Known as the ‘city of the highlands’, Inverness is a great alternative to popular Scottish tourist destinations like Edinburgh and Glasgow. Even though it may not be your first choice when visiting Scotland, there are plenty of things to do in Inverness for any traveler.
Inverness is regularly voted as one of the happiest places to live in Scotland, and the people there are certainly friendly and happy to help with any query you may have during your visit.
It’s kind of similar in a way to Birmingham in England; it’s not an obvious tourist destination but a surprisingly decent alternative to London.
We’ll explore the 20 best things to do in Inverness so you’ll have an enjoyable visit and be impressed by this city!
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Best Things To Do In Inverness
So without further ado, let’s take a look at what are the best things to in Inverness, in no particular order:
1. See Inverness Castle
One of the main tourist attractions in the city of Inverness is without a doubt, Inverness Castle. It is located on top of a hill that overlooks the River Ness and is an impressive Victorian fortress. It’s easily one of the most impressive castles in Scotland.
Countless castles and forts have existed on this spot over the years, and this castle in particular has stood here since 1836 and is a red sandstone structure that features two towers.
At the time of writing the castle is unfortunately closed to the public as it’s undergoing a renovation until 2025, but it’s still an imposing sight that’s worth seeing from nearby.
2. Take a Trip to the Ness Islands
The Ness Islands are several islands that sit in the middle of the River Ness that runs through Inverness. They are situated opposite Bught Park and there are bridges to the islands that date back to 1828.
Crossing the river to the islands is a fantastic way to experience the tranquillity of the Scottish countryside at its best and is a nice little escape from the city nearby.
The islands are less than 4 miles away from the city centre, and the Ness walk is a popular circular loop to the islands and back. Cycling to the islands is a popular option too, and you can catch the 4C bus that will drop you off to the islands within 15 minutes.
3. Visit the Incredible St. Andrew’s Inverness Cathedral
Also situated on the River Ness (on the west bank, about a 15-minute walk from the train and bus station), is St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Inverness.
The building is a prominent feature of Inverness and is full of rich history and heritage, dating back to 1869 and is the most northerly Anglican Church in the UK.
Because it stands out so much on the River Ness – it’s pretty hard to miss, most visitors only see the church from the outside.
But, the cathedral is free to enter all year round and the interior is just as beautiful and is a nice stop off during a walk along the riverside area.
4. Snoop Around Leakey’s Bookshop
If you’re a book lover then you simply must visit Leakey’s bookshop when visiting Inverness.
Known to be the most beautiful book store in Scotland and one of the most beautiful in the UK for sure, it has the biggest collection of rare, old second hand books in the whole country.
It’s a lovely, cosy atmosphere and is a family run bookshop that opened in 1979 and is housed in an old Gaelic church. You can find some real old gems here and a great place to snoop around for a while admiring the collection.
5. Explore Urquhart Castle
Scotland is full of old castles and one of the most interesting to explore sits next to Loch Ness; Urquhart Castle.
This is a ruined castle full of ancient history. It’s over a thousand years old and is known to be the only Highland Castle that held out against the British.
It was once under the control of Robert the Bruce when he became King of Scots in 1306 as well.
It’s a fascinating place to visit and is also known to be the most scenic spot to view Loch Ness. There is an admission fee you have to pay at the visitor centre, but well worth visiting while exploring Loch Ness.
6. Stroll Around Inverness Botanic Gardens
Inverness is full of beautiful nature spots, and one of the most lovely places to visit here is Inverness Botanic Gardens.
This is an outdoor garden site within walking distance from the busy city centre, and is a real tranquil place to stroll around for a while and relax.
It has a tropical greenhouse and is full of interesting flowers and plants to appreciate. It’s open 7 days a week and there is also a cafe which is the perfect place to sit back and take in the beauty on show.
7. Take in some culture at Inverness Museum and Art Gallery
If you’re feeling in the mood for some culture while in Inverness, then you should definitely take some time to appreciate the Inverness Museum and Art Gallery.
This is a totally free place that is full of history, art and heritage of the highlands and always features new exhibitions from local artists.
And if you really want to learn about the history of this unique city then the museum features plenty of fascinating artefacts and there are also several interactive activities for youngsters to enjoy.
8. See the Magnificent Clava Cairns
One of the most amazing prehistoric sites that Scotland has is the Clava Cairns which is located several miles east of the city and is possible to reach by bus.
The Clava Cairns is a historical landmark that features the remains of two ancient cemeteries dating all the way back to the Bronze Age.
Set on a terrace above the River Nairn, and features several different cairns (human-made piles of stones). It’s one of the most sacred and mythical places in the whole country and is surrounded by a beautiful woodland area.
