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Inverness City Centre Hotels – Find Your Perfect Stay Today

Looking for Inverness city centre hotels?

Check out this guide to find our perfect hotel quickly and easily. You can also find the best prices online to make booking a breeze.

I’ve lived in the Highlands for 22 years and I’ve stayed at most of these hotels so I’ve included some little tips to help you as well.

Here’s a quick summary if you are short on time.

HotelStarsBeside River?Parking?Pets?Pool?
Ness Walk Hotel⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐YesYesNoNo
Palace Hotel⭐⭐⭐⭐YesYesYesYes
Mercure Inverness⭐⭐⭐⭐YesYesYesNo
River Ness Hotel⭐⭐⭐⭐YesNoNoNo
AC Hotel Inverness⭐⭐⭐⭐YesYesYesNo
Glen Mhor Hotel⭐⭐⭐⭐YesYesYesNo
Columba Hotel⭐⭐⭐YesNoYesNo
Premier Inn River Ness⭐⭐⭐YesYesNoNo
Royal Highland Hotel⭐⭐⭐⭐NoNoYesNo
Kings Highway⭐⭐⭐NoNoNoNo
B&B Hotel⭐⭐⭐NoNoYesNo

Here are my recommendations;

  • Ness Walk – for a luxurious experience beside the river, with lovely green grounds
  • Glen Mhor Hotel – for a mix of apartments and rooms, as well as an onsite brewery & distillery!
  • Palace Hotel – pet-friendly, parking, a pool and a view of the Castle too.

Here are my quick links to great deals for hotels & travel

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Inverness City Centre Hotels

I’ve listed the hotels in order so 5 stars at the top, and I’ve also listed those that are in the city and beside the river first.

inverness city centre hotels image showing ness walk hotel with grass and trees at the front

Inverness City Centre Hotels

Ness Walk Hotel

12 Ness Walk, IV3 5 SQ

Ness Walk is the only 5-star hotel in Inverness.

It is located in a lovely part of Inverness, just on the edge of the city centre so it is a bit quieter and also within easy reach of Ness Islands, which make for a lovely walk.

Ness Walk is set in green grounds and each room has either a garden or river view.

It is also set in lovely grounds which means the rooms have either views across the gardens to the river or garden views.

Some rooms have terraces and there are also huge floor-to-ceiling windows to make the most of the location.

For those wanting something even more special, there are a couple of suites.

The Ness Walk Hotel has its own restaurant, the Torrish, which features a two-course menu for £30 (although there are several supplements for certain dishes, such as £10 supplement for Venison loin). The menu has a real Scottish focus with some interesting takes on dishes. (Prices and dishes will vary according to season.)

The hotel also has a wine and whisky bar which also promises great cocktails.

There is free parking available at the hotel.

I haven’t stayed in this hotel but it’s on my list for sure!

(Just so you are aware there is a road between the hotel and the river)

Professional Traveller Summary

  • A great Inverness hotel deals choice with a lovely peaceful location with greenery around and beside the River Ness
  • Large spacious rooms
  • Has a house-style boutique feel to the hotel
  • Upscale room options and dining options
  • Parking

A luxury retreat in a green oasis beside the River Ness

Check availability and prices for your travel dates at the Ness Walk Hotel or simply do a map search for Inverness below

city centre hotels inverness palace hotel showing front of the palace hotel building looking over the river

Hotels Inverness City Centre

Best Western Palace Hotel and Spa

8 Ness Walk, Inverness, IV3 5NG

The Best Western Palace also has a great position beside the River and overlooking the Castle.

The hotel is often called the Inverness Palace Hotel or simply the Palace Hotel which can be confusing at times.

On the ground floor is Eight on the River, which serves evening meals and is also where breakfast is served. Also on the ground floor is The Brasserie. Both dining spaces offer the same menu – upscale classics.

I like the Brasserie area for a coffee and a nice piece of cake. It’s a nice bright space and I’ve used it several times for meeting people.

The Best Western Palace Hotel has its own parking, although spaces are very limited (only 22 in total).  These spaces are often used by those using the leisure centre as these are open to non-residents who are members of the leisure centre. They also have 22kW charging for electric vehicles.

There are some very limited on-street parking bays available, which are generally free from 6 pm – 8 am.

The nearest car park is the Cathedral car park. The details of this are as above as it is the same for the Columba Hotel.

Like the Columba Hotel, you need to approach the Best Western Palace and Spa from Ness Bridge, heading out of the city, otherwise, you can’t turn down the one-way street which is Ness Walk.

The hotels at the front are generally larger and bright with views of the castle and the river.

