We wandered in because it started to rain and it was nearby. And then we stayed until it was closing because it was such a great museum!! Really great exhibits, lots to see from many different artists, eras, and styles. Highly recommend stopping in. read more

Visited the National Galleries of Scotland while in Edinburgh. The layout was easy to navigate, and the exhibits were well-presented and fascinating. Highlights included works by Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Monet, Vincent van Gogh, Raphael, and many other notables. Staff were helpful when needed, and entry was free. Overall, a great way to spend a few hours -- a must-see for art lovers. Saluti. read more

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I am so envious of people who live in the UK and have access to all of these incredible museums and free too. This is another stunning museum. You can easily spend a day here. I would recommend coming here when you are not rushed so you can fully take in the experience. They had Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Cezanne, and Monet all just casually laid out everywhere. I was like..."where are the armed guards??" read more

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The place was free!! Go look around it was Interesting. Some of the pieces were nice. The restaurant downstairs was nice. Good food and relaxed. With view of the park. Take 30-60 min to walk through and take a break from most of the tourists. It was clean and chill with some interesting pieces. I like museums and this one was good. read more

Scottish National Gallery - Cafe in museum. - Art Galleries Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

We were so happy that this gallery was open! Since I'm a major art aficionado I was so excited to see the treasures held inside. It did not disappoint I was thrilled to see many old buddies like Rembrandt and to meet new Dutch artists that I'd never had heard of before. Each room was dedicated to a certain artist or artists of a certain region, I loved how organized and beautiful it was. There are two buildings facing each other. The first was the one I was interested in because it holds the old masters and Dutch painters. The one across the way had a Impressionist Exhibit which definitely doesn't interest me at all, after teaching it for years and just seeing everywhere I'm just over it. It was just so popular for decades I think many of us are just weary of the lily pads... I love love the bright red walls with the green carpet. It was surprising to me how beautifully it showed off the artwork. Such a great contrast, I'm sure the masters would approve of what they did here. After I was finished I made my way down to the cafe where I was told beforehand that the pastries were out of this world. It was hard to choose but I got a flaky layered torte with vanilla cream, I sat there by myself and had a nice tea and pastry. What a wonderful way to close out our two week journey... read more

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The Scottish National Gallery is located near Princes Street and is still currently under renovations to create extended exhibition space and eventually moving the main entrance of the gallery to the Princes Street Gardens side. It looks like completion is estimated to be in late 2022, but in the meantime, visitors may still enter and best of all, it's free! We had some time to spare on our way back to our hotel and decided to pop in for a bit as a few of the other museums had already closed or were out of the way for us. It is a small, intimate gallery, but has a well curated collection of work on display from varying periods. This worked out great for us as we were with our son and we were able to get in and out in less than an hour and were still able to see some beautiful artwork. Some notable works of art include pieces by Bernini, Raphael, Titian, Monet, Gauguin, Van Gogh -- just to name a few. I was also absolutely delighted to see a painting by Jan Davidszoon de Heem, one of the greatest Dutch painters, famous for his Baroque still life paintings of flowers and opulent dinner tables. I fell in love with his work years ago when I saw his pieces in Washington DC! Just something about the colors and use of light and shadows that give depth to his overall composition - I absolutely love it. Definitely stop by the gallery if you're in the area. If you're there earlier in the day, they have a gift shop and a cafe available. The staff are also great and friendly and we had a good, quiet laugh when my son excitedly pointed out cats in a painting, but they were actually cows (or some kind of animal). Haha. read more

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Still one of my favourite gallery's, I especially love the Scottish art, the portrait of Princess street and the skating minister as well as the Dutch artist Jan Steen's 'A school for boys and girls' is amazing and the religious art is stunning, the death of Abel, Jesus in the house of Mary and Martha all beautiful works of art and did I mention, I love this gallery. read more

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The Scottish National Gallery is a free public art museum featuring Scottish works. It's not that large (just one floor with about ten rooms), but it's nice to check out in an hour or so. Centrally located and east to access right along Princes Street. read more

