Key takeaways
- Lookout Landing is the practical hub of the kingdom It provides early quests, the main research team, emergency facilities, a paraglider-related progression route and access to Hyrule Field.
- The Surface is familiar but not unchanged The Upheaval has opened chasms, altered Hyrule Castle, created new caves and wells, and placed large-scale regional crises in each province.
- The three layers are deliberately linked Chasms lead down, Skyview Towers launch Link upwards, and many Surface landmarks have corresponding Depths features.
- The four Regional Phenomena can be approached in different orders Their related temples and sages are the principal regional progression arcs.
- Hyrule Castle is both a location and a late-game dungeon area The castle is split between a grounded outer section and an elevated central section above the castle chasm.
- Map completion is much broader than shrines and towers Named bridges, ruins, caves, wells, shops, stables, device dispensers, chasms, Lightroots and other landmarks may contribute to the completed map record. One published list records 2,492 named locations, illustrating the scale of the full directory task.
About this guide
Spoiler warning: This guide discusses the Upheaval, the Regional Phenomena, the four temples, Hyrule Castle and the final areas of the game.
Overview
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Scope: Base game, including Hyrule’s Surface, Sky and Depths layers. Status: Research guide. The broad kingdom contains thousands of map labels, caves, bridges, wells, ruins and other discoverable locations. This guide consolidates the principal regions and settlements, while separately identifying the limits of the named-location directory below. It does not claim to reproduce every minor map label.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Scope: Base game, including Hyrule’s Surface, Sky and Depths layers. Status: Research guide. The broad kingdom contains thousands of map labels, caves, bridges, wells, ruins and other discoverable locations. This guide consolidates the principal regions and settlements, while separately identifying the limits of the named-location directory below. It does not claim to reproduce every minor map label.
Introduction
Hyrule in Tears of the Kingdom is not one ordinary overworld. It is a vertically connected kingdom made up of three overlapping spaces:
The kingdom’s political centre remains Central Hyrule, but the game’s practical world is divided into regional provinces and Skyview Tower territories. These categories overlap rather than forming perfectly clean borders. A village may be associated with one province, discovered from another tower, and connected below to an entirely different Depths region.
The most useful way to understand Hyrule is therefore by layer first, province second. The Surface is organised around settlements, roads, towers and regional phenomena. The Sky is organised around islands, launch points, temples and Zonai devices. The Depths are organised around chasms, Lightroots, abandoned mines, Yiga hideouts and the mirrored shape of the Surface above.
Introduction: steps
- 01The Surface, the familiar but substantially altered landmass from Breath of the Wild.
- 02The Sky, a scattered collection of islands, archipelagos, sky labyrinths and major story locations.
- 03The Depths, an immense underground world beneath almost the entire Surface.
1.1 Hyrule as the game’s kingdom
In ordinary usage, “Hyrule” means the whole playable kingdom. It includes the Surface, the Sky above it and the Depths below it. The game’s map interface presents these as separate layers, but they are not separate worlds in the narrative or navigational sense.
The kingdom’s outer limits are most obvious on the Surface. Large bodies of water and impassable edges surround the playable landmass, while the Sky extends beyond the exact footprint of the Surface through isolated islands and archipelagos. The Depths occupy a vast subterranean space beneath Hyrule, with additional areas beneath the sea and beneath some islands.
The game does not use one single official regional hierarchy for every purpose. A useful working hierarchy is:
The regional labels used by maps and guides do not always align exactly. For example, Lookout Landing and Hyrule Castle are practically part of the Central Hyrule experience, while the Hyrule Field Skyview Tower covers a broader travel area that includes the Outskirt and Riverside Stable approaches. The safest distinction is between province, tower region, map subregion and named landmark.
1.1 Hyrule as the game’s kingdom
1.2 What is included in this guide
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2.1 The Surface
The Surface remains recognisable from Breath of the Wild, but the Upheaval has changed how it is explored. New chasms puncture the ground, caves are widespread, wells have been uncovered near settlements, and the castle no longer sits in its old position.
