Inverness, Scotland is a must-see destination in the Highlands. Whether you are breezing through on a whirlwind tour or settling in for a longer stay, we have a few travel tips for Inverness that will help you make the most of your trip.
Many travelers skip Inverness – and we feel that’s a mistake. We recently spent an entire summer in the Highlands – and for a good portion of that time, based ourselves in Inverness.
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While we found the city to be charming, the surroundings are sublime. We just felt it was all so quintessentially Scottish.
Even though it takes some effort to reach, it’s absolutely worth visiting. With our tips for traveling to Inverness, you can plan your perfect trip!
Top 10 Travel Tips for Inverness
Our advice covers everything from what to see to where to stay and when to go. Plus, we outline sample itineraries featuring day-by-day activities.
With these Inverness, Scotland travel tips, you can confidently add the city to your Scotland Itinerary!
#1 Plan What To See and Do in Inverness
Inverness and the surrounding Highlands are a treasure trove of unique attractions and epic adventures.
Our list of Free Inverness Things To Do outlines some of the top activities in the city center. A centuries-old castle, Ness Islands and the quaint Leakey’s Bookshop are some of our favorite spots.
The surrounding region is dotted with landmark sights and a few hidden gems, too. The streaming waterfall at Falls of Foyers, the Urquhart Castle and Loch Ness are some of our favorite places.
Read our complete rundown of What To Do in the Highlands for our honest advice about visiting nearby destinations.
#2 Book Inverness Tours in Advance
Guided tours provide a fantastic introduction to Inverness and the Highlands. That said, the best options get fully booked – so we recommend securing your spot in advance.
Our go-to resource for booking tours is Viator. The platform allows us to find excursions that match our interests – and lets us read fellow traveler reviews, too.
A great way to learn more about the history of Inverness – especially if you are short on time – is on a guided tour of the city center.
The professional guides lead the way to the top landmarks, while sharing interesting information about the city’s past. Reserve your spot on a walking tour or guided bike ride for your trip.
The Highlands tours that explore further afield often have even less availability, so pre-booking is essential. We are highlighting a few of the best tours from Inverness.
History of the Highlands – This excursion makes stops at Loch Ness, the ancient Clava Cairns Stones, the significant Culloden Battlefield and Urquhart Castle. Book it!
Loch Ness from Inverness – Search for the elusive Loch Ness Monster on this memorable Cruise or Bus Tour that also includes a stop at Urquhart Castle.
Nature and Whisky – See the astounding beauty of Cairngorms National Park and cap off your day trip with a wonderful whisky tasting. Get the details!
Day Trip to Skye – The landscapes of Isle of Skye are otherworldly. On a day trip from Inverness, get a glimpse of these natural wonders. Find out more!
#3 Decide How Many Days in Inverness
Is one day in Inverness enough? Is staying in Inverness for three days too much? We understand the conundrum…unfortunately, there is no definitive answer.
How long to stay in Inverness will depend on your interests, budget and overall Scotland trip plans.
If you are planning a 1-week vacation in the Highlands, then we feel staying in Inverness for at least 2 days is ideal.
However, if your time in Northern Scotland is limited, then spending a day in Inverness is likely adequate.
Later on, we outline our suggested Inverness Itinerary. We include tips for things to do with just a few hours, as well as a trip plan of what to see in Inverness in 3 days.
#4 Set Your Inverness Trip Budget
Scotland is not a budget destination, but your trip to Inverness doesn’t have to break the bank!
As we already mentioned, there are heaps of things to do in the city for free. Visitors planning a low-cost trip can opt to use public transport rather than joining organized tours.
The best way to keep your budget in check is by tracking your expenditures. Get your Free Vacation Budget Tracker – plus we’ll send you our top tips for planning frugal trips!
#5 Make Dinner Reservations
We love the traditional cuisine of the Scottish Highlands. It’s meaty, hearty and utterly delicious.
Inverness is home to a number of excellent eateries. In order to insure a table, you will want to make a reservation in advance.
Our list of Top Inverness Restaurants outlines the best places to eat, drink and listen to great live music!
Admittedly, it took us awhile to warm up to the local food, which can be a bit perplexing. We help untangle the mystery with our list of Must-Eat Scottish Foods.
#6 Figure out the Best Time to Visit Inverness
You are probably wondering, When is the best time to go to Inverness and the Scottish Highlands? As the top Inverness activities are outdoors, it’s best to plan a trip in the summertime.
