The Top-10
Must-Visit Museums in Edinburgh
- TOP 1
4 photosNational Museum of Scotland
4.7/5251 ReviewsEdinburgh692m from downtown
"The museum is huge and there’s so many things to see. The entry is free, there might be some special exhibition and that would have a paying ticket but they’re usually affordable and definitely worth it.The terrace has an amazing view over the city, you can see Arthur Seat, Edinburgh Castle, St Gyles and the sea.To this day, the exhibition “Wild and Majestic - Romantic Visions of Scotland” is still my favourite. Charming and heartbreaking"Reasons to Recommend: The National Museum of Scotland was formed by the merger of the original Scottish Museum and the Royal Scottish Museum, and is considered one of the buildings of Scotland in the 20th century, adding a lively modern atmosphere to Edinburgh's Old Town. The architectural design of the museum echoes the unique history and natural environment of Scotland, especially the Round Tower in Edinburgh, forming an ingenious connection between history and modernity. The building is clad in Scottish golden sandstone, creating a weather-beaten ancient look. The triangular entrance hall is as high as seven floors, creating a sense of space full of tension, which is vividly likened to a "bird cage". The light is good, and the sun can almost fill every corner of the hall. Decorative pieces such as fountains and fish ponds add to the natural appeal.Show Less - TOP 2
Museum of Childhood
Closed4.1/549 ReviewsEdinburgh364m from downtown
"[Fun] Very cute place, although the area is not large, but you can feel what foreigners are like when they are young. [Cost-effective] Free open, welcome. [View] On a street with a great view."Reasons to Recommend: The Childhood Museum is located on the Royal Mile, a small two-story building. Although the museum is not big, it is very delicate and full of childlike interest. Here you can see a variety of British toys when they were young, as well as supplies that grew up with children, such as baby gas masks during World War II, 19th century baby bottles and a dazzling array of model toys, etc. There are also some tourists who can participate. 's interactive toys, such as the player piano, can evoke bits and pieces of childhood memories.Show Less - TOP 3
4 photosThe Anatomical Museum
4.5/54 ReviewsEdinburgh902m from downtown
"An anatomy museum has an odd rule that an anatomy professor must be present when visiting, because human remains exist, will understand the insights gained from 19th and 20th centuries views on human anatomy. The craniophagus series (including the Jonathan Swift skull model) has some fascinating plaster heads, and the breeding exhibition is interesting and historic."Reasons to Recommend: Located in Edinburgh, the Anatomy Museum is part of the Edinburgh Medical School and is open on the last Saturday of every month. The museum houses anatomical specimens of skulls provided by murderer William Burke in the 1800s, as well as more recent virtual corpses displayed on LCD screens on the floor of the autopsy room.Show Less - TOP 4
Trinity House Maritime Museum
4.7/53 ReviewsEdinburgh2.6km from downtown
"Trinity House Maritime Museum Chinese is probably translated into Trinity House Maritime Museum. Military fans and marine fans must not miss it, especially shocking! The collection is super rich, 1:1 ratio even real retired sailing boats ⛵️, and the Rolls-Royce in the ship world, brightening, very beautiful ～ worth coming to feel!" - TOP 5
South Queensferry Museum
4.6/511 ReviewsEdinburgh13.4km from downtown
"Queensfell is beautiful, with its own small beach, views of the famous bridge, a boat to take you to see different attractions, a good place to visit, and the ferry canyon is a good place to walk around and get to and from the train station." - TOP 6
4 photosMuseum on the Mound
4.5/522 ReviewsEdinburgh471m from downtown
"The currency museum displays a variety of currencies, including a lot of domestic and foreign currency varieties, the museum coins are quite good, some anti-counterfeiting measures can also be seen, the museum collection is also very rich. [Fun] The coins are very interesting."Reasons to Recommend: The Currency Museum, formerly the Bank of Scotland headquarters building, was transformed into a museum in 2006 and is open to the public free of charge. The collections in the museum show visitors the history of the Bank of Scotland, the history of the museum building itself, and various coins, giving you a new understanding of currency. The museum is not big, but the whole tour is designed to be very interesting. You can follow the guide map and play small games such as puzzles while visiting. If you answer all correctly, you can open the safe and get a piece of chocolate in the shape of a gold coin.Show Less - TOP 7
4 photosThe Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Regimental Museum
4.5/510 ReviewsEdinburgh970m from downtown
"The cover of the British biscuits that I used to eat when I was a child was a British soldier, so I must go to the Royal Cavalry Guard Museum to check in here to see what the real cavalry troops are. You can watch it from clothing to training. It is a very interesting museum. It is recommended ～"Reasons to Recommend: The Household Guards Museum was established in 1678 and is located in Edinburgh Castle. Next to the boot camp, it is part of the boot camp building. At the entrance of the museum, there is a statue of a soldier wearing a black and white military cap and a traditional Scottish plaid uniform, playing the bagpipes enthusiastically, which is very eye-catching. This museum is small in scale, but rich in content. Here, visitors can see many collections about the cavalry guards, including the uniforms of the guards, various medals, weapons, flags, some items used in the past, and the theme of this of many paintings for people to understand the history and stories of the cavalry guards.Show Less - TOP 8
