Should I spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Inverness?

Should you spend 3, 4, or 5 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 local 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 3, 4, or 5 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 3 days enough time in Inverness?

Three days is more than enough time to see everything that Inverness has to offer. After all, it's not such a huge city. Many visitors prefer to spend one to three days here, so you'll be able to take in all of the museums and landmarks, the cuisine, the quaint shops, and the small town charm at your own pace. We have a few suggestions of things to do while you're visiting, and then you can take a day trip if you're looking to explore further around the area.

How to spend 3 days 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.

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.

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 ($122)
Isle of Skye and Eilean Donan Castle Day Tour from Inverness ($93)
Loch Ness Cruise, Outlander & Urquhart Castle Tour from Inverness ($116)

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.

Shopping in Inverness is very popular, and it's easy to see why. Spend time exploring the many shops and boutiques to find the perfect gift, souvenir, or outfit. 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.

There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Inverness.

Is 4 days enough time in Inverness?

Four days is more than enough time to see pretty much everything in Inverness, as it's not as large as some other cities. You can move at your own pace and relax in your hotel. Tour the famous sights and museums, enjoy a meal at a restaurant, go shopping, and take in the local charm. You could also use Inverness as a base for exploring the nearby destinations. You'll find some great day trips in the region.

Inverness, Scotland

How to spend 4 days in Inverness

Having 4 days in Inverness will provide you with more time to take in the best activities in the city.

The small-town atmosphere of Inverness is one of the main reasons that visitors come here. Spend at least part of your day exploring the town to see the many sights and attractions. As the capital of the Scottish Highlands, the town has a lot of Scottish culture and heritage.

A few tour suggestions include:

Inverness City Daily Walking Tour (11:30am, 2pm & 5pm) ($20)

Is 5 days enough time in Inverness?

Five days provides ample opportunity to explore the entirety of Inverness at your own pace to experience the museums and landmarks, the cuisine, the quaint shops, and the small town charm. Then you can use this city as a convenient base for venturing into smaller destinations nearby where you'll discover exciting day trip options.

How to spend 5 days in Inverness

With 5 days in Inverness, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the city has to offer.

After you've explored most of Inverness, take a day trip to one of the many beautiful destinations nearby.

More Info

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