We visited in June 2019 and the building was under such extensive renovations that I couldn't recognize it from the street. However, there are two huge reasons to still visit: the available artwork consists of incredible masterpieces, and it's free. Sure, it'll be better when the work is done and there's more space for displays, but it's amazing already. read more

In any city, if I have time, I like to visit a couple of Art Galleries. One of the best is definitely Edinburgh's Scottish National Gallery, located on The Mound which is just off Princes Street. It's incredibly easy to find, admission is free and there's a restaurant, café and gift shop on site. I love the older historical works which can be seen here and there are many on display including Renaissance, Rococo, Baroque, Dutch, Flemish and Impressionist Art. However, I love contemporary art even more, and hit it lucky when I called in during November 2016 as The 119th Annual Open Exhibition Of The Society Of Scottish Artists (SSA) was on. A fantastic show of works by Scottish and International Artists, both established practitioners and students, in a range of media including painting, print, installation, sculpture, computer and video. I spent a full hour walking through this exhibition as it was so interesting. Scottish National Gallery consists of two buildings full of numerous rooms and levels, so make sure you go into both the main Gallery building itself and the Academy building which sits behind it. One of the best galleries I have been to with inspirational masterpieces from around the world. read more

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This handsome building houses a modest collection, but the admission is free, so it's well worth your time (and non-money). They have the famous Canova sculpture The Three Graces, which is probably the highlight of the entire museum. There is, as you might expect, plenty of 18th/19th-century Scottish art, and a good representation of 19th-century French--Monet, Cezanne, Degas, Gaugin--plus a Van Gogh, plenty of 16th/17th-century Italian art, and some 18th-century Dutch. There are three Raphaels, which is quite an achievement, but they aren't masterpieces. You can also see five Titians, a Velazquez, two El Grecos, a Rembrandt, and a Botticelli. Alas, photography of any kind is not allowed, and, although this isn't noted on the museum map, the docents will swiftly inform you! read more

Love the Scottish National Gallery. Its fee and a lovely space. Great bold red walls that make the artwork just POP. Love all the unique seating in the rooms so one can enjoy the artwork. Wonderful Scottish artists and works of Scottish history. There is a lovely cafe connected to the 2nd half of the gallery that normally has exhibitions that cost. Cafe has a lovely view and a great resting place after viewing art. read more

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Personally I like this museum as it delivers in terms of exhibitions. There is usually at least a couple on at any one time. Its pretty well laid out, with modern at the front building and a bit more period in the back building. Lots to see and look at. Lower level there is a cafe, which needs a little love in terms of seating arrangements. Its always ergonomically a nightmare to get a table and seats for some coffee and cake provided by contini. There is a restaurant, but not sure what that is like - another day! Toilets are on hand on lower level. Pretty decent place if the weather isn't that great! read more

Scottish National Gallery - In a gallery - Art Galleries Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

This was a great museum right in the heart of the city. Well, one of the hearts of the city. There is a great, diverse selection of art and sculpture from all over the world and time periods. I sort of rushed through it due to time, and felt like I was doing it a huge injustice. But, I wanted to at least get a quick sense of it. After taking in Scotland and Edinburgh for a week and falling in love with it, I will admit I was not really interested in seeing French, Italian, or other art. I wanted ALL things Scotland/UK. So, that was the only downside in my opinion, and it's not really a downside. I mean, diversity and a wide array of art is typically a good thing, but just not where my heart or brain was at that moment. They had a fantastic event on display outside as well which was about Scottish scientific/academic history. That I found the most intriguing, and really brings a sense of pride to the country as an intellectual leader, though often overlooked. read more

