Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands region of Scotland, Great Britain. The city sits on the banks of River Ness, Beauly Firth, and Moray Firth. The majority of the best things to do in Inverness, Scotland can be found on the banks of these water bodies.
In Scottish Gaelic, Inverness literally means Mouth of the River Ness. The city sits on the banks of River Ness and Loch Ness. The latter is one of the most popular places to visit in Inverness, Scotland. It is best known for the Loch Ness Monster. The mythical creature has been popularized by books, films, documentaries and conspiracy theories. These have made Loch Ness one of the most well-known Inverness tourist attractions.
People can take a boat tour to explore the Loch. Some guided tours exclusively focus on the Loch Ness Monster. These tours are among the top activities to do in Inverness. The Loch is also surrounded by incredible natural beauty, historical sites, and small towns. You will get to see long canals, grasslands, rocky cliffs, and ruined castles. These are some of the beautiful things to see in Inverness.
The castles specifically hold great historical significance. They have been part of many battles of the Scottish Highlands since the Middle Ages. You will find many Inverness attractions from the period.
You can also visit the sites of major battles when you visit Inverness. The 11th-century battle of Blar nam Feinne and the 18th-century battle of Culloden are the most important ones in the region’s history. These battle sites are among the most popular day trips from Inverness. The site of the Battle of Culloden has been turned into an immersive experience.
There are also many historical sites within the city. Historical Inverness attractions include churches, castles, forts, market halls, and old houses. While the majority of these date between the 17th and 19th centuries, you will also find places that were built during the Middle Ages.
Besides the lochs, lakes, and rivers; the city is also surrounded by immense natural beauty. There are a lot of fun things to do around Inverness for people who enjoy nature and the outdoors. You can explore forests, mountains, wildlife parks, and rocky cliffs. These hills of the Scottish Highlands are also home to some renowned Scotch Whiskey Distilleries. You can take a tour of these places during Inverness sightseeing and try the famed Scotch directly from the source.
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Top 20 Tourist Places to Visit in Inverness, Scotland
1. Inverness Museum and Art Gallery
This museum and art gallery are housed in the Wynd Castle. The art gallery focuses on the Highland and Jacobite artworks. The gallery has a permanent collection of historical works and temporary exhibitions of modern and contemporary artworks.
The museum focuses on the history and culture of the Highlands region of Scotland. It is one of the best places to visit in Inverness to give a little perspective to the rest of the trip.
The museum covers the region’s geology, politics, fashion, warfare, archeological findings, and more. You will need about 2 hours to tour the museum and the gallery.
2. Inverness Castle
This castle is one of the most iconic things to see in Inverness, Scotland. The castle was built in 1836 on the site of an 11th-century fort. It is best known for its red sandstone exterior. People can only tour specific parts of the castle, while the rest is used as the Sherriff Court.
You can explore the castle grounds to witness the wonderful work of 19th-century architecture and engineering. People can also climb the north tower to get amazing views of the castle. It is one of the top things to do in Inverness for sightseeing. You will need about an hour to explore the castle.
3. Caledonian Canal
The canal connects Inverness with Corpach. It was built in the 19th century and was designed by Thomas Telford. It runs for about 97 km and consists of 29 lochs, 10 bridges, and 4 aqueducts.
You can explore parts of the canal by road. But the best way to enjoy the engineering marvel is with a boat tour. It is one of the best things to do near Inverness, Scotland.
The tour takes you through various parts of the canal narrating its history and engineering work behind it. You will need about an hour for this tour when you visit Inverness.
I suggest you should go for a 2.5 Hours Cruise Trip to Caledonian Canal.
4. Loch Ness
This loch is best known for the legend of the Loch Ness monster. The stories, tales, theories, shows, and documentaries have generated incredible buzz for the Loch Ness monster. People still come to tour the loch in a boat in hopes of catching a glimpse of the creature. It is one of the most popular day trips from Inverness.
