Feb 6, 2008
Too many American travelers overlook Edinburgh, unaware that most of its major museums are totally free-of-charge to enter
Just as in London, most of the major museums of Edinburgh charge no admission. You can create a fascinating Edinburgh stay around visits to these amazing attractions, and enjoy the entire experience for a moderate sum.
Free of charge, first, is the National Museum of Scotland, filled with the great achievements of great Scots (like Alexander Graham Bell). You'll also find Dolly here, the world's first cloned sheep. Free of charge, too, is the Museum of Edinburgh, run by the city and located in a prime position on the famous Royal Mile. It tells the complicated tale of the city's story (most of which centers on the Scots' ongoing feud with the English). Free of charge, as well, is the Scottish National Portrait Gallery which displays the face of Sean Connery among its celebrity portraits; the Modern Art Galleries with Warhols, Bacons, Hirsts, and lots of Dada and Surrealism; and the National Gallery of Scotland on busy Princes Street, honoring art from around Europe with an emphasis on Scottish works. Expect high quality works collected by some of Scotland's richest titans of industry, including Rembrandts, Botticellis and Monets. It is conjoined with the Royal Scottish Academy Building (free of charge), which is stocked with much of the same.
And finally, the City Art Center in a towering building overlooking Waverley train station displays some 3,500 works of Scottish art. As the main center for Scotland's visual art treasures, it's always changing the offerings, so you never know what you're going to find there. It charges no admission.
There isn't a cheesy tourist trap in the bunch. Just from that list, it should be evident that in Edinburgh, as in London, you can craft a rich multi-day vacation out of exclusively free things to see and do.
Then, when you've exhausted the list, you can (if you choose) move on to the city's collection of excellent paid historical attractions, such as the Castle, the Queen's official Scottish residence, Holyroodhouse, Britannia, the Queen's famous royal yacht, and Rosslyn Chapel, the romantic and wildly carved sanctuary located in the countryside just south of town. Important sights all, but by no means required for a memorable Edinburgh experience.
Write and read comments about this post.
Free of charge, first, is the National Museum of Scotland, filled with the great achievements of great Scots (like Alexander Graham Bell). You'll also find Dolly here, the world's first cloned sheep. Free of charge, too, is the Museum of Edinburgh, run by the city and located in a prime position on the famous Royal Mile. It tells the complicated tale of the city's story (most of which centers on the Scots' ongoing feud with the English). Free of charge, as well, is the Scottish National Portrait Gallery which displays the face of Sean Connery among its celebrity portraits; the Modern Art Galleries with Warhols, Bacons, Hirsts, and lots of Dada and Surrealism; and the National Gallery of Scotland on busy Princes Street, honoring art from around Europe with an emphasis on Scottish works. Expect high quality works collected by some of Scotland's richest titans of industry, including Rembrandts, Botticellis and Monets. It is conjoined with the Royal Scottish Academy Building (free of charge), which is stocked with much of the same.
And finally, the City Art Center in a towering building overlooking Waverley train station displays some 3,500 works of Scottish art. As the main center for Scotland's visual art treasures, it's always changing the offerings, so you never know what you're going to find there. It charges no admission.
There isn't a cheesy tourist trap in the bunch. Just from that list, it should be evident that in Edinburgh, as in London, you can craft a rich multi-day vacation out of exclusively free things to see and do.
Then, when you've exhausted the list, you can (if you choose) move on to the city's collection of excellent paid historical attractions, such as the Castle, the Queen's official Scottish residence, Holyroodhouse, Britannia, the Queen's famous royal yacht, and Rosslyn Chapel, the romantic and wildly carved sanctuary located in the countryside just south of town. Important sights all, but by no means required for a memorable Edinburgh experience.
Write and read comments about this post.
Labels: culture, edinburgh, scotland
Fifty years ago, 
Arthur Frommer is generally acknowledged to be the nation's foremost travel authority. He is the founder of the
