Are you wondering how to spend three days in Inverness? Then you’ve come to the right place.
I used the so-called Capital of the Highlands as a base for exploring some of Scotland’s most popular destinations, including Loch Ness and the Highlands. Moreover, with its attractive riverside setting, rich history and friendly people, Inverness is a rewarding destination in its own right.
Whether you want to explore Scotland’s rich history, enjoy its majestic landscapes or go Nessie hunting, this 3-day Inverness itinerary has you covered, particularly if you don’t have a car.
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3 Days in Inverness in a Nuthell (How I Did It)
I spent three days in Inverness on my first visit, using the city as a base to visit the fabulous attractions on its doorstep. As this was a car-free vacation, I took affordable excursions operated by the excellent Rabbie’s Tours to maximise my time.
- DAY 1: Explored Inverness
- DAY 2: Day trip to Culloden, Clava Cairns, Beauly and Glen Affric | CLICK HERE FOR TOUR INFO
- DAY 3: Loch Ness & Fort Augustus | CLICK HERE FOR TOUR INFO
I visited as a solo traveller and rested my head at the Travelodge Inverness City Centre.
Day 1: Explore Inverness
Get to know your home base on day one. These are the things to see in Inverness that you should not miss.
Inverness Castle
Inverness’s pink 19th-century castle above the River Ness is the city’s major landmark.
Castles have occupied this clifftop since 1057, with connections to Robert the Bruce, Mary Queen of Scots and Bonnie Prince Charlie. You can’t enter the building, but walk up to the plaza for river views and see Flora MacDonald’s statue (she helped Bonnie Prince Charlie escape after the Jacobites’ defeat at Culloden).
Inverness Museum and Art Gallery
If you want to learn more about the history of Inverness and the Scottish Highlands, explore the collection at the Inverness Museum and Art Gallery. Entry is free and you can check the opening hours here.
Leakey’s Bookshop
If you are the sort of person who can spend hours mooching around a dusty bookstore, then you’re in luck. Inverness is home to Scotland’s biggest second-hand bookshop, Leakey’s Bookshop. It also sells rare and old prints, classic volumes and old maps.
Leakey’s is at Greyfriars Hall, Church Street, Inverness, IV1 1EY
High Point Church
Next to Leaky’s Bookshop is the historic Old High Church.
Keeping watch over the city from its lofty position on St. Michael’s Mount, this is where the Jacobites who survived the massacre at Culloden were imprisoned before their execution in the cemetery. Marks made by musket balls in the wall of the church’s tower are a grim reminder of these dark days.
Victorian Arcade
I’m not an enthusiastic shopper but if you are in the mood for a spot of retail therapy vintage style, head to the Victorian Arcade. This covered market close to Inverness train station is home to an eclectic selection of independent shops and cafes.
You’ll find the Victorian Arcade on Academy Street, Inverness, IV1 1JN
Ness Islands Walk
There are few better things to do in Inverness than to take an evening walk along the riverside to the Ness Islands.
Follow the River Ness upstream until you reach this cluster of natural islands that are connected to the river banks by Victorian footbridges. Cross the river via the islands’ woodlands to get your nature fix without leaving the city.
Time permitting, visit the nearby Inverness Botanic Gardens. Entry is free and the gardens are home to the Secret Garden, or the G.R.O.W. Project, run by adults with special needs.
The Botanic Gardens are on Bught Lane, Inverness, IV3 5SS
Day 2: Culloden, Clava Cairns, Beauly and Glen Affric
As lovely as Inverness is, the real treasures of this part of Scotland lie beyond the city’s boundaries. To squeeze as much as possible into my Inverness itinerary, I took a day tour that included the historic battlefield at Culloden, Clava Cairns, Beauly and Glen Affric.
>>> CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE & CHECK PRICES
Culloden Battlefield
This windswept moorland where the Jacobites made their ill-fated final stand is an essential part of any Scotland itinerary.
Learn more about the 1745-6 uprising at the superb Culloden Visitor Centre before making your way to the Culloden battlefield. This is the site of the last major battle on British soil and was where 1,500 Jacobite and 50 Government soldiers met their maker. Gravestones mark their final resting places and flags represent the front lines of both armies.
Clava Cairns
Clava Cairns is a Bronze Age cemetery complex close to the Culloden battlefield. Dating back 4,000 years, these well-preserved cairns were originally built to house the dead.
Clava Cairns is open year-round and is free to visit.
Beauly Priory & village
Picturesque Beauly was the next stop on this day trip from Inverness.
There is a good choice of places for lunch or coffee if you are in the area (I recommend the excellent Corner on the Square). The village is also home to the remains of the 13th century Beauly Priory and its 800-year-old elm tree.
Glen Affric
Glen Affric has been described as the most beautiful glen in Scotland. This magical combination of ancient Caledonian pinewoods, moorland and lochs is near the small settlement of Cannich and is popular with climbers and hikers.
Day 3: Loch Ness & Fort Augustus
This day trip to Loch Ness and Fort Augustus included a scenic circuit of the lake. Again, I visited these attractions around Loch Ness on a day trip from Inverness with Rabbie’s Tours.
>>> CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE & BOOK
If you are driving, visiting these places in a day shouldn’t pose a problem. However, it’s a different story if you are at the mercy of local bus schedules.
