13 Best Things To Do In Inverness – Capital Of The Highlands
The Capital of the Scottish Highlands is a great place to explore the surrounding area, but too many miss out on all the things to do in Inverness itself! Try and give yourself time to spend more than just a day in Inverness. It might be a small city, but it packs a very big punch!
I visit Inverness dozens of times every year, often while leading private tours, but also for my own entertainment! It’s a city jam-packed full of stories, charm and buckets of personality. With the river Ness flowing through the middle, historic sites round every corner and a legendary monster not far away, there’s more than enough to keep you busy for a whole weekend in Inverness!
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How To Get To Inverness?
Getting to Inverness is a piece of cake! For those travelling from Edinburgh or Glasgow, it’s a straight drive up the A9 which takes just over 3 hours. There are lots of interesting things to see along the way and journey up to the Capital of the Highlands can be a very fun day out. It can also easily be reached by road from Aberdeen along the A96, Fort William on the A82 or Ullapool on the A835.
You can easily visit Inverness with public transport as well. The train station is well connected with direct routes from Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Fort William. The same goes for travelling by bus and did you know that you can even fly into Inverness? Once there, it’s a very compact, easy city to explore on foot!
Brief History of Inverness
Inverness sits in Scotland’s Great Glen, wedged between Loch Ness and the Moray Firth, at a crucial junction of major routes. It’s no surprise that this city has seen more than its fair share of historical events. We know that the Picts had a settlement here when St Columba arrived to build a church in the 6th century.
After Scotland had formed as a nation, a royal fortress was constructed at this important spot, high above the river. Inverness became one of the most important burghs in the country, with shipbuilding, fishing and farming keeping the port busy.
During the 1745 Jacobite Rising, Inverness was fiercely fought over, with Bonnie Prince Charlie’s men capturing the fort here. Determined to defend the last burgh in their control, they met the government army nearby at Culloden in 1746 with disastrous consequences.
As the dreaded Highland Clearances continued throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, Inverness grew with those displaced from the surrounding hills and glens. Eventually, by the 20th century, tourism was growing to be one of the main employers in the city. That carries on today with people like us heading up to the Capital of the Highlands for a weekend in Inverness!
Leakey’s Bookshop
Easily one of the most popular things to do in Inverness is take a visit to Leakey’s Bookshop. Established inside the old Gaelic church, it’s an institution of the city these days! Browsing the packed shelves, surrounded by old books with a roaring fire in the centre – can you think of any better way to spend a day in Inverness?
This is Scotland’s largest second-hand bookshop and still retains plenty of quirky features. A spiral staircase leads to the upper balcony and the original pulpit looms behind the till. The Scottish history section is particularly well stocked although it might be a while before the Scotland’s Stories Book makes its way onto the shelves…
Take A Tour Of The Town!
The best way to see some of the best things to do Inverness while getting background on the city’s history is with a tour! For those who are up for a walk, there’s no better guide than Cath from Walk Inverness! She’ll bring the streets to life with stories of the people who have called it home over the centuries.
Not everybody is able to walk for an hour and a half though, but there’s still an option for you. Hop onto one of the City Sightseeing Buses to explore Inverness without breaking a sweat. You can even take advantage of the open top, but maybe check the weather forecast first! Expect the trip to take around an hour from start to finish.
Visit Inverness Castle
Standing high above the River Ness, Inverness Castle is an icon of the city! As you can probably tell, this isn’t the original fortress dating back 1000 years but a Victorian reconstruction. This section comes with a large disclaimer since it’s actually been closed for the last few years! Due to reopen in 2025, I’ve not doubt whatsoever that the castle will quickly become one of the most popular things to do in Inverness!
The castles that have stood on this spot date back to the 11th century and have seen countless historical events. James I betrayed the Highland Chiefs by inviting them to a meeting here then having them all arrested. The castle was stormed by supporters of Mary Queen of Scots against rebels who had locked the gates. The later fort was then destroyed by the Jacobites!
It’s a place packed with stories and the new Inverness Castle Experience plans to tell them all. The attraction will plan to do even more, celebrating the Spirit of the Highlands. That’s a fitting aim for the Capital of the Highlands and I’ll be back to update you as soon as I can get inside!