The days are long (really long) and the weather is typically agreeable to being outside. That said, the summer temperatures in the Highlands rarely exceed 70F degrees and passing rain showers are always possible.
The shoulder seasons – spring and autumn – can also be a good time to visit Inverness. Of course, the weather is fairly unpredictable in the Highlands and can range from sunny and beautiful to blustery and rainy.
Wintertime in Inverness can be dark, cold and snowy – which is great for getting cozy in the local pubs or touring indoor attractions with far fewer crowds.
One of the things to do in Inverness at Christmas is to enjoy festive music at a local bar – and stay for the Hogmanay celebration beginning on New Year’s Eve!
#7 Find the Best Places To Stay in Inverness
We believe the best place to stay is in the heart of the city, where you are just steps from sights and the train and bus stations.
There is a wide range of Inverness accommodations – from hotels to bed and breakfasts to vacation apartments to hostels.
We are sharing a few of our top picks, but don’t book before reading our tips for Finding the Best Hotels for Cheap.
Ness Walk: A beautiful property boasting spacious abodes and excellent service, Ness Walk is a premier luxury hotel in Inverness. Rooms feature patios and breakfast is included.
Columba Hotel: Located on the river in the heart of town, Columba offers guests large, clean rooms with modern amenities and an onsite restaurant and bar.
Heathmount Hotel: Stylish and clean, the Heathmount is just a short walk from the humming city center – and guests rave about the hospitality.
Drumdale B&B: This B&B in Inverness warmly welcomes guests with comfortable rooms and an exceptional breakfast. Check rates!
Private Apartment: Those staying for more than a few days might be more comfortable with a holiday rental in Inverness. Having access to a kitchen and more living space can help you feel more at home. Find vacation apartments in Inverness on Airbnb or Booking.com!
#8 Determine How To Get to Inverness
Inverness and the Scottish Highlands can be reached by plane, train, bus or car. Determining how you will arrive will likely be based on your budget and point of origin.
Airport in Inverness, Scotland
Most flights to Inverness Airport (INV) originate within the United Kingdom. Located east of the town center, arriving passengers can rent a car, take a taxi or ride the Stagecoach bus or ScotRail train into the city.
Larger airports near Inverness are located in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Before booking your ticket, read our advice for Finding the Best Flight Fares!
Buses and Trains to Inverness
The Inverness Bus and Train stations are located next door to each other right in the city center. The convenient location makes traveling to Inverness with public transit easy and efficient.
Buses to Inverness are fairly frequent from other destinations in Scotland and England. Train travel is also popular in the Highlands, but typically more expensive than buses.
Visitors can use direct trains to get to Inverness from major cities, like Edinburgh and Glasgow. Additionally, there is an overnight train to Inverness from London.
#9 Choose How To Get around Inverness
The city of Inverness is easy to navigate, fairly flat and very walkable. In fact, we believe exploring on foot is the best way to go about it. When discovering more of the region, however, transport is required.
Rent a Car
Having a car for your Inverness trip allows for the most flexibility. Bear in mind, you’ll need to be comfortable driving on the left. If you decide to rent a vehicle, use our tips for finding the Best Car Rental Rates.
Inverness Without a Car
It’s a common misconception that a car is necessary for getting around Inverness and the Highlands. But it’s simply not true.
During our trip, we used local buses and trains along with organized tours to get to the top Highland attractions.
You can also ride the Inverness Hop On Hop Off Bus to get to major tourist spots near the city.
Train and Buses in Inverness
There are several regional train and bus routes in Inverness that can be used to get to top destinations in the Highlands.
For example, we rode the train from Inverness to Plockton and used buses to get to Falls of Foyers, Fort Augustus, Chanonry Point and the Fairy Glen Waterfalls.
Additionally, you can join the bus tours from Inverness that we mentioned earlier for guided adventures.
We breakdown all these options and so much more in our guide to the Scottish Highlands Without a Car!
Rent a Bicycle and Pedal around Inverness
In addition to the paths along the waterways, cyclists have dedicated lanes on streets throughout the city center.
There are numerous bikes shops in Inverness, Scotland where visitors can rent a bike for a couple of hours, an entire day or for multiday adventures.
The Ticket To Ride bike rental company at Bellfield Park gets rave reviews. They even provide maps so you can Cycle to Loch Ness!