There is an interesting option to rent a townhouse or cottage which are both part of the hotel, but give a feeling of independence. These sound ideal for groups as they are self-contained but part of the hotel.

One of the lovely things about the Palace Hotel is the pool area. It has a small pool and jacuzzi. Alongside there is also a good-sized gym area.

There is also a nice beauty service, called Sleeping Beauty, which is run by an independent company in the hotel. They have a wide range of treatments including massages, facials etc.

I’ve stayed at the Palace Hotel with tours and on my own and I enjoyed using the pool as a nice change when travelling.

The Palace Hotel is also pet-friendly.

(Just so you are aware there is a road between the hotel and the river)

Professional Traveller Summary;

  • Lovely location beside the River and opposite Inverness Castle
  • A great Inverness hotel deals choice with leisure facilities
  • Pleasant coffee bar area, perfect for lounging
  • Request river view rooms if you want the best views, but bear in mind there may be some extra road noise. (Also be aware that in early 2025 the hotel is upgrading the windows at the front of the hotel.)

A great city centre pet-friendly hotel with leisure facilities

Check availability and prices for your travel dates at the Palace Hotel or simply do a map search for Inverness below

hotels inverness city centre mercure inverness image showing bar in the hotel with round seating

Inverness City Centre Hotels

Mercure Inverness

Church Street, Inverness, IV1 1QY

(Note this is the actual address of the hotel, but the car park is located on Bank Street, Inverness)

The Mercure has a lovely location right beside the River Ness.

The public bar and restaurant look over the River making it a pleasant spot to watch people and the river slip by.

I have stayed a couple of times at this hotel, family members have stayed and work colleagues. It is one of my spots for meeting people for a coffee in the city centre.

A big advantage The Mercure has is that there is a car park on-site. It’s a pay car park with limited spaces. You can use your phone to pay for parking which is helpful as it sends a message when your parking is going to expire, allowing you to top it up without returning to the car. The cost is around £6 per 24 hours for guests. It can be difficult to get a space sometimes and some of the spaces are a bit tight.

If you are entering The Mercure from the car park, Ness Bank side, you enter the hotel and then need to take the lift or stairs up one level to the reception area.

If you are entering the hotel from Church Street you will be arriving at the same level as the reception area.

Rooms are available looking over Church Street or the River. Whilst Church Street is quieter in terms of traffic there can still be noise from buses and pedestrians.

Rooms overlooking the river are further back from the road so the noise is generally a bit less.

The compact rooms are just that, very compact.

The Mercure is a pet-friendly hotel.

Professional Traveller Summary;

  • A great Inverness hotel choice with a city centre location and beside the River Ness
  • The restyled hotel offers modern decor and furnishings with nice Scottish touches
  • Nice bar and restaurant with lots of places to eat on your doorstep
  • Great to have parking on site (although the car park is open to the public and not just for hotel guests)

A good city centre option with parking and pet-friendly option

Check availability and prices for your travel dates at the Palace Hotel or simply do a map search for Inverness below

inverness city centre hotels image showing river ness hotel bar area with blue and brown seating

Inverness City Centre Hotels

River Ness Hotel

83-97 Church Street, Inverness, IV1 1QN

This is a relatively new addition to Inverness.

The River Ness Hotel is located in Church Street, quite a busy street in Inverness with plenty of places to eat and drink nearby too.

It has a bar/restaurant on site.

There are standard, superior, premium and family rooms available with 76 rooms in the hotel in total.

Air conditioning in the rooms is handy on those hot summer days we have in Inverness (we do get a few now and then!).

There is no parking at the hotel and there is an interesting note in the hotel policies that say ‘noise-free rooms cannot be guaranteed’.

Church Street can be busy and noisy particularly at the weekends – Friday and Saturday night so you may want to consider asking for a river view room, although there may be some road noise with this.

Reading the comments it seems you have to prebook your breakfast time if you want breakfast in the hotel. This looks like it is because there is limited dining space.

The River Ness Hotel doesn’t take pets.

Professional Traveller Summary;

  • A good 4-star chain hotel in the city centre
  • Handy for public transport
  • River view rooms may be a little quieter but the hotel is in a busier part of the town.

A good 4-star chain hotel option in the city centre

Check availability and prices for your travel dates at the River Ness Hotel or simply do a map search for Inverness below

inverness city centre hotels ac hotel exterior view

Inverness City Centre Hotels

AC Hotel Inverness

Glebe Street, Inverness, IV1 1QN

This large hotel is a newer addition to Inverness. It’s a big hotel with 191 hotel rooms, which I think makes it the largest in Inverness!