My Granny often takes me here, I guess she is trying to instill some culture in me. But she also loves art and has a great knowledge so she is my own personal tour guide. This Gallery is situated on Princes Street and is in a pretty damn impressive building. Entry is free, so a great way to get out of the rain/wind/snow. The Gallery is made up of different levels and is very well kept and designed. Not to sound like a complete dumb ass, but I was impressed by their lifts. Anyway, back to arty part. I don't know much about art so I'm not going to sit reeling off all these painters and types, but bear with me. The last time we went in for a browse we looked at the selection of Italian art dating back to the 16th Century. I found this pretty amazing due to the fact that everything is in such great quality. There is also a large exhibit of Scottish paintings. It really is wonderful for an afternoon of milling around and seeing which ones you like, and which ones you don't like. The gift shop down stairs is really good and sells postcards of most of the paintings as well as art books and gifts. Also, the Gallery runs exhibits which cost some pennies to get into. We went to Turners Italy last year which had some really beautiful paintings. Its worth checking the website to see what exhibits are coming up. read more

Scottish National Gallery - Courtesy of National Gallery Website - Art Galleries Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

The National Gallery Complex is the jewel in the crown when it comes to culture in Edinburgh, and I must say, I am rather proud of these two neo classical buildings that sit in the middle of Princes St beneath the castle. For a start, entrance is free (take note Paris and Rome) and it's open daily all year round. There is a great selection of art ranging from pieces by Renaissance painters like Titian through to more modern works by Impressionists like Van Gogh and Monet. If you venture below street level you'll discover that the two buildings are connected underground by the Weston Link, which looks out over Princes St Gardens, there is a great café here and a cloakroom, so you can wander around without fear of knocking over something priceless with your backpack. If you're not into art, the NGC is still a fantastic place to pop into, even if it's just to escape the rain or hustle and bustle of town. read more

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Even if you're not massively into art and visiting galleries, this one is worth it just to take in the building itself. It's slap bang in the middle of Princes Street and the gardens, and so the imposing building is impossible to miss, with it's huge pillars and sheer size. The main footpath going from the city centre up to George IV Bridge cuts through its grounds, and there's usually a busker playing the bagpipes along here which also adds to the traditional feel of the place. I have to confess, I'm not a huge art junkie. I only went in because I was waiting to meet a friend and had time to kill, but I was really surprised at how impressive it was. I only had a look round the 'Glasgow Boys: Drawing Inspiration' exhibition, which depicts rural life at the end of the 19th Century, and I'd definitely recommend it. There was so much more going on aside from that one exhibition, but at that point I headed down to the café to wait out the rest of the time until my friends arrived sipping a cappucino at one of the outdoor tables overlooking the Gardens! read more

Scottish National Gallery - Art Galleries Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

The National Gallery is a great place to visit to get a load of some culture. It's in a really central location, being just off Princes Street and the architecture of the building is just about as impressive as the artwork within it. I came here only on Saturday with two of my flatmates and, although we were pretty hungover, we definitely appreciated the grandeur and history of the place. Some of the paintings are absolutely massive, spanning entire walls in both width and height. My favourite one was an intricately detailed painting of Niagra Falls. There are also plenty of aristocratic men and women from every recent century as well as the usual horses and dogs. The National Gallery has a great atmosphere and offers a unique look into an eclectic range of visual art. read more

Scottish National Gallery - Art Galleries Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Having lived in Edinburgh for nearly a year now I finally visited the National Gallery as a friend was in town, which meant I was more inclined to be a proper tourist for once! I was surprised by the Gallery's collection, and I have to say I may have underappreciated the cultural value Edinburgh has. I believe there're several buildings scattered across the city that together, consist of the National Gallery, but at this particular one, it's possible to see a variety of European art from the 16th century onwards, including several impressionist paintings as well as early Italian and Dutch paintings. I'm a little ashamed to say we almost bypassed the Scottish collection, which we thought wouldn't be as impressive as the more internationally known art. We did make it down there though and it turned out to be my favourite part of the whole gallery! In my opinion the art down there is very unique, and the artists' methods can be a little more unusual; there were several pieces by an artist that had been completely embroidered, with wonderful detail. There were many other paintings I took a liking to ,scattered accross the gallery (some Monet, Degas and many wonderful artists I'd never heard of before I got there!) but the Scottish collection is a must-see! read more

