel tips

Aberdeen, located on the coast of Scotland and its third largest city, is home to many historical districts and has a direct tie to the North Sea. If you’re interested in the rich history of fishing and shipbuilding the city holds, you should take a visit to their Maritime Museum and even better, entrance to the museum is free! Or visit St. Machar’s Cathedral for an even further look back in history, founded in 1136 and boasting sandstone spires that date back from 1518 to 1530. A fan of the supernatural? Tolbooth Museum is said to be Aberdeen’s most haunted building. Hosting an exhibition of the development of crime and punishment in the old medieval town. Here you can also see the blade from the guillotine of the city, the “Maiden”. Aberdeen is also famous for its Angus beef, you can try it for yourself at Vovem steakhouse. Or why not give their fresh seafood a go at the Silver Darling, located on Aberdeen Harbour where you can enjoy your meal with a view of the North Sea.