It’s located beside the River Ness and it has a bar and outdoor terrace area.

The interior is welcoming and modern, with nice public spaces as well as a restaurant.

There is a pretty large fitness room and a business centre too.

Rooms are free of fuss and clutter. River view rooms have great views with no road between the hotel and the river.

The AC Hotel is also dog friendly, with dogs being welcome too.

The rooms are soundproofed which is always good.

There is a small amount of parking available for £10 per day on site. Church Street multi-storey car park is the nearest parking option.

There is a note in the hotel information about taking a £20 damage payment from every guest on arrival which should be refunded within 7 days of the stay, if there is no damage.

I also like the fact that check out is 12 noon.

Professional Traveller Summary;

  • A huge 4 star hotel right beside the river
  • Handy for public transport
  • Great views of the river and walks from the door too

Late checkout means long lies and it’s very pet friendly

Check availability and prices for your travel dates at the AC Hotel Inverness or simply do a map search for Inverness below

inverness hotels city centre image showing front of the glen mhor hotel with white window frames and a beige wall

Inverness Hotels City Centre

Glen Mhor Hotel

7-17 Ness Bank, Inverness, IV2 4SG

The Glen Mhor is surprisingly large with 110 bedrooms.

It does not have a lift which can be difficult if you are on the 3rd floor so if stairs are a problem be sure to request a lower floor room.

There is a mix of rooms with deluxe and larger rooms being the ones overlooking the river.

If you are looking for a nice alternative to a room – the hotel also has a selection of apartments within its buildings, not necessarily in the main building. These are completely self-contained and range from 1 to 3-bedroomed apartments.

Free parking is available on-site. The car park entrance is on Haugh Road, the B862 which runs at the rear of the hotel.

The Glen Mhor Hotel has a Waterside Restaurant, Taproom Bar and beer gardens that overlook the River Ness.

It also has a fantastic distillery and brewery on site! You can book distillery and brewery tours which would make a lovely addition to your visit.

The Glen Mhor is also pet-friendly.

Professional Traveller Summary;

  • A great Inverness hotel deals choice in a slightly quieter area of the city beside the River Ness
  • Great range of accommodation options from rooms to apartments
  • Free parking on-site
  • Nice restaurant and bar on-site, with others nearby

A great pet-friendly option for quieter city centre accommodation, with its very own distillery and brewery

Check availability and prices for your travel dates at the Glen Mhor Hotel or simply do a map search for Inverness below

city centre hotel inverness image showing view across the river to the columba hotel with white window frames around restaurant

City Centre Hotels Inverness

Columba Hotel Inverness

7 Ness Walk, Inverness, IV3 5NF

The Columba Hotel has a lovely location. It looks across to Inverness Castle and is beside the River Ness (not directly beside the River as there is a road). The hotel has good views of the river and the castle from the front-facing rooms.

I have stayed many times individually, family members have stayed and I have also stayed there with tour groups. I have also had lots of coffee catch-ups in McNabs.

The Columba Hotel has its own Victoria Restaurant and McNabs Bistro is located on the ground floor which serves a bar menu all day.

Rooms do vary in size at the Columba Hotel. Some of the larger executive rooms are to the front with smaller and single rooms being towards the back.

There is no parking at the Columba Hotel but there is some on-street parking available free of charge from 6 pm to 8 am with paid parking outwith those times. However, there are very few spaces on the street.

The Columba Hotel is located on a one-way street and you need to approach it the right way because of a no right turn restriction at the junction.

You need to cross over Ness Bridge in Inverness in the direction going away from the Castle, so out of the city centre. Immediately at the end of the bridge turn left into Ardross Terrace and the Columba Hotel is just on your right-hand side.

To get to the car park continue past the Columba Hotel. The road bends round to the right a little at a junction. Turn left. You will see the Cathedral directly in front of you and the Cathedral car park is a short distance down on your right-hand side.

It is a pay-and-display car park which costs approximately £5 for 24 hours. You can use the RingGo service to pay by card or text. This is quite a handy service as you can renew your parking ticket without returning to the car.

It is probably no more than five minutes walk back from the car park to the Columba Hotel.

Professional Traveller Summary;

  • A great Inverness hotel deals choice beside the River Ness
  • Lots on your doorstep including plenty of places to eat
  • Classicly styled hotel rooms with a choice of size and types
  • Good option if travelling by public transport

Good location with a nice view of Inverness Castle from the front of the hotel, with lots nearby

Check availability and prices for your travel dates at the Columba Hotel or simply do a map search for Inverness below

Hotels Inverness City Centre

Premier Inn River Ness

hotels inverness city centre premier ness premier inn showing view of premier inn hotel from across the river

Inverness City Centre Hotel

Premier Inn Inverness Centre (River Ness)

19-21 Huntly Street, Inverness, IV3 5PR

The Premier Inn Inverness Centre is located right beside the River Ness in the heart of Inverness.

