Scotland's 8 cities

• Scotland has 8 cities.
• The smallest by population is Stirling with 37,000 people, while the largest is Glasgow with 600,000 people.
• Inverness is the furthest north, Aberdeen is the furthest east, Edinburgh and Glasgow are almost equally furthest south, while Glasgow is furthest west.
• Dunfermline is Scotland’s newest city, designated by HM The Queen for her Diamond Jubilee in 2022.
• Dundee is Scotland’s oldest official city, having been declared by Queen Victoria in 1889.
• Edinburgh wasn’t always Scotland’s capital – Perth, Dunfermline and Inverness have all been capitals before.
• Edinburgh was declared Europe’s leading sustainable destination for 2023 by the World Travel Awards.
• Dundee’s RRS Discovery was honoured as Tourism Attraction of the Year at 2024’s Scottish Hospitality Awards.

Population: 150,000

Known for: Home of the only V&A Museum outside of London.

Why visit: UNESCO City of Design

Don’t miss

• Dundee Law - head up the hill for a terrific panorama from Broughty Ferry to Invergowrie and across to Fife.
• RRS Discovery and Discovery Point – hear the story of the ship’s Antarctic adventure, both onboard and in the interactive exhibits.
• V&A Dundee - from samurai style and geisha chic, to Jedi knights and rock stars, explore the fascinating story of the Kimono’s significance, appeal and influence in the current V&A exhibition.

All suggested by John, VisitScotland

Coming soon

• Eden Project – exhibits, immersive experiences, horticulture, live music, art and food covering the story of nature and regeneration. It is hoped it will open by the end of 2026.

Plan your trip to Dundee

Population: 500,000

Known for: Edinburgh Festivals in August, Hogmanay in December

Why visit: UNESCO City of Literature and UNESCO World Heritage Site

Don’t miss

• Guided tour of the city – go spooky into the city’s underground streets, take a bus to see all the sights, or dive into something like whisky, food or literature.
• National Museum of Scotland – a stunning building, filled with interesting stories and a changing programme of exhibitions.
• City’s galleries – whatever kind of art you like from portraits to modern, landscapes to abstract, and a range of local, national and international artists.

Plan your trip to Edinburgh

Population: 615,000

Known for: Friendly people, museums and galleries, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, home of 2014’s Commonwealth Games and 2023’s Cycling World Championships

Why visit: UNESCO City of Music

Don’t miss

• Glasgow City Music Tours – “great way to hear the city’s fascinating music history”. Follow in the footsteps of iconic bands, DJs and other performers who have made their mark on Glasgow’s legendary music scene.
• Glasgow Central Tours – step into the railway vaults for a behind-the-scenes look at Glasgow Central Station. “The guides are passionate storytellers who bring the city’s rich heritage to life.”

Both suggested by Fiona, VisitScotland

• City’s parks – Glasgow is known as the ‘dear green place’ because it has over 90 parks available to locals and visitors.

Recommended by Chris, VisitScotland

Plan your trip to Glasgow

Population: 200,000

Known as: Scotland’s Granite City

Why visit: the architecture and coastal location

Don’t miss

• World-class street art – described as “unmissable”, the street art is created during NuArt Festival but available all-year-round.
• Aberdeen Art Gallery - discover a range of Scottish artists including Joan Eardley, Samuel Peploe, and Rachel McLean, alongside internationally-acclaimed artists including Barbara Hepworth, Francis Bacon, and Claude Monet.
• Beach – find golden sands as far as the eye can see! Aberdeen beach stretches from idyllic fishing villages filled with warming charm to Donmouth Nature Reserve, known for its vast array of wildlife.

All suggested by Ken, VisitScotland

• Cruickshank Botanic Garden – this “magical haven of calm and nature in the city” is part of Aberdeen University’s Old Aberdeen campus. Explore the gardens with a coffee from nearby Kilau.

Suggested by Helen, VisitScotland

Learn more about Aberdeen

Population: 50,000

Known as: being the “capital” of the Highlands

Why visit: a great place to stay before a tour of the surrounding landscapes

Don’t miss

• Inverness Museum & Art Gallery – uncover Jacobite memorabilia, Inverness silverware, authentic Highland weapons, bagpipes and more.
• Leakey’s Bookshop - biggest second-hand bookshop in Scotland, complete with a log fire and almost any book you can think of.

Coming soon

• Inverness Castle Experience – opening in 2025, a new visitor attraction celebrating the 'spirit of the Highlands' through its stories of past, present and future. The existing castle buildings and esplanade gardens are being transformed from their original use as the home of Inverness’ prison and courts into a museum and gallery with an interactive experience.

Learn more about Inverness

Population: 50,000

Known as: ‘Fair City’

Why visit: UNESCO Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art

Don’t miss

• The newly reopened Perth Museum – after a huge renovation, discover the objects and stories of the city, see Scotland’s Stone of Destiny and check out the Unicorn exhibition.
• River Tay Public Art Trail – a 2.5 mile wheelchair accessible trail from the city centre, it features thought-provoking sculptures inspired by the river, wildlife, and local history.
• St John’s Kirk – the oldest building in Perth, take a tour to uncover its history from connections to King Alexander III in 1286 to the reconstruction in the 15th century.

All recommended by John, VisitScotland

Learn more about Perth

Population: 40,000

Known for: history

Why visit: those incredible historic attractions

Don’t miss

• Stirling Castle - one of the finest and best-preserved Renaissance buildings in the whole of the UK, Stirling Castle was the favoured residence for many of Scotland's kings and queens.
• National Wallace Monument - climb the 246 steps to the Monument’s Crown to admire the stunning panoramic views that let you see for miles around.
• Old Town Jail - learn the history of crime and punishment in the Royal Burgh through self-guided audio tours, a ‘Scene of the Crime’ exhibition and an amazing observation tower.
• Stirling Sightseer – the new open-top bus tour takes you round all the city’s highlights on an all-day ticket.

All suggested by Amy, VisitScotland

Learn more about Stirling

Population: 55,000

Known as: the "Auld Grey Toun" as many of its old buildings are built from grey stonework

Why visit: get ahead of the crowd by being one of the first to visit Scotland’s newest city

Don’t miss

• Dunfermline Abbey - Dunfermline was made an abbey by David I and later became a final resting place for many of Scotland’s monarchs, including King Robert the Bruce.
• Pittencrieff Park – known as the ‘Glen’ by locals, the park was gifted to the people of Dunfermline by Andrew Carnegie in 1902. Look out for the resident peacocks!

Suggested by Lauren, VisitScotland

• Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum - visit the humble cottage where it all began and discover Carnegie’s surprising links to Marie Curie, Theodore Roosevelt and even the Diplodocus carnegii dinosaur.

Learn more about Dunfermline