Falkland Palace is located west of St. Andrews in Fife, Scotland. From its position in the centre of Falkland village, it towers over the surrounding streets. The old volcanic hill, East Lomond, is visible to the southwest from both the palace and the village.

Falkland Palace is a grand estate today, but it began as a modest castle and developed over 200 years, with earlier sections disappearing as new areas were constructed (possibly reusing the previous building material). In this process the palace gradually moved south. In fact, the portion of the palace still intact is called the South Range, since it represented the southern end of the courtyard. This area contains the imposing Gatehouse, the Library, the beautifully appointed Chapel Royal, and the Tapestry Corridor. Nearby, the restored Cross House (part of the East Range) contains recreations of the royal bedrooms. The Royal Tennis Court and extensive gardens complete the palatial atmosphere.