Inverness, Scotland, might be the most northerly city in the United Kingdom, but you can expect a warm welcome and a few wee drams of whiskey from the locals, no matter the season.
This is the self-proclaimed “capital” of the Scottish Highlands, and Inverness is your gateway to iconic road trip routes like the North Coast 500 and glorious natural attractions like Loch Ness.
Uncover an ancient history dating back to the Picts when you visit the free-to-enter Inverness Museum and Art Gallery, join an afternoon ceilidh at the Hootananny Pub, and be moved by the tragedy of the Jacobite rising on Culloden Moor.
Whether you’re tracing your clan ancestry or you’re on the hunt for the legendary Loch Monster, keep reading as I explain exactly where to stay in Inverness.
- Short on time and don’t want to read the whole article? Here are my top 3 picks!
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Where to Stay in Inverness
Inverness might be a “city,” but with a population of under 50,000, the Highland capital is thankfully still home to wonderful family-run bed and breakfasts and independently-owned luxury boutique retreats.
The best Inverness hotels are located along the banks of the River Ness, where baronial Scottish mansions and Victorian townhouses have been converted into luxury properties. You can book cozy guest houses among the historic streets of the city center (everywhere in Inverness is walkable) or head to the banks of the Beauly Firth or the seaside town of Nairn for a breath of fresh North Sea air.
If you’re planning a trip, here’s my guide to the 10 best places to stay in Inverness!
The 10 Best Luxury Hotels in Inverness, Scotland
1. Ness Walk
One of the best 5-star hotels in Inverness, Ness Walk combines modern comforts with Highland traditions on the city’s riverbanks. Ness Walk is set around a masterfully preserved 19th-century house, and you’ll love how the leafy grounds lead right down to the River Ness.
Rooms at Ness Walk are named for the trees you’ll find in the gardens, with Oak Rooms offering impressive views from tall floor-to-ceiling windows alongside plush king beds and luxury Arran Sense of Scotland toiletries. Laurel Rooms have equally splendid views and magnificent marble bathrooms, while Cedar Rooms have lovely terraces leading directly into the grounds.
A full Scottish Breakfast is served in Torrish Restaurant, while their “Heavenly Afternoon Tea” can be enjoyed in the garden in summer or in front of the roaring log fire any other time of year. The restaurant’s fine dining menu features Oxtail Ravioli and Pollock with Salmon Mousse, and the sommeliers organize wine and whiskey tastings no matter the season!
2. Glen Mhor Hotel
With its striking red brick facade and whitewashed window frames, the Glen Mhor Hotel is right out of the Victorian architectural playbook. Don’t worry, because while you’ll be staying in a converted 19th-century townhouse, the Glen Mhor Hotel’s rooms are seriously up to date.
For starters, the Glen Mhor Hotel prides itself on the use of green energy systems. From wooden floors to solar panels, everything here is sustainable, while tall windows and riverside views of the Ness add some breezy light and fresh air to your stay. The Glen Mhor Hotel doesn’t shy away from luxury either, with Scottish fabrics, textiles, king-size beds, and roll-top baths adding to the occasion.
Upgrade to a cozy one, two, or three-bedroom riverside apartment if you’re missing your home comforts, or just go all out and dine out at The Waterside Restaurant. Intriguingly, Glen Mhor Hotel is also home to its very own whiskey distillery and craft beer brewery.
Uile-Bheist (which is Gaelic for “Monster”) is a dedicated “Brew-distillery” and the first distillery to open in Inverness in over a century. Join a tour and tasting to discover more.
3. Best Western Inverness Palace Hotel & Spa
Enjoy sweeping views of the castle when you stay at the Best Western Inverness Palace Hotel & Spa. Conveniently located on the banks of the River Ness (right next to Ness Bridge and opposite Inverness Castle), you’ll love the Palace Leisure Club & Spa’s heated indoor pool after a day of hiking around Loch Ness or sightseeing in the city.
This is one of the best hotels in Inverness, with luxury rooms arrayed across the restored hallways of a 19th-century townhouse built with twin towers in the distinctive Baronial style of the day. Rooms have retained their late Victorian character, with high vaulted ceilings and woolen carpets contrasting with updated bathrooms and modern, high-thread count linens and bedding.
