Looking for a hotel for your next trip to the Highlands?
Having been to Inverness a few times now, its appeal is undeniable. Everyone I’ve ever taken has at some point joked about looking at real estate. It seems you can’t visit without wanting to stay forever. Or maybe that’s just Scotland in general?
Regardless let’s start from the beginning, Inverness is a Scottish town in the Highlands. It is known for its beautiful landscape, bustling city center, and tasty seafood restaurants. Inverness is a great place for a vacation because it has something to offer everyone whether you are looking for an active adventure or just want to relax and take in the beauty of Scotland.
When visiting Inverness, choosing the right hotel can be difficult. In this post, I have narrowed down 12 Inverness hotels for all budgets so you can find the perfect place to stay during your visit. It’ll also be a great opportunity to scout out real estate. 😉
Short on time? Here are the two best hotels in Inverness UK:
Awesome Budget option: Premier Inn River Ness
Super Luxury option: Rocpool Reserve
Best Hotels In Inverness
If you’re looking for a break from the hustle and bustle of the city center, staying outside the downtown area might be just what you need. Inverness has plenty of hotels outside the city center that offer all the comforts and amenities one expects from a top-notch hotel choice.
In these quiet locations, you can still enjoy all the modern conveniences while being surrounded by natural beauty. Furthermore, outside the city center often provide much larger rooms and far more space to relax in during your stay. In some cases, these hotels may even more affordable due to their location!
1. Rocpool Reserve
It’s all about elegance at Rocpool Reserve. Glow, not glitter as they say. Quality, not quantity. This discreet boutique hotel, bar and restaurant offers 5-star luxury in the heart of Inverness – an invitation to come and indulge.
If you’re in search of an exclusive, modern and elegant mansion house experience located in the Highlands’ capital city of Inverness, look no further than Rocpool. This beautifully renovated Georgian Mansion has stunning views over the River Ness and is just a few minutes away from Inverness Castle and the city center.
🧳Click here to check prices and book your stay at Rocpool Reserve today
2. Premier Inn Inverness West Hotel
If you’re a fan of lake monsters and mountains alike, this is the perfect place for your next getaway. Nearby, you’ll find Nessie’s remarkable home alongside the Caledonian Canal, breathtaking views, and notable tourist spots. Atop it, all sits a pink castle that makes Inverness an enchanting spot to visit in any season!
This Premier Inn hosts the local Beefeater, Loch Ness House, which can be found here: Loch Ness House
You can’t go wrong with a restaurant at a Premier Inn!
3. Premier Inn Inverness Centre (Millburn Rd) Hotel
If whisky has captured your attention, there’s no better place to stay than the Premier Inn Hotel Inverness Centre (Millburn Road), situated on the grounds of a legendary distillery. Not only are you in the heart of whisky country but also close to all major tourist attractions and transportation networks. Experience Scotland’s seven cities with countless activities available for everyone!
4. Ness Walk – A Kingsmills Hotel
This stunningly beautiful addition to the city contains 47 glorious bedrooms, two of which are exquisite suites. Drawing inspiration from the changing landscape, these rooms will be adorned with serene colors and fabrics that evoke a home-like atmosphere. The original building is being meticulously restored while welcoming guests into an inviting lounge with towering ceilings overlooking lush lawns towards the meandering river in the distance.
5. Dunhallin House
Located in a tranquil residential area, Dunhallin House offers easy access to Inverness’ city center and main routes. Their B&B provides four spacious double rooms with en-suite amenities, one of which can be arranged as twin beds; along with an additional standard double room for added convenience.
Best Hotels In Inverness City Centre
Whenever I visit Inverness I tend to stay very close to the city center because I don’t drive internationally so renting a car isn’t an option for me. While that’s a personal choice, Europe does tend to make it an easy one with pedestrianized shopping areas, public transportation, and regional train lines.
If you’re not into renting a car either, staying in the city center is one of the best options. With its close proximity to all of Inverness’ top attractions and amenities, it’s no surprise that Inverness City Center is a popular choice.
Staying here means being within easy reach of Inverness Castle, Inverness Cathedral, Inverness Museum and Art Gallery, Inverness Botanic Gardens, Inverness Leisure Centre, restaurants and bars. Whether you’re looking for a luxurious stay or just the basics, you’ll find an Inverness hotel that caters to your needs.
6. Premier Inn River Ness
A personal favorite, you might notice my leaning towards Premier Inns…I’m obsessed. I tend to always look for a Premier Inn first before widening my hotel search. The prices are incredible and I’m always treated to a consistently comfortable, clean, and welcoming stay.
Treat your eyes to the breathtaking sights of Premier Inn Hotel Inverness Centre (River Ness). With a stunning view of River Ness and Inverness Castle from the front entrance, you’ll be spoilt for choice with all of the great attractions nearby. Let this amazing panorama inspire your next adventure!
🧳Check rates and availability here!
7. AC Hotel Inverness-Marriott
Situated near the banks of River Ness, this hotel is a short stroll away from some of Scotland’s most iconic landmarks and attractions. A 10-minute walk can take you to Inverness Museum & Art Gallery, The Victorian Market and even Inverness Castle.
Ideal for the design-focused traveler, this upper-moderate tier lifestyle hotel brand promises a convenient city location and cosmopolitan feel. Urban in every sense of the word, this hotel provides business and leisure travelers alike with an extraordinary opportunity to experience all that their chosen destination has to offer.
8. Highland Apartments by Mansley
Enjoy the captivating vistas of Inverness Castle, River Ness and its Mountains from our luxurious self-catering apartments at Highland Apartments by Mansley. Their elegant collection of 20 serviced abodes come in a variety of sizes and styles situated on the banks of majestic River Ness with views to die for!
