Museums in Edinburgh
Famous above all for its fascinating history, Edinburgh offers equally excellent museums and galleries, and the entry to the majority of these is totally free.
Although Edinburgh is better known for its history and for its ghosts, from a cultural point of view the city has equally deep heritage, with museums and galleries of the highest quality. And what's more, entry to the vast majority of these museums is totally free.
Below you can find some of the main museums in Edinburgh.
Three unmissable museums
National Museum of Scotland
The collections of the National Museum of Scotland reveal Scotland’s culture and history up to the present day.
Museum of Edinburgh
At the Museum of Edinburgh visitors will discover the history of the city of Edinburgh from the earliest period to the present day.
Scottish National Gallery
The Scottish National Gallery features several collections of fine art from the beginning of the Renaissance to the Post-Impressionism.
Three surprising museums
Museum of Childhood
Toys, playthings, doll houses and games from several periods make the Museum of Childhood in Edinburgh a unique experience.
The People’s Story Museum
The People’s Story Museum explores the day to day of Edinburgh’s citizens from the eighteenth century to the present day.
Museum on the Mound
Housed in the head office of the Bank of Scotland, the Museum on the Mound explores the history of money, economics and the bank of Scotland.
Other interesting museums
National War Museum
The National War Museum of Scotland explores 400 years of military actions and the country at war. This museum is very interesting thanks to its location.
Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art
The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art in Edinburgh features modern and contemporary art work. Discover it.
Scottish National Portrait Gallery
The Scottish National Portrait Gallery explores the history of Scotland through the portraits of the most famous people of the country.
The Writers’ Museum
The Writers' Museum in Edinburgh commemorates the life and work of three of the most important and renowned Scottish writers.
Other muesums in Edinburgh
Surgeons' Hall Museums
Surgeons’ Hall Museums explores the history of medicine and the development of surgery and dentistry throughout the centuries. Discover it!
Our Dynamic Earth
Our Dynamic Earth offers its visitors the chance to take a journey through time (over 4.500 million years ago) to discover all the aspects of the Earth.