Finding the right Christmas wishes for colleagues in Australia means striking that classic Aussie balance — warm and genuine without going over the top. Whether you are signing a team card, emailing the whole office, or wishing your desk neighbour a ripper break, the right words make the summer Christmas season feel extra special. Australian workplaces do Christmas a little differently from the rest of the world. There is the beloved shutdown period between Christmas and New Year when whole offices go quiet, the office barbie or rooftop drinks in December heat, and the great beach-holiday exodus. A message that nods to sunshine, surf and a well-earned rest lands far better than a generic winter greeting. Below you will find 45 original Christmas wishes for Australian colleagues, organised into five categories so you can grab the perfect line in seconds — professional messages for the wider team, funny ones for your workmates, respectful wishes for your boss, team-spirit messages, and...
Planning a Highland Christmas? The best things to do at Christmas in Inverness blend the cozy glow of a riverside Scottish city with the wild drama of the Highlands beyond it. Inverness may not run one giant German-style market, but its festive season is a charming patchwork of craft fairs, farmers' markets, pantomimes, whisky bars, and candlelit castle views.
Known as the capital of the Highlands, Inverness makes a wonderful Christmas base. You can browse artisan stalls in the morning, walk the lantern-lit banks of the River Ness after dark, and still be at Loch Ness or the Cairngorms within the hour. And locals will greet you with Nollaig Chridheil — Merry Christmas in Scottish Gaelic.
This guide rounds up 15 original things to do at Christmas in Inverness for 2026, from the city's markets and festive lights to Highland food, drink, and unforgettable winter day trips. Whether you are visiting for a weekend of market-hopping or using the city as a base for a longer Highland adventure, there is a distinctly Scottish festive flavor here that the bigger southern cities simply cannot replicate.
Below, the list is organized into four themes — Christmas markets, festive lights and sights, Highland food and drink, and winter day trips — with slices for families, couples, and budget travelers along the way. Note: several market dates below are provisional for 2026 — always confirm on the official sites (inverness-centre.co.uk, eden-court.co.uk, visitscotland.com) before you travel.
Last updated: October 2, 2026
Jump to: Christmas Markets | Festive Lights and Sights | Highland Food and Drink | Winter Day Trips from Inverness | FAQs | More Christmas Inspiration
Christmas Markets in Inverness
Inverness does not have a single sprawling Weihnachtsmarkt like Edinburgh or Manchester. Instead, the city hosts a string of smaller, characterful markets through November and December — each with its own flavor. The smart move is to plan your visit around two or three of them.
What the Inverness markets lack in scale they make up for in authenticity. You will find Highland tweed, hand-thrown ceramics, and artisan food from producers who live within an hour of the stall — not mass-imported trinkets. Most events are free to enter, and several raise money for local charities, so your Christmas shopping does genuine good in the community.
1. Hunt down one-of-a-kind gifts at the Exclusively Highland Craft Fair
Eden Court Theatre, on the banks of the River Ness, hosts one of the city's best-loved Christmas craft fairs, typically running a long weekend in late November. Expect stalls of Highland tweed, handmade jewelry, ceramics, and local art — the kind of gifts you simply cannot find in a shopping center. Entry is usually free or low-cost, so linger over the stalls.
2. Brave the bargains at the Inverness Giant Christmas Fayre
Held at Inverness Leisure, this is one of the biggest indoor Christmas markets in the north of Scotland, with well over 90 craft and local-produce stalls. There is usually a Santa's grotto, live music, and family activities alongside the shopping. The 2026 edition is listed for Saturday, 14 November — confirm the date on the organizer's site before setting out.
For Families
3. Meet Santa at the Clava Mains festive gathering
Just outside the city, the Clava Mains festive event mixes market stalls with outdoor BBQ food, marshmallow toasting, Christmas donkeys, and singing elves. Kids can book a visit to Santa's grotto (advance booking is usually required, with proceeds supporting local charity). It is noisy, joyful, and gloriously unpretentious — children adore it.
4. Stock the Christmas table at the Inverness Farmers' Market
The Inverness Farmers' Market, at the Eastgate end of the High Street, normally runs special pre-Christmas dates in December (2026 dates are listed as 5th and 19th December, 10am–3:30pm). Load up on Highland cheeses, smoked salmon, artisan chutneys, and festive bakes — food gifts that will make your Christmas dinner unmistakably Scottish.
Festive Lights and Sights Around Inverness
Once the markets close for the day, Inverness turns up its evening magic. With sunset before 4pm in mid-December, the whole city center glows — and the River Ness doubles every light in its reflection.
The compact center makes an evening lights stroll effortless: castle, river, bridges, and the old town are all within a fifteen-minute walk of each other. Dress for proper Highland cold — hat, gloves, and a windproof layer — and the evening will reward you with some of the prettiest free Christmas scenery in Scotland.
5. Walk the lantern-lit banks of the River Ness
The Ness Islands and the riverside path are Inverness's prettiest free Christmas activity. Wrap up, grab a takeaway hot drink, and stroll the loop from the castle to the islands as the festive lights shimmer on the water. On a still night with a dusting of frost, it is genuinely one of the most romantic winter walks in Scotland.
6. Admire Inverness Castle glowing above the city
Inverness Castle, perched on its cliff above the river, is illuminated after dark through the festive season. You cannot miss it — it dominates the skyline from the High Street. Pair your castle photo with a walk across Greig Street Bridge for the classic reflected-lights shot.
