UPDATED JANUARY 2026! Inverness is often referred to as the “Capital of the Highlands,” and has a good central location in the north of Scotland. There is a lot to see and do both in Inverness itself, and around the city like Loch Ness. Whether you’re looking for a Scottish weekend away, or passing through as part of a larger trip (like the North Coast 500), Inverness will keep you busy. Here’s a guide on what to see and do in and around Inverness!

What To See In Inverness

Inverness Cathedral

Built in the late 1860s, Inverness Cathedral (also known as St. Andrew’s Cathedral) is an icon in the city. The twin towers dominate the riverside view, and the interior is beautiful. The entry fee is £6 for adults.

Inverness Castle

Inverness Castle is finally set to open to the public in 2026! Check out the Inverness Castle website for up-to-date details. You can get a great view of the riverside in Inverness from the outside of the castle.

Leakey’s Bookshop

Part treasure trove, part Instagram dream, Leakey’s Bookshop is one of the most visited bookshops in Scotland. It’s well-known around the country, partly thanks to the Instagrammable design and bookshelves. They have a huge selection of books from every genre. So if you want to browse as well as snap a pic or two, Leakey’s has you covered.

Victorian Market

Unfortunately, I visited the market at the end of the day, when most of the vendors had finished for the day. However, the interior of the Victorian Market is gorgeous – it’s definitely a must-see when in Inverness!

Black Isle Brewery

If you’re looking for a nice place for drinks (or pizza), I loved visiting Black Isle Brewery in Inverness. You can visit the main brewery on the Black Isle (more below!), but this is a fantastic taproom and beer garden located in the center of Inverness. They also have hotel rooms and a hostel!

Inverness Museum and Art Gallery

This is a lovely free museum in the heart of Inverness. There are several exhibits showcasing the history of the local area – I loved the bits about the Jacobites! There are also two art galleries here. It’s a great activity to do in Inverness on a rainy day.

Ness Islands

Ness Islands is a group of natural islands within the River Ness, just south of Inverness city center. It’s a lovely place for a walk – it’s peaceful and scenic here. There are a couple of bridges which connect the islands with either side of town, and a bike path that follows the riverbanks.

Inverness Botanic Gardens

The Inverness Botanic Gardens are a pretty area of glasshouses and gardens, outside the city center not far from the River Ness. You can see a diverse range of plants here, from tropical flowers to desert cacti. It’s free to visit and there’s an excellent cafe on site.

Craig Phadrig

For a quick hike in Inverness, head to Craig Phadrig. This is a short loop that took me just under 30 minutes, and was 1.35 miles in total. There are nice views from the top over Beauly Firth. These GPS coordinates bring you to a small (free) car park for the walk.

What to See Around Inverness

Culloden Battlefield

An easy half-daytrip from Inverness, Culloden Battlefield has soared in popularity thanks to the Outlander show. Regardless of whether you’re Team Jamie or not, the battlefield is a must on any trip to Inverness. The Battle of Culloden was fought in 1746 between the Jacobites and the British government forces. There is a large visitor center, which has rave reviews (£12.50 entry for adults). But the battlefield is worth walking around anyway.

There are information panels so you can learn more about how the battle unfolded and what happened during the battle. The site also has some touching memorials to clans who fought in the battle. Having a car will be easiest (parking is £5 per vehicle), as it’s only a 15-minute drive from Inverness. However, you can get here with public transport: take bus #2 which stops at the battlefield.

Clava Cairns

The Clava Cairns are historic 4000-year-old burial cairns, located just a 5-minute drive from Culloden Battlefield. There are a number of ancient mounds, cairns, and stones here – it’s wild to think how these were constructed so long ago. Clava Cairns is free to visit.

The Black Isle

I first visited the Black Isle as part of my first day on the North Coast 500 road trip around Scotland. However, this easily merits a daytrip or half-daytrip from Inverness. The ruins of Fortrose Cathedral are beautiful and eerie, and the walk out to Fairy Glen waterfall (from Rosemarkie) is a must. You can also head out to Chanonry Point, which is one of the best places to see dolphins around Inverness! And you can head to Black Isle Brewery and stock up on some of their tasty beers in the shop.

Black Rock Gorge

If you’re heading north from Inverness, this place is worth a stop. Park in the car park in Evanton, and walk through the woods to reach Black Rock Gorge. This was actually a film location in the Harry Potter movies, featured very briefly in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire when Harry is flying away from the Hungarian Horntail in the First Task. The woodland trail is cute (there are hedgehog statues!) and you can look down to the waterfall in the gorge from a bridge. The loop I did was just over 3 miles, and took me just under 1.5. hours with lots of stops for photos.

Cnoc Croit na Maoile (Ord Hill)

This is a great short walk outside Inverness, perfect for stretching your legs. It took me exactly 1 hour to do the loop route up to the hill, which is 3 miles. The views from the trig at the summit are outstanding – you can see for miles on a clear day! Parking is limited to a few spots around laybys on a single-track road before you reach the gate. Be sure you’re not blocking any passing places.