Even without any sight of the monster, Loch Ness is a beautiful natural landscape. The calm waters are surrounded by lush green mountains and forests. You can also enjoy hiking and cycling trails along the banks of Loch Ness. It is one of the best things to do around Inverness, Scotland. You will need about half a day to enjoy a trip to Loch Ness.
I suggest you should book a Loch Ness Sightseeing Cruise in advance.
5. Urquhart Castle
This ancient castle stands on the banks of Loch Ness. The boat trip of the loch will also take you to tour this castle. This castle dates back to the 14th century and is one of the most important historical sites of Scotland. It also played a significant role in the Scottish Wars of Independence.
Despite being in ruins, the castle is one of the most beautiful places to visit near Inverness, Scotland. Even in ruins, you will see the size and architecture of the castle. You also get amazing views of the Loch Ness from Urquhart Castle. You will need about an hour to tour this castle.
I suggest you should book your Trip to Urquhart Castle in advance.
6. Inverness Cathedral (Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew)
This Anglican cathedral is dedicated to St. Andrew, the patron saint of Inverness. It was built in the 19th century and was designed by Alexander Ross. The cathedral is a fine example of the Scottish Episcopal Church.
The church is built with red tarradle stone and columns of Peterhead granite. It is one of the most incredible Inverness tourist attractions. The stone carvings of the exterior and wood carvings of the interior along with stain-glass windows are the best features of this church. You will need 30 to 45 minutes to explore it.
7. Ness Islands
This group of islands sits in the river Ness and are connected with the mainland through Victorian suspension bridges. The islands are a lush green retreat within the city.
They are perfect for outdoor activities to do in Inverness, Scotland. You can enjoy nature trails through the woods, explore the botanic gardens, and enjoy some leisurely time in this Park. You can easily spend an hour or so on Ness Islands when you travel to Inverness, Scotland.
8. Fort George
This fort was built in 1746 by George II after the defeat of Culloden. Then during the late 18th century, this fort had the mightiest artillery in Britain. It is one of the most impressive places to see in Inverness, Scotland.
The fort is massive in all regards. You can tour almost the entire fort to see how the defenses have been set up. In the garrison buildings, you will see weapons, uniforms, ammunition pouches, bayonets, and so on. The fort is a major highlight of sightseeing in Inverness, Scotland. You will need about 2 to 3 hours to tour this entire fort.
I suggest you should book a Day Trip to Fort George in advance.
9. Clava Cairns
The archeological findings from this site date back 4000 years ago. The site shows evidence of human settlement from the Bronze Age. It was a cemetery as well as a sacred place.
A guided tour of the place will give a glimpse of the prehistoric life. It is one of the most fascinating Inverness attractions. You will see evidences of farming, settlements, and constructed monuments. It takes about an hour or so to tour this site.
I suggest you should book your Tour to Clava Cairns in advance.
10. Culloden Battlefield
The Battle of Culloden is considered one of the most brutal ones in the history of the country. It was the last battle of the Jacobite rising in 1746. It is said that more than 1500 men died under an hour in this battle.
The visitor center recreates events of the battle and the history behind it through interactive experiences. It is one of the top things to do in Inverness for families. The center also holds some interesting artifacts from the battle including weapons, uniforms, personal belongings, and so on. It truly gives you a sense of this battle’s impact. You will need about 2 hours from Inverness travel to tour the battle site.
I suggest you should book a Day Trip to Culloden Battlefield in advance.
11. Cawdor Castle & Gardens
This castle dates back to the 14th century and is one of the magnificent medieval structures. The castle has been mentioned in Shakespeare’s renowned play Macbeth. In the play, it was home to the Thane of Cawdor.
People visit this castle for its history and architecture. It is also one of the best Inverness day trip destinations for its majestic gardens as well. The castle grounds have three gardens: a flower garden, a walled garden, and a wild garden. You will need to take 2 to 3 hours from Inverness sightseeing to explore this castle.
