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Top things to do in Inverness

Attractions, tours, and activities in Inverness

Inverness: the city's best neighborhoods

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About Inverness

Including tips for the best time to visit Inverness

As the capital of the Scottish Highlands, Inverness has plenty going for it. Whether you're looking to go monster-hunting in the nearby Loch Ness or delve into the region's intriguing history, there's plenty to keep you occupied.

For an insight into the city's history, make sure you pay a visit to Inverness Castle – a magnificent red sandstone structure overlooking the peaceful waters of the River Ness. The castle sits on the site of an 11th-century defensive structure and offers sprawling views from the North Tower. Other historic sites include the post-Reformation Inverness Cathedral and the Flora Macdonald statue.

Inverness has cemented itself as a bit of a foodie hotspot, and it's easy to see why. Here Michelin-star restaurants rub shoulders with friendly gastropubs and gourmet cafés to serve up a smorgasbord of culinary delights. For modern Scottish fare right by the river, head to Rocpool, which has won rave reviews from critics and customers alike – earning itself a prestigious Michelin star.

Once you're out of the city centre, Inverness becomes a different world. To get back to nature, take a wander through the botanic gardens, explore the Merkinch Local Nature Reserve or go searching for an icon in the inky waters of Loch Ness. You can even go dolphin-spotting in the waters of the Moray Firth.

Tonight

From $149 per night

Next weekend

From $607 per night

Most popular time to visit October-December
Cheapest time to visit January-March
Local currency £1 = $1.25
Language English
Average weekend price $13 per night
Average weekday price $11 per night
Average stay 1 night

Points of interest in Inverness

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Inverness reviews

What other travelers say about Inverness

10

Very interesting town.

June 4, 2023

Very interesting town. Would love to stay for a week and explore more in the area. A key thing to note is that restaurants are not in a central location as they are in many other towns in Scotland - you need to find them.

Emily
Emily
10

This is a small city which is very well placed for seeing...

June 3, 2023

This is a small city which is very well placed for seeing the highlands of Scotland. Attractive, pleasant walks along the River Ness. Eden Court Theatre. Rail station in the middle of the town. Every single person I met during my trip went out of their way to be helpful.

Katharine
Katharine United Kingdom
10

If you are interested in the highlands and their history,...

May 28, 2023

If you are interested in the highlands and their history, you will love Inverness. It is a lovely city with plenty to do. The food is great. You will need to make reservations for most restaurants, even casual restaurants, but I see that as a plus.

Kelly
Kelly United States of America
8.0

We used Inverness as our starting point to do the North...

May 28, 2023

We used Inverness as our starting point to do the North Coast 500 route. It is a great starting point and just a few hours drive from Edinburgh so we travelled the afternoon before and stayed the night in Inverness.

Rodil
Rodil United Kingdom
10

Given the highland roads, you may find that letting someone...

May 23, 2023

Given the highland roads, you may find that letting someone else do the driving really fits the bill. There are so many great tour guides and tour busses, it would be hard to go wrong. We always had breakfast at the coffee shop just down from the hotel, and it always met our expectations,

James
James United States of America
8.0

Contact with Highland Apartments was excellent, access to...

May 22, 2023

Contact with Highland Apartments was excellent, access to carpark easy. Apartment brilliant. Inverness is going under a restoration period to rebuild after Covid. The castle (Courthouse) is under renovations and won't be open for 2 more years. Inverness is a great spot to base yourself for Loch Ness/ Culloden/ Clava Cairns and other sites. The city walk along river and up to Ness Island is beautiful.

meggsy21
meggsy21 Australia

Popular places to stay in Inverness

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