Bus 919 links Inverness with Fort Augustus via Urquhart Castle and Ivermoriston Falls. But due to the infrequency of this service, it is tricky to shoehorn all of these places into one day and you won’t be able to see the scenic eastern shore of Loch Ness. You can check the timetable here.
Loch Ness
This famously dark loch reaches 800 feet deep — it could hold all the water from every lake in England and Wales combined. But it is the legendary Nessie that pulls the crowds.
There have been many sightings of the Loch Ness Monster and many theories on what it could be. Steve Feltham, the most famous Nessie-spotter, believes that Nessie is likely to be a giant catfish.
We took the old road around the loch’s scenic eastern shore, which skirts one of General Wade’s military highways, and stopped at Dores Beach at the northern tip of Loch Ness before continuing to the Falls of Foyers. A short woodland walk takes you to this 140-foot cascade set in a dramatic gorge.
Fort Augustus
Fort Gus, as it’s fondly known, is located on the Caledonian Canal, which connects Inverness to Fort William. Along with Fort William and Fort George, Fort Augustus was one of the three forts built as a defence against the rebelling Jacobites.
Today, Fort Augustus is a busy small town with a lot of charm. It’s a good place to stop for lunch, has great gift shops and offers one of the best views over Loch Ness.
Making our way back to Inverness along the western shore at Loch Ness, we stopped at Ivermoriston Falls.
A Loch Ness river cruise provided a fine view of the historic Urquhart Castle. Built in the 13th century, it was blown to smithereens in 1692 to prevent it from falling to the Jacobites.
Practical Information
When to visit Inverness, Scotland
Thanks to warmer temperatures and longer daylight hours, summer (June to August) is the best time to visit Inverness. These are also the busiest months of the year in the city.
To avoid the crowds, visit in autumn (September to November) or spring March to May). Temperatures should be mild and you’ll be able to enjoy the fall foliage or spring flowers.
Getting there & getting around
Inverness has an airport, which is a 20-minute drive from its city centre. From here, there are regular flights to hubs in the UK as well as Dublin and Amsterdam.
For a more carbon footprint-friendly option, take the train. It’s a 3 ½ hour journey from either Edinburgh or Glasgow. Inverness is also a stop on the Caledonian Sleeper from London.
Megabus, CityLink and National Express operate services out of Inverness bus station. I caught the bus from Fort William which took just over two hours.
If you are driving, Inverness is linked to Glasgow and Edinburgh by the A9, to Fort William by the A82 and to Aberdeen by the A96.
Inverness is very walkable. Local bus services are an alternative and accept contactless payment.
Where to stay
As a major tourist hub in Scotland, accommodation in Inverness can be pricey, particularly if you are travelling alone. If you plan on taking day trips from Inverness by train or bus, base yourself in the city centre. It is also where you will find many of the city’s best pubs and restaurants.
Compared with other accommodation choices in town, the Inverness Travelodge was a bargain when I booked my stay. I was slightly nervous about what to expect but whilst there were zero frills, it was clean, functional and very central.
Alternatively, consider the Premier Inn, Inverness. In all honesty, this is my preferred budget hotel chain but it was more expensive than the Travelodge when I booked. This Premier Inn has a riverside setting – some of its rooms overlook the river and Inverness Castle – and has garnered great reviews.
For a splurge, book a room at Bluebell House, which has attracted stellar reviews for its service, cleanliness and breakfasts.
Where to eat
Here are the restaurants and cafes that I tried and loved.
For breakfast
The Red Pepper (92 Academy St.) – Very friendly café next door to the Travelodge that serves tasty breakfast rolls or a Full Scottish washed down with a great mug of coffee.
The Rendezvous Café (14A Church St.) – As a film buff, I had to try out this café, the walls of which are decorated with a frieze of a film reel of the Hollywood greats. Try their Scottish smoked salmon and poached egg on toast served with super-strong coffee. Arrive before 9 a.m. to grab a table
For lunch or dinner
Fig & Thistle (4 Stephens Brae) – Bistro with friendly service and an encouragingly small menu plus a small selection of specials. Their pan-fried sea bass with crab, chilli and tomato risotto was a delicately balanced marvel. And don’t get me started on the crème brûlée.
La Tortilla (99 Castle St.) – Head to the oldest Spanish restaurant in Scotland for first-class service and authentic Spanish cuisine. The fresh-off-the-boat calamari practically melted in my mouth.
Number 27 (27 Castle St.) – A few doors down from La Tortilla, this is a great choice for a bistro that won’t break the bank. Choose their Highland Chicken, which is wrapped in Parma ham, stuffed with haggis and served on a bed of black pudding mash. Only the local gin was more divine.
Black Isle Bar (68 Church St.) – Inexpensive casual eating for a wide selection of organic beers from the local Black Isle Brewery and top-rate pizza.
Thank you for reading my 3-day Inverness itinerary
I hope that the sun shines and you have a wonderful time. Inverness has something for everyone. Although the elusive Nessie attracts many visitors to the city, it is so much more than this.
This is as friendly, attractive city packed with charm and history, and epic Highland landscapes are within easy reach, even if you don’t have a car. If you are lingering longer or fancy a different experience, take a look at my pick of the best day trips from Inverness without a car.
About Bridget
Bridget Coleman has been a passionate traveller for more than 30 years. She has visited 70+ countries, most as a solo traveller.
Articles on this site reflect her first-hand experiences.
To get in touch, email her at hello@theflashpacker.net or follow her on social media.