Unwind in the sauna, steam room, or spa, book a massage at the Sleeping Beauty Spa, or work out in the fully-equipped gym. Afternoon tea is served in view of the River Ness, while the Brasserie offers a lunch and dinner menu of Scottish favorites like Balmoral Chicken and North Sea Haddock and Chips.
4. Fraser House
Inverness’ boutique hotels don’t get much more quaint than Fraser House, a wonderful bed and breakfast situated on the riverbank between Friar’s Bridge and Greig Street Bridge. You’ll be staying in a family-run guesthouse located within a restored Inverness townhouse built from Highland limestone.
You’ll love how the plush rooms are decorated with paintings of local scenes and Highland cows, while the hearty Scottish breakfast served every morning will keep you well-fueled for a day of sightseeing in Inverness.
5. Highland Apartments by Mansley
If you’re missing home-cooked food and those creature comforts you love, then why not book a stay at Highland Apartments by Mansley? One of the best boutique hotels in Inverness, you’ll be staying in luxury, serviced apartments right on the banks of the River Ness.
You couldn’t ask for a better city center location, and from your apartment’s balcony or terrace, you’ll have sweeping views along to Inverness Castle and across the Ness Bridge. There’s secure parking for all those road trippers about to embark on the NC 500, while the fully equipped kitchens are perfect for cooking up breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, just as you would back home.
6. Bluebell House
One of the most unique hotels in Inverness, Bluebell House is a charming bed and breakfast set within a traditional townhouse on Kenneth Street, a short walk from the River Ness. You’ll feel like you’re staying in a real Highland home here, with just four cozy guest rooms spread across this family-run guesthouse.
The Bluebell House is almost Jacobite in design, with period furnishings, antiques, and moody portraits adding real character to the hotel. The Bluebell Room features a four-poster mahogany bed fit for Bonnie Prince Charles himself, while the Lavender Room is adorned with floral decor set around a plush king-size bed.
7. Bunchrew House Hotel
Located on the beautiful, if windswept, shores of Beauly Firth, Bunchrew House Hotel is set within the historic halls of a 16th-century Highland home. You’ll love everything about this baronial mansion, from its fairytale turrets to sweeping views of surrounding mountain peaks.
Each luxury room is named for a local clan, four poster beds are decked in plaid and tartan, and creaking walls are hung with ancient portraits. You can take a stroll through the gardens, where the centerpiece is a Lebanese Cedar Tree planted in the 17th century by Brunchew House resident Duncan Forbes.
Enjoy a Highland Afternoon Tea on the terrace, then indulge in a traditional Scotch dinner worthy of Robert Burns himself at the hotel’s 2AA Rosette-awarded restaurant, where lamb, cod, and beef are all on the menu.
8. Sunny Brae Bed & Breakfast
Escape the city with a stay in Nairn, where the cozy charms of the Sunny Brae Bed & Breakfast await you. This little cottage is home to just eight bedrooms, the best of which feature sweeping sea views of the Moray Firth from wide windows.
Family-run, your hearty breakfast is prepared every day with locally sourced sausages from Nairn’s premier butchers (Bruce Clark and Sons) and seasonal produce from the Wester Hardmuir Fruit Farm. Take a stroll on the beach, or just sit back in Sunny Brae’s garden and enjoy the Highland climate (surprisingly, Nairn is one of Scotland’s sunniest destinations!).
9. Daviot Luxury Pods
Stay in one of the coolest hotels in Inverness when you spend the night at Daviot Luxury Pods. Situated in the glorious Highlands, just a 15-minute drive south of Inverness, Daviot Luxury Pods allows you to embrace the great outdoors without surrendering comfort.
The hand-built “Bramble & Bracken” pods feature cozy beds and small cooking areas, en-suite showers, and private verandas. Crack open a bottle of whiskey as you light up the fire pit, and enjoy the starry night sky as the Highlanders have for millennia.
10. Loch Ness Lodge
A 20-minute drive south of the city brings you to Loch Ness Lodge, where you can stay in luxury on the banks of one of Scotland’s most iconic natural sights.
One of the coolest luxury hotels in Inverness, the Loch Ness Lodge has just nine exclusive rooms, each offering a chance to spot the notorious monster of the loch herself from panoramic windows.
With goose-down duvets and Egyptian cotton linen, you can monster-spot in comfort, too, before sinking back into your roll-top bathtub or enjoying a charcuterie board of the finest Highland cheese and meats in the hotel’s elegant dining room.
