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The northernmost city in Scotland offers more of a “big-town” feel and is home to some of the friendliest people you’ll meet during your travels. This guide reveals the best things to do in Inverness for those visiting for the first time, including cultural attractions, outdoor activities, live music, Harry Potter scenes, food, whisky, and craft beer. You’re going to need more time off work…
You may also find our guide to Glencoe helpful.
What to Do in Inverness During Your First Visit
Live Music
Live traditional music is far more prominent in Inverness than the likes of Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Pubs like the Highlander (huge) and MacGregor’s (more intimate with outdoor seating, too) showcase local talent most nights of the week, and their social media pages provide a calendar of events.
Weekend Ceilidh
Hootananny also has a weekly music schedule featuring a lively ceilidh.
Don’t worry if you’ve never Striped The Willow before; an instructor teaches newcomers how to Scottish dance!
Hootnenany is within stumbling distance of MacGregor’s and the Highlander.
Note: The photo of the couple dancing at a ceilidh is from my wedding party, not Hootananny!
Dining Out
Start the day with a full Scottish at The Rendezvous Cafe or a breakfast roll at the quirky Jammy Piece by Muirtown Swing Bridge.
For a relaxed lunch or dinner, Black Isle Bar’s pizzas were a highlight for my selective mother-in-law; I think they actually ended up there twice in three days.
Castle Tavern is a traditional pub that overlooks the River Ness and serves Scottish meals such as fish, steak pie, and macaroni cheese.
Or, if you are looking for something a little fancier, The Kitchen Restaurant has views of Inverness Castle, and The Mustard Seed serves local produce in a unique setting – a converted church split over two levels.
Hou Hou Mei is popular among locals seeking decent Asian food.
The Victorian Market
The Victorian Market is a great option for visitors looking for a quick bite.
Its Market Hall has local food businesses such as bakeries, cafes, and street food.
While I was there over the weekend, a DJ was playing, which was a cool experience.
The building dates back to 1890 and is striking with its ornate cast-iron and wooden domed ceiling.
Can anyone else see the hull (bottom) of a boat?
Uilebheist Distillery & Brewery Tour
While you’ll have ample opportunity to visit distilleries in the Scottish Highlands, you can only experience a brewstillery in Inverness!
Uilebheist opens its doors to its beautiful craft beer distillery and invites guests to learn more about the product process and stories behind the name Uilebheist, which is pronounced EWL-uh-vehst, and means monster in Gaelic (ga-lik).
Here, you can do a tour, reserve a tasting session, or just enjoy a drink.
Enjoy Afternoon Tea
I absolutely love the whole afternoon tea experience, as it is an excuse to gorge on fresh sandwiches and pastries like sausage rolls, dainty cakes, and scones with cream and jam.
This food is usually served on stacked plates with a pot or cup of tea.
You can also add a glass of fizz if you are celebrating.
Ness Walk’s menu includes afternoon tea platters and accommodates dietary requests when provided in advance.
Inverness Museum and Art Gallery
If you are looking for some indoor Inverness attractions, check out the Inverness Museum and Art Gallery on Castle Wynd.
It hosts exhibitions on the city’s history, culture, and wider Scottish Highlands.
During the walkthrough, you can learn about the Jacobites and try on plaid.
Admission is free, and visitors are recommended the soup at the cafe.
Abertarff House
Abertarff House is the oldest house in the city, built in 1593.
The 2.5-storey townhouse is located on Church Street, which was previously known as Kirkgate (the road to the church).
It was once owned by Clan Fraser of Lovat, who fought for the Jacobites at the Battle of Culloden.
Visitors can check out the 16th-and early 17th-century Scottish architecture and two downstairs rooms which feature a succinct exhibition on local history.
How much does a week in Scotland cost? Read my road trip cost guide.
Highland Archive Centre
If you are in Scotland to research your family history, consider booking a consultation with the expert staff at the Highland Archive Centre (Tasglann na Gàidhealtachd) or using the resources in the Family Room.
Inverness Castle
The current structure of Inverness Castle, perched on a cliff overlooking the River Ness, dates back to 1836.
However, there have been others built on the same site since 1057!
