Inverness City Tour - 1 day tour
Inverness City Tour
One day tour
Explore the history of Inverness on this popular hop-on, hop-off tour. There are 11 conveniently located stops so you can alight to discover all the city has no offer. Watch the pleasure boats navigate the locks of the Caledonian Canal or take a stroll along the banks of the River Ness to observe the wildlife. An informative and entertaining commentary in English is provided.
Price range: £10 - £10
Hop-on, Hop-off - your ticket is valid for 24 hours
Museum and Art Gallery - view displays of Highland artefacts including bagpipes, fiddles and pictish stones
Inverness Castle - admire the panorama over the city from the viewpoint
Abertarff House - see the oldest building in Inverness
Kiltmaking Exhibition - discover the history of this iconic highland garment and find your family tartan
Caledonian Canal - marvel at the ingenuity of Thomas Telford who designed this 60 mile canal through the Great Glen
Movie locations - Loch Ness, Avengers: Infinity War and Brave
Full Tour Itinerary
The name Inverness comes from the Scottish Gaelic "Inbhir Nis” meaning the mouth of the River Ness. The Burgh of Inverness was granted a Royal Charter by King David of Scotland in the 12th century and has grown steadily ever since. Inverness is renowned for being the administrative, distribution and cultural centre of Northern Scotland and through the last quarter of the 20th century, was one of the fastest growing towns in Western Europe. This was rewarded by Inverness being granted City status at the millennium. The city offers a warm welcome to a lively place with a modern outlook with plenty of things to do and see.
This popular open-top double-decker bus tour gives an insight into the development of the city. The tour will take you from the original street between Castle and Kirk, with the oldest building Abertarff House, to the recently completed Highland Archive Centre. Inverness has had 5 castles through the centuries with many famous visitors, not all welcome, McBeth, Robert the Bruce, Mary, Queen of Scots and Bonnie Prince Charlie among them.
Plan your day from the top of a double-decker bus, with 360-degree panoramic views of the city. Visit the many churches including St Andrews Cathedral which is probably one of Local architect Dr Alexander Ross’s finest buildings. On the western outskirts of the City the tour highlights Tomnahurich Hill and the Caledonian Canal, where you could hop off for a cruise on Loch Ness before taking the higher ground for great panoramic views of Kessock Bridge, The Black Isle and the Inverness Firth out to Fort George. The tour introduces the flight of 5 locks at Muirtown constructed in 1822 by Thomas Telford to bring the Caledonian Canal to sea level.
The final section of the tour takes you by the Southside of Inverness Castle to see Flora MacDonald’s statue, the 3 Graces, then along General Wade’s road by Bellfield Park to Holm Mills shopping village.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I expect on this City Tour?
Without doubt the best way to discover Scotland’s great cities is to enjoy one of our hop-on, hop-off bus tours. Take the full tour to orient yourself then use your ticket as the most convenient way of getting between the key sights and attractions. All our City Tours are operated by modern double-deck buses whose open-top design provides the best vantage point for sightseeing. There are frequent departures (up to every 15 minutes) and tickets are valid for 24 hours. All tours provide a full commentary in English and on the Edinburgh and Glasgow tours in other major languages too. If you’re travelling with children these tours are a fun and entertaining way to discover your new surroundings - look out for the special kid’s commentary tracks.
Are admission fees included in the price of the ticket?
Admission fees are not included in the price of the tour. Many of the most popular museums and art galleries on each tour route are free of charge.
Where can I board the bus?
The main departure points for the Hop-on, Hop-off tours are: Edinburgh - St Andrew Square (Bus Stop YD). Glasgow - George Square, next to Queen Street Railway Station. Inverness – Bridge Street, next to the Visitor Information Centre. In addition each tour has a number of stops where you can also board the bus – just exchange your voucher for a ticket from the driver.
What happens if it rains?
This tour operates rain or shine all year round. The buses that are used on the tour have been specially designed with a covered area at the front of the upper deck offering protection from the elements.
What is the duration of the tour?
A full circuit of the tour route will take 60 minutes in Edinburgh & Inverness and 105 minutes in Glasgow.
Inclusions
- Transport by open-top bus
- Personal recorded commentary in English
- Service charges and taxes
Exclusions
- Admission charges
- Meals, snacks or items of a personal nature
- Gratuity to your driver
Departure information
From Bank Street at Mercure Hotel
Inverness IV1 1DX
Check-in: 10:15 hrs
Tour Departs: 10:30 hrs
Tour Returns: 15:15 hrs
Child details
Concession discount applies to children aged 5 to 15 years inclusive.
Children aged under 5 years travel free of charge.
Photo-ID may be requested to confirm discount entitlement.
Price Notes
Tour duration/Tickets valid/Departures
60 minutes/24 hours/hourly
Admission Prices
In order to give you maximum flexibility admission fees are not included in the cost of this tour.
FAQs
Please see the FAQ section for more information on this tour.
Product code
CS 00319

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Customer Reviews Overall Rating:
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Rating:08 Feb 2017
I think it might have been longer. What my family needed but had a hard time finding was a tour that took us beyond Iverness -- perhaps out as far as Chanonry Point. The tour and the route were good for what was supplied; I think my family might have benefited from an expanded service, but that may not be part of your company's overall goal. Thank you to the driver and all we met there though: Inverness is a wonderful place tand I would recommend this destination and tour to anyone.
Angela from Manawa, United States
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Rating:14 Apr 2016
When I booked the tour on line I was informed that the bus would leave at 10 am. After standing for 30 minutes the bus finally arrived and the driver informed us that the time of the bus had been altered. Should people who had booked the trip on line not been informed of this? Needless to say the bus driver could not have been more helpful and pleasant. His name was Sammy.
Maureen from Kirkcaldy, United Kingdom
