Edinburgh is located on the southeast of Scotland and is the country's capital city. The city is built on top of extinct volcanoes and enveloped by rolling hills, lakes, and forests. Edinburgh is the seventh largest city in the United Kingdom and is the second largest Scottish city after Glasgow. Edinburgh is considered one of the most picturesque cities in Europe because of its rugged setting and the city's vast collection of Medieval as well as Georgian architecture.

Before Edinburgh was founded, it was part of the Kingdom of Northumria which was an Anglian kingdom. When the kingdom collapsed in the 10th century, Scotland was able to capture the area. It was under Scottish rule that Edinburgh flourished economically and culturally. Edinburgh is known by many names including Auld Reekie, Embra or Embro, Athens of the North, Aneda or Edinensis, and Dunedin. Edinburgh has two primary areas, namely the Old Town and the New Town, both of which reflect both the past restored and the city at present.

Edinburgh serves as the seat of the Scottish Parliament. Its Old Town and New Town were declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1995. The city is now home to a resident population of 448,625 and attracts visitors from all over the world for its many famous events such as the Edinburgh Fringe, the Edinburgh Comedy Festival, the Edinburgh International Festival, the Edinburgh Military Tattoo and the Edinburgh International Book Festival. Edinburgh is ranked second to London as the most visited tourist destination in the United Kingdom.