Scottish National Gallery - from official website. - Art Galleries Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Quickly became a favorite place of mine, free admission is a nice perk, too. My favorite was the three Flemish Peter Paul Reuben painting. I love that the shop offers postcards of the paintings so I can share with others read more

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National Gallery offers a fantastic view into a myriad of paintings and sculptures & is well worth an afternoon or 2 FREE entry w/ a special exhibit at a nominal fee. When we were there, the special exhibit was of Impressionists Gardens & at £10 extra, we thought it was a steal! Rooms were nicely situated w/ various time period & regional themes - early Renaissance to the 19th Century - portraits small & grand catch your eye from every direction & crowds were more than manageable. Elevators for those who cannot easily manage stairs were a welcome change - my parents really appreciated this! The Special Exhibit was of extraordinary note - when we were there, they were showcasing a Impressionists Gardens special collection which offered many pieces from the Impressionists Greats that were so surreal when able to view in person. What made this extra special was that the limited crowding allowed us to view the pieces up close, then from afar - which any Impressionists-appreciater can tell you is where the magic of the piece really comes into play Lighting was perfect so that all the nuances were highlighted and have to say, there is a certain museum in San Francisco who should take note on what a fulfilling museum experience is all about I see Vermeer is currently the Special Exhibit - a worthy tempter! read more

Amazing place to visit in Edinburgh. Every year during January William Turner's watercolour sketches are displayed for free sponsored by Vaughan and stated in his will. Anyway, there is much more to see. Paintings from the 1400's up to the 1900's of Italian, Dutch, German, French and Scottish Artists. The majority of these world famous painters were well travelled and you can see their experiences well visually displayed. One of my favourite paintings of Christ was done by El Greco. You will be amazed by all the massive paintings hanging down the gallery walls and it's impressive presence. You might have heard of Van Dyke, Rubens, Dyce, Pausson, Lotte, Raphael, Raeburn, Hamilton, Nasmyth, Haberman, Patel... A coffee shop and restaurant is located on the lower level as well as a larger gallery shop where you can print out any of their paintings, buy art books, notebooks or any other small art souvenir. I will be back for another exhibition, whoop! read more

Scottish National Gallery - Art Galleries Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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I really liked this place! I hadn't meant to come here but I found myself with some extra time and I figured I make a stop here. I'm so glad I did, they have some really nice pieces! Upon entering I asked if pictures were allowed and was quickly told no, but they did tell me there was a shop with postcards of some of the work. While I know he was only informing me to get my money I did think it nice that they offered that since I couldn't take pictures. There were some beautiful works and many rooms had benches that you could sit in if there was one work you really wanted to look at.... or if you had spent 7 hours walking around the city and you were a little tired. I was most impressed by one of the guys that worked there. I asked him a few questions and he was very informative. He also had some interesting stories about some of the works that I would never had known had I not spoken with him. I know little to nothing about art so I have no idea if the works they house are special or important. All I know is that it was a nice detour to my very long walk around Edinburgh. read more

Both of the galleries on Belford Road-- the Dean, and the Modern Art, are free, which makes them an appealing visit for a lazy weekend afternoon. As the previous reviewer stated, the collection housed in the Dean is extremely small- I could easily do it in twenty minutes tops, but the Gallery of Modern Art has more, making it my personal favourite out of the two. The cafe in the Modern is inexpensive, good for a quick coffee after taking in the artwork. read more

Free entry. Van Gogh. That's all you need to know. The Mound is home to the National Gallery which is spread over two buildings and contains a lovely cafe underneath which looks out over Princes Street gardens. The North Gallery often has temporary exhibitions, which require an entry fee (usually no more than £4) and they tend to showcase Scottish artists. The South Gallery has a permanent collection which covers a range of styles and periods. My favourite room is a small circular room upstairs with a few impressionist paintings. To get there, you have to walk through the busty staircase...a small staircase which is surrounded by about twenty busts all at different levels and let me tell you, it is frrrreaky! The North gallery also has a downstairs room which, while housing some of the permanent collection, contains temporary exhibitions from international artists. Overall a great spend of an hour or two that won't cost you a penny! read more

