Inverness Itineraries
Half a day or a full weekend. Here are the best ways to spend your time in Inverness, planned step by step.
Whether you have a few hours or a full weekend to explore, these itineraries give you a local’s route through Inverness. Each one links directly to the restaurants and activities along the way.
Half a day in Inverness: the castle and the river
For a first afternoon in the city, or a gap before a train: everything here is on foot from the station, which is about half a kilometre from the castle. Book the castle online the day before, where the ticket is cheaper than at the door.
- 110:00·30 to 45 minutes
Through the Victorian Market
Cross Academy Street from the station into the market, which opens from 08:00 every day, and walk through the arcades to the food hall for a coffee and something from Badgirl Bakery or another stall.
- 211:00·About 1 hour 30 minutes
The Inverness Castle Experience
Walk up to the castle for the Spirit of the Highlands exhibition and the South Tower roof terrace. Entry runs every ten minutes. The gardens are free if you only want the view of the river.
View Inverness Castle Experience - 312:45·1 hour
Lunch below the castle
Cafe 1 on Castle Street serves lunch on Wednesday to Saturday; on Monday and Tuesday it opens at 15:00, and it is closed on Sunday. On those days use the castle's Saltire Bistro, which needs no ticket.
View Cafe 1 - 414:00·About 1 hour
Upstream to the Ness Islands
Follow Ness Bank upstream past the war memorial and cross onto the islands by the footbridges. Come off on the west bank and walk back past Eden Court.
View The Ness Islands - 515:15·30 minutes
Inverness Cathedral
Stop at St Andrew's on the way back to the Ness Bridge. It is open 09:00 to 18:00 every day, and entry is £6.
View Inverness Cathedral (St Andrew's)
A full day: Culloden in the morning, Loch Ness in the afternoon
The two trips most people come to Inverness for, in one day. It is easiest with a car, since Culloden is about five miles east and the cruise leaves from Dochgarroch Lock, about 7 km south-west of the centre. Without a car, plan Culloden on Traveline Scotland and take Jacobite's Temptation tour from the bus station instead of a Dochgarroch cruise. Book the cruise ahead.
- 109:00·2 to 3 hours
Culloden Battlefield
Arrive as the visitor centre opens, see the museum, then walk out onto the moor where the battle was fought on 16 April 1746. The car park is £5 for non-members.
View Culloden Battlefield and Visitor Centre - 211:45·45 minutes
Clava Cairns
A short drive from Culloden to the cairns on their terrace above the River Nairn, about 4,000 years old according to Historic Environment Scotland. There are no facilities, so use Culloden's first.
View Clava Cairns - 313:00·1 hour
Lunch back in town
The Mustard Seed serves lunch every day, with a two-course set lunch at £18.95. Book by phone or on its Quandoo page.
View The Mustard Seed - 414:30·1 to 2 hours plus the drive
Down the canal to Loch Ness
Drive out to Dochgarroch Lock for one of Jacobite's canal-and-loch cruises: Enchantment takes 50 minutes and Contemplation two hours. Check the departure times for your date when you book.
View Jacobite Loch Ness Cruises - 519:00·Evening
Dinner and music on Church Street
Pizza and the brewery's own beer at the Black Isle Bar, then a few doors along Church Street to Hootananny, which has live music every night and does not need a booking if you are only there for the music.
View Black Isle Bar
Ready to plan your visit?
Check the weather forecast before you head out.