What to do in Scottish Highlands

Activities, attractions and tours

Visit Scottish Highlands

Types of activities

Where to stay

Scottish Highlands travel guide

Eilean Donan Castle, Kyle of Lochalsh, United Kingdom

Eilean Donan Castle, Dornie, United Kingdom

Scottish Highlands Attractions

Let Expedia help you to experience the best that Scottish Highlands has to offer! If you’re planning a trip to Scottish Highlands, we can provide you with a list of the top sightseeing attractions, as well as helping you to find unmissable activities. Whether you’re travelling to Scottish Highlands with your family, planning a romantic trip with your loved one, or visiting on business, we’ll make it easy to plan an unforgettable holiday that checks all the boxes.

Places of interest in Scottish Highlands

Scottish Highlands is crammed with must-see places to visit and things to do. We can help you decide where to stay in Scottish Highlands, and make it a breeze to explore Scottish Highlands and the surrounding areas with our guides on where to go, what to see and when to see it. No matter how long your stay, it’s easy to find places of interest in Scottish Highlands to make sure that you enjoy your holiday to the fullest and don’t miss a thing. Leave the local knowledge to us and leave the hassle behind.

If you’re planning a visit to Scottish Highlands, why not check out our handy guides to places of interest in the area? You can browse lists of things to do, learn about the most popular attractions, and get help with planning the details of your trip. Expedia makes it easy for you to check out all the top sights in Scottish Highlands.

Scottish Highlands attractions

Scottish Highlands has something for everyone, so whether you’re planning to get active on a summer holiday, put a spring in your step with a romantic rendezvous, or pamper yourself with a leisurely winter trip, you’ll find plenty of attractions in Scottish Highlands to keep you entertained. Expedia makes it easy to book your flight, hotel and rental car in advance, making for hassle-free travel and freeing you up to explore the sights of Scottish Highlands.

Looking for things to do in Scottish Highlands can be time-consuming, but we can take the hassle out of planning your holiday. Whether you’re looking to get active in the great outdoors, sample the cuisine of Scottish Highlands or catch up with the vibrant local culture, our guides to Scottish Highlands attractions ensure that you’ll have a successful trip, whatever the season. Happy trails!

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Top places to visit

1. Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park

Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park offer some of the most spectacular scenery in the country, just a 1-hour drive north of Glasgow. The villages in the area are steeped in history and legend, and locally sourced food takes pride of place at many of the local restaurants.

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Loch Earn which includes forest scenes and a lake or waterhole

2. Ben Nevis

Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in the United Kingdom. In the western portion of the Grampian Mountains, the picturesque giant dominates the skyline and overlooks several lakes. Join the many hikers and mountaineers who battle the elements year-round to conquer the mountain.

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A view of Fort William, a town in the Scottish highland with Loch Linnhe, Scotland, UK

3. Portree Harbour

Portree Harbour is a sheltered, calm space lined by rows of pastel-colored storefronts and fringed by gentle green hills. Embark on boat trips to nearby islands from the pier and enjoy fresh seafood dishes at one of the family-owned establishments lining the harbor.

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Portree Harbour which includes a coastal town, a bay or harbour and boating

4. Inverness Castle

Inverness Castle is one of the city’s most prominent landmarks, its baronial turrets dominating the skyline. You might recognize the castle as the location of Duncan’s murder in the Shakespearean play Macbeth. Walk around the castle grounds to admire its architecture up-close and see impressive views of the city and along the River Ness.

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Inverness Castle featuring heritage architecture, heritage elements and a castle

5. Urquhart Castle

Bring your camera for your trip to Urquhart Castle. Its crumbling brown walls and spectacular towers, which are set against the tree-covered hills and still waters of Loch Ness, are extremely photogenic. Learn about 1,000 years of history and trace centuries of conflict between the English and the Scots at these stirring medieval ruins.

