Best hotels in Inverness, Scotland for 2024

For a small Scottish city, Inverness sure packs a punch. Primarily, it attracts monster hunters on their way to Loch Ness – especially now there’s a 360-degree, linked hiking and cycling trail that allows adventurers to circle the entirety of Nessie’s home.

However, more recently, Inverness has developed an urban swagger, helped by the insanely brilliant (and ridiculously popular) North Coast 500. This road trip starts and ends in the city, taking in spectacular wildlife, mesmerising landscapes and the imposing Dunrobin Castle over the course of 516 miles.

Of course, the Highlands’s capital oozes with museums, art and historic sites aplenty too, including a Victorian-era marketplace and a jaw-dropping cathedral sitting on the banks of the River Ness.

The city is also awash with creative chefs and only-in-the-Highlands bars. And then there are the must-visit craggy castles and nostril-tingling distilleries.

To help you get to grips with such Scottish spirit, here’s our pick of the most fabulous hotels to call your Highland home.

Rocpool Reserve Hotel & Restaurant

Neighbourhood: South of city centre

Refined, chic, sophisticated, decadent, hip, ferociously good… throw any labels at this luxury city-centre hotel and you’ll still come up short. Arguably the swishest place in town, it comes flooded with River Ness panoramas, individually designed bedrooms and plenty of sunken baths, hot tubs, private balconies and mini saunas.

The building itself is a renovated Georgian townhouse, and the interior colour scheme smacks of a Thornton’s chocolate box, all red and gold with swishes of hazelnut and vanilla. And with refurbishment happening until April 2024, this sophisticated spot will be even more slick come spring.