11 Amazing activities & things to do in Inverness

With its ideal city centre location, Inverness Castle is a great addition to your itinerary. This ancient fortress has stood here for centuries - since 11 AD. Throughout the years it has seen many turbulent times and events, and has also been rebuilt several times; once into an 18th century citadel, known as Fort George, after the first Jacobite rebellion, and then 10 years later into the neo-Norman style structure visible today. Head up to the castle viewpoint for stunning panoramic views of the city and beyond to the Highlands.

Inverness Cathedral has a rich history and heritage as the most northerly Anglican Cathedral in the UK and dedicated to Scotland's patron saint, St Andrew. It's an incredible example of the architecture of Alexander Ross and you'll also be able to see the intricate craftsmanship and detailed carvings in both stone and wood alongside glorious stained-glass windows.

Inverness has great venues if you fancy an evening show or a night at the cinema. Eden Court Theatre and Cinema is nestled on the banks of the River Ness in the heart of the city, and offers up a range of performances from drama, dance, and shows, to opera, musicals, comedy, music and more. It's also the biggest entertainment venue in the Scottish Highlands.

Delve into the art, history and culture of the Highlands at the Inverness Museum & Art Gallery. You can explore exciting stories from the past and learn all about the people, environment and traditions that have shaped the Highlands. Browse a range of exhibitions including archaeology, natural history and geography, and uncover Jacobite memorabilia, Inverness silverware, authentic Highland weapons, bagpipes and more.

Take a boat tour along the Inverness Firth and spot wildlife, admire the views and learn about local history and folklore. Dolphin Spirit run two tours – a high-speed wildlife watching experience looking for bottlenose dolphins, seals and whales or a family-friendly boat with inside seating and wheelchair access.

Delve into the story of Scotland’s first ‘brewstillery’. Inspired by the Loch Ness Monster, the distillery takes its name from the Gaelic word for monster. It was opened in 2023, and brings to life a dream of creating the finest sustainable, artisan and delicious craft beers and whiskies, while protecting the landscapes that gave birth to Scotland’s greatest myths and legends.

There are a range of tours to go behind the scenes and discover the mythology behind this distillery.

Leakey's Bookshop is a Highlands institution. The biggest second-hand bookshop in Scotland, complete with a log fire and almost any book you can think of, is a quiet little getaway to explore in Inverness city centre. If you want to escape from the adventure to get lost in a book for a few hours, it's the perfect spot to pick up a new read.

See Inverness and the Highlands from a different perspective with an aeroplane experience flight from Inverness Airport. You’ll be up in the sky for an hour and can head towards the Black Isle, Loch Ness or Ben Nevis. You’ll even get a chance to take the controls yourself in either a 2 or 4-seater aircraft.

If you fancy getting stuck into the turbulent past of Inverness and the Highlands, head to Culloden Battlefield. Just a short 15-minute drive from the city centre, you can learn all about the eventful details of the Jacobite Risings by exploring the final site of the last and most harrowing pitched battle to be fought on British soil. Make sure to check out the interactive visitor centre, with fascinating artefacts from both sides of the battle and an immersive surround cinema.

Hear the story of the Highland Regiments from the Battle of Culloden to today. Based at Fort George, a working army barracks, this museum is home to 40,000 artefacts, the largest collection outside of London. The regiments were world renowned for their hardiness and ferocity in battle, having been recruited from the clans and communities of the Highlands and islands.

One of the most iconic and well-known locations in Scotland, Loch Ness is just a 30-minute car or bus journey south from Inverness. Shrouded in mystery and legend, head out on a boat trip to learn more about the Loch Ness Monster and all the tales and stories of how she came to be. Afterwards, pay a trip to the ancient ruins of Urquhart Castle, perched on a vantage point above the loch with spectacular views for miles around - a great day out in Inverness!

If you're looking for an afternoon outdoors but don't want to stray too far from the city centre, why not explore Whin Park? Featuring four separate adventure play areas, as well as zip lines, a modelled crashed plane feature and climbing structures with slides, plus plenty more, it's a great day out that the wee ones will love. There is also an adult Trim Trail with assault course-style equipment, ideal for the active grownups that want to get involved too. You can also visit the ducks in the boating pond, or catch the train from the Ness Islands narrow gauge railway - the most northerly of its kind in Scotland!

This ancient site is a well-preserved Bronze-Age cairn and is an incredible example of the historic culture and architecture of the Scottish Highlands, dating back about 4,000 years. Just a 15-minute drive from Inverness, you'll find the three cairns that make up Clava Cairns, or the Prehistoric Burial Cairns of Bulnuaran of Clava, which were once used to house the dead. The cemetery remained a sacred place in the area for millennia.

The Clava Cairns are free to enter and open all year round.

Why not explore the mightiest artillery fortification in Britain? Fort George boasts a fascinating insight into the 18th century military life with garrison buildings, artillery defences, cannons, and an incredible collection of arms - including bayoneted muskets, pikes, swords and ammunition pouches.

Breathe in some fresh Scottish air as you wander through the Inverness Botanic Gardens. Located in the southside of the city, the gardens feature a colourful array of plantlife and trees, with ponds, a tropical house, a cactus house, wild flower meadow and much more to explore. The gardens are free to enter, but they are also a charity, so why not leave a donation or buy a plant to take home with you?

If you want to explore the city's nature and outdoors, why not head out on a 2-hour circuit walk through the city centre and along the banks of the River Ness? It's an ideal walk for keen nature watchers; seals and seabirds can be spotted between the two road bridges that run through the city. Make sure to look out for are the Inverness War Memorial, the stunning floral flower gardens and Inverness Cathedral along the way.