This textbook offers a brief and succinct introduction to the study of solid surfaces. It covers techniques used to obtain information about the chemical composition, the crystallography, and the properties of the top few atomic layers of a solid, together with some of the theory of solid surfaces. Case studies are included and particular emphasis is placed on approaches used in the study of the surface of silicon crystals to illustrate the application of relevant techniques to the electronic, vibrational, and adsorption properties of surfaces. The text is intended for use in final-year undergraduate and graduate classes in physics.