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Thinking about a stay in Inverness in January?
January is the Highlands at their most peaceful. The festive crowds have gone home, the River Ness runs dark and fast beneath a frosty sky, snow settles on the hills around the city and the evenings are made for a warm pool, a fireside dram and a long, unhurried dinner. It is a wonderful month to start the year slowly.
This guide covers everything you need to plan a January stay: what the weather is really like, how much daylight to expect, what is open after New Year, Burns Night, the best winter day trips and why January is the start of girls’ breaks season at the Palace. If you are planning to explore further afield, our guide Stay in Inverness as Your Highland Base is a helpful companion read.
Peaceful
After New Year the city settles into its quietest weeks, with calm castles, empty glens and easy restaurant tables.
Best value
January brings some of the lowest rates of the year. See the Early Bird Special for January dates.
A fresh start
Swim, sauna, steam and sleep: a gentle January reset by the River Ness.
Why January Is a Lovely Time to Visit Inverness
Once the Hogmanay celebrations have faded, Inverness becomes wonderfully calm. You can stroll the riverbank, explore Inverness Castle and drive out to Loch Ness at your own pace, often with the views almost to yourself and snow on the hills to frame them.
It is also the best-value month of the year for a Highland city break. Many guests use January for a short winter reset after the festive season: a couple of nights, a swim every evening, good food and a proper rest before the year gets busy.
For seasonal inspiration and what’s on locally, browse Visit Inverness Loch Ness and VisitScotland.
January Weather and Daylight in Inverness
January is one of the coldest months in Inverness, but the city’s sheltered spot on the Moray Firth keeps it milder and drier than much of the Highlands. Days are short, with the sun low in the sky, yet they lengthen by more than an hour and a half across the month. Pack warm layers, a waterproof, a hat and gloves, and shoes with good grip for frosty paths.
About 6 hrs 44 mins of daylight
About 7 hrs 18 mins of daylight
About 8 hrs 20 mins of daylight
Long-term averages for Inverness, 1991–2020, from the Met Office. Sunrise and sunset times from timeanddate.com; they vary by a minute or two from year to year.
Start the Year in the Highlands
For many guests, January begins with a Highland Hogmanay. The All Inclusive New Year Break brings in the bells by the river, with a few relaxed days in the city to follow.
New Year is a holiday in Scotland on both 1 and 2 January (see GOV.UK), so some attractions, shops and tours close or keep shorter hours for the first couple of days. Plan a slow start: a riverside walk, a long swim and a lazy lunch, then explore once the city is back to normal.
For traditions and tips, read our Guide to Hogmanay in Inverness.
Girls’ Breaks Season Begins
January and February are girls’ breaks season at the Palace. After the festive whirl, a weekend away with friends is the perfect way to beat the January blues, and the city centre shops, bars and restaurants are just a short stroll along the river.
Choose Besties & Bubbles or Girls Night In for chilled Prosecco on arrival, in-room pampering treats, an overnight stay with breakfast and full use of the Leisure Club, with its pool, jacuzzi, sauna and steam room. For a bigger celebration, the Platinum and Diamond packages add even more.
Planning the weekend? Our Top 20 Girls Weekend Activities in Inverness has plenty of ideas.
Burns Night and a Highland Dram
On 25 January, Scotland celebrates its National Bard, Robert Burns, with haggis, neeps and tatties, poetry, music and a toast or two. Burns Suppers and ceilidhs take place across the country in the days around Burns Night (see VisitScotland), so check local listings for events in Inverness during your stay.
Back at the hotel, January evenings are made for a dram. Settle into the Brasserie & Bar with a Highland malt, then enjoy dinner overlooking the river at Eight on the River.
Keen to go to the source? Our guide to the best whisky distilleries near Inverness has the details.
A New Year Reset in the Leisure Club
January is the month for looking after yourself. Guests at our spa hotel in Inverness city centre enjoy free use of the Leisure Club from 7am to 9pm, with a 50-foot pool heated to 86°F, a jacuzzi, a sauna, a steam room and a Technogym gym for anyone keeping a New Year resolution.
For a longer stay, a spa break bundles your room with time to unwind, and treatments are available with Pretty Woman Spa in the hotel.
Things to Do in Inverness in January
Most of the Highlands’ headline sights stay open through January, with shorter winter hours, though a few close for New Year or take a short winter break. Plan the outdoor parts of your day for late morning to early afternoon, when the light is at its best, and keep museums, cafés and the pool for the early dark.
Here are our favourite January experiences, all easy to reach from the hotel. Opening times can change, so check the official sites before you set off.
Inverness Castle Experience (right across the river)
The castle on the hill opposite the hotel tells the stories of the Highlands through immersive exhibitions, with a viewing platform over the river and the city. From October to March the Inverness Castle Experience is open daily from 10am, with last admission at 4pm. It is closed on New Year’s Day.
The castle gardens, shop and Saltire Bistro are free to visit without a ticket, and the castle looks magical lit up after dark from the hotel side of the river.