12. The Victorian Market
Dating back to the 19th century, this market has been at the heart of the city’s culture. It is a great piece of Victorian architecture. The wooden roof dome, cast iron column tops, and rounded storefronts are visible features of the era’s architecture.
You will find a variety of shops selling street food, bakery goods, handicraft items, boutique stores, and more. This is the right place if you are looking for fun things to do in Inverness city centre. You can easily spend a couple of hours exploring this market.
13. Inverness Botanic Gardens
These gardens offer a tranquil space to explore the varieties of nature. This place has themed gardens, flower gardens, herb gardens, fruit cages, cactus house and more. It also has fountains, ponds, and seating spaces. This is one of the best places to go in Inverness for some leisure time. You can easily spend an hour or so here enjoying the peace and tranquility here.
14. Fort William
This town sits on the shores of Loch Linnhe on the banks of the Caledonian Canal. It is one of the most popular day trips from Inverness. The town is named after an old fort which now lies in ruins.
Alongside the old fort, you will find the Great Glen Way. This is a 123 km long glen. It is the longest one in Scotland. You can stroll along the banks of this glen while exploring the town.
Fort William is also known for fun things to do near Inverness. The town is close to Ben Nevis, the highest peak in the UK. You can enjoy some amazing hiking trails around the mountain. You will need to take a day from Inverness Travel to enjoy a trip to Fort William and its surroundings.
I suggest you should go for a Seal Spotting Cruise Trip in Fort William.
15. Leakey’s Bookshop
This historic bookstore looks like it has been pulled straight from Harry Potter. The family-owned store has been around since 1979. It has become part of the city’s culture and one of the most popular Inverness tourist attractions.
The bookstore is housed in an old Gaelic Chuch and is filled to the brim with books from different periods. The store has more than 100,000 volumes of books, prints, charts, maps, and more. It is one of the most interesting places to see in Inverness. You can easily spend 30 to 45 minutes exploring it.
16. Glen Ord Distillery (The Singleton Distillery)
The Scottish Highlands produce one of the most renowned whiskies in the world: the Scotch. And one of the best things to do in and around Inverness is to explore the golden drink in its native land.
While you will get to try and enjoy a variety of scotch whiskies in the city, you should visit the source once. The Glen Ord Distillery dates back to 1838 and is well-known for The Singleton brand.
You can tour the distillery to see how the iconic scotch whiskey is made. People also get to try out variants of the drink during the tour. This tour is also one of the more popular Inverness day trips and you will need about 2 to 3 hours for it.
I suggest you should book your Tour to Northern Whisky Distilleries.
17. Isle of Skye
This island sits on the west coast of the Highlands. It is known for cliffs, valleys, grasslands, and lochs. The island is one of the most magnificent natural landscapes in the UK. It is one of the best places to visit near Inverness for outdoor activities.
The island is only 3 hours away by road. It is a natural paradise with majestic rock formations and monumental sea cliffs. You will feel like you are exploring a fantasy land. There are numerous hiking, trekking, and mountain climbing trails to explore on this island. You will need to dedicate at least a day from the Inverness trip to explore this island.
I suggest you should book a Day Trip to Isle of Sky in advance.
18. Fort Augustus
This town sits on the banks of Loch Ness and is frequented by travellers in search of the Loch Ness Monster. It is a scenic village by the waterbody with some nice harbours and viewpoints.
It is also the origin point of many hiking and cycling trails around the loch. You will need about 2 to 3 hours from Inverness sightseeing to visit this village.
19. Highland Wildlife Park
This park is home to a variety of animals from different parts of the world. The animals are kept in large natural habitats. If you are fond of wildlife, this park is among the best places to visit in Inverness. You get to admire them in their full glory instead of in caged condition.