4 photosThe Writers' Museum
4.4/527 ReviewsEdinburgh527m from downtown"There are quite a lot of museums here, different styles, the museum has a lot of art, the writer museum looks quite fun, can learn some good Scottish history. [Cost-effective] Free visit [View] Architecture is very special"Reasons to Recommend: The Writers' Museum is dedicated to three great Scottish writers: Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson. Here, visitors can see many portraits, precious books and some personal belongings of writers, such as Burns's desk, Scott's first novel, his dining table, and Robert's riding boots. Even if you're not a fan of their books, these exhibits are well worth a visit.Show Less - TOP 9
4 photosPeople's Story
4.4/514 ReviewsEdinburgh561m from downtown"The People's Story Museum presents Edinburgh's history through the Scotsman's perspective, with statues in daily life such as cooking, reading paper, shopping, etc. The museum is not a proof of the "gone glory years", but of Edinburgh's social history and the people's history since the 18th century. The insights of the harsh poverty experienced." - TOP 10
4 photosNational War Museum
4.2/543 ReviewsEdinburgh971m from downtown
"The National War Museum of Scotland, this museum is not very big, it took about an hour to visit, the whole process is quite interesting, and a lot of knowledge has risen. Tickets are not very expensive."Reasons to Recommend: The museum tells the history of wars big and small in the history of Scotland. The castle walls have also experienced the baptism of war artillery fire, whether they became kings or losers. The exhibits in the museum are here to tell the past quietly. And in memory of those soldiers who died in the war, the museum will regularly hold some war-related exhibitions.Show Less - TOP 11
4 photosMuseum of Fire
4.3/57 ReviewsEdinburgh1.1km from downtown"Fire Museum is really a very important place to promote the knowledge of fire prevention! Fire is very important, here can see the UK's strong investment in firefighting, technology, funds, manpower and other aspects of the historical process of promoting cooperation, really interesting, deeply inspired! I like the firefighters of the world!" - TOP 12
4 photosThe St Cecilia's Hall Museum of Instruments
4.2/55 ReviewsEdinburgh486m from downtown"The San Cecilia Hall Musical Instrument Museum is a very well-known musical instrument museum. The museum is divided into two main themes. One is the musical instrument display, which can see the piano, saxophone, etc., as well as the organ and other large musical instruments used in the church. There are also staff on-site demonstrations of violin maintenance. The tourists are very participatory, quite good ～ I hope to see more of our famous classical instruments in China in this museum in the future!" - TOP 13
4 photosThe Royal Scots Regimental Museum
4.2/56 ReviewsEdinburgh1.1km from downtown"The Royal Infantry Legion Museum is a museum that military fans must not miss. The collection is very rich, and the organizing unit is very careful to let the staff wear corresponding costumes to show to the tourists. It is very eye-catching and scientifically meaningful. It is a great location. ～" - TOP 14
4 photosReid Concert Hall Museum of Instruments
4.0/57 ReviewsEdinburgh844m from downtown"This Red Hall Musical Instrument Museum is ranked in the top of the museum in Trip.com. It came to punch in. It really deserves its reputation. Many ancient instruments are only seen in movies or posters. Many traces of use are donated by the people to the museum. It is very collectable. Very interesting day ～"Reasons to Recommend: The Reid Concert Hall Museum of Instruments (ReidConcertHallMuseumofInstruments) is affiliated to the University of Edinburgh and is located next to the Reid Concert Hall at the University of Edinburgh. The museum exhibits nearly a thousand instruments from all over the world, including stringed, woodwind, brass and percussion instruments, including traditional music, drama, dance, pop music, bass bands and other types. Some of the instruments are over 400 years old and their eclectic shapes are eye-opening. In addition to exhibitions, the museum sometimes hosts various music events, which attract a large number of music-loving tourists during the Edinburgh Festival every year.Show Less - TOP 15
Museum of Edinburgh
4.1/533 ReviewsEdinburgh590m from downtown
"This attraction is located in Edinburgh. The museum is located in Lady Stair's House, built in 1622, which was originally privately owned by a wealthy businessman and later donated to the City of Edinburgh. The museum displays three great Scottish literary poets, Robert ∙ Burns, Walter ∙ Sir Scott and Robert ∙ Louis ∙ Stevenson. Shows personal belongings, portraits of writers, manuscripts and first brushed versions used by writers. The collection focuses on Scott's factory printing press, Scott's study, Portraits and statues of Burns and Stevenson's fishing rods and pipes."Reasons to Recommend: The Edinburgh Museum is located in a historic old building on the Royal Mile. The building has three floors and is mainly divided into two parts: decorative arts and urban history. It tells the history and development of Edinburgh to tourists and records the city of Edinburgh. development history and changes in people's lives.Show Less