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Inverness Cathedral

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  4. Inverness

Inverness

Take a trip to the capital of the Highlands, Inverness. Voted as one of the ‘50 Best Places to Travel in 2025’ by Travel + Leisure, explore this compact city and discover a slower way of life, but still with interesting things to do and events. Use Inverness as a base to explore Highland scenery, iconic castles, majestic mountains and unique wildlife, including the famous Loch Ness monster.

Great things to do in Inverness

Inverness has everything from history to wild landscapes on its doorstep. Explore distilleries and castles, and go looking for the famous Loch Ness monster.

12 Amazing activities & things to do in Inverness

Discover a range of attractions, activities, tours, and more in Inverness, offering something for every interest.

Castles and historical sites

Discover the rich history of Inverness by exploring its castles and nearby historical landmarks.

Boat tours

Cruise the mysterious waters of Loch Ness and the Caledonian Canal. Will you spot Nessie?

Outdoor activities

Hike, bike, paddle, and explore the wild beauty of Inverness – where the great outdoors is right on your doorstep.

Whisky distilleries and experiences

Discover world-renowned distilleries in and around Inverness and savour the true spirit of the Highlands.

Top days out ideas

Looking for unforgettable ways to spend the day? Wander through the peaceful paths of the Ness Islands, go dolphin spotting at Chanonry Point, or browse local finds at the Victorian Market.

New: Inverness Castle Experience

Now open, don't miss the immersive Inverness Castle Experience when visiting Inverness.

Culloden Battlefield

Visit the powerfully moving site of the final Jacobite Rising – the last and most harrowing pitched battle to be fought on British soil.

Plodda Falls

Tucked deep in the forest near Glen Affric, Plodda Falls is a stunning hidden gem – a must-visit for nature lovers and photographers alike.

Inverness Botanic Gardens

Don’t miss the Tropical House with its coffee, bananas, and pineapple plants.

Leakey's Bookshop

A really cool bookshop!

Shopping in Inverness

Shopping in Inverness blends local character with modern flair, offering something for every kind of shopper.

The Highlands movie map

Explore iconic locations across the Highlands that have starred in blockbuster movies.

Explore Highland wildlife

See where to catch a glimpse of a variety of Scottish species including majestic red deer, black grouse, golden eagles, osprey and ptarmigan.

Meet the Highland coos

Get up close with one of Scotland’s most iconic residents, the Highland coos when visiting Inverness.

Dolphin spotting

The waters around Inverness are perfect for dolphin spotting!

Inspiring routes, trails & itineraries

Whether you're after a scenic day walk, a cycling route through rugged landscapes, or a full itinerary packed with hidden gems, there’s a trail here with your name on it.

Prehistoric Burial Cairns of Clava Cairns

Follow a route

Inverness is surrounded by scenic walks and peaceful woodland paths. Plan a hike up a nearby mountain, or cycle around a nearby loch.

  • Loch Ness 360° Trail
  • John o' Groats Trail
  • Great Glen Way
  • Best hiking trails around Inverness
Find more ideas

See what's on in Inverness

Whether you're planning a night out or a weekend away, explore what’s on and soak up the vibrant spirit of the city.

Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival 2024

© Paul Campbell Photography

Inverness Highland Games, 11 July 2026 - one of the Highland's most popular summer events, get ready for Highland culture, world-class sport, music, dance and more.

Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival, 30 July - 1 August 2026 - this popular music and arts festival offers a big Highland welcome with its mix of mainstream and emerging artists.

Nairn Show, 1 August 2026 - this event boasts a great day out for the whole family, with livestock shows, a food fair, trade stands from local businesses, a craft fair, children's races, a kids zone, main ring entertainment and more across the day.

Black Isle Show, 6 August 2026 - taking place in Muir of Ord, not far from Inverness, it's the largest one day show in Scotland, hosting over 200 trade stands and exhibitors with a showcase of some of the finest agricultural offerings in the country.

Nairn Book & Arts Festival, 29 August - 6 September 2026 - head just east of Inverness for this annual festival celebrating everything from literature, music and drama to art, culture and more.

Golden Spurtle World Porridge Making Championship, 3 October 2026 - for those with a culinary passion for porridge, make your way to the 33rd championship to find out who will be the next champion.

Strathpuffer, 16 - 17 January 2027 - face Scotland's elements of ice, wind, hail, rain, and snow in this challenging, yet legendary, 24-hour mountain biking endurance event. Are you tough enough?