You will see Amur Tigers, Polar Bears, European Wolves, Bukhara Deers, Eurasian Elks, Wild Horses, Snow Leopards, and many other amazing animals. The wildlife park is also popular for fun things to do in Inverness for families. This includes interactive experiences with the animals and feeding sessions. You will need about 2 to 3 hours to enjoy this place.
20. Glenmorangie Distillery
This is yet another Distillery of a popular Scotch whiskey brand you can tour when you visit Inverness. The brand dates back its origins to 1843. It is one of the most well-known Scotch whiskey brands in the world.
You can tour the distillery to see how Glenmorangie makes their signature whiskeys. You will also get to try out different products of the brand and buy a bottle or two directly from the source. This is again a popular day trip from Inverness. You will need at least 2 to 3 hours for the trip.
If you are looking for more things to do in and around Inverness, check out the sections below. We have compiled a complete list of attractions and activities that you can enjoy while sightseeing this city in the Scottish Highlands.
Things to do in Inverness, Scotland
Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Inverness, Scotland
- National Memorial of Scotland
- Balnain House
- Inverness Castle
- Inverness Museum and Gallery
- Urquhart Castle
- Clava Cairns
- Culloden Battlefield
- Cawdor Castle
- Fort George
- Fort William Old Castle
- Fort Augustus
- Knocknagael Boar Stone
- Chanonry Lighthouse
- Inverness Cathedral
- Cumberland Stone
- Clootie Well
- Highlander’s Museum
- Fortose Cathedral
- Wardlaw Mausoleum
- Old High Church
- Highland Archive Center
- The Barn Church
- St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church
- St. Columba’s Catholic Church
- Browns Gallery
- Saint Ninian’s Church
- Smithton Church
- Hall of Names
- Behind the Radar
- Scottish Kiltmaker Visitor Center
- Abertaff House
Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Inverness, Scotland
- Ben Nevis
- Loch Ness
- River Ness
- Moray Firth
- Beauly Firth
- Merkinch Local Nature Reserve
- Craig Phadrig
- Isle of Skye
- Reelig Glen
- Craig Dunain Duck Pond
- The Great Glen Way Trail
Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Inverness, Scotland
- Whin Park
- Ness Islands
- Inverness Botanic Gardens
- Leakey’s Bookshop
- Glen Ord Distillery
- Highland Wildlife Park
- Glenmorangie Distillery
- Bellfield Park
- Ardersier Common
- Inverness Ice Center
- Walker Park
- Inverness Crazy Golf
- Inverness Leisure Center
- Uilebheist Distillery
- Eden Court Theatre and Gallery
- Nessieland
- Tomatin Distillery
- Infinity Trampoline Park
- Ness Islands Railway
Shopping in Inverness, Scotland
- Victorian Market
- Eastfield Retail Park
- Eastgate Shopping Center
- Holm Mils Shopping Village
- Inverness High Street
- Inverness Shopping Centre
- Inverness Farmers’ Market
Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventures in Inverness, Scotland
- Hiking
- Boat Tours
- Kayaking
- Cycling
Sightseeing in Inverness, Scotland
- Milton of Leys Viewpoint
- Pier Ness
- Kessock Bridge
- Chanonry Point
- Fort William
- Greg Street Bridge
- Dolphin Viewpoint
- Ord Hill
- Tomnahurich Cemetery Hill
Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Inverness, Scotland
- The Mustard Seed
- Girvans
- River House
- Ash
- Macgregor’s Bar
- Mangrove
- Velocity Cafe
- The Kitchen
- Scotch & Rye
- Dorres Inn
- The Castle Tavern
- The White House
- Cafe Artysans
- Aspendos
- Fig & Thistle
- Rocpool
- Cafe One
- Number 27
Where to Stay in Inverness?
Here we have listed Top Rated Luxurious, Mid-Range and Budget Hotels in Inverness. You can check below listed hotels for your perfect stay in Inverness.
