This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel.
Inverness has become popular with tourists because of its close proximity to Loch Ness, and if you are looking for Nessie memorabilia, you won't leave Inverness empty handed. Along with hostels, Inverness also has the big shopping center area in the Highlands, and sports an abundance of malls and shopping centers, which get pretty busy with shoppers.
One thing to note -- it is not within walking distance to Loch Ness (unless you feel like walking a great distance!). There are plenty of buses that run from the city center, however, to points along Loch Ness, and there are attractions that are nearby Inverness if you have the time to get to them (such as the Culloden Battlefields and Urquhart Castle). While it is easy to get to by bus or by train, driving around the city is more complicated and parking isn't always very easy.
There are hostels in Inverness, and plenty of grocery stores and pharmacies, so it is a good pit stop for backpackers to patch up their needs before hitting the Highlands (or leaving the Highlands). Nightlife within Inverness is limited, but there are a few nightclubs and several pubs. Hootanannys and Johnny Foxes are quite popular pubs, both with travelers and locals, for their beer and for their music. Hootanannys is great for traditional Scottish music, but has three levels, which cater to a variety of musical themes.
For things to do within the city of Inverness itself, there is the River Ness, which is lovely to walk along, and there are several fishing spots as well. Inverness is a fine place to stay for a night (maybe two) in a hostel, but there are plenty of other places in the Highlands that have more to do and see.
Written by local expertz for Inverness
Emily Schreiber