It’s a special place that’s really interesting to explore and there is a car park area situated nearby.
9. Go Shopping at the Victorian Market
Within the city centre of Inverness is a 19th-century Victorian Market that is a lovely place to visit when in the city.
There are over 41 independent shops within the arcade area, from jewellers to cafes, eateries and gift stores.
It’s a fantastic place to pick up some souvenirs while admiring the unique interior architecture on show.
10. Go Hunting for the Loch Ness Monster
Of course, no trip to Inverness would be complete without searching for Scotland’s most famous mythical creature; Nessie the Loch Ness monster.
Loch Ness is just less than 14 miles away from the city and while you can catch a bus and explore the area by yourself, there are plenty of tours which take you on a day trip to the Loch.
These tours take you to the most scenic parts of the most spectacular part of the Scottish Highlands.
The myth of the Loch Ness monster dates back to 1888 and there has been continuous sightings of him (or her) ever since.
Seeing a glimpse of Nessie is indeed why a lot of tourists visit Inverness in the first place. Hearing captivating tales of the infamous monster while explore the Loch is an awesome day trip from Inverness and is not to be missed.
11. Take a Hike in the Scottish Highlands
The Scottish Highlands are known to feature some of the most stunningly beautiful landscapes anywhere in the world, and taking a car journey and going on a hike here is one of the best activities when visiting Inverness.
Whether you drive to the Isle of Skye, hike up Ben Nevis mountain trail or visit the gorgeous Cairngorms, the remote wilderness is pretty much right on Inverness’ doorstep.
It’s possible to go camping in the Highlands and spend a day or more hiking, but caution is advised and it’s recommended to thoroughly plan in advance as much as possible, with safety always first in mind.
There are so many famous hiking trails to consider from Inverness, with the West Highland Way being the most popular with seasoned hikers.
12. Explore Inverness City Centre
The city centre of Inverness itself is a surprisingly really nice city, and it’s worth spending at least half a day there to see what it has to offer.
It’s not a huge city, meaning it’s very walk-able; you can walk from one side of the city to the other in a short amount of time.
It has a lovely high street with very nice architecture, a decent shopping centre and of course plenty of high-quality restaurants, pubs, cafes and more.
I was surprised that the few restaurants I visited in Inverness were somewhat pricey, but definitely not as expensive as restaurants in Edinburgh, which is easily the most expensive city in Scotland.
13. See the Impressive Fort George
One of the most impressive forts in all of Europe is Fort George, which is located just 12 miles north east from Inverness and a great historical attraction to see.
It is known to be the best example of 18th-century military engineering in the UK. The fort was built back between 1748 and 1769 after the Battle of Culloden, and covers a total of 42 acres.
It’s a fascinating place to visit for anyone with an interest in military history. Entry to the grounds is free but you do however have to book a time slot in advance. There are audio guides available and you should take around 2-3 hours when visiting.
14. See some of Scotland’s Magnificent Lochs
Although Loch Ness is arguably the most well-known loch in all of Scotland, you may want to visit some of the other 30,000 lochs throughout the country.
There are several close by Inverness, and visiting one of these is a great escape into nature and a chance to appreciate the magnificent views of the peaceful waters and hilly mountainous areas close by.
I visited Loch Farr while in Inverness, which is just outside of the village of Tomatin, and absolutely loved the peace and quiet of the place and the tranquillity of the surrounding areas.
Take a paddle board or a canoe with you if you have the capabilities to do so and you’ll have a wonderful experience.
15. Enjoy Hootananny Pub
If you fancy a night of live music in Inverness then there’s only one real choice: Hootananny pub.
This is a famous pub renowned for featuring musical acts that have gone on to achieve great success, such as Mumford & Sons and Sam Fender, who have played there amongst others.
It’s a quirky pub that has live music every night of the week and also likes to feature traditional Scottish music as well as up and coming acts. It’s always a great atmosphere here, and their food menu is pretty good too.
16. Taste some Whisky at Tomatin Distillery
If you’re partial to a spot of whisky every now and then, then you may be interested in visiting the Tomatin Distillery just on the outskirts of Inverness city (a 25 minute drive to be exact) in the village of Tomatin.
Scotland is famous for producing whisky, and the Tomatin distillery has been producing a famous single malt whisky since 1897, and is one of the largest malt whisky distilleries in all of Scotland.
You can take a tour of the distillery any day of the week and learn all about the process of making their award winning whiskies, as well as getting to sample three different types of single malts too.
17. Take a stroll along the River Ness
Running through Inverness is the River Ness, and it’s possible to cross several foot bridges and go for a relaxing, delightful stroll along the riverbank areas.
