A treasure ship of the Spanish Armada is said to have sunk in what is now the town's harbour, while the composer Felix Mendelssohn visited in 1829 and is commemorated in an annual festival. The town also has a annual folk music festival.
The buildings in the Tobermory are painted in assorted bright colours, making it a popular location for television programmes, including the children's show Balamory. Notable buildings in the town include Tobermory Clock Tower, while the burgh also boasts a museum, a distillery and an arts centre. Ferries sail from Tobermory to Kilchoan in Ardnamurchan on the mainland.
One of the Wombles was named Tobermory after the town.