The Museum is great for a source of inspiration if you feel you need to get away from your work and see something different. It is full of interesting things and is a great learning experience. It is also free!!

This place is fabulous and it’s free, although I always give a small donation.
If you want to know anything about Scottish history, art, or anything else Scottish
this is the place to go.
The layout is well thought out, taking you gradually through eras or events, and the displays are informative and well maintained.
You do really need a day to get round everything and you wont come out thinking the days wasted.
This is really a fabulous day out and with two cafes and a restaurant on site you don’t need to leave the premises, staff are always friendly and helpful.
All in all this is a great place for a day out

The best museum I've been to in a long long time!
There are only pluses about the place! First of all it's free admission - now tell me honestly how many big museums in Europe have free admission all year round? - answer is simple - NOT TO MANY! This one does and thats great as I've been there many times.
Second of all the collection of the museum - it's absolutely hughe. Ranging from very early scottish history (Picts, Vikings, Romans) through to the modern times (science, sports, history ect.) and a second part with Worldwide exhibitz (from Eygypt to India, a large fauna collection and many many more).
Third of all the museum offers side attractions: novelty shop, cafe, education part - for people of all ages!, guided tours.
YOU MUST GO THERE! But I have to warn you that if you want to see EVERYTHING than you have to go a couple of times as once is just not enough time! Enjoy!

This has to be one of the best places to visit in Edinburgh. The National Museum of Scotland (NMS) is free to enter and is connected to the Royal Museum (also free). This ensures that whatever aspect of history or art you are interested in there will be an exhibit for you.

The NMS runs through the history of Scotland. From the formation of Scotland as a nation from when all the continents were one mass millions of years ago to the recent devolution of Scotland in 1999. As you can see there is a lot of history for the building to have in it. The design is wonderful as it gives you the feeling of space to digest the history as you move from era to era. The exhibits are well designed as to not confuse and are often updated.. NMS is a great place for research for school and university projects with many of the tour guides knowing extensive knowledge of the history.

There are two cafes (one for a family and the other for couples or adults) and a very expensive Tower Restaurant if you feel peckish.

Finally, once you have taken as much Scottish history as you can there is the Royal Museum with its world history. I can guarantee you cannot do both museums in a day!!

The NMS and its Royal Museum is simply a must see!!

Natinal Museum makes for a fantastic day out in Edinburgh, there is something for everyone and is well laid out, so much so that you could spend, the day/an afternoon/a couple of hours and still not see everything that is available. Check out local press or the museum's website to find out which special exhibitions are on (there is generally an admission fee to pay to enter these but the museum itself is free admission...only polite to leave a donation mind)