> Source: https://worldmuseumguide.org/free-museums/edinburgh/ — updated 2026-09-25. Markdown mirror generated at build time from the same content as the HTML page. Title: Free Museums in Edinburgh (2026): Full List & Free Days

# Free museums in Edinburgh

## Quick answer

2 museums in Edinburgh offer always-free standard admission, including National Galleries of Scotland, National Museum of Scotland. Check each museum's rules and official website before visiting.

Visitor information last reviewed 30 June 2026. Check the official museum site for current details.

## Always free (2)

[Always free National Galleries of Scotland The National Galleries of Scotland comprise the National, the Portrait Gallery on Queen Street, and Modern One and Two in the city's west. Together they form one of Europe's great public art collections. ✓ Free standard admission](https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/national-galleries-of-scotland/) · [Always free National Museum of Scotland The National Museum of Scotland occupies two adjoining buildings in Edinburgh's Old Town: the original Victorian Royal Museum building (1866), with its magnificent glass-roofed Grand Gallery, and the striking modern addition opened in 1998, clad in honey-coloured Clashach sandstone. The combined complex is one of Scotland's most visited attractions. ✓ Free admission to permanent galleries](https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/national-museum-of-scotland/)

### Which museums are free in Edinburgh?

National Galleries of Scotland, National Museum of Scotland — 2 museums in Edinburgh with always-free standard admission. Special exhibitions may charge separately.

### Are special exhibitions also free at Edinburgh's free museums?

Usually not — always-free admission covers the permanent collection, while blockbuster temporary exhibitions typically require paid, often timed, tickets. Check the official site linked from each guide.

[All museums in Edinburgh →](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/united-kingdom/edinburgh/) [Free museums worldwide →](https://worldmuseumguide.org/free-museums/)