Loch Ness Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience Loch Ness. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Loch Ness, Scottish Highlands, Glencoe, and Pitlochry Tour

• Loch Ness and Highlands Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh with Cruise

• Scottish Highlands, Loch Ness, and Glencoe Day Trip from Edinburgh

• Loch Ness, Glencoe, and the Highlands Guided Day Tour from Edinburgh

• Isle of Skye and Eilean Donan Castle Day Tour from Inverness

While it’s free to visit Loch Ness, plenty of affordable tours offer more access. Expect to pay around £23 for a boat tour, not including transportation to Loch Ness. For a comprehensive experience, book a guided day tour from Edinburgh that includes Glencoe and the Highlands for around US$85.

Yes, Loch Ness is worth visiting. People are drawn to the Scottish Highlands for dramatic scenery and historic landmarks such as castles. The legend of Nessie (the mythical Loch Ness Monster) also draws visitors to the area. To combine several landmarks in one itinerary and skip the driving, consider a multistop guided tour of the Highlands, and you'll learn about Scottish history and culture along the way, too.  

Per one customer who booked the Loch Ness, Scottish Highlands, Glencoe, and Pitlochry Tour, "Stewart was an excellent guide—very knowledgeable, engaging, and clearly passionate about the history and culture of the area. The Highlands were absolutely stunning, with constantly changing scenery and so many beautiful viewpoints along the way. Visiting Loch Ness was such a highlight and felt like a true bucket-list experience. Stewart's insights really added depth to each stop, and he kept everything informative while still making it enjoyable and easy to follow. He also had a great playlist that made the journey even better. Overall, it was an amazing and well-paced day. I'd highly recommend this tour!"

It depends on how you want to experience Loch Ness. If you just want to admire the lake from the shore, you only need 20 minutes or so. If you want to cruise on Loch Ness, walk around the area, or visit Urquhart Castle, you will need half a day.

Tours include Loch Ness boat tours on the lake that introduce you to its history and legends (does Nessie sound familiar?); visits to the ruins of historic Urquhart Castle; walking tours along the banks of Loch Ness; and visits to nearby whisky distilleries. It's also a typical stop on guided tours of the Highlands.

Yes, you should book Loch Ness tickets for tours in advance. It's one of Scotland's most-visited destinations, and tours often book up early, especially during the busy summer. Avoid disappointment by making arrangements ahead of time.

The best time to visit is between May and September, when Scotland's notoriously fickle weather is at its best. June, July, and August bring enormous crowds, however. A visit in May or September offers mild temperatures and fewer crowds.

Yes, there is parking at various places around Loch Ness. Visitors can park in the large parking lot in the center of Fort Augustus, adjacent to the public restrooms and picnic area. Visitors can also park at the Loch Ness Centre in Drumnadrochit or Urquhart Castle.

Yes, but it is not advisable. Loch Ness is a very deep lake and bitterly cold all year round—rarely warmer than 41°F (5°C), which presents a high risk of hypothermia. Only very experienced outdoor swimmers should attempt a dip in Loch Ness.

There are tons of fun things to do when you're done visiting Loch Ness. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in and around Inverness:

• Isle of Skye

• Clava Cairns

• Culloden Battlefield

• Inverness Botanic Gardens

• Inverness Castle

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Inverness.