Visit Inverness’ Many Churches
Directly across the river from the castle stands Inverness Cathedral. While it’s much newer, only being built in the mid 1800s, it’s almost as much of an icon as the castle! Originally intended to have two large spires, the square towers seem to suit this Episcopalian cathedral. You can visit the inside for £2 between 9am and 6pm.
After exploring one of the newest churches in Inverness, head over to see the oldest! Old St Stephen’s stands on the same spot that Columba established the first church in the city. The tower is thought to date back to the 14th century and was even used to house Jacobite prisoners after the Battle of Culloden. Lookout for musket ball marks in the wall around the door of the tower from firing squads.
Browse The Victorian Market
If there’s one thing in Inverness that resident’s seem most proud of, then it’s the Victorian Market! This historic indoor market is packed full of independent shops and eateries offering you a more authentic shopping experience than tourist tat stores! There’s a butcher and a baker although you might not find a candlestick maker…
You’re not just visiting the Victorian Market for the retailers though, the architecture is just as interesting. Cast iron arches, beautiful rounded shop-fronts and an elegant domed roof mean that you’ll spend half your time wandering with your mouth open in awe! Look out for marks on the stone arch by Church Street where fishmongers once sharpened their knives!
Walk The Ness Islands
It’s time to stretch your legs again as you explore the river that gives the city its name. On a nice day, a walk around the Ness Islands is an essential thing to do in Inverness. It’s a place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the streets and breathe some fresh air.
You’ll need to cross a beautiful Victorian footbridge to access these natural islands. There are carved benches for you to sit and watch the River Ness flow by, you could easily lose track of time here! Don’t be surprised if you see locals out for a run or families strolling amongst the trees. You might even spot Nessie on your travels!
Inverness Museum & Art Gallery
I love a good museum and as the Capital of the Highlands, it’s no surprise that Inverness has a great one. The collections tell the story of the entire region rather than just the city, giving them plenty of ground to cover! There are over 100,000 items here, so you could easily spend a whole day in Inverness museum alone!
You’ll find tales from early history as well as the tail (and the rest) of Felicity the famous Inverness-shire Puma! There are Pictish stones, historic weapons, everyday artefacts and just about anything else you can think of to tell the story of Highland life. Don’t miss the Art Gallery as well with my personal highlight being the depiction of the Battle of Culloden!
Step Inside Abertarff House
It might look unassuming, but this whitewashed building is one of the most historic things to do in Inverness. Abertarff House is like travelling back in time as you step inside Inverness’ oldest home! There isn’t much of the house open to explore, but you will find an exhibition about life in 17th century Inverness.
Abertarff was built in 1593 for the important Frasers of Lovat, a name that’s very important to the history of Inverness. The family were integral to the politics of the Highlands, with their most famous member being Simon Fraser – The Old Fox although it was his son who lived here.
There are very few buildings like this left in Scotland so we should be grateful that it managed to survive!
Have A Dram At Uile-Bheist Distillery
If you’re spending your day in Inverness, you might as well have a few drinks! The city has some brilliant pubs, but it’s worth going right to the source. Uile-Bheist (pronounced you-luh-vesht) is a new, modern distillery and brewery right in the heart of Inverness. Amazingly for the Highlands, it was the first distillery in Inverness in over 50 years!
The name translated from Gaelic means “monster” and you’ll find nods to Scottish legends all around the site. Uile-Bheist has embraced folklore in its branding, telling the tales of beasts like Scottish Kelpies! Tours are available to learn about the processes behind making Scottish whisky & beer, with a few folk stories thrown in!
Go Nessie Hunting In Loch Ness
We can’t mention monsters and not talk about Nessie! Any trip to Inverness should involve a hunt for the Loch Ness Monster! The earliest records of a water beast around Loch Ness date back to St Columba in the 6th century. He banished the monster after it had attacked and killed a local. It seems to have come back centuries later…
The loch is an amazing place, with more water in it than all the lakes and rivers in England and Wales combined! My advice would be to take this boat trip out to explore both the loch and Urquhart Castle at the same time. Urquhart is packed full of history and easily one of the highlights of the Highlands!
Discover Brutal Jacobite History At Culloden
While this is also technically outside the city, a visit to Culloden Battlefield is still an essential thing to do in Inverness. This was where the dream of the 1745 Jacobite Rising came to a brutal and tragic end on the 16th April 1746. In less than an hour 1500 men lay dead on this open, windswept moor.