The central plains around Hyrule Castle are the kingdom’s main crossroads. Hebra dominates the north-west with snowfields and mountains. Eldin occupies the volcanic north-east. Lanayru stretches through eastern wetlands and Zora territory. Faron covers the humid south-east. Gerudo lies beyond the south-western desert and canyon. Necluda contains Hateno, Kakariko and the southern coast. Akkala forms a rugged north-eastern peninsula.
2.2 The Sky
The Sky is not one continuous region. It consists of:
Sky islands usually function as vertical navigation challenges. Link may reach them by launching from a Skyview Tower, falling from a higher island, using Recall on falling debris, building a flying machine or taking advantage of wind and water routes.
The Sky is especially important during the Wind Temple, Water Temple, Lightning Temple and Spirit Temple storylines. It also provides Zonai devices, armour pieces, treasure maps, shrines and dragon routes.
2.3 The Depths
The Depths are a dark underground world accessed through chasms. Their terrain broadly reflects the Surface above, but the relationship is not a simple copy. Surface bodies of water generally correspond to impassable or raised underground terrain, while mountains often become lower, more open underground areas.
Gloom is the defining hazard. It damages Link’s maximum hearts until they are restored by a Lightroot, a meal or other appropriate recovery method. The Depths also contain strong monsters, darkness, lava, water and large vertical barriers.
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3.1 Central Hyrule
Central Hyrule is the political and logistical heart of the kingdom. It includes Hyrule Field, Lookout Landing, Hyrule Castle, the Castle Town ruins, the Royal Hidden Passage and the routes leading towards the Great Hyrule Forest, the Great Plateau and the western and eastern provinces.
Lookout Landing
Lookout Landing is the main post-Upheaval settlement and the most useful early base. Purah and the Hyrule Restoration research team operate here. The settlement contains accommodation, cooking facilities, shops and quest-giving characters. It also provides access to the Emergency Shelter beneath the settlement.
The town is also the safest place to organise early equipment before committing to the more dangerous regions.
Hyrule Castle and Castle Town ruins
Hyrule Castle is physically divided by the Upheaval. The lower and outer areas remain associated with the ground, while the castle’s central section has been lifted above the Hyrule Castle Chasm. The upper structure contains the Sanctum, Zelda’s Room, Zelda’s Study, the Library and the Serutabomac Shrine.
The Castle Town ruins lie south of the castle. Central Square, with its ruined fountain, is a distinct named landmark. The area contains ruins, enemies, Korok puzzles and the Kyononis Shrine. Addison and Mylle may be found there during their sign-support activities.
Great Hyrule Forest
The Great Hyrule Forest is difficult to enter directly because of the gloom and confusing woodland routes. The normal practical route is through the Depths, reaching the Korok Forest from below. Once the Deku Tree crisis is resolved, Korok Forest becomes a major story and equipment hub.
Central Hyrule named directory
This is a consolidated principal-location directory, not a complete list of every bridge, well, cave entrance, ruin fragment and named map label.
Central Hyrule named directory
3.2 Hebra and the north-west
Hebra is a cold mountainous region inhabited primarily by the Rito. Its main settlement, Rito Village, is built around a tall central rock and is reached through a wintry approach. Snow, low visibility, deep ravines and cold-weather requirements make warm clothing or heat-resistant meals important.
The Regional Phenomena quest in Hebra leads to the Wind Temple. The approach involves floating boats and severe weather, while the temple itself is a large airborne structure. Completing it grants Tulin’s Sage ability, which is especially useful for gliding and long-distance travel.
Hebra named directory
3.3 Eldin
Eldin is the volcanic north-eastern region. In Tears of the Kingdom, the upheaval has changed the behaviour of the Death Mountain area, creating a main story crisis involving Goron City and the mine network.
The region contains volcanic slopes, caves, lava flows, abandoned mines and underground routes. Fireproof protection is essential in the hottest areas. The Goron storyline leads to the Fire Temple and Yunobo’s Sage ability.