The Singleton of Glen Ord Distillery

You can’t visit Scotland without sampling a wee dram of whisky. Located in Muir of Ord, this distillery offers a range of tours and experiences. Book your distillery tour here! This is my top pick for a distillery near Inverness if you don’t have a car; you can take the train from Inverness to Muir of Ord, and then it’s about a 15-minute walk to the distillery.

Beauly Priory

Beauly Priory is another historic site outside Inverness – it was founded around 1230 by Valliscaulian monks from France. There is no roof on the priory ruins, giving it a poignant atmosphere. It’s free to visit.

Fort George

Fort George is a big 18th-century fortress, built after the Jacobite uprising and the Battle of Culloden. The views out to the Moray Firth are meant to be excellent! The site is run by Historic Environment Scotland – it’s cheaper to buy your ticket online in advance than in person on the day.

Cawdor Castle

Cawdor Castle is most well-known for its connection to Shakespeare’s Macbeth, however the castle itself was built centuries after the events in the play supposedly happened. If you do visit, make sure to give yourself plenty of time to explore the beautiful gardens here!

Loch Ness

No trip to Inverness would be complete without a trip to Loch Ness. Loch Ness is the largest loch (lake) in Scotland by volume due to its deepness, and the second-largest in Scotland by surface area (Loch Lomond is first). A huge part of the draw of Loch Ness is a chance to spot the Loch Ness Monster, Nessie, in the lake! Whether you believe in the legend or not, I definitely recommend visiting Drumnadrochit and the Nessie Visitor Center. This is a really fun museum, which gives loads of information not just about Nessie, but about the features and history of the lake itself! You can also take a boat tour of Loch Ness – book your boat cruise here. You can take Bus #919 from Inverness to get here.

Urquhart Castle

Urquhart Castle is another excellent place to visit around Inverness. It’s only about a half-hour drive from Inverness, and one of my favorite places that I visited in this part of Scotland. The present ruins date from the 13th- to 16th-centuries, although this was built on an even older medieval fortification. The castle is mainly in ruins today, as it was partially destroyed in 1692 to prevent it being used by Jacobite forces. There are lots of different areas of the castle you can explore, and the views out to Loch Ness are stunning. Bus #919 from Inverness also stops here, or else check out this tour from Inverness that visits Urquhart Castle.

Glen Affric

If you have a bit more time and are looking to do some hiking, Glen Affric is a great choice! Featuring miles of ancient Caledonian pinewoods, there are beautiful lakes to visit here and some truly spectacular views from some of the hiking trails. I loved visiting Plodda Falls and Loch Beinn a’Mheadhoin on my first trip. On another visit, I did the full Loch Affric circuit – read all about hiking in Glen Affric here!

A great option for exploring the area around Inverness is this tour, which visits Glen Affric, Clava Cairns, Culloden Battlefield, Beauly Priory, and a stop at Loch Ness. If you don’t have a car (or don’t want to drive the single-track road to Glen Affric), it’s a perfect option for hitting a lot of sights in one day. If you want to explore Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle, this tour is an excellent choice.

Planning Your Trip to Inverness

Inverness is a walkable city, and you most likely won’t need to utilize public transportation within town. There is a train station in Inverness, with connections to major cities in Scotland and further south in England. Inverness has its own airport, so you could try to fly into Inverness direct. I use Skyscanner to search for the best prices for flights. While some of the places outside of Inverness are accessible by bus, having a car definitely gives you a lot more freedom to maximize your time – so I suggest you rent one either in Inverness or as part of your Scotland trip.

Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more. If you’re interested in a tour in or around Inverness, check out these ones!

Where to Stay in Inverness

There are plenty of options for where to stay in Inverness. Keep in mind that if you are arriving in Inverness by car or renting a car, having accommodation with parking included will save you a lot of hassle. Here are a few suggestions on where to stay!

• Budget: Bazpackers – clean dorms and private rooms in an excellent location in Inverness, plus a communal kitchen and garden
• Mid-range: Drumdale Bed and Breakfast – this B&B offers a tasty breakfast, off-street parking, and a warm welcome from the hosts
• Mid-range: Kingsmill Hotel – slightly further out of the city, this four-star property has a spa, pool, and free parking along with spacious rooms
• Luxury: Ness Walk Hotel – a five-star hotel with pristine rooms, super-friendly staff, an on-site restaurant, and champagne on arrival

There is so much to see and do in Inverness and the surrounding area! If you’re hoping to visit all of the places in this post, I’d probably recommend a minimum of 3-4 days to do the area justice. Inverness is the traditional starting point for the epic North Coast 500, which I did last summer and absolutely loved! Whether you’re planning a long weekend break in Inverness, or visiting the area as part of a bigger trip around Scotland, you’ll have plenty to keep you busy here! I hope this post helps in planning a trip around Inverness!

Have you been to Inverness or the Scottish Highlands before?

You might also like my posts:

What to Know About the North Coast 500 in Scotland Before You Go

A 7-Day Itinerary For Scotland’s North Coast 500 Road Trip

How Much Does it Cost to Do the North Coast 500 in Scotland?

12 Tips For Planning Your Scottish Highlands Road Trip

Alternative Isle of Skye: 4 Ways to Avoid the Crowds

15 Tips For a Weekend in Edinburgh

All my Scotland posts!

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