Being the capital of Scotland, Edinburgh has some fantastic museums and galleries preserving Scotland's culture and history. Here are the must-sees, and the best part is - they're all free!

The National Museum of Scotland

0131 247 4422

Chambers Street, Edinburgh

A combination of uber-modern and Victorian architecture makes the museum intriguing from the outside, but inside it's incredible. Its big makeover finished up in 2013 and now all areas are open to the public. Scotland's story from the very beginning to the present is told within, and it always has great activities for kids and adults.

Open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm (Tues until 8pm), Sun noon-5pm.

The National Gallery

0131 624 6200

The Mound, Edinburgh

European painting from the Renaissance to post-impressionism, plus important Scottish artists. The building itself is a classical gallery that's a work of art in its own right.

Open Fri-Wed 10am-5pm, Thurs until 7pm.

The Scottish National Portrait Gallery

0131 624 6200

1 Queen Street, Edinburgh

The men and women who helped shape Scotland, from Bonnie Prince Charlie to Sean Connery, painted by modernists such as Oskar Kokoschka and old masters such as Van Dyck. The statue of James Watt inside used to stand in Westminster Abbey. A great place to spend an afternoon, with plenty of cafes nearby.

Open Fri-Wed 10am-5pm, Thurs 10am-7pm.

The Museum of Edinburgh

0131 529 4143

142 Canongate, Royal Mile Edinburgh

If you'd like to focus exclusively on the history of Edinburgh, look no further. This little museum is a treasure chest - a maze of historic rooms packed with objects from the capital's past. The building itself was referred to in the past as the 'Speaking House' due to the Latin inscriptions carved on the outside.

Open Mon-Sat 10am - 5pm; Sun 12pm - 5pm (During August only.)

The Writers' Museum

0131 529 4901

Lady Stair's Close, Edinburgh

The Writers' Museum celebrates the lives of three great Scottish writers - Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson. Inside you can see portraits, rare books and personal objects including Burns' writing desk, the printing press on which Scott's Waverley Novels were first produced, and Scott's own dining table and rocking horse. They also have Robert Louis Stevenson's riding boots and the ring given to him by a Samoan chief, engraved with the name 'Tusitala', meaning 'teller of tales'. There is also a plaster cast of Robert Burns' skull, one of only three ever made. Even if you're not a bookworm, it's well worth a visit.

Open Mon-Sat 10am - 5pm; Sun 12pm - 5pm (during August only).