A visitor looks at their phone infront of a display case.
See and do

Tours and trails

Explore museum highlights and discover new objects, themes and stories.

Pick from our selection of tours and trails to help guide and inspire your visit to the National Museum of Scotland.

Featured trail

Audio tours and trails

With our partners at Smartify, we have developed a series of free audio tours accessible through their app. These tours can be enjoyed in the museum where you can follow at your own pace by scanning a QR code when you arrive. Or dive in right now and learn more about our collections wherever you are.

  • The skeleton of a tyrannosaurus rex on display in a multi-storey museum gallery.

    Highlights Audio Tour

    Discover some of the highlights of our collections introduced by the voices of the museum team as they reveal the stories behind our most iconic objects.

  • LGBTQIA+ Hidden Histories Audio Trail

    Discover LGBTQIA+ stories across our collections. This trail is a collaboration between young people from Impact Arts, LGBT Youth Scotland and our Scotland 365 youth engagement team.

  • Wellbeing Audio Trail

    Find some moments of mindfulness and wellbeing in the museum to help you 'reset'. Listen on your own device as you explore the space.

Online trails

Follow our online trails from home or on your mobile in the museum. Some also have printable options.

  • Line illustrations of a polar bear, Arctic fox, monkey, and reindeer. Each is framed within a green circle.

    Selfie Safari

    Get your cameras out and grab some selfies with the animals in our Natural World galleries.
  • A family in a large museum gallery. A member of staff is kneeling down to talk to a child who is very excited.

    Family Puzzle trail

    A trail for the whole family to enjoy. Follow our trail to meet some old friends and discover more exciting exhibits.
  • A museum building with a mix of modern and Victorian architecture.

    Architecture trail

    The National Museum of Scotland is housed in magnificent buildings. Find out about its striking architectural details below, and explore them further on your next visit to our museum.

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