Goron City is the main settlement and provides armour, supplies and story progression. Death Mountain is both a Surface landmark and a major route into the Eldin Depths.
Eldin named directory
3.4 Lanayru
Lanayru occupies eastern Hyrule and is dominated by water, cliffs and the Zora people. It includes the Lanayru Wetlands, Upland Zorana, Ploymus Mountain and Zora’s Domain.
Zora’s Domain is the region’s main political centre. The Regional Phenomena quest begins with a crisis of contaminated water and falling sludge. The route eventually leads to the Water Temple in the sky above the region. Completing the temple grants Sidon’s Sage ability, which produces a protective water effect and powers water-based attacks.
Lanayru is one of the most vertical Surface regions. Roads and rivers are repeatedly interrupted by steep cliffs, so climbing, gliding and the Zora armour remain valuable even after the regional crisis is solved.
Lanayru named directory
3.5 Faron and the south
Faron is a humid, heavily forested region in southern Hyrule. It contains Lake Floria, the Floria Falls area, Popla Foothills and routes towards Lake Hylia and the southern coast.
Faron is less dominated by one large settlement than several other regions. Its principal landmarks are natural rather than urban. The region is valuable for tropical materials, waterfalls, caves, jungle routes and access to the Depths.
Faron named directory
3.6 Gerudo
The Gerudo region occupies the south-western desert and canyon. It is divided into the Gerudo Desert and the Gerudo Highlands, with Gerudo Town as its main settlement.
The desert’s heat, cold nights, sandstorms and reduced visibility are its main practical hazards. Gerudo Town’s political and social arrangements are important to the region’s story, while the Lightning Temple is reached through the quest concerning the storm over the desert and the ancient Gerudo ruins.
Completing the Lightning Temple grants Riju’s Sage ability, which creates a large electrical field that can empower arrows and other attacks.
Gerudo named directory
3.7 Necluda
Necluda is the south-eastern province. It contains Kakariko Village, Hateno Village, the Necluda coast, Mount Lanayru’s southern approaches and Lurelin Village.
Kakariko is closely associated with the Ring Ruins and the Zonai research storyline. Hateno is a farming and clothing centre, with the school, mayoral storyline and various domestic side activities. Lurelin Village is a coastal settlement whose restoration provides a substantial series of side quests and useful rewards.
Necluda named directory
3.8 Akkala
Akkala is the rugged north-east peninsula, marked by red soil, steep highlands, ancient ruins and the remnants of the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab. Tarrey Town sits on the southern side of the province and acts as one of the game’s most useful construction and property hubs.
The Hudson Construction storyline connects Tarrey Town with Hudson, Rhondson and the construction site near Lake Akkala. Link can also acquire a house plot and build a custom home, provided the relevant property activities are completed.
Akkala’s north-east coast contains the Lomei Labyrinth, while the Depths below include abandoned mines and Yiga-related activity.
Akkala named directory
3.9 The Great Plateau
The Great Plateau returns from Breath of the Wild, but it is no longer the game’s tutorial area. It is a southern highland with familiar ruins, shrines, caves and a major chasm. The Plateau is useful for revisiting locations from the earlier game and for accessing the Depths beneath it.
The Temple of Time on the Great Plateau is not the same as the Temple of Time on the Great Sky Island. Players should keep these locations separate when following quest descriptions or map guides.
Great Plateau named directory
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Great Plateau named directory
4.1 Recommended early route
Do not treat the main quest marker as a strict route. The game is designed to support regional travel in several orders.
A reliable first exploration route is
- 01Complete the Great Sky Island tutorial.
- 02Land near Lookout Landing.
- 03Visit Purah and obtain the paraglider.
- 04Activate Lookout Landing Skyview Tower.
- 05Explore Hyrule Field and the nearby shrines.
- 06Visit at least one stable and register a horse.
- 07Investigate the four Regional Phenomena.
