The National Galleries of Scotland's permanent collection is among the best in the world. Dating from the early Renaissance to the present day, it boasts works by some of the most important artists in history, as well as portraits of great Scots and the world’s most comprehensive collection of Scottish art. The collection is free to the public and open daily.

Although the collection as a whole is owned by the nation, for administrative purposes, the objects are allocated to one of three major groupings: Scottish National Gallery, encompassing artworks from the early Renaissance to 1900 and the national collection of Scottish art c.1600–c.1900; Scottish National Portrait Gallery, covering Scotland's history from the sixteenth century to the present day as seen through the portraits of those who shaped it, and also includes the national collection of photography; and Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, including modern and contemporary art, plus renowned Dada and Surrealist collections.