Edinburg, the capital city, is situated in southeastern Scotland, between the River Almond and the River Esk, on the southern shore of the Firth of Forth, in the Lothian region.

Edinburgh is the second most populous city in Scotland, next to Glasgow.

While Edinburgh has absorbed several of the surrounding villages and ports, its heart remains in its historic core, known as Old Town and New Town, while the remainder of the city is made up of neighborhoods, which are usually identified by their historic village names.

Old Town preserves many of the medieval street layouts, and several structures from the Reformation era. Known traditionally as the Royal Mile, the main street of Old Town runs downhill from Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Palace and the ruins of Holyrood Abbey, although the legal names of the streets making up the Royal Mile are Castlehill, Lawnmarket, High Street, Canongate, and Abbey Strand.

In addition to the Royal Mile, other divisions of Old Town include Canongate, Croft-An-Righ, the Cowgate, Edinburgh Castle, Grassmarket, Holyrood, and West Port.

Architecturally and historically significant structures in Old Town include the General Assembly Hall of the Church of Scotland, Saint Giles Cathedral, the National Museum of Scotland, the Old College of the University of Edinburgh, and the Scottish Parliament Building.

The other central area to Edinburgh is New Town, north of Old Town, which was built between 1767 and 1850. It retains much of the architecture from the neo-classical and Georgian eras. The development of New Town was first proposed by the Duke of Albany and York, who later became King James II of England and Ireland, as well as King James VII of Scotland.

The hollow between Old Town and New Town was formerly filled with water and known as Nor Loch, which served as part of the city's defence system. Later, it became a repository for sewage until it was drained in the 1820s as part of Edinburgh's northern expansion.

The North Bridge was constructed between 1894 and 1897, replacing a previous bridge that had been built between 1763 and 1772, and serves to link Old Town and New Town.

Since the completion of the North Bridge, four other bridges were built, allowing for further expansion of the city. South Bridge (1788) and King George IV Bridge (1834) are multiple-arch constructions that span the Cowgate Ravine, opening the south for development. Waterloo Bridge (1820) opened the eastern slopes of Calton Hill to expansion, while King's Bridge (1833) opened the area westward from Castle Rock. Waterloo Bridge is known for its Regency Arch.

Many of the villages, towns, and ports that have been absorbed into Edinburgh have retained much of their original character and are known locally by their former names, which are now neighborhoods.

One of these, Dairy, consists largely of multi-occupancy buildings known as tenements. Leith was historically part of Edinburgh although its port developed a separate identity which it has retained, to some extent. Today, its parliamentary seat is known as Edinburgh North and Leith, although much of its port facilities have been developed into residential and shopping areas. Cruise ships still dock there, however.

Portobellow, a coastal suburb of Edinburgh, is characterized by Georgian villas, Victorian tenements, and a beach with cafes, bars, restaurants, and shops, as well as rowing and sailing clubs.

The West End and Haymarket are destinations for theatres and concert venues, and home to the Usher Hall, the Lyceum and Traverse, and the Filmhouse. The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art is also in this part of the city.

Tollcross and Bruntsfield are family residential neighborhoods, although they include independent shopping venues, cafes, and traditional pubs.

One of Edinburgh's more affluent neighborhoods, Stockbridge also hosts several shops, restaurants, and pubs. The Stockbridge Market is open every Sunday.

Summer is the tourist season in Edinburgh, although things are going on throughout the year. Spring could be a good choice for those who wish to avoid the crowds. Spring visitors will find the city bustling but not congested. Winters are chilly and bleak throughout Scotland, but the city doesn't close up. The Christmas and New Year's Eve holidays are a good time to visit. There is likely to be snow, but it won't be as prevalent as it will be in February.

Buses and trams are popular means of transport in the city. Taxis and Uber are available, but considerably more expensive. Car rentals might be a good idea if you're going to visit other parts of Scotland, as well. Within the city, however, public transport is dependable. Bike rentals could be a reasonable choice during the summer months.

Topics related to Edinburgh are the focus of this portion of our guide.

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