The capital of Scotland is the beautiful city of Edinburgh which is situated on the east coast of the country, on the Firth of Forth. Edinburgh has been the capital city since 1437, when it replaced Scone. It is the seat of the Scottish Parliament. According to the 2001 UK census, the population of Edinburgh is 448,625, second only in population to Glasgow. Edinburgh was originally called Castle Rock, but in the 7th century it was captured by the English and renamed Din Eidyn. One slang name for Edinburgh used to be "Auld Reekie" from the Victorian era when buildings were heated by coal.

Edinburgh is dominated by Edinburgh Castle which sits high above the city; the castle is open to the public. A road called the Royal Mile leads out from the palace, ending at Holyroodhouse Palace. Holyroodhouse Palace is where the Queen holds state ceremonies when she is in Edinburgh. Holyroodhouse was originally a monastery in the 12th century and was also the home of Mary Queen of Scots in the 1560s. Holyroodhouse features the Queen's gallery and a cafe, it is open for visitors when official events are not taking place.

The "old town" of Edinburgh consists of the castle, the royal mile and the Grassmarket area. Edinburgh was one of the first cities to have multi-level buildings, or tenements, from 1500 on to help combat overcrowding. These buildings could have as many as 10 stories. In 1810, the "new town" was laid out in a grid pattern to help alleviate congestion. The "new town" includes Princes St. and Queen St., both streets were named in honour of the act of union of Great Britain.

Edinburgh is also the cultural, political, business and educational capital of Scotland. The University of Edinburgh was founded in 1583 and many illustrious Scots have passed through it's halls, including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Robert Louis Stevenson. The Bank of Scotland was founded in Edinburgh in 1695 making the city the center of business. Edinburgh is home to museums, libraries, theaters and galleries. Most of the major museums and galleries offer free admission, except for special exhibitions. Every year in August, the Edinburgh International Festival takes place. The festival features hundreds of performances and special events and it is a huge draw for tourists. Taking place in the city throughout the month of August is the Edinburgh Tattoo which features some of the best military pipe bands from Scotland and around the world. The Tattoo is held on the grounds of Edinburgh Castle.

One towering and dramatic building in Edinburgh is the Scott Monument, built in honor of Sir Walter Scott. It is located in the Princes Street Gardens in the centre of the city and was completed in 1844, 12 years after Scott's death. It is 200 feet high and has several viewing decks, reached by a stair case. It is black due to the dirt and pollution experience in the city during the Victorian era.

Edinburgh is certainly a "jewel in the crown" of Scotland. It is a beautiful city that offers much to visitors and residents. If you can only visit one city in Scotland, you should make it Edinburgh.