In the heart of the Scottish Highlands, Inverness is breathtaking in its beauty. Situated on the meandering River Ness, the city is made for strolling around with quaint cafés and superb restaurants aplenty.
Inverness is home to – or a stone’s throw away from – some of Scotland’s best-known sights and attractions: from the historic Culloden Battlefield, and monster hunting at Loch Ness, to exploring exotic plants at the botanic gardens. The city also has its fair share of hidden gems.
The best part? The journey to this city in Scotland is part of the adventure, with the train route from Edinburgh to Inverness being one of the most spectacular in the UK, as it winds through the jaw-dropping Cairngorms National Park.
To help with your planning, we’ve put together a guide of our favorite things to do in Inverness, and we uncover some of the secret spots locals don’t want you to know about.
Image Credit: Getty Images, bukki88. Image Location: Urquhart Castle, Loch Ness, Scotland
What to do in (and around) Inverness, Scotland
Monster hunting at Loch Ness
A trip to Inverness isn’t complete without a search for Nessie, the mythical aquatic creature that has puzzled locals and tourists for centuries.
To get to Loch Ness from Inverness, you have several options: it takes around 20 to 30 min by car or taxi, while one of the many buses stops at various locations along Loch Ness, including the highland village of Drumnadrochit near Urquhart Castle. You could also cycle along the River Ness and take in the beautiful surroundings until you hit Great Britain’s largest body of water.
From Drumnadrochit, you can take a boat cruise out onto the loch. Bring your binoculars! There have been over a thousand reported sightings of Nessie. Drumnadrochit is also home to the famous Loch Ness Center where you can unearth the unique history of this truly magical place.
Image Credit: Getty Images, rpeters86 Image Location: Memorial Cairn, Culloden Battlefield, Scotland
Culloden Battlefield
Discover how a bloody fight that lasted only an hour changed life in the Highlands forever.
The site of the final Jacobite Rising carries a powerful and emotional history. The interactive visitor center helps you explore fascinating artifacts from both sides of the conflict and offers an all-encompassing experience through an immersive surround cinema.
Inverness Botanic Gardens
The Inverness Botanic Gardens include a tropical house with an amazing array of plants, fishponds, and even a waterfall. This spot is the perfect place to walk around on a sunny day – yes, it does happen!
Inverness Cathedral
One of the more defining landmarks in Inverness, the cathedral towers over the city and has excellent stained-glass windows and exquisite stone and wood carvings.
Image Credit and Location: Glenmorangie Distillery, Tain, Scotland
Distilleries near Inverness, Scotland
Glenmorangie Distillery
Picking between the many whisky options in and around Inverness is a tall order. But the famed Glenmorangie distillery is certainly a good option for its choice of different tours and an excellent whisky experience. And, of course, a wee dram or two (that would be a single serving of whisky, if you’re not quite familiar yet). To get there from Inverness station, hop on a train to Tain station and Glenmorangie distillery is just a short walk out of town.
Off the tourist trail: how do you spend a day in Inverness?
If you’re keen to get out of the hustle and bustle of the tourist sites to do more of what the locals do, we have a couple of suggestions too.
Hootananny
Named after a word which means an informal performance by folk singers, this Inverness establishment is a must-go if you want a bit of traditional Highland hospitality. On Fridays and Saturdays, tables are even cleared for some ceilidh dancing, with smiles and laughter a guarantee.
Leakey’s Bookshop
One of Scotland’s largest bookshops, this is a real literature lover’s dream. It also has a café for a wee coffee or tea!
The Malt Room
If you’re keen for a wee dram that’s a little bit closer to town, then the Malt Room is an essential stop in Inverness. The speakeasy-style spot has a huge range of whiskies available, with some real rarities among them.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Brandon Rosenblum. Image Location: Inverness, Scotland
Ness Islands
There’s no better way to spend a sunny day in Inverness than walking around the collection of islands in the middle of River Ness, which are connected by Victorian suspension bridges. You can even jump into a rowing boat on the pond in nearby Whin Park.
Say 'hi' to the Highlands
We think you'll love the history, culture, and beauty of the capital of Scotland's Highlands. Download the Trainline App, and discover the freedom of traveling by train.
Header Image Credit: Getty Images, i love sticky rice. Image Location: Inverness, Scotland