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Urquhart Castle which includes a ruin, a lake or waterhole and heritage elements

Recommended things to do in Scottish Highlands

Number of things to do	312
Cheapest thing to do on Expedia	Invergordon In-app Audio Tour: Explore Local History, Murals and More: £5
Top 5 things to do	Loch Ness, Glen Coe & the Highlands from Edinburgh Loch Ness & the Highlands of Scotland Glen Coe, Loch Ness & the Scottish Highlands Full-Day Tour Inverness: The Isle of Skye and Eilean Donan Castle Fort William: Seal Island Boat Tour
Half-day tours	Fort William: Seal Island Boat Tour Loch Ness 1-Hour Cruise with Urquhart Castle Views Singleton of Glen Ord Distillery Classic Tour The Classic Oban Distillery Experience Loch Ness: The Loch Ness Centre
With kids	Loch Ness, Glen Coe & the Highlands from Edinburgh Loch Ness & the Highlands of Scotland Glen Coe, Loch Ness & the Scottish Highlands Full-Day Tour Inverness: The Isle of Skye and Eilean Donan Castle Fort William: Seal Island Boat Tour

What to do in Scottish Highlands

Popular places to visit

Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park

Visit this Scottish national park to hike through ancient woodlands, relax on the shore of the largest body of freshwater in Britain and enjoy local produce.

Ben Nevis

Brave the conditions and climb to the summit of this mountain to see the ruins of an observatory from the 19th century.

Balmoral Castle

Find out about the history of Crathie with a stop at Balmoral Castle. Savour the area's bars and restaurants.

Portree Harbour

Observe fishing boats coming ashore and dine on fresh seafood in a waterside restaurant at this picturesque harbor.

Inverness Castle

A setting in one of Shakespeare’s iconic tragedies, this crenellated castle sits on a hill overlooking the River Ness.

Glenshee Ski Centre

Hit the slopes in Ballater with a visit to Glenshee Ski Centre. While in this family-friendly area, you can savour the restaurants and bars.

Urquhart Castle

Visit one of the most scenic heritage attractions in Scotland, a set of majestic ruins on the banks of the glittering waters of Loch Ness.

Sound of Sleat, Isle of Skye, Scotland 10th May 2025, Two Caledonian MacBrayne car ferries pass each other near the terminal at Armadale on the Isle of Skye. MV Lord of the Isles and Loch Bhrusda

Armadale Ferry Terminal

Explore the waterfront in Armadale with a trip to Armadale Ferry Terminal. While you're here, you can savour the top-notch restaurants.

Inverness Cathedral

Discover the intriguing art and artifacts housed inside this controversial cathedral in the city center.

Explore areas of Scottish Highlands

Inverness Castle showing a river or creek, a castle and heritage elements

Inverness City Centre

4.5/5(343 area reviews)

The fantastic nightlife and stunning river views are just a few highlights of Inverness City Centre. Make a stop by Inverness Castle or Victorian Market while you're exploring the area.

Portree Town

If you're spending some time in Portree Town, Somerled Square and Portree Harbour are top sights worth seeing.

A trip on a proper steam train from Ft William to Mallaig passing over the iconic Glenfinnan viaduct famous from the Harry Potter films. It was a great day out and well recommended.

Fort William City Centre

4/5(18 area reviews)

Fort William City Centre is known for its abundant dining options, and you can plan a trip to Great Glen Way and West Highland Museum while you're in town.

#lifeatexpedia #scotland #isleofskye #beach #sunset #dusk

Broadford

Restaurants and seaside views are notable features of Broadford. You might consider stopping by Isle of Skye Market Square while you're exploring the neighbourhood.

Crown

While there might not be top attractions in Crown, you can explore the larger area and discover places like Inverness Castle and Eastgate Shopping Centre.

The River Ness running through Inverness, on Scotland’s northeast coast. Inverness is the largest city and the cultural capital of the Scottish Highlands. Scotland, United Kingdom

Ballifeary

While visiting Ballifeary, you might make a stop by sights like Eden Court Theatre and Inverness Botanic Gardens.

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