For Couples
7. Book the panto at Eden Court Theatre
Nothing says a Scottish Christmas quite like a pantomime, and Eden Court's annual panto is an Inverness institution. The theatre also hosts Christmas concerts and the craft fair season. Book well ahead — the best seats for December performances sell out weeks in advance. Check eden-court.co.uk for the 2026 lineup and dates.
8. Browse the Victorian Market under the twinkling arcade
Tucked between the High Street and Academy Street, the Victorian Market is a covered arcade of independent shops — exactly the place to escape a Highland downpour. At Christmas the arcade glows with decorations, and its indie retailers (books, prints, Scottish gifts, cafés) beat the chain stores for unique finds.
Highland Food and Drink at Christmas
Christmas in the Highlands is a feast, and Inverness's restaurants, bars, and markets lean into it. This is the city to eat your way through December.
Highland food culture runs deep at Christmas: game from the estates, seafood from the west coast, whisky from the glens, and baking traditions passed down for generations. Even a simple afternoon of market grazing — a hot bridie in one hand, a bag of tablet in the other — counts as a festive meal here.
9. Warm up with a whisky flight in a Highland bar
Skip the generic pub and head to one of Inverness's dedicated whisky bars, where the staff will happily talk you through Speyside, Islay, and Highland drams. Ask for a Christmas-themed flight — many bars curate sherry-cask and spiced-finish pours for the season. A hot toddy (whisky, honey, and lemon) is the classic cold-weather cure.
10. Taste shortbread, tablet, and other Scottish sweet treats
Scottish tablet — a crumbly, buttery fudge-like confection — is the true taste of a Highland Christmas, and you will find it at every market and deli in town. Pair it with all-butter shortbread and a slice of Dundee cake from a local bakery. Buy a box for the suitcase; your future self will thank you.
11. Book a festive dinner of Highland game and seafood
December menus across Inverness feature venison, grouse-era game pies, and West Coast seafood — Cullen skink (creamy smoked haddock soup) is the starter to order. Book Christmas-week restaurant tables early; the best dining rooms fill up fast. Finish with cranachan — raspberries, cream, honey, and toasted oats, often with a splash of whisky.
Winter Day Trips from Inverness
One of Inverness's greatest Christmas assets is what lies beyond it. A short drive or train ride opens up some of Scotland's most dramatic winter landscapes.
Winter is honestly the Highlands' most cinematic season — low golden light, frost on the bracken, and far fewer visitors than summer. Day trips work best with an early start, since daylight is short: aim to be at your destination by 10am and you will have a full, glowing afternoon.
On a Budget
12. Hunt for the Loch Ness Monster in winter mist
Loch Ness in December is hauntingly beautiful — low mist, empty shores, and Urquhart Castle rising from the gloom. The visitor centers run reduced winter hours, so check ahead, but the lochside walks are free and crowd-free. Wrap up warm: the wind off the water is no joke.
13. Walk the torchlit history of Culloden Battlefield
The site of the 1746 battle occasionally hosts winter events including torchlight walks and storytelling sessions. Even without an event, the windswept moor in December light is powerfully atmospheric, and the visitor center café is a fine place to warm up.
14. Ski or snowshoe in the Cairngorms
The Cairngorm Mountain ski area is roughly 90 minutes from Inverness, making a day on the slopes entirely doable. Even non-skiers can ride the mountain railway (when operating) for panoramic winter views. Check snow conditions and lift status before you go — early-season cover is never guaranteed.
15. Ride the festive railway to a Highland village
The train lines out of Inverness — toward Kyle of Lochalsh or down to Aviemore — are spectacular in winter. Pick a village stop, have lunch in a country pub, and ride back as the light fades. It is one of the cheapest, simplest great days out in the Highlands.
Frequently Asked Questions About Christmas in Inverness
When is the best time to visit Inverness at Christmas?
The festive season runs from the Christmas light switch-on in mid-to-late November through early January. For markets, aim for late November to mid-December; for the panto-and-lights experience, the week before Christmas is ideal.
Does it snow in Inverness at Christmas?
Snow in the city itself is possible but not guaranteed — Inverness sits on the coast and is milder than the surrounding hills. The Cairngorms, about 90 minutes away, reliably have snow. Pack for cold, wind, and rain regardless.
How do I get around Inverness in winter?
The city center is compact and walkable. Buses serve the suburbs and nearby villages; trains connect to Aviemore, Kyle of Lochalsh, and Aberdeen. If you plan Highland day trips, a rental car gives the most freedom — winter tires or all-weather preparation are wise.
Is Inverness family-friendly at Christmas?
Very. Santa's grottos, the Eden Court panto, the Giant Christmas Fayre's family activities, and the Clava Mains festive event all cater to children. The riverside walks are pushchair-friendly in dry weather.
What are the best day trips from Inverness in winter?
Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle, Culloden Battlefield, the Cairngorms for skiing, and scenic rail journeys to Kyle of Lochalsh or Aviemore. All are reachable within about 90 minutes.
Can I do Christmas in Inverness on a budget?
Yes — the riverside light walks, the Victorian Market, and lochside scenery are all free. Many markets have free entry. Save money by eating at market food stalls and the farmers' market rather than booking festive dinners every night, and look for early-bird panto tickets.
However you spend the season, Inverness delivers a Christmas with real Highland character — Nollaig Chridheil, and may your winter be merry and bright.
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