Air
Inverness has a domestic airport located around 20 minutes from the city centre, from here you can get flights to the main cities in England and to Ireland.  If you are flying into one of Scotland’s international airports then buses and trains can get you to Inverness.  The bus will take around 4hrs from both Glasgow and Edinburgh, you can check the City Link website for times and prices.

Train
If want to get a train then its no problem, the station is right next to the bus station about a 2 minute walk from the high street.  You can get a direct service to Edinburgh which will take around 3hrs, change at Dundee to get tp Glasgow, for full train times go to www.trainline.co.uk.

The main things to see and do in Inverness are in walking distance, so you should not require public transport to get around.  However you may wish to explore the towns around Inverness or venture to other parts of the highlands and the best way to do this is by bus.  City Link runs most of the main bus routes in Inverness, so check there timetable on the website for available routes.

You can get buses to the retail park and the airport; see the Traveline website at www.travelinescotland.com for full details of the bus numbers and times.

Inverness Castle
On the way into Inverness you will see one of the main attractions perched on a cliff above the River Ness, Inverness Castle.  Open daily from 10.30am, this 11th century castle offers an excellent photo opportunity and you can visit Drum tower for a 40 minute tour.

Jacobite Cruises
Jacobite Cruises offer a luxurious way to see Loch Ness, there are various tours and cruises throughout the day, check there website for the latest details.  For a quick way to get around the city you can always try the City Sightseeing tour which starts at Bridge street and cost only £6.  You can hop on and off at your leisure and your ticket is valid for 24 hours.

Budget/Backpackers
For the backpacker or those on a budget there a few hostels to choose from, try the Inverness Student Hostel at £13 per bed which offers good views over the River Ness.  Alternatively there is also Bazpackers 5 minutes from the city centre at only £16 per bed.

Intermediate
If you want a Bed and Breakfast you are really spoilt for choice as every second house as you enter Inverness is a B&B.  Try the cheap centrally located Mokoia at only £22 per person or the Bannerman located less than a mile from the city centre.

If you want a budget hotel you also have plenty of options, try the Thistle hotel, which is a few minutes walk from the Eastgate Shopping centre.  Here you will find rooms from £68 per night.  Also worth a look is the Swallow Columba Hotel  from £74 per night, it is located on the River Ness in the heart of the city.

Luxury
If you are looking for some Luxury accommodation for the night then you cant go wrong with the well respected 5 star Rocpool Reserve.  It is centrally located and offers stunning views over the River Ness.

You will get a good variety of food options in Inverness, as you would expect from the capitol of the Highlands.  From cheap and cheerful non complicated food check out the Filling Station which is just a long from the train station.  If you want a restaurant with something different try Palios, which has an open view to the kitchen and offers a good Mediterranean menu.

A more fine dining experience can be found at ASH which is just outside the train station. It offers Traditional and Asian food in a contemporary yet classic environment.  Or down by the riverside you may want to check out the classy Rocpool Restaurant & Tapas which is along the River Ness, here you find good service and some of the best food in Inverness.

There are quite a few shops along the high street in Inverness, but the main shopping area is the Eastgate shopping centre which is on two floors and offers a multitude of top branded shops such as French Connection, HMV and Debenhams. 

There is also a retail outlet a few minutes drive away, here you will find a Vue Cinema, a large Tesco and a few main stores such as Boarders, Homebase and Argos   You can easily catch the 1a bus from Queensgate to the bus stop just outside Tesco’s car park and it’s then a short walk to the retail park.

Pubs
Jonnie Foxes Pub and Restaurant is on the river bank and this multi level Irish bar offers a good night out from karaoke to ceilidh. If its live entertainment you are after then you may want to try Blackfriars along Academy street, it has good drinks prices and good music.

Clubs
When it get to early morning there are a couple of choices, Soho which is near the bus station or G’s which is just off the high street.