Edinburgh | A Must-Visit Museum

National Museum of Scotland This has to be one of the top choices in Edinburgh (free entry and no booking required, with highly interactive exhibits—who could ask for more? The museum spans seven floors and is divided into two main sections. If it’s your first visit, I recommend picking up a map at the entrance or joining the free highlights tour. Here are some must-see exhibits: 🐑 Dolly the Sheep On Level 1 in the Explore area, you’ll find Dolly’s specimen along with an exhibit about her life. She passed away early due to genetic defects and illness. 🦖 Tyrannosaurus Rex Also on Level 1, in the large Animal World area to the left, you’ll see the massive T. rex skeleton right at the entrance. The entire area is filled with countless rare animal and plant specimens displayed on three levels—the floor, walls, and ceiling. It’s a paradise for nature lovers. 🕰️ Millennium Clock In the Collecting Stories area on Level 1, you’ll find this unique clock. There’s a video nearby explaining its history and how it was made (I didn’t take a photo because it looks a bit odd). 🗿 Lewis Chess Pieces Discovered in 1831 on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland, these are the inspiration for the wizard’s chess in the Harry Potter movies. Out of the approximately 78 pieces from four sets that were found, 67 are in the British Museum, and 11 are here. The museum shop also has plenty of “Toothache Queen” merchandise. 🏺️ Gilded Mummy Mask On Level 5 in the Ancient Egypt Rediscovered section, you’ll find this stunning artifact. Although the collection isn’t as extensive as the British Museum’s, you can even see a bust of Nefertiti here. It’s quite something! ⛰️ Roof Terrace You can take the elevator or walk up from the Industry and Empire gallery on Level 5. The view is great—you can see Edinburgh Castle and most of the city’s landmarks. However, it’s not ideal for photos (the low ceiling and wide railing filled with plants block the view). #MustVisitMuseum #UK #Travel #Edinburgh #NationalMuseumOfScotland