River Ness & Ness Islands (a crisp winter walk)
Flat riverside paths lead from the hotel to the Ness Islands, a string of wooded islands joined by Victorian footbridges. On a clear January day, with snow on the distant hills, it is one of the loveliest short walks in the Highlands.
Tip: set off around midday to make the most of the light, and be back by the river as the street lamps come on in mid-afternoon.
Clava Cairns & Culloden (ancient and atmospheric)
A short drive east of the city, the Bronze Age stones of Clava Cairns are free to visit and feel wonderfully still on a frosty January morning. Read our guide to Clava Cairns before you go.
Nearby, Culloden Battlefield is open year-round, and the visitor centre, run by the National Trust for Scotland, opens daily with shorter winter hours.
Loch Ness & Urquhart Castle (classic Highlands, quiet season)
Loch Ness in January is dramatic and peaceful, with steely water and snow on the hills. Urquhart Castle is open daily through the winter, from 9.30am to 4.30pm, with last entry an hour before closing (see Historic Environment Scotland).
Loch Ness by Jacobite sails all year on a reduced winter timetable, but takes a short break for one week in January and closes on New Year’s Day, so check dates and book ahead.
Snow, Stars and the First Snowdrops
Snow days
The ski season at Cairngorm Mountain, near Aviemore, usually gets going over the winter, about an hour from Inverness. Snow is never guaranteed, so check the conditions first. See our Aviemore & Cairngorms day trip guide.
Northern lights
January’s long, dark nights give you a good chance of seeing the aurora on clear evenings, away from the city lights. Read where to see the northern lights in the Highlands.
First snowdrops
The Scottish Snowdrop Festival usually begins in late January, with gardens opening for winter walks into March. Find gardens on Discover Scottish Gardens.
Rainy or icy day? The free, warm Tropical House at Inverness Botanic Gardens is a lovely escape, and the city centre has plenty of January sales to browse, from the Victorian Market to the Eastgate Centre. For more inspiration, see our Complete Guide to Winter in Inverness.
Indoor Inverness on a Cold Day
When the weather closes in, Inverness has plenty to keep you warm. Browse the independent shops and cafés of the Victorian Market, catch a show or a film at Eden Court Theatre by the river, or settle into the hotel lounge with a hot chocolate and a good book.
For listings and events during your stay, check Visit Inverness Loch Ness and VisitScotland.
Plan Your January Stay
Stay on the banks of the River Ness, opposite Inverness Castle and a short walk from the city centre, Eden Court Theatre and the riverside paths. See the Early Bird Special for January dates, or choose a river view room for the best view in the city.
January in Inverness: FAQs
Is January a good time to visit Inverness?
Yes, if you like peace and quiet and good value. After New Year, January is the quietest month in Inverness, so the main sights are calm and hotel rates are among the lowest of the year. Days are short, so plan outdoor sightseeing for the middle of the day.
What is the weather like in Inverness in January?
Cold, with a mix of frosty bright days and wet or windy spells. Met Office averages for Inverness show a typical daytime high of 7.1°C, an overnight low of 1.3°C, around 40 hours of sunshine and about nine days of air frost in the month.
Does it snow in Inverness in January?
Snow is possible and the hills around the city are often white, but it rarely settles for long in Inverness itself. Higher routes such as the A9 and A835 are more affected, so check Traffic Scotland before a long drive.
Is everything open in Inverness on 1 and 2 January?
Not always. New Year’s Day and 2 January are holidays in Scotland, and some attractions, shops and tours close or keep shorter hours. Inverness Castle Experience and Loch Ness cruises with Jacobite are closed on New Year’s Day. Always check opening times before you travel.
When is Burns Night?
Burns Night is held on 25 January, Robert Burns’ birthday, with Burns Suppers and ceilidhs across Scotland in the days around it. Check local listings for events in Inverness during your stay.
A Peaceful Start to the Year
January in Inverness is about slowing down: frosty riverside walks, snow on the hills, a warm pool after dark, a Burns Night dram and long evenings by the fire. With the quietest sights and some of the best rates of the year, it is a lovely time to discover the capital of the Highlands.
Base yourself on the River Ness, plan your days around the light and come back each evening to the same comfortable room. When you are ready to look ahead, our guide to staying in Inverness in February picks up where January leaves off.
PLAN YOUR JANUARY ESCAPE…
Complete Guide to Winter in Inverness
Walks, whisky, days out and what’s open all winter.
Best Whisky Distilleries Near Inverness
Distillery tours within easy reach of the city.
Northern Lights in the Highlands
Where and when to look for the aurora.
Inverness in February
Weather, things to do and girls’ breaks in February.
Sources: Met Office, timeanddate.com, VisitScotland, GOV.UK, Inverness Castle, Historic Environment Scotland, National Trust for Scotland, Loch Ness by Jacobite, Discover Scottish Gardens, Visit Inverness Loch Ness.