- 08Unlock more towers before attempting long-distance travel.
- 09Enter the Depths through a nearby chasm once Link has a few extra hearts and a supply of Brightbloom Seeds.
- 10Return to Lookout Landing regularly for new research and story developments.
4.2 Skyview Towers
Skyview Towers reveal portions of the map and launch Link into the air. They are not ordinary towers that merely become fast-travel points. Their launch animation also gives a temporary aerial view and can reveal nearby islands, chasms and landmarks.
Some towers require a local puzzle or repair task before activation. Tower regions are useful for navigation but should not be mistaken for the game’s only geographical divisions.
Principal towers include
- Lookout Landing Skyview Tower
- Hyrule Field Skyview Tower
- Rospro Pass Skyview Tower
- Thyphlo Ruins Skyview Tower
- Eldin Canyon Skyview Tower
- Mount Lanayru Skyview Tower
- Popla Foothills Skyview Tower
- Rabella Wetlands Skyview Tower
- Gerudo Canyon Skyview Tower
- Sahasra Slope Skyview Tower
- Upland Zorana Skyview Tower
- Ulri Mountain Skyview Tower
- Pikida Stonegrove Skyview Tower
4.3 Surface-to-Depths navigation
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5.1 Major settlements
| Settlement | People most associated with it | Main purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Lookout Landing | Purah, Robbie, Josha, Hyrule Restoration researchers | Main quest hub, tower, supplies, emergency shelter |
| Rito Village | Teba, Tulin, Rito villagers | Wind Temple quest, cold-region supplies |
| Goron City | Yunobo, Goron elders and merchants | Fire Temple quest, heat protection |
| Zora’s Domain | Sidon, Yona, Zora court and guards | Water Temple quest, Zora equipment |
| Gerudo Town | Riju, Gerudo guards and residents | Lightning Temple quest, desert services |
| Kakariko Village | Paya, Impa, Zonai researchers | Ring Ruins and research storyline |
| Hateno Village | Mayor Reede, Cece, villagers | Clothing, school, farming and village quests |
| Lurelin Village | Bolson, local residents | Restoration storyline and coastal activities |
| Tarrey Town | Hudson, Rhondson, Mattison | Construction, house building and side quests |
| Korok Forest | Deku Tree, Koroks, Hestu | Korok storyline and inventory expansion |
5.2 Stables
Stables are distributed across the Surface and provide recurring practical services. Depending on the stable and progression state, Link can register horses, board them, sleep, cook, receive stable points and speak with travelling characters.
The exact stable rewards are progression-based and should not be confused with one-off quest rewards. Stables also act as consistent travel landmarks when planning long journeys.
5.3 Shops and services
A named building is not automatically a functional shop. Some map labels represent scenery, a residence, a quest location or a decorative frontage. The map-location lists include many such entries, so services should be verified from the relevant settlement or facility rather than inferred from a name alone.
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6.1 Hyrule’s authorities
The Hyrule Restoration effort is the principal organised force in the early game. Purah directs research at Lookout Landing, while the Hyrulean soldiers and guards attempt to protect settlements and investigate monster activity.
The Royal Guard is represented through ruins, equipment and historical locations rather than functioning as a unified modern police force. Each major settlement has its own local authority:
6.2 Hostile factions
The Yiga Clan’s Depths operations include hideouts, training areas, mines and research facilities. Their structures are usually more than random encounters and often reward exploration with schematics, supplies or story information.
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7.1 Great Fairy Fountains
Great Fairy Fountains are upgrade facilities rather than ordinary landmarks. They allow Link to improve armour by spending rupees and materials. Each additional Great Fairy unlocked expands the possible upgrade level.
The fountains are distributed across the kingdom, often near stables. Unlocking them requires interacting with travelling musicians and completing the associated performance requests.
7.2 Shrines
Shrines are compact challenge rooms containing puzzles, combat tests or blessing rewards. Completing a shrine provides a Light of Blessing, while shrine chests commonly contain weapons, armour, Zonai devices or materials.