#10 Pick Out What To Pack for Inverness
Our final travel tips for Inverness are all about packing. So grab our FREE Packing Checklist and let’s get you on your way to Scotland!
Sturdy Shoes
Many of the top things to see and do in Inverness are outdoors, so make sure you pack the right Travel Shoes. We recommend ones with a good sole, but that are also versatile enough to wear around the city.
I wore my everyday sneakers that are comfortable on hikes and the streets. Kris prefers these trail shoes for treks and sightseeing.
Of course, if you plan on tackling some of the more intense Hikes in the Highlands, you will want a pair of proper boots.
Scotland Weather Gear
The weather in Inverness can be wild! It’s not uncommon to experience all four seasons in the span of just a few hours.
Rather than letting the weather keep you from enjoying your trip, we recommend packing a few items that will help keep you warm and dry.
A raincoat and good travel umbrella are two items that should absolutely make onto your packing list.
Summertime travelers should also bring sunscreen, your favorite pair of sunglasses and a hat with a brim. Insect repellent with picaridin to combat the mosquitos, midges and ticks – like this one – is useful, too.
Travel Camera
Inverness and the Highlands are utterly gorgeous! It is best to upgrade to a real camera. We use a Canon Rebel with a 18-135mm lens.
Not only does it take high quality photos, but it is easy to use and comes at an affordable price. It is still one of the best cameras for budget travelers!
Favorite Day Pack
We highly recommend carrying a day bag while sightseeing in Scotland. We like to wear small backpacks with multiple zippered pockets to store everything we need for our daily outings.
If a backpack is not your style, find more suggestions in our Best Day Bags for Travelers article.
Trip Insurance
Travel doesn’t always go as planned – and if things go wrong, insurance might help. Whether it’s cancelled flights, lost luggage or getting sick, the right policy may recoup any costs incurred.
How To Plan a Trip Itinerary for Inverness, Scotland
Planning an Inverness itinerary takes a bit of effort. Of course, what you ultimately decide to see and do depends on your personal interests.
Use our guides to Inverness Sights and Highlands Attractions for more in-depth info about the activities in our trip plan.
1 to 4 Hours in Inverness
On a super short trip, start by walking to the Ness Islands, snapping a photo of Inverness Castle and then visiting either the Cathedral or the Inverness Museum.
If time allows, stop by a few of the landmark sights – like the Old High Church, Leakey’s Bookshop and the Victorian Market.
24 Hours in Inverness
Visitors with 1 day in Inverness can squeeze quite a bit of sightseeing into a short timeframe.
After seeing the sights mentioned directly above, visit the botanic garden (or Whin Park if traveling with kids).
Then take a stroll along the Caledonian Canal and head out to Carnarc Point to look for dolphins. Alternatively, take an afternoon boat cruise to Loch Ness to track down Nessie.
In the evening, enjoy a casual dinner and local beers at Black Isle Bar and catch some live music at Gellions.
48 Hours in Inverness
Travelers spending 2 days in Inverness can see a lot of the city, plus some of the surrounding region.
Start with our above advice for visiting Inverness in one day. Then on Day 2, join a full day trip to Cairngorms NP or Culloden Battlefield.
Alternatively, plan your own adventure using public transit to either Falls of Foyers and Cameron Tea Shop (where there are Highland Coos). Or go to Fortrose and Rosemarkie to hike to the waterfalls and search for dolphins.
For dinner, make reservations at one of the top restaurants – like The Mustard Seed or Urquhart’s.
72 Hours in Inverness
Those with 3 days in Inverness can really cover some ground! Adding to our advice above for Days 1 and 2, spend Day 3 on a fun adventure.
Set off on a long hike on the Great Glen Way or embark on an epic train journey to Plockton.
Start planning your trip to the UK! Search for the lowest airfares, the best accommodations and fun things to do…then start packing! Want additional tips? Head over to our Travel Planning Page for more advice – and for country-specific information, take a look at our Travel Guides Page!
More Scotland Destination Guides
- 3 Days in Edinburgh and our Self Guided Royal Mile Walk
- Day Trip to Dunbar from Edinburgh
- Isle of Skye Itinerary and What To Do in Portree
- Discover the East Coast of Scotland
- Glasgow in One Day
- Visit St Andrews
- See Stonehaven and Dunnottar Castle
- Scotland Travel Tips
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