Map of Inverness

Explore Inverness

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Travel to and around Inverness

Plan your trip to Inverness with our handy travel info, or check out Visit Inverness Loch Ness for more travel tips.

Getting to Inverness

Bus and coach

There are many frequent and affordable bus services that travel from various main cities to Inverness daily.

  • Megabus to Inverness
  • Scottish Citylink to Inverness
  • Flixbus to Inverness

Train

Inverness railway station is right in the heart of the city and has frequent fast and reliable services to and from major cities.

LNER trains run along the east coast from cities such as London, York, Newcastle and Edinburgh.

Book with LNER

ScotRail provides an express rail service direct to Inverness from many major cities.

Check ScotRail timetables

Inverness can also be reached overnight from London on the Caledonian Sleeper.

Travel overnight on the Caledonian Sleeper

ScotRail are also offering a 20% discount on off-peak tickets for Caledonian Sleeper customers.

Driving

Inverness is linked to the rest of Scotland and UK by the A9. It is a great base for travelling further north or west into the Highlands, or for exploring Moray Speyside to the east.

  • From Edinburgh or Glasgow - 3 hours
  • From Manchester - 6 hours 30 minutes
  • From Birmingham - 8 hours

Plan your trip with Traveline Journey Planner

Flying

Inverness Airport is located 9 miles north-east of Inverness. You can fly from a number of destinations across the UK and Europe.

You can travel from the airport to the city centre in around 30 minutes by bus, taxi or car.

Find out more on getting to Inverness from the airport

Getting around Inverness

Walking

Inverness is easily explored on foot with most key attractions within walking distance of each other. Attractions beyond the city centre can be reached cost effectively by public transport and again explored further by foot.

Find walks in and around Inverness

Cycling

You can easily hire a bike in Inverness from Ticket To Ride or use the Hi-Bike service. 

Check out the Hi-Travel active travel map for recommended routes | PDF 1.9MB

Bus and coach

Stagecoach operate regular buses across the city of Inverness.

Plan your journey within Inverness with Stagecoach

A new Scottish Government / Transport Scotland 12-month initiative to make bus travel more affordable for both visitors and locals is now available. It applies to short and long-distance routes and all main bus operators (Stagecoach, Ember, CityLink), meaning single bus fares are capped at £2 across the Highlands and Islands. The scheme runs until early 2027.

Taxi

There are several taxi companies available in Inverness. There are also licensed taxi ranks at Inverness Airport, Inverness Bus Station and Inverness Train Station.

Tours

Want to relax and let someone else drive?

Book a tour and hear from a knowledgeable local tour guide as they highlight points of interest, stop off at the best hidden gems and visit the iconic landmarks you’ve heard all about.

Search for tours in Inverness

Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness

Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness

© VisitSCotland/Luigi Di Pasquale

Places to stay

City centre hostels, quiet apartments or comfortable hotels – find accommodation in Inverness for your break.

  • Hotels in Inverness
  • B&Bs in Inverness
  • Self-catering in Inverness
  • Camping and glamping
Find more accommodation in Inverness

Ness Walk Hotel and the Torrish Restaurant

© VisitScotland / Luigi Di Pasquale

Places to eat in Inverness

Enjoy a tasty bar meal, dine in a luxury restaurant, or find a food truck serving fresh local produce. There are some great places to eat in and around Inverness.

  • Cafés and tearooms
  • Restaurants in Inverness and Loch Ness
  • Fine dining in Inverness and Loch Ness
Browse food & drink options

Inverness Botanic Gardens

© Alison White

Find information on accessible trips

Whether you're exploring the city centre, discovering local museums, or venturing into the Highlands, accessible facilities and helpful support make it easy to enjoy your journey.

  • Euan's Guide to Inverness
More useful information on accessibility in the Highlands

Explore nearby

Inverness is a great base for exploring the Highlands. A short drive takes you to Loch Ness, rugged Highland landscapes, and the wild beauty of Cairngorms National Park.

Loch Ness

Discover world-famous Loch Ness with holiday ideas, accommodation, travel and maps, tours, insider tips and fantastic things to see and do.

The Scottish Highlands

Head north for a weekend break or longer holiday in the Highlands, and discover ancient castles, peaceful lochs, and unforgettable views.

Cairngorms National Park

The Cairngorms National Park has more mountains, forests, rivers, lochs, wildlife, friendly villages and distilleries than you can possibly imagine.

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