The river runs for a total of 6 kilometres, from Loch Dochfour to the mouth of the Beauty Forth at Inverness, so it is possible to walk from one side to the other if you want to go on a longer walk.
There are shorter circuit walks of the Ness that are only 2-3 kilometres if you fancy an easy route. It’s a really pleasant, peaceful walk where you can encounter plenty of wildlife and appreciate the scenic views on offer.
18. See some Dolphins in Inverness
If it’s always been your dream to see dolphins swimming in the wild, then you’re in luck when visiting Inverness.
It’s possible to take a boat cruise from Inverness to Moray Firth, where the guide on board will tell you all about the wildlife you can expect to see there.
As well as dolphins, you can also expect to see seals, otters, as well as bird life. It is possible to see dolphins all year round in Scotland, though they do prefer sunny conditions, so anytime from May to September would be ideal.
The boat trips to Moray Firth usually last for around 75 minutes and is a fantastic activity for the whole family when visiting Inverness.
19. Enjoy Great Views of Inverness at Craig Phadrig
Craig Phadrig is a historical landmark located to the west of the city; just a few minute’s drive and is well worth a trip.
This place is an ancient Iron Age fort top that lies at the top of a forested hill and dates back to over 2,000 years ago.
If the history of this area isn’t impressive enough, then the views from the fort are some of the most breathtaking panoramic views of the whole city and further afield.
There are several really good trails around this area, so it’s the perfect place to go for a hike to enjoy the nature and scenery, and there is free parking available close by too.
20. Witness the Inverness Highlands Games
And last but definitely not least, you should most definitely see the Inverness Highlands Games if you find yourself in Inverness during the month of July.
Traditional Scottish Highlands games take place all over Scotland and include games such as tug of war, the Caber toss (tossing a huge pole), hammer throw and more.
Taking place at Bught Park, these games are a great spectacle that dates back centuries and a really fun event that almost always include music and Scottish dancing.
Inverness FAQ’s
Still not sure if visiting Inverness is a good idea or not? Let’s answer some of the most commonly asked questions about visiting at this time of year:
When is the best time to visit Inverness?
The summer months are most definitely the best time period to visit Inverness. Temperatures don’t get very high up in Inverness, with July being the hottest month with average temperatures around 14 degrees Celsius.
I visited the city for a few days in June and experienced glorious sunny blue sky weather. The other seasons in Inverness are not much to write home about, with the spring and autumn months experiencing rainy, windy weather.
And Inverness is best avoided during the winter months, when the weather can take a turn for the worse with plenty of freezing temperatures, rain, storms and likely snow too.
What Is The Coldest Month In Inverness?
As just mentioned, winter is not the best time to visit Inverness, and it’s no surprise that January is the coldest month of the year.
Temperatures during this month only average around 4 degrees Celsius, and you can expect plenty of bad weather during this and the other winter months.
So if you are visiting Inverness during January or winter, definitely make sure to wrap up warmer than usual!
How to get to Inverness?
Although Inverness is high up in northern Scotland, it is still fairly easy to get to the city either by public transport or by car.
If you’re travelling there from Edinburgh then taking a train is a good option, with a train ride taking around 3 and a half hours.
Getting there from Edinburgh via bus takes roughly the same time and is the cheaper option, around £15, whereas a train ticket costs £27 on average.
The same applies if you’re travelling to Inverness from Glasgow; the train takes 3 and a half hours on average, as does the bus but this again is slightly cheaper.
Car is a good option, with motorways and main roads from the south. And Inverness has its own airport too, with flights to and from the rest of the UK, Ireland and some European cities.
Conclusion: Best Things To Do In Inverness
So those are the 20 best things to do in Inverness! It really is a lovely city that’s worth visiting for a few days while travelling around Scotland.
Whether you want to go hunting for the Loch Ness monster, see the beautiful Scottish Highlands or see some of the sights that the city has to offer such as St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Inverness has something for everyone.
One thing I observed during my visit to the city is just how nice, friendly and accommodating the locals were. Nothing was too much trouble and they really made me feel at home.
Although most people would choose other places when visiting the UK, like London which some people say is overrated, or Edinburgh which is crammed with tourists throughout the year, Inverness is a top alternative.
Now that you know what the 20 best things to do in Inverness are and when is the best time to visit, what are you waiting for?
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Author Bio:
Mark Jeavons is a travel blogger based in England and began blogging back in August 2022 after deciding to combine his love of writing and travelling.
He has visited over 40 countries, mostly as a solo traveller and his aim with his travel blog (www.MJtravelguides.com) is to give expert, up-to-date and in-depth advice on the places he has visited and build connections with fellow travellers.