This landmark is being refurbished as the Inverness Castle Experience opens in 2025.
Get Lost in a Bookstore
Leaky’s Bookshop is Scotland’s second-largest second-hand bookstore after The Book Shop in Wigtown, south of the country.
The shop opened in 1979 and has been promoting and selling used and antiquarian texts to locals and visitors since then.
If you’ve done any research on Inverness attractions on social media, you’ve likely come across Leaky’s already, as the camera lens loves this location!
Is it attracted to its location in a converted 17th-century Gaelic church or because its interior resembles a Harry Potteresque bookstore?
The Leaky’s tote bag is featured in our guide on what to wear in Scotland!
Ness Island Walk
A unique thing to do is cross one of the bridges over the River Ness to Ness Island for a casual stroll among nature.
The circular walk takes around 30 minutes and has benches to relax.
Botanic Gardens
Close to the city centre is Inverness Botanic Gardens, open seven days a week.
The gardens include a cactus house, a tropical house with a carp pond and a cafe.
Dolphin Tours
Observe the Moray Firth dolphins during a thrilling two-hour speed boat tour.
Cruise to the Black Isle’s Chanonry Point, famous for its bottlenose dolphin sightings, seals, porpoises and an abundance of birds.
Tours include splashproof and windproof suits, a lifejacket, goggles, and binoculars for safety and comfort on the water.
Craig Phadrig Hike
A moderately difficult walk that rewards hikers with views over Beauly Forth is the Craig Phadrig trail.
The 2km / 1.25 mile takes around one hour and features a woodland path with a short ascent.
Parking is free at the Craig Phadrig car park.
Highlanders’ Museum
Highlanders’ Museum (Queen’s Own Highlanders Collection) at Fort George lifts the curtain on soldiers’ lives from the Battle of Culloden to the present day.
Artefacts include items from the Seaforth Highlanders, The Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders, the Queen’s Own Highlanders, The Highlanders, and the 4th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland (4 SCOTS).
This working fort has a vast outdoor area with views over Moray Firth.
Fort George is approx 13 miles from Inverness.
Culloden Battlefield
On 16 April 1746, 1,600 men were slain during the last pitched battle in the UK.
Most of the casualties were felt on the Jacobite’s side, who were tired, hungry and caught off guard by the terrain.
In less than half an hour, the Redcoats of the British army crushed Bonnie Prince Charlie (Charles Edward, the Young Pretender) in hopes of restoring his dad, James Stuart (the Old Pretender), position on the throne.
Learn more about the conflict between the Jacobites and “Butcher” Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland’s government troops, at the Culloden Visitor Centre, which has a 360-degree battle immersion theatre and a museum.
There’s a podcast series by the NTS that you can listen to on your way to Inverness.
If you are also visiting Skye, Portree is where Bonnie Prince Charles escaped to France with the help of Flora MacDonald.
Culloden is approximately 5 miles from the city.
Clava Cairns
Outlander fans will firmly have Clava Cairns, the inspiration for Craigh Na Dun, on their Inverness bucket list!
The prehistoric Bronze Age stone circles aren’t just a book prop; they were erected 4,000 years ago as cemeteries.
Clava Cairns is approximately 7 miles from the city.
Loch Ness Day Trip
Just south of Inverness is the largest lake in the UK by volume.
Hundreds of thousands of people visit Loch Ness each year, hoping to catch a glimpse of a local aquatic beast, the Loch Ness Monster!
Nessie hunters can learn more about sightings at the Loch Ness Exhibition Centre and take a boat tour from Fort Augustus.
Other things to do around the loch are hiking to see waterfalls and wild swims at Dores Beach.
Find out more in our guide to Loch Ness.
North Coast 500
Inverness is the start of the popular NC500 road trip route which does a loop from Inverness along the coast up to Durness and Thurso and then back around again or the other way, there is no set path.
During this scenic road trip, you’ll see beaches, mountains, and castles, and eat lots of seafood.
Read next: North Coast 500.
Final Words
Hopefully, you are convinced there are many Inverness activities worth including on your Scotland itinerary or a weekend visit if you are local.
Pop any (kind) comments or questions below this guide, and I’ll get back to you.
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