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Scottish National Gallery, Edinburgh

4.5

#5 of 66 in Museums in Edinburgh

Discover one of the world’s finest collections of art at Scottish National Gallery, situated on the Mound, an artificial hill in the middle of the city. Designed by architect William Henry Playfair in the Neoclassical style, the gallery opened in 1859. Today, it houses Scottish and international art from the beginning of the Renaissance to the start of the 20th century. At the heart of the collection is a group of paintings transferred from the Royal Scottish Academy, including masterpieces by Jacopo Bassano, Anthony van Dyck, and Giambattista Tiepolo. The collection also includes notable works by Cézanne, Botticelli, Degas, El Greco, Monet, Goya, Gauguin, Raphael, Rembrandt, Velazquez, and Vermeer, to name just a few. Check online for special events and temporary exhibits. Use our Edinburgh online tour itinerary maker to arrange your visit to Scottish National Gallery and other attractions in Edinburgh.

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Scottish National Gallery Reviews

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4,503 reviews

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4.5

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4.3

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By Kim_Flitter On March 27, 2018

We popped in here as we were passing through Edinburgh for the day. Gorgeous paintings and sculptures. Aesthetically pleasing to the eye. I only saw one room so I can't comment on the rest. My only do... more »
By Nouk C On March 27, 2018

Mooi museum.. gebouw ansich is ook mooi. Mooie collectie en enkele topstukken te bewonderen. Gratis Mijn advies is om hier in de ochtend vóór 11 uur te gaan, want later wordt het net iets te druk. more »

Nice museum. building ansich is nice too. Nice collection and collection highlights. Free my advice is to here in the morning before 11 hours to go, because later it becomes just a little too busy.

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By Leah W On March 26, 2018

Brilliant gallery considering it’s free entry. Not many famous works but very interesting all the same. more »

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By Marina Mieli On October 3, 2017

Incredible place! Activities for all ages. Great for kids! A lot of different dynamic activities so they can discover a new world. Very nice way of spending an afternoon in Edinburgh. Totally worth the time. And it is free!

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By Sue Warner On October 1, 2017

A fabulous museum which has architectural features worth going for regardless of anything else. Even on a rainy Sunday afternoon it didn't feel overly busy. The exhibits looked great for children, with lots of interaction. I wish I had spent longer there. 😀

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By Kerstin Schaeffer On October 31, 2017

A perfect place to spend a rainy afternoon! Beautifully curated artworks. Admission is free, but you can donate as much as you want (and you should, as it's for a great cause!)

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By Ross Whiteford On September 12, 2017

Got a spare hour or free day? The Scottish National Gallery's permanent collection is the ideal place to spend it; surrounded by masterpieces from artists of all corners of the world. It's free, and there's staff on hand to help answer questions or explain the history of the pieces; useful if you want to impress a date on the cheap.

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By Richie Gowin On October 22, 2017

Incredible collection! Very easy to miss some important pieces, like a self portrait by Rembrandt, an iron copy of a Bernini, and others. While not the largest art museum, it is full of a wonderful collection and it’s free!! Free WiFi

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