What an absolute treasure!! All the works including several by Raphael are outstanding. What is even better the intimacy of the gallery and you are allowed to take pics (so long as no flash). The best part.....this museum is free. Highly recommend - read more

Right in the Heart Of Edinburgh. I went to a lecture here on Sat - BP Portait Award- Thinkng Faces. Free but ticketed !! Always nice to have a look around. Their collection of Scottsh and international art is amongst the best in the world. and is housed in 3 sites accross Edinburgh. They have 22 exhibitions to visit , 68 events to attend and 3375 artworks online to explore. Most is free, some of the exhibitions charge, but maintly around £ 5. A great way to spend the afternoon !! read more

It's a free, very central, and very well curated gallery. A huge range of periods and styles, which is lovely, with obviously a lot of passion for scottish artists and scottish history. They tend to have a couple of exhibitions on, and it's well laid out. I find it hard to review art galleries having spent my life going in so many, but this is definitely a good one. Get some culture in you! read more

I thoroughly enjoyed wandering around the National Gallery. I don't often get time to slow down and appreciate art in all its finery. Absolutely resplendent building, and impressive collection of some of the world's finest art and it's all for free? It really does not get much better than that! I should also mention that the staff are very friendly and helpful if you need assistance. Although I am slightly biased on that front, since one of them is actually a friend of Kris B.'s! Definitely visit the National Gallery if you are in Edinburgh and happen to have a spare couple of hours, you really won't regret it. read more

Stunning architecture at your eye's disposal right in the centre of town, plus a great deal of art to be perused inside, can only mean a high scoring review. The National Gallery sits grandly on Princes Street marking the historic and scenic divide between old town and new, and is part of the reason why coming to the centre of Edinburgh for the first time is such a striking experience. The castle, Prince Street Gardens, The Balmoral...it's pretty awesome living here, and sometimes I need to write reviews like these to remember not to take the city I live in for granted. The national collection of Scottish art is huge, and despite having made quite a few visits here, I still don't think I've managed to take everything in properly, as there is so much to see. I can only advise, with strong recommendation vibes, that you come down here and see the National Gallery for yourself, because just seeing the outside of the complex will attract you enough to want to take a wander round the inside. read more

Free entry, and masterpieces of art work... what more could you ask for... well, one more thing.. right in the heart of the city. There was some const work going on within the building... but it was still worth a visit. The outside space is also a great place to people watch, and to listen to the live musicians that work the space. A nice way to spend an hour in Edinburgh. read more

Yes, being a student involves lots of drinking, partying and various other activities, but to me, it is also about taking in culture and learning more about civilisation. To that end, the National Gallery Complex is a wonderful tool to do so - its full of art, sculptures and other amazing pieces of work ranging from classical works to more modern ones, and some of the greatest artists in history. It's very easy to spend an entire day here, looking at the art and feeling very cultured altogether. It's free as well, which is always a bonus. read more

Scottish National Gallery - http://www.nationalgalleries.org/ - Art Galleries Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Some of my fondest memories of being a student in edinburgh revove around these galleries. When I was a young sprog in 1st and 2nd year, my outside subject was history of art. Every week we would have to meet in small groups and discuss the art as well as present on it in the gallery. As my class was 10am, we would all meet outside the gallery at 9.30 and sat in the sun. Bliss! These galleries are brilliant. They have amazing exhibitions, such as andy Warhol, Monet, Manet and much more. As well visiting artists they have a really strong collection. If you're into art at all then I thoroughly recommend these galleries. If you don't fancy paying to get in, the gallery at the back is free. Top tip! read more

Now I am not normally an art lover. Most of it baffles and confuses me, paritcularly this modern art. To me, art is a picture. And this is where the National Gallery comes in. It was a good few years that I begrudgingly visited here for the first time, and I was pleasantly surprised with what I saw. We didn't look round the whole gallery, but spent around an hour or so wandering around one of the free exhibitions. There were some truly stunning paintings on show, and it made me appreciate the work of a good artist. The building itself is pretty hard to miss, located right in the middle of Princes St, with its large colonnades on nearly all sides. Whilst this place broke my art museum duck, I haven't been back since. Maybe it's about time I went back. read more

