Scottish National Gallery

Situated in the heart of Edinburgh, the Scottish National Gallery is home to one of the best collections of fine art in the world.

  • Open daily, 10am-5pm, Thursdays until 7pm.
  • Free admission | Charge for some exhibitions

Getting here

The Scottish National Gallery can be found just off Princes Street in the city centre.

Scottish National Gallery
  • Open daily, 10am-5pm, Thursdays until 7pm.
Address: The Mound, Edinburgh, EH2 2EL

The Gallery

The Scottish National Gallery displays some of the greatest art in the world, including masterpieces by Botticelli, Raphael, Titian, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Constable, Turner, Monet, Van Gogh and Gauguin, amongst many others. The most comprehensive  part of the collection covers the history of Scottish painting – all the major names, including Ramsay, Raeburn, Wilkie and McTaggart, are represented.

The Scottish National Gallery comprises both the National Gallery Building and the Royal Scottish Academy Building. Both of these buildings, designed by William Henry Playfair, stand in the heart of Edinburgh. Although originally built as separate structures, their histories have long been intertwined, and, since 2004, they have been physically connected by the underground Gardens Level.

Some rooms are currently closed as part of a major project to improve and expand the Gallery. 

Royal Scottish Academy

The Royal Scottish Academy plays host to a variety of exhibitions programmed by the National Galleries of Scotland, the Royal Scottish Academy of Art and Architecture, and others. The Royal Scottish Academy is open from 12noon on Sunday; otherwise its opening times are the same as for the Scottish National Gallery.

Learn more about the Royal Scottish Academy

Celebrating Scotland's Art

This major project to improve and expand the Scottish National Gallery will create three times more space for the Gallery's unrivalled collection of Scottish art.

Learn more about Celebrating Scotland's Art

Highlighted artworks

Some of the best-loved artworks currently on display at the Gallery

If you are coming as a group of 10 or more we offer a highlights tour of the collection. Book a group visit now​

Three Tahitians Paul Gauguin
The Trinity Altarpiece Hugo van der Goes
Poplars on the Epte Claude Monet
Lady Agnew of Lochnaw (1864 - 1932) John Singer Sargent
Reverend Robert Walker (1755 - 1808) Skating on Duddingston Loch Sir Henry Raeburn
A School for Boys and Girls Jan Steen
The Vale of Dedham John Constable
An Old Woman Cooking Eggs Diego Velazquez
The Letter of Introduction Sir David Wilkie
A Study of a Head (Saint Ambrose) Sir Peter Paul Rubens
The Shepherd Boy Phoebe Anna Traquair

Accessibility & facilities

  • Information desk
  • Wifi
  • Wheelchair access
  • Hearing loop
  • Accessible toilets
  • Wheelchairs available
  • Public toilets
  • Disabled parking
  • Lockers (£1/£2)
  • Baby changing facilities
  • Seating throughout
  • Bike rack

In order to protect our vulnerable works of art from any kind of accidental damage we kindly ask all visitors to either carry their rucksack/backpack by hand or place it in a locker.

Gallery floor plans

Cafés & restaurants

The Scottish Café & Restaurant

Opening times Monday-Saturday: 9am-5pm
Thursday: 9am-7pm
Sunday: 10am-5pm +44 (0)131 225 1550

Celebrating the very best ingredients from Scottish producers and growers, The Scottish Café & Restaurant offers delicious, fresh, simple, good value food in a beautiful setting.

We are delighted that The Scottish Café & Restaurant has been 'hitlisted' by the List Eating & Driking Guide 2018/19 as one of the best places to eat of its kind in Edinburgh.

Book a table

Garden Café

Opening times Monday-Saturday: 9am-5pm
Thursday: 9am-7pm
Sunday: 10am-5pm +44 (0)131 225 1550

The Garden Café offers fresh coffee and sweet-treats. Either relax in our informal café or take out and enjoy in Princes Street gardens.

Shops

Each shop is home to an inspiring range of products including a fantastic selection of prints, posters and books, stationery and gifts.

Online shop