12 Amazing activities & things to do in Inverness

Once an ancient fortress, and soon-to-be an interactive hub celebrating Highland history and culture, the Inverness Castle Experience is not to be missed when visiting Inverness. 

Set to open in summer this year after a multimillion-pound restoration, you will be able to embark on a wonderful journey exploring the region’s unique landscape, stories and heritage. Join a guided tour where a Seanchaidh (Gaelic for storyteller) will help you discover life in the Highlands through exciting tales, fascinating artefacts and immersive and sensory experiences.  

With its ideal city centre location and terrific river and city views from the café terrace, the Inverness Castle Experience offers a great day out for everyone. 

Inverness Cathedral has a rich history and heritage as the most northerly Anglican Cathedral in the UK and dedicated to Scotland's patron saint, St Andrew. It's an incredible example of the architecture of Alexander Ross and you'll also be able to see the intricate craftsmanship and detailed carvings in both stone and wood alongside glorious stained-glass windows.

Inverness has great venues if you fancy an evening show or a night at the cinema. Eden Court Theatre and Cinema is nestled on the banks of the River Ness in the heart of the city, and offers up a range of performances from drama, dance, and shows, to opera, musicals, comedy, music and more. It's also the biggest entertainment venue in the Scottish Highlands.

Delve into the art, history and culture of the Highlands at the Inverness Museum & Art Gallery. You can explore exciting stories from the past and learn all about the people, environment and traditions that have shaped the Highlands. Browse a range of exhibitions including archaeology, natural history and geography, and uncover Jacobite memorabilia, Inverness silverware, authentic Highland weapons, bagpipes and more.

Take a boat tour along the Inverness Firth and spot wildlife, admire the views and learn about local history and folklore. Dolphin Spirit run two tours – a high-speed wildlife watching experience looking for bottlenose dolphins, seals and whales or a family-friendly boat with inside seating and wheelchair access.

Delve into the story of Scotland’s first ‘brewstillery’. Inspired by the Loch Ness Monster, the distillery takes its name from the Gaelic word for monster. It was opened in 2023, and brings to life a dream of creating the finest sustainable, artisan and delicious craft beers and whiskies, while protecting the landscapes that gave birth to Scotland’s greatest myths and legends.

There are a range of tours to go behind the scenes and discover the mythology behind this distillery.

Leakey's Bookshop is a Highlands institution. The biggest second-hand bookshop in Scotland, complete with a log fire and almost any book you can think of, is a quiet little getaway to explore in Inverness city centre. If you want to escape from the adventure to get lost in a book for a few hours, it's the perfect spot to pick up a new read.

See Inverness and the Highlands from a different perspective with an aeroplane experience flight from Inverness Airport. You’ll be up in the sky for an hour and can head towards the Black Isle, Loch Ness or Ben Nevis. You’ll even get a chance to take the controls yourself in either a 2 or 4-seater aircraft.

If you fancy getting stuck into the turbulent past of Inverness and the Highlands, head to Culloden Battlefield. Just a short 15-minute drive from the city centre, you can learn all about the eventful details of the Jacobite Risings by exploring the final site of the last and most harrowing pitched battle to be fought on British soil. Make sure to check out the interactive visitor centre, with fascinating artefacts from both sides of the battle and an immersive surround cinema.

Hear the story of the Highland Regiments from the Battle of Culloden to today. Based at Fort George, a working army barracks, this museum is home to 40,000 artefacts, the largest collection outside of London. The regiments were world renowned for their hardiness and ferocity in battle, having been recruited from the clans and communities of the Highlands and islands.

One of the most iconic and well-known locations in Scotland, Loch Ness is just a 30-minute car or bus journey south from Inverness. Shrouded in mystery and legend, head out on a boat trip to learn more about the Loch Ness Monster and all the tales and stories of how she came to be. Afterwards, pay a trip to the ancient ruins of Urquhart Castle, perched on a vantage point above the loch with spectacular views for miles around - a great day out in Inverness!

It’s all fun and games when you come to the Playback Bar. Located in the city’s Academy Street, this four-storey venue is the perfect place for some friendly competition amongst friends and family. You’ll be spoilt for choice with the selection of games on offer, with classics including beer pong, shuffleboard, pool, giant foosball, table tennis and for the daredevil’s, axe throwing. If you want to make your experience even more glamorous, swap a regular game of beer pong with a cocktail or prosecco one.

After a few fun sessions, you’ll no doubt have worked up an appetite and thirst. Choose from a delicious variety of buttermilk fried chicken sandwiches, wings, smash burgers, loaded fries, milkshakes and cocktails.