Shrines are also navigational anchors. Their locations correspond to Lightroots in the Depths, making them valuable even when Link is primarily exploring underground.
7.3 Wells and caves
Wells are a major new category of Surface exploration. They are often close to settlements, houses or stables, but their routes may connect to caves, secret rooms, treasure and quest areas.
Caves are more varied. Some contain Bubbul Gems and Koltin-related activities, while others contain shrines, armour pieces, enemy camps, wells or passageways between regions. Caves should be treated as independent locations rather than merely entrances to a larger region.
7.4 Labyrinths
Hyrule contains Surface, Sky and Depths sections of several labyrinth complexes. The Lomei labyrinths are particularly notable because solving one layer commonly leads to another. Their rewards include shrine access, armour and powerful enemies.
Do not assume that completing the Surface maze completes the entire landmark. The Sky and Depths portions are separate progression stages.
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8.1 Regional Phenomena
The central regional investigation leads to four major arcs:
The game does not require one fixed order. Nevertheless, many players find Hebra a comfortable starting region because Tulin’s ability is useful during exploration. The other regions can then be approached according to equipment, weather protection and personal preference.
8.1 Regional Phenomena
| Region | Main settlement | Temple | Sage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hebra | Rito Village | Wind Temple | Tulin |
| Eldin | Goron City | Fire Temple | Yunobo |
| Lanayru | Zora’s Domain | Water Temple | Sidon |
| Gerudo | Gerudo Town | Lightning Temple | Riju |
8.2 Other major Hyrule activities
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Hyrule’s enemies vary by terrain and progression. Early Hyrule Field contains Bokoblins, Horriblins in caves and lower-level constructs, while later regions and the Depths introduce stronger variants.
Enemy camps are usually fixed in position but their occupants may change after Blood Moons. Random encounters, travelling merchants and some overworld enemy spawns should not be treated as permanent named locations.
The four temples culminate in their own bosses. These encounters are story-fixed, while many overworld bosses are distributed across fixed arenas and may respawn after a Blood Moon.
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10.2 Collectible priorities
Map completion is not the same as quest completion. A player can finish the main story without visiting a large proportion of named bridges, wells, caves and ruins. Conversely, a map-completion run must deliberately inspect small landmarks that have little gameplay importance.
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For a practical first completion route
- 01Activate nearby Skyview Towers.
- 02Complete shrines encountered along major routes.
- 03Collect Korok Seeds only when they are directly on the path.
- 04Mark caves and wells on the map.
- 05Gather Bubbul Gems while clearing caves.
- 06Activate Lightroots whenever entering the Depths.
- 07Record armour and treasure locations before leaving a region.
- 08Return to earlier regions after gaining new abilities.
Route A: Safe early Surface circuit
This route establishes fast travel, horse registration, early armour and basic knowledge of Central Hyrule.
Route A: Safe early Surface circuit: steps
- 01Lookout Landing
- 02Hyrule Field Skyview Tower
- 03Outskirt Stable
- 04Riverside Stable
- 05New Serenne Stable
- 06Lindor’s Brow Skyview Tower
- 07Hyrule Castle Town ruins
- 08Royal Hidden Passage
- 09Return to Lookout Landing
Route B: Regional Phenomena circuit
Carry cold protection for Hebra, flame protection for Eldin, climbing and water-friendly equipment for Lanayru, and both heat and cold solutions for the Gerudo Desert.
Route B: Regional Phenomena circuit: steps
- 01Hebra and Rito Village
- 02Eldin and Goron City
- 03Lanayru and Zora’s Domain
- 04Gerudo Desert and Gerudo Town
- 05Return to Lookout Landing after each temple
Route C: Depths introduction
- 01Enter through a nearby chasm in Central Hyrule.
- 02Use Brightbloom Seeds before moving into unknown tunnels.
- 03Find the nearest Lightroot.
