A Travel Price Comparison for United Kingdom Inverness vs. Edinburgh for Attractions, Backpackers, Food, and Nightlife

Should you visit Inverness or Edinburgh?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Inverness and Edinburgh can help you decide which place is right for you.

Inverness

Inverness is a traditional, local, and historic city. This is a charming small with plenty of activities, too. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums.

Edinburgh

Edinburgh is a vibrant, gothic, and ancient city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. It also has a unique and quaint vibe that attracts lots of visitors. And you can't forget about the museums, theater, and nightlife.

Inverness and Edinburgh: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Inverness or Edinburgh?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Edinburgh than Inverness, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Edinburgh is better known for its museums, theatre productions, nightlife, music, historical sights, big city activities, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Inverness is more popular for its food and small town charm. Edinburgh is more touristy than Inverness and is popular for its medieval Old Town, the Royal Mile, and its influence on the Harry Potter series. Also, Edinburgh is famous for The Edinburgh Castle. Inverness is well known for its surrounding countryside, but also its regional heritage, local festivals and proximity to the famous Loch Ness.

How is Inverness different from Edinburgh?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Edinburgh and Inverness. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Inverness or Edinburgh?

Edinburgh is terrific for its sights and museums. Also, Inverness is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

The museums, monuments, and landmarks in Edinburgh are among the most recognizable in the world. The most famous sights include the Edinburgh Castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and the National Museum of Scotland. There are also kid-friendly museums like Camera Obscura.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Inverness can be an interesting and educational experience. As a city rich in culture and heritage, you'll find a number of sights and museums in town. Check out the Highland House of Fraser, Culloden Moor, and Clava Cairns.

Is Inverness or Edinburgh Better for Theater?

Edinburgh is a well-known place for its theatre productions. However, Inverness is not a theatre destination.

Edinburgh has a number of performance venues where you can see a variety of shows. It's fun to see a live performance or attend one of the festivals in town.

Inverness is not a theatre destination.

Is the Food Better in Inverness or Edinburgh? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Inverness is a very popular place for its restaurants. However, Edinburgh is lacking in good options for its restaurant scene.

Inverness has a huge number of terrific restaurants. The city makes a great spot to fill your belly after a few days exploring the Scottish Highlands. You'll find local restaurants that serve up regional specialties, and when the weather's nice, there are some spots with outdoor seating.

Edinburgh may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. The city has some unique but famous dishes to try including haggis and black pudding. For slightly less intimidating options, check out the cullen skink, porridge, or smoked salmon. There are many fish and chips shops to choose from as well as a diversity of ethnic restaurants including Indian, Thai, and Ethiopian.

Is Inverness or Edinburgh Better for Nightlife?

Edinburgh is a well-known place for nightlife and partying. Also, Inverness is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its evening party scene.

Edinburgh offers plenty to do in the evening. With so many students, the nightlife stays very active. There are a wide range of bars and clubs to choose from as well as some of the country's oldest pubs. Tourists tend to frequent the Old Town area, but you'll find more locals if you head to the student and university areas.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Inverness. Nightlife isn't the first thing that comes to mind with this town, but there are actually lots of distilleries in the area and there's a surprising number of high quality bars and pubs that make for a fun evening.

Is Inverness or Edinburgh Better for Music?

Edinburgh is terrific for its live music scene. However, Inverness is not a live music destination.

Live music, and music in many other forms, is everyone in Edinburgh In addition to a wide range of live music venues, there are also a number of music festivals held in town.

Inverness is not a live music destination.

Is Inverness or Edinburgh Better for its Old Town?

Edinburgh is terrific for its old town. However, Inverness does not have a historic old town.

Edinburgh has a unique history which comes to life in its historic area. The city's Old Town attracts international visitors who come to see the Edinburgh Castle, the quaint streets, and the many shops and cafes. The Royal Mile is a popular area with pubs and souvenir shops. It connects the castle to the Scottish Parliament.

Inverness does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Inverness or Edinburgh?

Both Inverness and Edinburgh are superb shopping destinations.

Inverness is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. The town is at the cultural heart of the Scottish Highlands you'll find plenty of local shops where you can pick up local products. Make sure you check out the Inverness Victorian Market.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Edinburgh. Head to Princes Street in the New Town to visit department stores and other name brand shops. Nearby George Street has more boutique style shops and less crowds. In the Old Town, Victoria Street is filled with Harry Potter shops and tourist stores where you can pick up a kilt or Edinburgh sweatshirt.

Is Inverness or Edinburgh Better for Families?

Edinburgh is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Inverness is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Edinburgh is a very kid-friendly city. Kids will enjoy wandering down Victoria Street and popping in the Harry Potter shops. There are also a number of fascinating Harry Potter tours that take you through notable landmarks where J.K. Rowling was inspired to write these popular stories. You'll even visit Tom Riddle's gravesite. Other highlights that families will enjoy include Edinburgh Castle and the Edinburgh Dungeon, which is best for older kids or kids that enjoy a good scare. Younger kids will enjoy a trip the illusions museum, Camera Obscura, which also offers one of the best views of the city.

Inverness is a family-friendly city. The city has some parks and activities that are great for kids. Make sure you explore Inverness Castle and the Inverness Mystery Treasure Trail.

Is Inverness or Edinburgh Better for Couples?

Edinburgh is a well-known place for its romantic activities. Also, Inverness is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for couples.

