burnessie
Inverness: the gateway to the stunning vistas, wide beaches and rolling hills of the Scottish Highlands. Here you will find everything you need to know about what to see, where to eat and drink, where to stay and more – welcome to your Inverness Travel Guide!
I ended up in Inverness for a weekend as a result of finally ticking off the Caledonian Sleeper off my bucket list! Inverness serves as a launchpad for the rest of the Highlands and the Hebrides.
Before you start roadtripping into beautiful rural Scotland, give some time to Inverness. It’s a small but lovely city with great food and plenty of pubs with live music and whisky tastings.
Inverness Travel Guide Contents
*This blog includes affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of my links, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting me!*
WHERE TO EAT IN INVERNESS
Rocpool
1 Ness Walk, Inverness IV3 5NE
Inverness’ well renowned fine dining offering, Rocpool is well worth a visit. If you’re not on a budget, a lazy dinner here would be lovely, but if like me you are, the set lunch makes Rocpool much more affordable at £26.95 for a starter and a main.
Everything coming off the pass looked fantastic, so it was tough to choose from the four choices offering for each course. I went with the ragu on crispy polenta to start and the smoked haddock on black pudding mash with poached egg for main. Both were fantastic. Washed down with two excellent glasses of red and a limoncello to round things off, the bill came to around £50.
The Mustard Seed
16 Fraser St, Inverness IV1 1DW
Independent restaurant The Mustard Seed has been nominated and won plenty of local awards for their food. Inside is cosy with a wood burning fire in the middle and an upstairs from which you can look out onto the River Ness.
They do a very well priced set lunch and early evening menu with a starter and a main for £15.95, though the main a la carte is well priced for the quality and the service was excellent and friendly.
If they have the breaded Stornaway Black Pudding on the menu, get it. Absolutely delicious.
Coyote Burgers
27 Bank St, Inverness IV1 1QU
Epic smash burgers that taste as good as they look dirty. I’ve long said that a burger can only be at its peak if it’s also messy, and Coyote Burgers nail this.
Their menu boasts burgers, fried chicken, loaded dirty fries and huge milkshakes to wash it all down with.
Black Isle Bar
68 Church St, Inverness IV1 1EN
The best spot for pizzas and craft beer in Inverness. Black Isle Bar boast 26 of their own beers on tap alongside over 100 different craft beers from all over the world, and wood fired pizzas to line the stomach.
TOP TIP: Black Isle have a rooftop for the sunny days!
Inverness Coffee Roasting Company
15 Chapel St, Inverness IV1 1NA
Truly fantastic coffee. There are lots of different beans to choose from to buy – I recommend the Highland roast.
I met a couple who said that people come to the Inverness Coffee Roasting Company as a destination to stock up on beans. It’s that well revered, and I can see why. Don’t fret though, if you’re not in Inverness, you can order online!
The Original Milk Bar
3 Ness Walk, Inverness IV3 5NE
Excellent coffee shop with an additional, smaller shop in The Victorian Market. Milk Bar’s coffee uses as special ‘Milk Bar’ roast from the Inverness Coffee Roasting Company. Grab a pastry or toasties to go with your coffee, or try their ice cream in the Victorian Market shop.
Girvans
2-4 Stephens Brae, Inverness IV2 3JN
Independent cafe at the top of the High Street with excellent breakfasts and pastries.
Café Artysans
7 Strothers Ln, Inverness IV1 1LR
Social enterprise that works with and supports young people, Café Artysans always use local Highlands suppliers where they can. Soups and sandwiches serve as a good options for a quick lunch, and breakfasts are delicious – brioche French toast with crispy streaky bacon and maple syrup anyone?
Bad Girl Bakery
Victoria Market, Academy St, Inverness IV1 1AN
Based in The Victoria Market, Bad Girl Bakery sell incredibly indulgent cakes, brownies and chocolatey slices, as well as breakfast and fresh sandwiches on doorstop bread.
The Bakery
72 Tomnahurich St, Inverness IV3 5DT
Great little bakery serving fresh bread and pastries every day alongside good coffee and a small deli offering. I was sadly too late in the day to grab one of their croissants (I read someone call it the best they’d had) but their Millionaire’s Shortbread hit the spot for an pick me up in the cold of my Loch Ness trip.
PUBS AND BARS IN INVERNESS
The Walrus and Corkscrew
105 Church Street, Inverness IV1 1EY
My favourite places that I end up on my travels are those I stumble on despite extensive research beforehand. The Walrus and Corkscrew is no exception!
Small and cosy, this wine bar offers a wide range of wines by the glass and you can pick any 3 to sample as a tasting flight for £7.50. Charcuterie and cheese boards are on offer each day too.