The Jacobites, led by Bonnie Prince Charlie, were attempting to put the Stuart monarchy back on the throne. After a failed night attack, only around 5000 were awake to take on the government army. Following their defeat, no quarter was shown to wounded Jacobites on the battlefield and they were all buried in mass graves now marked by small stones.
The battlefield itself is free to visit and easy to access from Inverness, there are information boards spread around but they’re a little lacking so read up on how Culloden played out beforehand. There’s also a great visitor centre that will explain everything, including the build up to the rising. It was a pivotal point in history and one that’s worth learning more about on your trip to Inverness.
Catch Some Live Music In Inverness
After the sadness of Culloden, it’s time for something much more uplifting! No weekend in Inverness is complete without some live music although you can find that every night of the week! Music is such a large part of Highland culture so it’s no surprise that the Capital of the Highlands is also the best place to find traditional tunes!
If you’re purely looking for great folk music then make your way to MacGregors. Run by legendary fiddle player Bruce Macgregor, there are often some big names performing! If you’re looking to eat some good Scottish food while enjoying the tunes, then head along the street to Hootananny instead. Your third option for great live music in Inverness isn’t far away at Highlander.
Enjoy A Storied Dinner!
If you’re willing to travel a short distance from the city, then one of my favourite places to go for dinner during a weekend in Inverness is Downright Gabbler. Found a short drive away in Beauly, this is far more than just a meal, it’s a storied dinner. While you wait for your food to be serve, you’ll be regaled with tales from Scottish history!
It’s a small, intimate dinner with just a few tables available for each of the events, which are all slightly different. That means you feel like you’re listening to the stories while sitting by the family fire! As a storyteller, I know thing or two about telling tales and Garry is a real master of his craft.
It’s not all about the stories though and the food at the Downright Gabbler is exquisite Scottish fare re-imagined. I’ve had things like posh stovies or deconstructed cranachan there. It’s always a highlight for me and I’m sure it will be for you too!
Where To Stay In Inverness
There are no shortage of places to stay during your trip to Inverness, but it can seem like there’s too much choice! Here are places all tried and tested by me and guests on my tours:
Beaufort Hotel – Great quality and central enough to walk around town, the Beaufort is affordable and dependable.
Best Western Inverness Palace – Across on the quieter side of the river, the Best Western is very comfortable, has a spa, does a great breakfast and is even dog friendly!
Rocpool Reserve – If you want a wee bit of luxury on your trip to Inverness then look no further than this 5 Star boutique hotel!
Rossal Apartments – Perfect for those looking to book an apartment in a quirky old building, but be aware it’s around a 30 minute walk into town from here!
Ardentorrie Guest House – Perfectly central for all of the things to do in Inverness, this is a great guest house for your stay!
Strathallan B&B – Just across the river but still very accessible with a great breakfast, affordable price and very friendly hosts!
Inverness Hostel – For anybody on a budget, I stay in hostels all the time and as long as you don’t mind bunkbeds then they’re a brilliant option for all ages! Private rooms are also available here!
Where To Head After A Trip To Inverness?
Inverness is such an important place because of how connected it is, so you have lots of options for where to visit after your trip to Inverness! Lots of these could even be part of a daytrip from the city!
Head east and you’ll be in the underappreciated region of Moray & Speyside! This is whisky country so if you’re a fan of Scotland’s national drink, then this is a must see. There’s also lots of history around places like Forres, Elgin and Cullen!
If you kept going through Moray, you’d eventually end up in Aberdeenshire – otherwise known as Castle Country. Do you need more reasons to visit than that?
Head West instead down the Great Glen and you’ll arrive in Lochaber! That area is packed full of Jacobite history and dramatic mountain scenery.
South will take you down the A9, through the Cairngorm Mountains. You’ll definitely want to stop at the beautiful wee town of Dunkeld and spend some time exploring there!
You could always head north and spend some time exploring the NC500, Scotland’s famous road trip. Don’t just rush round but spend time to really appreciate all that the eastern section of this route has to offer!
Of course, you could head all the way to the Isle of Skye and I know that lots of people do! While it is possible to head there on a daytrip, I think that this magical island deserves much more time if you have it spare!
Why not visit Inverness on a bespoke Scotland’s Stories Tour?
Just click this link to make an enquiry and book your private driving tour today!
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