One of the most beautifully sited cities, Edinburgh rises from the wide Firth of Forth to a high, rocky pinnacle crowned by the stone walls and towers of Edinburgh Castle. The Scottish capital is a centre of culture and the arts and is especially known for its festivals, from the Edinburgh International Book Festival, which welcomes more than 1,000 authors, to the sparkling Christmas Markets and the Edinburgh Fringe, the world’s largest festival of the arts.
Located on the River Clyde, Glasgow has been transformed from an industrial city to the country’s cultural centre, with its excellent museums, art galleries, concert venues, and festivals. Music lovers of all kinds will find plenty of things to do in Glasgow, known as Scotland’s music capital, with venues that include the Theatre Royal, which is home to the Scottish Opera and the Concert Hall, home of the Royal Scottish Orchestra.