Edinburgh is a very popular place to visit for couples. With its castle and the Royal Mile, there are many romantic places to explore as a couple. There are also good restaurants and some nice hotels. Whether you're interested in history, food, or fun, this city makes for a great couples trip.

Inverness is a good city for couples to visit. Located in the Scottish Highlands, there ae many scenic spots and nice activities that couples can enjoy in the area.

Is Inverness or Edinburgh Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Edinburgh is terrific for backpackers. However, Inverness is not a good city for backpackers and budget travelers.

Backpackers and budget travelers come from all over the world to visit Edinburgh. The city has some good hostels and an active nightlife, so it's not hard to find other travelers to hang out with. It's a well visited city with many areas that attracted younger travelers or students.

Inverness is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There a some hostels and student hotels, but this isn't one of the major backpacker spots in the UK.

Is Inverness or Edinburgh Better for Students?

Edinburgh is a well-known place for students. However, Inverness is not popular with students.

Edinburgh is very popular with students. This multicultural city is popular with international students because of its excellent research and academic centers as well as its unique history.

Inverness is not popular with students.

Is Inverness or Edinburgh Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Edinburgh is very good for its public transit. However, Inverness is not a good city for times when you don't have a car.

Edinburgh has a few public transit options. Buses are the best way to get into town from the outer edges if you don't have a car.

Public transit is mostly limited in Inverness. There are local buses that pass through the town.

Is Inverness or Edinburgh a more walkable city?

Edinburgh is terrific for its high level of walkability. Also, Inverness is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its ease of walking around.

It is easy to get around Edinburgh on foot. The Old Town in particular is fun to walk around

Inverness is a very walkable destination. It's compact enough that you can explore much of the town on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Inverness Worth Visiting? and Is Edinburgh Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Edinburgh or Inverness?

How long in Inverness or Edinburgh?

In either Inverness or Edinburgh, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Edinburgh than Inverness because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Inverness, and 2-5 days is enough time in Edinburgh.

Families should spend more time in Edinburgh than Inverness. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Edinburgh, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Edinburgh than Inverness. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Edinburgh that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Edinburgh than Inverness if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Edinburgh.

One day in Inverness or Edinburgh?

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Inverness. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Inverness has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

You'll find nightlife and live music around the quaint city of Edinburgh. Visiting the old town is also a must. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Inverness or Edinburgh?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the historic destination of Inverness. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

You'll find live music and shopping around the character-filled destination of Edinburgh. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Inverness or Edinburgh?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the traditional city of Inverness. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

You'll find shopping and museums around the character-filled city of Edinburgh. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. If you have five days, this city makes for a great vacation. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer.

A week in Inverness or Edinburgh?

Inverness is a popular choice for travelers. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Edinburgh is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from London, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Edinburgh, The Best 10-Day Tours from London, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Edinburgh.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Inverness and Edinburgh, we can see that Inverness is more expensive. And not only is Edinburgh much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Edinburgh would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Edinburgh and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Inverness would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Inverness than you might in Edinburgh.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Inverness Expensive? and Is Edinburgh Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Inverness or Edinburgh?

Edinburgh has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Inverness. When comparing the sizes of Inverness and Edinburgh, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Inverness or Edinburgh?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Inverness or Edinburgh in the Summer?

Both Edinburgh and Inverness during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Inverness for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Edinburgh in the summer for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

Inverness is around the same temperature as Edinburgh in the summer. The daily temperature in Inverness averages around 14°C (58°F) in July, and Edinburgh fluctuates around 14°C (58°F).

In the summer, Inverness often gets less sunshine than Edinburgh. Inverness gets 147 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Edinburgh receives 163 hours of full sun.

Inverness usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Edinburgh. Inverness gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Edinburgh receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Inverness or Edinburgh in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Inverness and Edinburgh. Many visitors come to Inverness in the autumn for the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere. Also, most visitors come to Edinburgh for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In the autumn, Inverness is around the same temperature as Edinburgh. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Inverness in October average around 9°C (49°F), and Edinburgh averages at about 10°C (49°F).

Inverness usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Edinburgh during autumn. Inverness gets 84 hours of sunny skies, while Edinburgh receives 90 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Inverness usually receives less rain than Edinburgh. Inverness gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Edinburgh receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Inverness or Edinburgh in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Inverness as well as Edinburgh. Most visitors come to Inverness for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Edinburgh because of the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.

The weather in Edinburgh can be very cold. Inverness can be very cold during winter. In January, Inverness is generally around the same temperature as Edinburgh. Daily temperatures in Inverness average around 3°C (38°F), and Edinburgh fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).

In the winter, Inverness often gets less sunshine than Edinburgh. Inverness gets 42 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Edinburgh receives 48 hours of full sun.

Inverness usually gets less rain in January than Edinburgh. Inverness gets 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Edinburgh receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Inverness or Edinburgh in the Spring?

Both Edinburgh and Inverness are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Inverness because of the small town charm. Also, the activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Edinburgh this time of year.

Inverness is around the same temperature as Edinburgh in the spring. The daily temperature in Inverness averages around 7°C (44°F) in April, and Edinburgh fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).

Inverness usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Edinburgh during spring. Inverness gets 136 hours of sunny skies, while Edinburgh receives 132 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Inverness usually receives less rain than Edinburgh. Inverness gets 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Edinburgh receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Edinburgh and Inverness