🧳Click here to check prices and book your stay at Highland Apartments by Mansley today!
9. Best Western Inverness Palace Hotel & Spa
Indulge in the luxurious Best Western Inverness Palace Hotel & Spa, Scotland! Located right on the banks of River Ness, with a gorgeous view of Inverness Castle, this Victorian-style hotel and its modern garden cottage are just a few steps away from the city center.
With its heritage dating back to the late 19th century, the Inverness Palace Hotel seamlessly intertwines period architecture with a modern style. Offering an awesome Brasserie & Bar along with a lavishly refurbished Luxury Leisure Club & Spa boasting a pool.
10. Radisson River Ness Hotel
For those seeking a luxurious stay with unparalleled quality and service, look no further than this upscale hotel nestled in the heart of Inverness. Just minutes away from iconic attractions, you’ll find yourself refreshed and rejuvenated after taking advantage of all that they offer–including a great contemporary restaurant onsite with exceptional service and mouthwatering cuisine!
11. The Royal Highland Hotel
A nostalgic pick for me as this was the first hotel I stayed at in Inverness, I would HIGHLY recommend checking their website out for the packages they offer. Usually, including several meals and/or drinks with your stay, they are very affordable and totally worth it to stay in this historic hotel. Pro-tip: If the main staircase looks familiar…it was used as the inspiration for the one built on the Titanic…wrap your head around that.
For more than 150 years, since 1856, this hotel has served an impressive and varied guest list of royalty, celebrities, and tourists visiting this vibrant city. Located one minute from stepping off the train, and 15 minutes from Inverness Airport, you are welcomed to Scotland’s vibrant and modern Highland capital. Here stands an iconic grand old lady of Scottish hotels that will captivate your imagination with its magnetic character and charm.
12. Mercure Inverness Hotel
At the center of Inverness, Mercure Inverness Hotel stands proudly with a breathtaking view of the tranquil River Ness and hills in the Highlands. Newly renovated and designed to reflect its local atmosphere, this 4-star hotel is within reach to experience Scotland: only 6 miles from Loch Ness, 10 miles from the airport, and a short walk away from Inverness train station.
Make sure to check out 33 Church Street Bar & Brasserie, the newest place for dining, drinking, and mingling in Inverness. Enjoy a traditional Scotch Whisky or stylish Pink Gin (delicious) as you relax in the bar area with a coveted window seat!
Things To Do In Inverness
In Inverness, there’s something for everyone to enjoy! From outdoor adventures and stunning scenery in the Highlands to urban attractions like Inverness Castle and some great hotels, Inverness is a great place to explore.
Something to keep in mind is that Inverness is much smaller than you might imagine. At most, I’d allocate a day to exploring the city center and then using your prime location as a base to explore all that the Highlands have to offer.
A couple of places in the city center that you can’t miss:
Scottish Kiltmaker Visitor’s Centre
Great shop and they have a very nice kilt-making exhibition upstairs. There’s a short movie about the history of the kilt, displays of the different types of kilts, and then windows into the shop where you can watch them actually make kilts. Fun and informative!
Leakey’s Second-Hand Bookstore
This place is a book lover’s paradise. Every nook and cranny is stuffed with books. Great place to hole up if you end up with some bad weather.
River Ness Walk
In my opinion, this is one of the highlights of being in Inverness. They have very well-maintained walking paths along the river which lead to Ness Islands. Beautiful gardens, woodlands, and a lot of different animals and birds make this an attraction all on its own.
There are several footbridges across the river along the way in case you need to cut your walk short but if you have the time, I’d keep wandering. If you walk far enough, as the name would imply, you will end up at Loch Ness.
Visiting Inverness: FAQs
If you’re planning a trip to Inverness, you may have lots of questions about what to expect and where to stay. Don’t worry – I’ve got you covered! I’ll some of the most frequently asked questions about Inverness hotels and visiting Inverness. First up:
Is Inverness Scotland worth visiting?
I would HIGHLY recommend visiting Inverness, Scotland. Not only is the city itself a wonderful place to visit and stay but it provides you with a prime location to explore out into the Highlands without the need for a rental car.
You can take a public bus out to Culloden Battlefields or book a tour out to the Isle of Skye (DO IT!) and Loch Ness among a ton of other options. Coming back to Inverness every night after a day of exploring becomes a comfortable and familiar home away from home.
Can I stay in a castle in Inverness?
While there isn’t a castle to stay in inside of Inverness itself, right outside Inverness in Fort William is Inverlochy Castle Hotel. This place is stunning and definitely what you imagine when you think of stunning.
🧳Check prices and availability here!
Is Inverness a beautiful city?
Inverness is an incredibly beautiful city. With the River Ness winding through it and all of the cool bridges crossing over, it’s a stunning location to spend a few days exploring the Highlands of Scotland.
The architecture is also gorgeous in addition to the epic landscapes all around you. You won’t lack things to gawk at…that’s for sure.
What is Inverness known for?
Inverness literally means “the mouth of the River Ness” and the River Ness leads to…you guessed it…Loch Ness and its famous monster. Inverness is also known as the capital city or gateway of the Highlands.
Wrapping it up 12 Best Inverness Hotels 2024
All in all, Inverness is a budget-friendly destination that has plenty of affordable hotels to choose from. In this list, I’ve picked out the 12 best hotels for your trip to Inverness, so you can save time searching and instead just book your perfect Inverness hotel stay right away.
Whether you’re looking for luxury or great value, Inverness has some of the best hotels in Scotland. If you’re planning a trip to Scotland, don’t be afraid to head north. The Highlands have so much to offer and Inverness would be the ideal location to set up as your base camp. Head over to read about my weekend in Inverness for more inspiration for your Highland adventure.
