The best general museums Scotland

This colourful house in the Royal Mile is unmistakable with its red and ochre facade. A visit to Scotland's capital city only takes on more meaning once you open the doors. Edinburgh's past is revealed here from prehistoric times to the present day, through models, descriptions, mannequins and objects of yesteryear. We discover the capital in all its facets: a city of art, culture and ideas, power, trade, contrasts, pomp, history and stories. We can understand the dark hours of the city, between politics, religion, war and alcohol issues; but also its pride: its prosperity, its architecture and its great figures. Lovers of history and rare objects will also appreciate the medieval relics, the numerous porcelains, the beautifully chiselled silverware - including specifically Scottish pieces such as a quaich or thistle-cups -, the pottery with their reconstructed workshop, or the original manifesto of the Covenantaires. Each district is detailed, from Old Town, where Canongate formed a separate village, to New Town, where the original plans of architect James Craig can be seen. An important section is devoted to the port of Leith, a veritable highway of the colonies and the Orient. Petit Futé 's "coup de coeur" goes to the curiosity cabinet, a reminder that fan devotions are not just for pop stars. Amongst other things, we discover a piece of oatcake cooked by Robert Burns' wife, a golf ball that once belonged to Robert Louis Stevenson...

Opened in its current form in 2006 by merging older collections, the National Museum of Scotland houses 16 galleries, 8,000 objects and a complex whose architecture is both Victorian and ultra-modern. Here, as in any general museum, you will find the traditional sections devoted to anthropology, world cultures through time and natural history: Egyptian priest's sarcophagus and mummy, Assyrian mural fresco, dinosaur skeleton and stuffed animals, a few sculptures, paintings and many others... Science and technology also have a voice with the oldest colour television on the planet and the body of Dolly the Sheep.

The most fascinating part of the tour is undoubtedly the one that presents in an exciting way the whole history of Scotland, from its origins to the present day. The visitor's aesthetic pleasure and imaginary escapades into the past are encouraged by the scenography of the plays and their didactic approach. With many treasures of national heritage, one travels alongside the country's first inhabitants, the Picts, the Vikings, the Scots, many anonymous people, but also Scottish heroes, such as Mary Stuart, whose superb harp and a replica of the tomb can be discovered; Robert Burns, a renowned poet, whose handwritten letters can be read; and Bonnie Prince Charlie, the accursed prince of the Stuart cause, whose travel silver can be admired.

The Orkney Museum is particularly well developed and is full of information and objects of great interest. Set up in a former Kirkwall house opposite the cathedral, its exhibition is a bit like a labyrinth, with rooms that follow one another in all directions. The contents are nonetheless very interesting and instructive, telling the history of the archipelago, from its origins to the present day, from the Stone Age, the Picts and the Vikings. It is an excellent introduction to discovering the region.

This is the place to go to get a full understanding of Shetland's history, northern heritage, uniqueness and rich heritage. The visit brings to life the place names, landscapes and buildings you come across as you cross the islands. It is very instructive and retraces the whole of the archipelago's past, without omitting any of its highlights, whether they concern the first Picts, the Vikings, the arrival of the telephone or the ferries...

Kirkcudbright Galleries opened in 2018 in the fully renovated former town hall. This brand new Scottish art gallery celebrates Scotland's heritage particularly through the prism of Kirkcudbright, a town - and beyond that, a region - that has inspired many artists and creators. The temporary exhibitions focus on national and international art movements, and all are recognized for their quality. The site also hosts participatory cultural and artistic workshops and lectures.

Opened in the summer of 2015, it is the museum of a whole region, in the Clyde Valley. Its diverse collections explore 14,000 years of history in rural areas and small villages in the surrounding area, from prehistory to the mid-20th century. The first men of Scotland, the Neolithic farmers, the Bronze and Iron Ages, the Romans, the Middle Ages, the Victorian era, the World Wars are covered here, through period objects and reconstructions.

The Dick Institute's exhibition program is very diverse. The main gallery hosts travelling exhibitions provided by national institutions, as well as regular shows. The other galleries are semi-permanent and showcase East Ayrshire's social and natural heritage. In 2023, the museum celebrates the 10th anniversary of the spring exhibition. On this occasion, it will showcase the work of regional artists, allowing visitors to get a glimpse of contemporary practices through the finest works.

The Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum holds in its collections some 40,000 objects and works of art - paintings, photographs, sculptures, and miscellaneous art objects - representing Stirling around the world and showing what Stirling is all about. Three galleries alternate temporary exhibitions. You may meet Oswald Clingan-Smith, the master cat, in the museum spaces or in the library. The place also has a café and a shop.

This completely free cultural centre was born in association with the Carnegie Library, the first in the world to be opened by local philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. It therefore has a library, but also a free museum equipped with large exhibition rooms where themes are regularly renewed, a library dedicated to children and adapted to families, and a friendly café with a breathtaking view of Dunfermline Abbey.