14 Reasons Everyone Should Visit Dundee At Least Once

RRS Discovery
RRS Discovery | Dundee
Tori Chalmers

Dundee isn’t bound to its nickname as a superpower of jute, jam and journalism. Placed by the dramatic Tay waters, Scotland’s fourth-largest city is an ever-evolving playground of inspiration and charm. It’s also the UK’s first ever City of Design. Wander of the beaten path and see what all the fuss is about.

It’s home to the only V&A Museum outside of London

An ultra-contemporary architectural wonder, the V&A Museum of Design Dundee takes the crown as Scotland’s first ever design museum. Opening in 2018, the already adored Dundee V&A pays homage to Dundee and Scotland’s stance as a nation of innovation and design. Designed by renowned Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, who refers to it as a ‘living room for the city’, it is the only V&A outpost of London’s beloved institution.

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CentralAmerica

GORGEOUS GUATEMALA

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini
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1. Guatemala

An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

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CentralAmerica

BEACHY BELIZE

Beachy Belize

5 days . Mini
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2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
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CentralAmerica

COLONIAL MEXICO

Colonial Mexico

5 days . Mini
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3. Mexico

An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
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SouthAmerica

ADVENTUROUS ECUADOR

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic
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1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

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SouthAmerica

ANCIENT PERU

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic
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2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
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Europe

SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic
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1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

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Europe

EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture
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2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
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Europe

COMPLETE PORTUGAL BY TRAIN

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture
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3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
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Asia

SOULFUL SOUTH KOREA

Soulful South Korea

10 days . Epic
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1. South Korea

Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.

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Asia

THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic
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2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.
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SECRETS OF SRI LANKA BY TRAIN

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

10 days . Culture
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3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
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Africa

EPIC MOROCCO

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic
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1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

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Africa

ULTIMATE EGYPT

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic
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2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
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Africa

IMMERSIVE KENYA

Immersive Kenya

8 days . Epic
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3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.
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Because the underground club scene is Scotland’s finest

Glasgow may be the Music City but Dundee has the Reading Rooms and reputation as the queen of Scotland’s underground music scene. A space bursting with unbridled talent, the Reading Rooms is an Adventureland for Dundee’s gifted collective of music promoters. These wild raves go on well into the wee hours, taking place in a former public library. Perhaps the only library where noise is way more golden than silence, thanks to the state-of-art D&B sound system.

Dundee is the don of Scotland’s video game industry too

Adding to Dundee’s already illustrious design status is the worldwide success of Scottish video game developer Rockstar North, the makers and creators of cult video game series Grand Theft Auto and hit game Lemmings. Before it was Rockstar North and based in Edinburgh, the company was founded in Dundee as Acme Software in 1984, before it became DMA Design Limited.

The Desperate Dan Statue

A testament to its trendy essence and comic design heritage, Dundee rocks its beloved Desperate Dan statue like an absolute champ! Whether self-confessed nerd or Instagram star, you can’t pass up on such a stellar photo op.

Dundee is the birthplace of Dennis The Menace and Gnasher

In case you were wondering, Dennis the Menace creators DC Thomson are the kingpins of Scotland’s comic and publishing scene, thanks to major classics like Oor Wullie, The Broons, The Beano and The Dandy, to name a few. From the dashing Desperate Dan statue to the beloved Courier Building, the company’s inspired print is all over the city.

DCA is a multifaceted bubble of ingenuity

Adored as Dundee’s hip hangout spot, Dundee Contemporary Arts boasts an indie two-screen cinema, printmaking studio, two contemporary art galleries, bustling café come bar and visual research centre — everything you could ever wish for rolled into one space. Flooded with natural light and soothing glimpses of the River Tay, this artfully designed building forms a large part of the Dundodian identity.

Dundee Contemporary Arts

Those bottomless brunch spots though #swoon

Let’s be honest — never get in between a foodie and their brunch. No introductions needed, Dundee’s burgeoning brunch scene is off the charts with options and knock-out flavours. Brunch on.

Brunch At Pacamara

The compact nature of the city makes it a joy to navigate

Due to its compact nature, Dundee is a dream for zipping about with ease. Less time in traffic means more time Culture Tripping and less frantic figuring out where to go.

Map Of Dundee

It’s the UK’s first ever City of Design

Along with Bilbao, Curitiba, Helsinki, and Turin, Dundee holds UNESCO City of Design status, making it the first ever of its kind in the UK. A true honour, and yet, really is no surprise seeing as the city is dripping in design prowess.

The place is overflowing with top attractions

From Scotland’s only designated jute museum to the RRS Discovery, The MacManus, the soon-to-be V&A and the HM Frigate Unicorn (named after Scotland’s national animal, the unicorn), Dundee has a whole host of attractions worth discovering. Feed off all that creativity!

HM Frigate Unicorn

Because the Tay Bridge is a sight for sore eyes

One of the largest road bridges in Europe, the Tay Road Bridge consists of 42 spans and concrete piers that emerge out of the river. This eye-catching structure glides over the River Tay estuary between Dundee and Newport-on-Tay. Whatever the weather, crossing the bridge always provides head-turning views.

And who doesn’t love marmalade on their toast with tea?

A bond sealed for all eternity, Dundee and marmalade go way back. This particular jam preserve achieved its distinct Dundodian stamp after locals experimented by adding bits of Seville orange rind. And so, a new type of Scottish marmalade was born and Dundee became a major hotbed of the stuff. Legend states that its creation was purely serendipitous and the result of a locals who took advantage of a broken-down ship in Dundee harbour carrying these special oranges!

Broughty Ferry is suited to adventures

This hidden gem of a suburb sits 4 miles away from the city centre and boasts historic fishermen’s cottages and great restaurants. Adding to the appeal is the nearby Broughty Castle and Museum, Claypotts Castle and Monikie Country Park.

Broughty Castle

Dining from a Victorian railway station never looked so pretty

Suited to those seeking the best cooked breakfast in town, sublime estuary views or a Michelin-quality meal without the pomp, Bridgeview Station Restaurant operates out of a beautiful Victorian railway building. One stand-out feature is the authentic 1870s railway carriage that serves as a take-away outlet.

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Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

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