Entry into here is free so I tend to take most visitors here, not that I'm a cheap-skate or anything! The different levels mean that you can get a good few hours in here and even more if you really love art, which I don't really. I do enjoy looking at some of the pictures though, but couldn't tell you who painted them or when! The exhibits that the gallery run are also really good, although I am sure you have to pay to get into them. It is a really beautiful building inside too, and the grand appearance of it all is quite breathtaking. Another great freebie in Edinburgh! read more

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I enjoy the art in the National Gallery. It's a good selection of art housed in an architecturally beautiful building and you can't beat the price. I have seen better works by some of the artists exhibited here in other art museums but every piece here seems to work well in their space and it's a manageable collection that doesn't take you 5 hours or more to go through leaving you tired and foot-sore as a result. I came to see Vermeer's Christ in the House of Martha and Mary. The painting is the only Vermeer to depict a Bible scene as his other paintings are of everyday Dutch life and feels somewhat crude compared to his latter paintings. I do enjoy European art and this visit was worth more than the (free) price of admission. At the time I visited, the National Portrait Museum was under construction so this was my chance to see art in Edinburgh. There were some fiberglass elephants around the National Gallery that were decorated by various artists for charity that were fun, particularly the Walker's Biscuits elephant done in plaid. read more

The National Gallery of Scotland is a bit hard to miss, the twinned neo-classical structures of the National Gallery and Royal Scottish Academy sitting hunched right in the middle of the tacit division between Edinburgh's Old and New Towns. The National Gallery sports a modest collection compared to the larger galleries in London and the various European capitals. It is certainly friendlier than many of these though, its small size allowing the casual visitor to see most of what it has to offer in a couple of hours before going for coffee at one of the great cafes in the nearby Old Town. Highlights include some fantastic works by the Dutch and Italian masters - including a Raphael - as well as the small but gem-filled Impressionist collection, which includes works by Cezanne, Monet, Degas and Pizarro. The section that makes the gallery unique though is definitely the Scottish Collection which really deserves a review all its own. Great place to spend a quiet afternoon. read more

I mean, it's free. Why wouldn't you go? A pretty impressive collection of artwork and it's easy to just wander around and get lost in the collections. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who has the time. read more

Set against the dramatic backdrop of Edinburgh's Old Town, the National Gallery of Scotland houses a number of paintings and sculptures from artists such as Raphael, Rembrandt, Renoir, and Monet, to mention but a few. The classic, ionic architecture of the building proudly and regally stands in the heart of the city, promising a glimpse of great works and great minds. The interior exceeds expectation with its intricately designed carpets, dark furnishings and high ceilings creating a sense of space and time. The Gallery is carefully subdivided into sections and artistic movements making it easy to navigate yourself from the Renaissance era to the Impressionists to the Scottish artists and so on. Benches are located throughout the rooms, allowing you to take a moment to appreciate the magnificence of the pieces. A must see is the ambiguity of Monet's Haystacks as well as the highly revered God Writing on the Tables of the Covenant by William Blake. Absorbing the sheer impact and meaning of such paintings often calls for a place of quiet and a large dose of caffeine, to which the Gallery Café is always ready to oblige. The cappuccinos are themselves a masterpiece. read more

Located right off the bustling Prince's Street, the National Galleries of Scotland is our favorite place to slip into when needing a rest from shopping or when we're looking to spend a quiet, rainy day somewhere. Their galleries are sizable, though not the largest, and their collection is top notch. Includes rare Giorgiones and famous works by Titian, Botticelli, Hugo van der Goes, Rubens and more. We especially love sitting down with a bowl of soup and a cuppa in their cafe and staring out their large glass windows onto the park after a day of strolling the galleries and wonderful gift shop. read more