Scotland Highlands on a Budget | Including Day Trips and Loch Ness Cruise

Inverness, Scotland is a wonderful city to set as a home base to explore the highlands. It’s also a wonderful city to explore! There are plenty of things to do within the city if you’re looking to keep costs low. The highest costs in Inverness are the day trips. The cost of being in the city really depends on where you stay and eat! If you’re looking to do Inverness on a budget, you can stay in a hostel and eat good food at local pubs. Shop at the co-op to save on food and make tea in your hostel/hotel room. There are plenty of day trips that are overall worth the extra money to spend and explore the highlands. Overall, the costs are reasonable and not extraordinarily expense so it’s certainly possible to travel the Scottish Highlands on a budget!

Read more: Explore the Scottish Highlands and Inverness | Fantastic 3-day Itinerary

Scottish Highlands on a Budget Breakdown

First Night in Inverness:

Bus from Glasgow to Inverness: £25
Dinner at Black Isle Brewing Co: £12
Groceries at Co-op (breakfast for a few days): £6
Black Isle Hostel: £25
Night one total: £64

Day one in Inverness:

Day trip to Glenfinnan: £75
Lunch in Fort William: £5
Esco Bar Dinner: £7.50
Black Isle Hostel: £25
Day one total: £112.50

Second day in Inverness:

Day trip to Isle of Skye: £75
Lunch at Wee Bakery: £12
Hootananny Dinner:£20
Black Isle Hostel: £25
Day two total: £132

Day three in Inverness:

Return Bus Trip to Loch ness: £19
Loch ness Cruise: £19
The Castle Tavern Beer: £4
Black Isle Brewing Co.: £10
Bus to Edinburgh: £25
Day three total: £77

If you need help setting a travel budget, read my post here. It’s filled with tips on how to create your budget, as well as how to save to go on your next trip!