National Museum of Scotland
Chambers Street, Edinburgh EH1 1JF
Tägl. 10–17 Uhr
Kostenlos (Sonderausstellungen kostenpflichtig)
The National Museum of Scotland is Edinburgh's surprise hit — a museum that captivates you for hours, even though you only intended to pop in briefly. And the best part: Entry is free.
What to expect
The museum consists of two connected buildings: the Victorian Royal Museum (1866, spectacular glass hall) and the modern Museum of Scotland (1998). The collection spans billions of years — from the formation of the universe to the present:
- Dolly the Cloned Sheep: The most famous sheep in the history of science — cloned in 1996 at the Roslin Institute near Edinburgh, now stuffed in the museum.
- Lewis Chessmen: Chess pieces from the 12th century, carved from walrus ivory, found on the Outer Hebrides. Tiny, expressive, world-famous.
- Natural History: From T-Rex skeletons to minerals to an interactive exhibition about Scotland's animals.
- Technology & Design: Steam engines, Formula 1 cars, clocks, instruments — Scotland's contribution to the industrial revolution.
- Scottish History: From the Picts to Robert the Bruce and Mary Queen of Scots to modern times — Scotland's dramatic history told through objects.
Rooftop Terrace
The Rooftop Terrace offers a fantastic 360-degree view over Edinburgh — Castle, Arthur's Seat, Firth of Forth. Freely accessible, even without a museum visit. One of the best viewpoints in the city, unknown to many tourists.