Booking highly advised. I managed to secure a spot for a couple of hours, but by the time I left people were being turned away. Fantastic spot! Dogs welcome.
MacGregor’s
113 Academy St, Inverness IV1 1LX
Regularly voted as one of the best bars in Scotland, at MacGregor’s you can sample the extensive menu of Scottish gins, local whiskies and craft beers whilst revelling in one of their frequent live music sessions.
With a menu of Scottish favourites and serious burgers, you’ll come for a drink and stay for the evening. Bookings recommended.
The Wee Bar
Upstairs, 4-6 Ness Walk, Inverness IV3 5NE
Cosy hideaway of a bar with an impressive range of whisky and Scottish gins on their menu. The perfect place for a self guided tasting! Balance things out with one of their excellent charcuterie platters.
The Malt Room
34 Church St, Inverness IV1 1EH
Inverness’ first dedicated whisky bar, The Malt Room is a cosy and intimate place for a drink. Whisky isn’t the only thing on the menu – spirits, cocktails, wine and beers are on offer too – but you’ll be guided well through a whisky tasting here by the knowledgeable staff.
THINGS TO DO IN INVERNESS
Whilst Inverness itself has some great bars and restaurants, it is small, yet serves as a brilliant launch pad to see the beauty of the Highlands that surround it. The bus and train connections are good, though as ever, hiring a car will afford you far more flexibility.
Leakey’s Book Shop
A must see in Inverness, Leakey’s Book Shop is full from floor to ceiling with second hand books over two floors in an old church, complete with wood burning fire in the middle warming the place up. Alongside books from all over about anything and everything, they also sell beautiful antique prints that I spent at least half an hour fawning over.
The Victorian Market
Victorian arcade full of independent shops and places to eat. Order from one of the food spots and sit in the centre communal area – often there is live music playing to entertain you. The market itself is open 7 days a week, but bear in mind individual businesses will have varying opening times.
Loch Ness
It feels wrong to go to Inverness and not take a visit to see the Loch Ness monster! Loch Ness is just a 30 min drive from Inverness. Easy if you have a car, but there are also coaches that take you from the city centre, which is what I did to get to the area of the Loch where Urquhart Castle sits. A return ticket to Urquhart Castle cost me £12.90, though it’s slightly cheaper to buy online.
TOP TIP: You will definitely need to book coaches in advance in peak summer months as they will fill up quickly!
Dores Beach
For epic sunset views and a chance to actually dip your toes in Loch Ness, head to Dores Beach. There is a bus from Inverness, but they don’t run on Sundays and didn’t seem that frequent. Perhaps this changes in the summer! A taxi is quick but not the cheapest – around £27 each way.
Dores Inn is a great pub on the beach to have a meal or drink in as you take in the beauty of the loch. They have an amazing garden area with plenty of seats on the edge of the Loch which I imagine is a total vibe in the summer!
Urquhart Castle
Urquhart Castle is a ruined castle which was destroyed during the Jacobite Risings in the 1500s. Dating back over 1000 year and overlooking Loch Ness, the views are epic. The audio guide gives a comprehensive history on the previous forms of the castle.
TOP TIP: Buy tickets in advance online to save money (£13 versus £14.50).
The Highland Malt Whisky Experience
Held 5 nights a week between April and October at MacGregor’s, The Highland Malt Whisky Experience will take you through a tasting of the whiskies of local distilleries of the Scottish Highlands. £43.00 for 90 minutes including 5 tastings. MacGregor’s has live music on too, so it’s sure to be a good night!
Nairn
Just twenty minutes away on the train or a half hour drive is the town of Nairn, which boasts not one but two beautiful sandy beaches. Sand dunes slope gently onto wide beaches with white sand and killer sunsets. If you’re there late at night, the Northern Lights might make themselves known.
The Isle of Skye
The beautiful Isle of Skye is reason enough for me to return to this corner of Scotland, with the dramatic rolling vistas, famous fairy pools waterfalls and the pretty town of Portree. If you don’t have your own car, there are plenty of tours of varying lengths that leave from Inverness between the Spring and Autumn months.
Full Day Isle of Skye Trip
Departing Inverness, this 12 hour trip takes you to Uruqhart Castle before heading up to the Isle of Skye, where you will see Portree, the Fairy Pools, Eileen Donan and enjoy a stop at the Talisker whisky distillery. Book here.
2 day Isle of Skye, Fairy Pools and Castles Tour
This two day trip takes in the highlights of the Scottish Highlands: up to the Isle of Skye, the Fairy Pools, Dunvegan Castle, Eileen Dolan Castle and an overnight stay in the pretty Skye town of Portree. Book here.
