Museum in Edinburgh
Also known as National Museum Scotland
The National Museum of Scotland is a free museum on Chambers Street covering Scottish history, science, technology, and world cultures under one roof. The Grand Gallery with its soaring Victorian ironwork is a highlight in itself. Dolly the Sheep (the first cloned mammal) is here. Budget travelers spend a rainy Edinburgh afternoon inside and come away with more knowledge of Scotland than any paid tour could provide.
Practical
On foot
Free and low-cost routes that stop at National Museum of Scotland.
The Water of Leith Walkway follows the river from the center of Edinburgh through Dean Village, past the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, and onward to Stockbridge. Free. A wooded valley walk that feels impossibly rural for a capital city.
Nearby
Other places worth the walk, and what each one costs.
Arthur's Seat is an ancient volcano in the middle of Edinburgh, rising 251 meters above Holyrood Park. Free to hike.
Calton Hill is a low hill at the east end of Princes Street with classical monuments, a city observatory, and views over the New Town, the castle, Arthur's Seat, and the Firth of Forth. Free.
Dean Village is a former milling village hidden in a steep valley of the Water of Leith, a 10-minute walk from the West End. Free.
Edinburgh Castle is Scotland's most visited paid attraction, a fortress on the Castle Rock that has been occupied for over 3,000 years. Entry is paid.
The Esplanade is the broad open forecourt in front of Edinburgh Castle at the top of the Royal Mile. Free to stand on.
The Grassmarket is a wide, sunken square below Edinburgh Castle, historically the site of public executions and cattle markets, now a lively strip of pubs, restaurants, and independent shops. Free to enjoy.
Working out what Edinburgh costs?
The whole of Edinburgh