Bookshops Leakey's, Greyfriars' Hall on Church Street, is a great spot to browse for second-hand books, with a cafe inside and a warming wood stove in winter; James Thin, 29 Union St, has an excellent range of Scottish books and maps; and Waterstone's is at 50-52 High St.

Car rental Budget is on Railway Terrace, behind the train station (tel 01463/713333); Europcar has an office on Telfer St (tel 01463/235337); Arnold Clark is at 47-49 Harbour Rd (tel 01463/236200); Thrifty is at 33 Harbour Rd (tel 01463/224466); and Sharps Reliable Wrecks is based at Station Square (tel 01463/236684) as well as the airport.

Cinemas The Eden Court Theatre and the attached Riverside Screen, on the banks of the Ness, host touring theatre productions, concerts and films; La Scala (tel 01463/233302) on Strother's Lane, just off Academy Street, has two screens; Warner Village (tel 01463/711175), on the A96 Nairn road about two miles from the town centre, boasts seven screens.

Hospital Raigmore Hospital (tel 01463/704000) on the southeastern outskirts of town close to the A9.

Internet MTC, 2 Grant St (Mon-Thurs 9am-5pm, Fri 9am-4.30pm). There are also two terminals in the tourist office.

Post office 14-16 Queensgate (Mon-Thurs 9am-5.30pm, Fri 9.30am-5.30pm, Sat 9am-6pm; tel 0845/722 3344).

Taxis Culloden Taxis (tel 01463/790000); Rank Radio Taxis (tel 01463/221111).