- 04Follow visible mine or structure outlines.
- 05Visit the Great Abandoned Central Mine when prepared.
- 06Mark unexplored chasms, Yiga camps and abandoned mines.
- 07Leave before gloom or supplies become limiting.
Route D: Completion sweep
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Missable or progression-sensitive content
Most of Hyrule remains explorable throughout the base game, but progression can alter access, NPC positions and quest availability. Players should be cautious about:
The game generally preserves major rewards and quest progress rather than permanently removing them, but a guide should still distinguish temporary encounters, story states and post-temple states from permanent landmarks.
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Hyrule in Tears of the Kingdom is the same broad setting as in Breath of the Wild, but the game does not present every historical detail from earlier Zelda games as a single uninterrupted timeline. Names such as Hyrule Castle, the Temple of Time, the Great Plateau and the Master Sword recur across the series, but their exact histories and geographic relationships differ by continuity.
Within the two-game setting, the important changes are:
The ruins around Hyrule are therefore not simply decorative. They show the remains of older settlements, military structures, research facilities and royal infrastructure, while new construction at Lookout Landing and Tarrey Town represents Hyrule’s attempt to rebuild.
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Is Hyrule Castle part of Central Hyrule?
Practically, yes. It is located in the central area and is closely associated with Lookout Landing and Hyrule Field. However, Hyrule Castle is also a distinct named location and a dungeon-like story area.
Is the Great Sky Island part of Hyrule?
It is physically above Hyrule and part of the game’s wider world, but it works as a separate opening area. This guide keeps it separate from the main regional directory.
Are the Sky and Depths separate maps?
They are separate map layers, but they are connected to the Surface through chasms, falling routes, Skyview Towers, launch points and story areas.
Which region should be visited first?
There is no required universal order. Hebra is often a practical first regional route because Tulin’s ability helps with travel, but the game supports different orders.
What is the best central base?
Lookout Landing is the most useful all-purpose base early and through much of the game. Hateno, Tarrey Town, Kakariko, Rito Village, Goron City, Zora’s Domain and Gerudo Town become more useful for regional services.
Does every named map label represent a business or interactive location?
No. Some are bridges, ruins, landscape features, decorative buildings, entrances or map-completion landmarks. A location name alone does not prove that a shop or service is present.
How should I use the map-completion counter?
Treat it as a record of discovered map elements rather than a simple quest percentage. Named locations, shrines, towers, caves, wells, chasms, Lightroots and other landmarks can all matter.
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This guide resolves the principal hierarchy as Hyrule → Sky, Surface and Depths → regional provinces and named subareas. It separates Hyrule Castle, Great Sky Island, temples, caves, wells and the Depths where they function as distinct navigational or progression spaces.
The named-location directory is not exhaustive. Available location indexes describe thousands of named entries, including minor map labels, individual caves, wells, bridges, decorative businesses, shrine locations, device dispensers and collectible-related landmarks. Reproducing every verified entry would require a full region-by-region database comparison rather than a conventional wiki article. The directory above therefore covers the principal settlements, regions, facilities and landmarks, and should be treated as a developed guide rather than a complete 100% map checklist.
For a genuinely exhaustive edition, the unfinished work would be:
Sources
- Tears of the Kingdom Locations - Zelda Dungeon Wiki, a The Legend of Zelda wiki — zeldadungeon.net
- Hyrule Castle (Tears of the Kingdom) - Zelda Dungeon Wiki, a The Legend of Zelda wiki — zeldadungeon.net
- List of Named Locations - The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Guide — thonky.com
- Tears of the Kingdom Interactive Map｜Game8 — game8.co
- Central Square - Zelda Dungeon Wiki, a The Legend of Zelda wiki — zeldadungeon.net
- Hyrule Surface Map, Regions, and Key Locations | Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (TotK)｜Game8 — game8.co
- Explorer’s Guide — zelda.nintendo.com
- Locations in Tears of the Kingdom - Zelda Wiki — zeldawiki.wiki