It has a variety of rooms including Premier Plus and Premier Plus with a view.

There is very limited parking available on-site and it is chargeable too. Some guests reported being so worried about finding a space in their car park once they were in, they left their car and travelled by foot or public transport.

There is a Thyme Restaurant at the hotel which is helpful if you want to eat in and of course they serve the standard Premier Inn breakfast.

There are lots of places to eat nearby though, including one of my favourites, The Kitchen, which is practically next door.

Professional Traveller Summary;

  • Good central location right in the City Centre and close to River Ness
  • A great Inverness Hotel deals choice if you like Premier Inns and their facilities
  • Good option if travelling by public transport
  • Plenty of places to eat close by
  • Limited parking on site but with parking in the area

A good choice if you like Premier Inns

hotels inverness city centre image showing view of royal highland hotel fromacross the main street

Inverness Hotels City Centre

The Royal Highland Hotel

18 Station Square, Academy Street, Inverness, IV1 1LG

The Royal Highland Hotel is often referred to as the Station Hotel because that was what it was originally and it is located right next to Inverness railway station.

This can make it a good place to stay if you want to explore other parts of Scotland by train. Trains go North, South, East and West from Inverness.

It has 86 rooms and the entrance to the Royal Highland Hotel is adjacent to the main entrance of the railway station on Academy Street. The foyer is quite grand and has several tables and chairs in the foyer as there is a little bar and coffee area tucked in the corner. It’s called the Art Gallery Cafe because of several artworks, including a large piece on the stairs.

Also on the ground floor is the hotel restaurant, Ash. The menu is mixed and varied, with everything from fish and chips to curry and carbonara.

The reception desk is just inside the main entrance. There are also toilets on the ground floor and lifts to the rooms.

There is no parking available at the hotel. There is extremely limited parking outside the front entrance but this is usually full.

As such the nearest car park is either Rose Street Multi Storey car park. 24 Rose St, Inverness IV1 1NQ. You collect a ticket on entry and then pay at the pay stations on the ground floor before you leave. You can pay by card and it costs £7 for 24 hours with £5 every 24 hours after.

As mentioned above this car park is a little tricky to park in sometimes due to the concrete pillars and narrow spaces. However, it is well-lit and has a lift.

The easiest way to reach the Royal Highland Hotel is to turn right when you exit the car park into the bus station area. Follow the footpath round, with the bus station on your left and walk past Charlie’s Cafe, also on your left. When you get to the junction with Academy Street turn left and follow this along past various shops until you reach Station Square, which will be on your left. You will see the entrance to the railway station and the hotel.

Given its location, The Royal Highland Hotel is likely to experience some noise wherever your room is located.

For those arriving by rail, the location is fantastic and if you want to park your car for a few days and explore by rail it is also ideal.

Some of the rooms are on the smaller size in this hotel. The Royal rooms are larger.

The Royal Highland Hotel is pet-friendly.

Professional Traveller Summary;

  • A great Inverness hotel deals choice with a great location for train travellers next to the Railway Station
  • Nice coffee bar area, very pleasant to linger and read the paper
  • Lots within walking distance

Great city centre pet-friendly hotel ideal for rail travellers

Check availability and prices for your travel dates at the Royal Highland Hotel or simply do a map search for Inverness below

inverness hotels city centre image showing the exterior of the B&B hotel from across the road

City Centre Hotels Inverness

B&B Hotel

63 Academy Street, Inverness, IV1 1LU

The B&B Hotel is located in Academy Street, which is one of the main streets in Inverness with plenty of through traffic and buses.

There is no parking on site. The nearest car park is the Rose Street multi-storey car park. 24 Rose St, Inverness IV1 1NQ. You collect a ticket on entry and then pay at the pay stations on the ground floor before you leave. You can pay by card and it costs £7 for 24 hours with £5 every 24 hours after.

Take care in this car park though as there are plenty of concrete supports that can make parking a bit tricky. Some of the spaces are quite tight and both me and my family members have had a car door dinged here. As such I would recommend keeping going up until you find more space. There is a lift which serves every other floor.

When you come back down to the ground floor head away from the library (grand building on your left as you exit the car park) and walk past Charlie’s cafe. The exit from the bus station joins Academy Street where the Pentahotel is.

The ground floor of the hotel has a bar with a billiard table in it.

