Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Inverness?

Q: Is one day enough time in Inverness?

One day is usually not enough time to experience the traditional city of Inverness, so you may find yourself somewhat rushed. You don't want to miss the chance to tour the famous sights and museums, enjoy a meal at a restaurant, go shopping, and take in the local charm. So, you'll likely want more than one day, as many tourists set aside one to three days for their visit. However, if your schedule is tight, we have a handful of recommendations to make the most of your journey.

Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Inverness?

Not sure how much time you'll need in Inverness, UK? Most people spend one to three days in Inverness during their visit. After all, the traditional city will let you tour the famous sights and museums, enjoy a meal at a restaurant, go shopping, and take in the local charm.

Inverness is the largest city in the Scottish Highlands, and it is rich in the regional culture. You'll find local restaurants and festivals that really bring the area's heritage to life. The area also has a beautiful natural setting with nearby hikes and scenic spots.

Do you have one or two days to visit Inverness? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.

Is one day enough time in Inverness?

One day is usually not enough time to experience the traditional city of Inverness, so you may find yourself somewhat rushed. You don't want to miss the chance to tour the famous sights and museums, enjoy a meal at a restaurant, go shopping, and take in the local charm. So, you'll likely want more than one day, as many tourists set aside one to three days for their visit. However, if your schedule is tight, we have a handful of recommendations to make the most of your journey.

How to spend a day in Inverness

When visiting Inverness, you can't miss Loch Ness as it's one of the most famous places in the world. Make sure you give yourself enough time to enjoy it.

You'll absolutely want to spend some time enjoying the food scene in this city, so make sure you spend time at one of the local restaurants where you can taste the delicious cuisine for a meal or two. 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.

A few tour suggestions include:

Private Whisky Tasting in Inverness ($113)

Inverness is a very walkable city. With only a day in the city, you'll have no trouble exploring the local sights. It's compact enough that you can explore much of the town on foot.

Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Inverness?

Two days or a full weekend in Inverness is often considered the right amount of time to spend here, as many tourists take around one to three days for their trip in the area. A 2-day trip would usually give you enough time to check out the museums and landmarks, the cuisine, the quaint shops, and the small town charm. Further down, you'll find our recommendations to kick off your adventure.

Inverness, Scotland

How to spend 2 days in Inverness

Having a weekend (two to three days) in Inverness will provide you with more time to take in the best activities in the city.

Plenty of amazing museums and famous landmarks make Inverness a special place to visit. Spend at least one full day visiting the sights that are appealing to you. 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.

A few tour suggestions include:

INVERGORDON PORT Tour of Culloden, Cairns & Cawdor Castle ($120)
Isle of Skye and Eilean Donan Castle Day Tour from Inverness ($92)
Loch Ness Cruise, Outlander & Urquhart Castle Tour from Inverness ($114)

This city is very popular for nightlife. After the sun goes down, head out to one of the many popular venues around town. 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.

More Info

If you're looking for more information about Inverness, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.