How to Spend 2 Days in Inverness, Scotland

In this guide we’ll detail how to spend 2 days in Inverness, located in the north-east of Scotland at the mouth of the River Ness, which flows out from the well-known Loch Ness. Known as the capital of the Scottish Highlands and the starting point of the scenic North Coast 500 (NC500), Inverness is definitely worth a stop in our opinion. It’s actually the only city in the Scottish Highlands, and was only granted city status in 2000.

On this trip to the Highlands we were planning on completing the NC500, and since the route starts and finishes in Inverness, we decided to spend 2 nights in the city. Our decision was also influenced by the fact that I’d never visited Loch Ness before, the world-famous lake that, according to local folklore, is home to the monster known as Nessie. Spoiler alert: we didn’t see Nessie during our visit.

Since Loch Ness is only a short drive from Inverness we thought that combining the two destinations would be a great starting point before embarking on the over 500-mile long road trip that would take us all the way to the most northerly point of mainland Britain.

How to Spend 2 Days in Inverness, Scotland

Day 1 in Inverness, Scotland: Spend a Day in the City

Morning: Go on a Self-Guided Walking Tour Around Inverness City Centre

We started our 2 days in Inverness by going on a self-guided walking tour around the city centre. There are many landmarks concentrated in the compact centre, so we easily managed to see everything by early afternoon. Depending on where you’re staying, you can start by taking a stroll along the banks of the River Ness. This is what we did, and below we’ve detailed some of the main landmarks and places not to be missed as you wander around Inverness. Just bear in mind that a lot of places will be closed on Sunday’s.

Inverness Castle is possibly the most notable structure in the city. It has a long history and has seen many important events occur within its walls over the centuries. Unfortunately, it’s currently closed for renovations until 2025. However, we could still enjoy a glimpse of it from the river bank.

Inverness Museum and Art Gallery is located next to the castle. If you’re interested in the history and culture of Inverness and the Scottish Highlands, then definitely pay it a visit. Note that it’s closed on Sundays and Mondays.

Inverness Cathedral is another impressive landmark in Inverness you shouldn’t miss. Also known as the Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew, it sits on the opposite side of the river bank to the castle.

The Victorian Market is a 19th century covered market located in the heart of the city centre. Apart from admiring the historical features, there are also many independent retailers selling their wares.

Leakey’s Bookstore. If you’re a bookworm definitely pop into Leakey’s bookstore to find your next read. Apparently they even have some antique books which we would’ve loved to check out. Unfortunately, the store was closed on Sunday, so we didn’t get a chance to have a nosy but you may have better luck than us.

Afternoon: Visit Culloden Battlefield and Clava Cairns

If you have a car, then we recommend taking a short drive out to Culloden Battlefield and Visitor Centre to the east of Inverness. It’s where the Battle of Culloden took place on 16 April 1746, which was the final battle of the 1745 Jacobite Rising. It’s an interesting place to visit, although there isn’t an awful lot to see.

Only a few minutes’ drive from the visitor centre is Clava Cairns. We highly recommend stopping here too. The burial cairns you can see today are about 4,000 years old and were once part of a larger complex. Again, it’s a fascinating site if you’re interested in history. We personally preferred this site to the battlefield.

Evening: Go for a Short Hike around Ord Hill

Whilst we don’t mind wandering the streets of a new city, we definitely try to escape the hustle and bustle as often as we can. Just north of Inverness is Ord Hill, a very quiet and peaceful place that’s popular with local dog walkers and hikers.

You can park at Ord Hill Car Park and complete a couple of different short walking trails. The best part about this spot is that it has a fantastic viewpoint from where we could admire Kessock Bridge and the surrounding area. It’s best to come up here during sunset.

Since at the time of our visit the sunset wasn’t until much later in the evening, we chose not to stay there for too long. The midges were already getting pretty active and we didn’t want to be their tea, so we decided to head back to Inverness.

Day 2 in Inverness, Scotland: Go on a Day Trip

Morning: Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle

A place that’s been on my bucket list for a very long time is a visit to the world-famous Loch Ness. Even if you don’t know much about Scotland, we’ll bet that you’ve heard about the mysterious Loch Ness Monster (Nessie) who apparently lives in this Scottish loch.

Loch Ness is located about 37 km / 23 miles to the southwest of Inverness. It is the second largest loch in Scotland, after the beautiful Loch Lomond, and is also the second deepest, after Loch Moar. Although we couldn’t spot Nessie during our visit, the stunning scenery around the loch alone is well worth the trip there.

Overlooking Loch Ness are the ruins of Urquhart Castle, a place that you should also visit during your day trip. It is one of the largest castle ruins in Scotland and witnessed a lot of important historical events, such as the Wars of Scottish Independence. You can enjoy some lovely views of the ruins with Loch Ness in the background.

Afternoon / Evening: Ness Islands and Inverness Botanic Gardens

To end our 2 days in Inverness, on the way back from Loch Ness we stopped at Inverness Botanic Gardens. If you’re a plant lover like us, then you’ll also enjoy walking through the beautiful formal gardens, tropical house, and cactus house. The best part is that it’s completely free to enter, although donations are welcome.

Then we decided to go on a nice afternoon / evening stroll around Ness Islands. They are a collection of natural islands in the middle of the River Ness just south of the city. The islands are connected to the mainland by a number of Victorian footbridges. We absolutely loved going for a stroll here. We were super close to the city centre, but far enough that we couldn’t hear any of the noise. Apparently, you can sometimes spot seals here, although we didn’t see any during our visit.

How to Get to Inverness, Scotland

By Car. If you’re planning a road-trip around Scotland, or are driving along the NC500, then reaching Inverness by car will be easy. Depending on where you’re coming from, you can get to the city via the M9 / A9 or M90 / A9 from Edinburgh, the M80 / A9 from Glasgow, or the A9 from Perth and Stirling.

If you don’t have your own vehicle, then you can always hire a car from either Edinburgh or Glasgow airports. Hire your car using Discover Cars.

By Train. You can also reach Inverness by train. The station is located within the city centre. There are regular trains to Glasgow, Edinburgh and other parts of Scotland, with a few direct trains to places like London in the UK. Book your train ticket using Trainline.

By Coach. For a more affordable way to get to Inverness, consider travelling by coach. There are many companies that operate services across the UK, such as Megabus and Flixbus. You can compare different operators using Omio, Flixbus or Busbud.

By Air. If you’re coming from further afield, you might be flying to Scotland first. Although Inverness has an airport, they offer mainly domestic flights within the UK. You can fly to London first, then get a connecting flight to Inverness. Alternatively, you can also fly to either Edinburgh or Glasgow. From the airport, you can either hire a car or use public transport to get to Inverness.

Where to Stay in Inverness in Scotland

There are plenty of hotels and B&Bs in the city, catering for different needs and budgets. If you’re only spending 2 days in Inverness, then we recommend booking something close to the centre, where all the main attractions are. We always love having a good breakfast before heading out for the day, so we suggest booking somewhere that includes breakfast too.

Final Thoughts on 2 Days in Inverness, Scotland

Although Inverness was only a quick stop for us before we started our 10-day road trip along the NC500, we’re so glad that we decided to explore the city. I’ve always wanted to visit Loch Ness, so staying in Inverness meant that we could easily incorporate a quick trip to the world-famous loch.

Have you ever been to Inverness in Scotland before? If so, how many days did you spend there and what did you see? If not, would you consider spending a few days in the capital of the Scottish Highlands? Let us know in the comments below.