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Sight Old Town, Edinburgh

National Museum of Scotland

A sight in Old Town, Edinburgh, free to visit and worth about 2.5 hours. Best time to go: Rainy afternoon.

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National Museum of Scotland in Old Town, Edinburgh
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Why go

Free museum from Dolly the sheep to Lewis chessmen, with a rooftop terrace.

It is one of 15 curated places we feature in Edinburgh, alongside 5 sights, 2 activities and 2 bars & cafés. 6 more of our picks sit within about half a mile in a straight line, so it pairs easily with Victoria Street and The Bow Bar.

Type
Sight · Culture
Neighborhood
Old Town
Price
Free
Time needed
2.5 hr
Best time
Rainy afternoon

Nearby

The 6 closest curated picks in Edinburgh, measured as straight-line distance.

  1. 1
    Victoria Street

    Curving street of colourful shopfronts that drops from George IV Bridge to the Grassmarket.

    Shopping · 0.2 mi straight-line
  2. 2
    The Bow Bar

    Traditional pub on Victoria Street with cask ales and a deep whisky list.

    Drinks · 0.2 mi straight-line
  3. 3
    St Giles' Cathedral

    Medieval High Kirk with the ornate Thistle Chapel.

    Sight · 0.2 mi straight-line
  4. 4
    Oink

    Hog-roast rolls carved from a whole pig in the window.

    Food · 0.2 mi straight-line
  5. 5
    Royal Mile

    Old Town spine of closes and wynds running from the castle to Holyrood.

    Sight · 0.2 mi straight-line
  6. 6
    The White Hart Inn

    One of Edinburgh's oldest pubs, on the Grassmarket below the castle, with regular live folk music.

    Drinks · 0.2 mi straight-line

On these curated routes

National Museum of Scotland is a stop on our Scotland’s Highland Rail Line route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.

More sights to see in Edinburgh

3 more curated sights in Edinburgh. See the full Edinburgh guide.

When to go

Average daily highs in Edinburgh run from 42°F in January to 65°F in July; August is usually the wettest month. For National Museum of Scotland itself, we suggest: Rainy afternoon.

Modelled monthly averages for Edinburgh from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Edinburgh weather by month.

Getting there

Map links open a live search for National Museum of Scotland, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Address
Chambers St, Edinburgh EH1 1JF, UK
Coordinates
55.94700, -3.19057
Destination
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Website
nms.ac.uk

National Museum of Scotland: quick answers

How much time do you need at National Museum of Scotland?

Plan on about 2.5 hours at National Museum of Scotland. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit National Museum of Scotland?

Our pick: Rainy afternoon. Insider tip: Go to the roof terrace for castle views.

Is National Museum of Scotland free?

Yes, we list National Museum of Scotland as free to visit. Check the official website before you go, since special exhibits, parking or tours can carry a fee.

Where is National Museum of Scotland?

National Museum of Scotland is at Chambers St, Edinburgh EH1 1JF, UK, in Old Town. The Google Maps and Apple Maps links on this page open it for directions.

Which TripsCircle routes include National Museum of Scotland?

National Museum of Scotland appears on Scotland’s Highland Rail Line, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.

Add National Museum of Scotland to your crew's plan

Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Edinburgh.

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Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.