Inverness named a top 16 European city break destination

Newly elected Inverness City Leader, Cllr Ian Brown, today (9 June 2022) welcomed the news that the city has been named by world renowned travel website, Time Out, as one of the top 16 city breaks in Europe.

Cllr Brown added that the Highland Capital is not just a great city break but also the ideal gateway to the rest of Highland, which boasts some of the most stunning scenery in the world.

Time Out said it consulted its local experts in major cities across Europe to nominate the places they thought people should be visiting this year.

The list includes places with big new cultural openings, huge festivals returning after years away and others which have undergone amazing green transformations over the past year.

One of those places chosen was Inverness and the website pointed specifically to Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle, Culloden Battlefield, Eden Court Theatre and the city’s latest public artwork, The Gathering Place, created by artists sans façon and KHBT.

The website highlights the latest addition to the city, The Gathering Place on the banks of the River Ness, which it says “features a curved, Clasach-stone pier which offers a place for quiet contemplation.”

The site also suggests that a visit in July would allow visitors to enjoy the return of the “mighty, family-friendly Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival.”

Inverness City Leader, Cllr Ian Brown, said: “Inverness is already a top city break destination and offers visitors something unique.

“Not only are the Highlands and its residents welcoming and friendly, but the region also hosts numerous top visitor attractions with the likes of Loch Ness & Urquhart Castle, Culloden Battlefield, Eden Court and our latest public artwork, The Gathering Place, which has already proved popular with tourists.

“But Inverness is just the gateway to a much wider Highland experience. We are fortunate enough to enjoy some of the most majestic scenery on the planet and we would encourage people planning a visit to Inverness to also venture further afield and enjoy everything Highland has to offer.”

He added: “We have stunning mountains throughout the region, beautiful lochs, a diverse range of wildlife and some of the most picturesque areas in the world.

“Visitors who have been denied an opportunity to visit Highland due to the pandemic can now set their sights on a trip to Highland to see the many sights we have to offer.”

Outside Inverness tourists can also visit the stunning Cairngorms National Park, take a road trip on the world famous NC500 route which takes in the beauty of Wester Ross, experience the magic of the Isle of Skye, the majesty of Ben Nevis and Glencoe and the bird life in the Flow Country in Caithness and Sutherland, which is currently attempting to gain UNESCO World Heritage Site status.

And the future looks even brighter for Inverness and Highland in 2025 when Inverness Castle is due to open its doors after refurbishment works supported by the Scottish and UK Governments, The Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and partners.

The Castle’s transformation will deliver a state-of-the-art interactive experience, which is hoped to attract 500,000 visitors a year. The Inverness Castle Project was made possible thanks to the Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal. The Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal has committed £315 million worth of funding over a ten-year period to several projects.

You can check out some of the best Highland destination at VisitScotland’s website.

Time Out’s Top 16 City Breaks in Europe page can be found here - https://www.timeout.com/europe/things-to-do/best-city-breaks-in-europe