Luxurious Hotels
- Bunchrew House Hotel
- Loch Ness Country House Hotel at Dunain Park
- Ness Walk
- Kingsmills Hotel
- Loch Ness Lodge
- Highland Apartments by Mansley
- Inverness City Suites
- The Chieftain Hotel
- Bazpackers Hostel
- Torridon Guest House
Mid-Range Hotels
- The Royal Highland Hotel
- Glenmoriston Townhouse Hotel
- Craigmonie Hotel Inverness by Compass Hospitality
- The Glen Mhor Hotel & Apartments
- Inverness Lochardil House Hotel
- Best Western Inverness Palace Hotel & Spa
- River Ness Hotel, a Member of Radisson Individuals
- Moyness House
- Carisbrooke Guest House
- Loch Ness Clansman Hotel
Budget Hotels
- Premier Inn Inverness Centre River Ness
- Strathness House
- Ardentorrie Guest House
- Travelodge Inverness City Centre Hotel
- Travelodge Inverness Fairways
- Premier Inn Inverness East hotel
- Columba Hotel
- Premier Inn Inverness West hotel
- Travelodge Inverness
- Holiday Inn Express Inverness, An IHG Hotel
Custom Tours Package in Inverness
How to Reach Inverness, Scotland?
By Air
The Inverness Airport sits about 15 km east of the city. You can get direct flights to visit Inverness from London, Palma de Mallorca, Amsterdam, Belfast, Bristol, Manchester, Sumburgh, Kirkwall, Benbecula, Stornoway, and Bergen. You can get cabs and buses from the airport to the city. The Inverness Airport station also runs train services to the city centre.
If you are travelling from other international destinations, you can also choose the airports of Aberdeen, Edinburgh or Glasgow. You will get trains from each of these cities to reach Inverness.
By Road
The train network of the United Kingdom connects Inverness to several towns and cities in Scotland, England and Wales. The city is connected to three train routes: ScotRail, CrossCountry, and Caledonian Sleeper. You can get direct trains to reach Inverness from cities like Perth, Aberdeen, Dundee, Stirling, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, Newcastle, Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, and many more.
You can also get buses to travel to Inverness from several cities and towns in the UK. However, if you need to cover a significant distance, you should go for train travel. It is faster and more convenient. Bus travel is suitable to reach places to visit near Inverness.
The city sits at the intersection of routes A9 and A82. You can pick the most suitable routes among these to reach Inverness by car. These are also the primary routes to go for day trips from Inverness.
By Water
There are no direct boat routes to travel to Inverness. However, you can get boat rides and ferries to tour Loch Ness. The tour also extends to Fort William and Mount Ben Nevis.
Image Reference
- Inverness Museum and Art Gallery – Gabriel Mauricio Salmén / Flickr
- Inverness Castle – Andreas Finkelmeyer / Flickr
- Caledonian Canal – Gertjan van Noord / Flickr
- Loch Ness Lake – Joao De Almeida / Flickr
- Urquhart Castle – Malcolm Manners / Flickr
- Inverness Cathedral (Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew) – Stefan Klaas / Flickr
- Ness Islands – Dave Conner / Flickr
- Fort George – Katie Burt / Flickr
- Clava Cairns – Dave Conner / Flickr
- Culloden Battlefield – Jeff Hitchcock / Flickr
- Cawdor Castle & Gardens – Vicky Brock / Flickr
- The Victorian Market – Charles / Flickr
- Inverness Botanic Gardens – Matt Ruff / Flickr
- Fort Wiliam – mariejirousek / Flickr
- Leakey’s Bookshop – sethoscope / Flickr
- Glen Ord Distillery (The Singleton Distillery) – Paul A Hardy / Flickr
- Isle of Skye – Harry Burgess / PixaBay
- Fort Augustus – Tom Parnell / Flickr
- Highland Wildlife Park – Charlie Marshall / Flickr
- Glenmorangie Distillery – Jack Shainsky / Flickr
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