The rooms are quite stripped down, which gives it quite a budget feel in my view. Everything was comfortable and clean and there is a lift from the ground floor.

Rooms at the back of the hotel should be a little quieter than those at the front but given its location, there is likely to be some noise wherever you are in this hotel.

The B&B Hotel is pet friendly, with the price for pets £20 per night.

The B&B Hotel is a bit of a confusing name and the hotel doesn’t serve evening meals, although breakfast is available.

Professional Traveller Summary;

  • Great location if travelling by public transport – close to bus and train station
  • A great Inverness hotel deals choice with budget-style rooms with nice public areas

A good city centre option, especially if travelling by public transport, and pet friendly too

Check availability and prices for your travel dates at the B&B Hotel or simply do a map search for Inverness below

inverness hotels city centre image showing the kings highway from across the street

Inverness City Centre Hotels

King’s Highway

72-74 Church Street, Inverness, IV1 1EN

The King’s Highway is a Wetherspoon hotel. It is attached to the Wetherspoon pub although there is a separate entrance and reception area for the hotel.

Church Street is a one-way street so you need to approach it from Friars Lane. If you are coming through Inverness on the A82 from the A9 then take the left at Shore Street Roundabout. Then move over into the right-hand land ready for the traffic lights. Turn right at the traffic lights and Church Street is the first turn on your left.

If you are looking for parking when you enter Church Street my recommendation would be to take any space you see. It isn’t far to walk to the King’s Highway from anywhere in Church Street but once you get to the hotel entrance itself there isn’t much parking available.

The first thing to say is that there is no parking at Wetherspoons. There is some on-street parking available and this is free after 6 pm (double check the signs) until around 8 am. There are quite a few loading bays on Church Street and these get used for parking after 6 pm as well.

The nearest car park is the 24-hour Rose Street multi-storey car park. It is located at 24 Rose Street, Inverness, IV1 1NQ. You take a ticket on entry and then pay at the pay stations on the ground level when you leave. A lift serves every other floor.

This car park has quite small parking bays and there are lots of concrete pillars to take care of when parking. I’ve had my car door dinged in this car park too.

On exiting the car park turn right, follow the pavement around with the bus station on your left. Keep walking past Charlie’s Cafe. You will come to Academy Street which you need to cross. Continue walking in the same direction ie. away from the bus station and you will find Church Street. It runs parallel to Academy Street.

The King’s Highway is a mid-budget hotel, and it can have some very good prices available. Several years ago it was refurbished and it is less budget and more mid-range than it was.

However, there can be some rooms that experience street noise from Church Street. This is mainly people in the street rather than traffic.

Rooms at the back tend to be quieter but also a bit darker. Some of the rooms can be quite small which is not surprising given the city location of the hotel.

There is a lift that will take you to your rooms and there is a secure door between the pub and the hotel area.

Breakfast is available to buy in the pub area. I have found this OK for an early breakfast but if you leave it until mid-morning the pub is starting to fill up with people drinking. I don’t enjoy eating my breakfast surrounded by people drinking.

I wouldn’t eat in the pub in the evening. It’s busy, noisy and often has several people who have had quite a lot to drink there. As a single traveller, I don’t like the atmosphere and as someone who chooses not to drink alcohol, it’s the type of place I avoid.

There are plenty of nice places around Inverness to eat with a much nicer atmosphere.

Of course, Wetherspoons is known for its budget-priced food so it is probably one of the cheaper places to eat.

I’ve stayed at the King’s Highway several times when working in Inverness and having an early start. I’ve found it good value with clean and tidy rooms.

Professional Traveller Summary;

  • A great Inverness hotel deals choice if travelling by public transport
  • Good value rooms for a city centre location
  • Plenty of places to eat and drink nearby

A good mid-budget hotel right in the heart of Inverness

Check availability and prices for your travel dates at the Kings Highway Hotel or simply do a map search for Inverness below

Inverness City Centre Hotels – Conclusion

  • Inverness city centre hotels can be extremely busy in peak months so book early otherwise you will pay much more.
  • If you can travel out of season you will find hotels more reasonably priced.

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If you have found this article about Inverness city centre hotels useful you might also like;

Holiday Cottages Inverness – self catering holidays in and around the city centre

Lodges with hot tubs Inverness – great stays in the city centre

Inverness Airport Hotel – review of this lovely hotel right beside the airport

The Scottish Highlands – why it’s a great place to visit whatever the season

Loch Ness Tour – check out this easy 1 day complete lap of this famous loch

Inverness Hotels with Pools – find your spa hotel here

If you are looking for more ideas then check out my Inverness page

Further Reading

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