Culloden Battlefield
A short 15 minute drive from Inverness is Culloden Battlefield, site of the last bloody battle of the Jacobean Risings in the mid 1700s. The historic site is open daily.
Clava Cairns
Dating back approximately 4000 years ago to the Bronze Age (!), Clava Cairns is a prehistoric burial site near Inverness. Nearby to Culloden, the site is free to visit and open all year round.
Uile-Bheist Brewery & Distillery
Chances are whilst in the Highlands you’ll want to try whisky tasting. For £31.50pp Uile-Bheist Brewery & Distillery offer a ‘Discovery’ tour into the history of whisky and beer making.
Inverness Museum and Art Gallery
Inverness Museum will give you a good introductory education about the history, art and heritage of the Highlands of Scotland. Admission is free. Closed Sundays and Mondays.
Inverness Castle
**currently closed for refurb until 2025**
Sitting a top a hill overlooking the city and the River Ness below, Inverness Castle isn’t the oldest castle you’ll find in Scotland. It’s being refurbed for use as a location for events, but there is a rooftop terrace viewing platform which will give sweeping views over Inverness and the mountains beyond.
WHERE TO STAY IN INVERNESS
Inverness serves as the perfect launch pad for the surrounding area of the Highlands. I travelled in low season (January), so prices were very reasonable. Below are some different options on where to stay in Inverness.
Blackfriars
93-95 Academy St, Inverness IV1 1LX
I had a lovely stay at the Blackfriars pub which has two floors of rooms above it. I had a beautiful room (room 1) with an amazing freestanding tub in the huge bathroom. There were plenty of snacks, coffee and tea in the room, a super comfortable bed and the pub is just a short walk from the train station. Book here.
B&B Hotel Inverness
63 Academy St, Inverness IV1 1LU
Another good budget option near the train station, I initially booked B&B Hotel before getting a reduced rate on the cosier Blackfriars option. Book here.
River Ness Hotel
83-97 Church St, Inverness IV1 1QN
A member of the Radisson group, the River Ness is a good option by the river and very close to wonderful restaurant The Mustard Seed. Bonus points for a fitness centre and lovely modern interiors. Book here.
AC Marriott
Glebe St, Inverness IV1 1RF
Another stylish more upmarket option is the AC Marriott on the banks of the River Ness. With a lovely bar, restaurant, gym and even a convenience store located inside the hotel, it’s no surprise the AC Marriott has excellent ratings. Book here.
GETTING TO INVERNESS
You can, of course, fly to Inverness (18500 Avios + £1 or 9500 Avios + £35 return), but the reason I ended up planning a trip there without exploring too much further afield (something I definitely want to do some day – I’m dying to get out to Skye and the Outer Hebrides…) is because the main motivator was taking the Caledonian Sleeper.
I’m mildly obsessed with sleeper trains, and the Caledonian Sleeper has been on my bucket list for years. Read all about it here, I cannot recommend enough!
I flew home, and luckily there is a new train station based at Inverness airport which makes getting into the city and onwards very easy. It’s a 10-15 min walk from the station to the terminal. A one way train ticket will cost you £5.40.
GETTING AROUND INVERNESS
Inverness is as small as you’d expect for a city in the Highlands, so on foot is just fine! If you’re wanting to explore further afield, hiring a car is a great idea, but there is a decent coach and bus network that will take you out to Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle (30 min journey), as well as Culloden Battlefield (15 mins). I found the buses to be accurate and punctual, and you can book online to save a little money too, though you can buy onboard with card.
Please note, if you are travelling in the peak months, it is absolutely essential to book your buses in advance! Someone advised me that sometimes locals can’t even get home because the buses are full, so if you’re relying on the network in peak times, it’s imperative to be organised. You don’t want to get stuck around Loch Ness trying to secure a taxi after the last bus has departed!
The train network is good too, with lines out to the likes of Nairn, Elgin and Kyle of Lochalsh for the Isle of Skye.
Taxis
There’s one taxi service to use for the area – SafeKab, on 01463 222 222. They also have their own app you can use to book taxis, with accurate tracking and a numbered password to give to the driver when you get in.
They aren’t the cheapest – it cost me between £55-60 for a round journey to Dores Beach for a 15 min drive each way, but it was a Sunday so no buses and I couldn’t resist the potential of a stunning sunset on the banks of Loch Ness. Which luckily hugely paid off – the highlight of my trip!
TOP TIP: Don’t be fooled; despite the Uber app working and quoting you the price for the journey, there is no Uber in Inverness, so ignore it – pretty misleading.
FOUND THIS INVERNESS TRAVEL GUIDE USEFUL? PIN FOR LATER!
Updated June 2025.
Want to receive travel inspiration, tips and recommendations straight to your inbox? Sign up below!
