The 10 most beautiful locations in Breath of the Wild

Breath of the Wild is entrancing for one main reason: its world. It may not be packed full of sidequests, but it’s absolutely brimming with gorgeous scenery, whether it’s a beautiful forest, a snowy mountain, an active volcano, a breathtaking landmark, a desert oasis, or so much more. It’s the joy of discovering all these diverse locations that always draws players back to this incredible game. 

There are countless examples of this — so many in fact that you’d be well-equipped to write a tourist’s guide to Hyrule, which would give prospective visitors plenty to do during their visit. That is, if the world wasn’t polluted with malice and Ganon’s monsters, of course. 

Every time we step into Hyrule when playing Breath of the Wild, it truly immerses us in its incredible scenery. It fulfills that yearning we all have at some point to travel the world, whether it’s hiking some unforgettable peaks, discovering a gorgeous city, relaxing in a mountaintop hot spring, visiting a rustic village, spending a day on the coast, or admiring the architecture from another civilization.

10. Dueling Peaks

The Dueling Peaks is probably one of the first incredible natural landmarks that the player will see when traveling through Hyrule. Its towering peaks dominate the horizon, beckoning the curiosity-driven mind toward it. And cleverly so from a gameplay point of view, as this is the path that the player should naturally follow early on. 

The truly awe-inspiring division between the mountain makes the player wonder what could have led to its formation, as it surely wasn’t the modest river that runs through it. Some theorize that one of the dragons who roam Hyrule is the cause — Farosh in particular, who players can spot nearby. But who can truly say? That’s the beauty of natural landmarks. They are mysterious yet wondrous. 

9. Rist Peninsula

Akkala is a gorgeous region, full of orange and gold-tinted trees, with Death Mountain as its neighbor on one side and a beautiful coastline on the other. On its coast, the player can come across a truly intriguing sight: the swirl-shaped Rist Peninsula. The region’s hilly terrain makes the peninsula easy to spot, and thankfully so, as it’s quite scenic. 

As with the Dueling Peaks, the Rist Peninsula prompts curiosity about its spiral formation. Twisting tides and winds are likely the cause, as many peninsulas are formed by erosion from waves over time, but this one is unique. Perhaps some mystical intervention contributed to its creation. 

8. Thundra Plateau

The Thundra Plateau is an unusual expanse, populated with flat-topped, mushroom-shaped trees that from above could be easily mistaken as lily pads in a pond. But the plateau is hardly a playful pond when the player first arrives. It endures an endless torrent of thunder and rain, which creates a shroud over the area that can be seen far off in the horizon. 

Anyone bold enough to venture into the plateau will have to solve the nearby shrine’s puzzle to calm the endless lightning, and they will be rewarded with an unobscured view of the impressive plain. And that it is. It’s unlike any other place in the game with its oddly-shaped trees. It makes you wonder why they are confined to growing in this small part of Hyrule.

7. Darunia Lake

Death Mountain may not be a safe place to admire scenery, but it is scenic nonetheless. Deadly yet mesmerizing lava falls are everywhere, running down from the mouth of the active volcano. One particularly scenic, albeit scorching, spot is Darunia Lake. 

It has everything a conventional lake has: a glistening pool of liquid, surrounding terrain to walk around and admire the lake, some humble lava falls, and a unique island formation in the shape of a crab. The player may not be able to take a dive in the lava or ride a paddleboat, but it’s nonetheless a great place for a (very sweaty) stroll if you want to be blown away by a unique sight. Well, not literally — remember not to pull out Bomb Arrows up there.

6. Floria Falls

In the Faron region, there is a dense, jungle-like area that has a variety of amazing landmarks — both natural and man-made. There are ruins of old civilizations that are an archaeologist’s dream, though they are not the most scenic spot in the region. That honor goes to the waterfalls that rival even those of Zora’s Domain: the Floria Falls. 

These countless waterfalls cascade seemingly endlessly throughout the area, glistening in the tropical sunlight, framed perfectly by the palm trees. If you’re lucky, Farosh will grace the falls with its presence, diving in and out of the glittering water and gliding up and down the falls with ease. 

These beautiful falls have a similar story to the Thundra Plateau. When you first arrive, the jungle faces endless monsoon-like torrents and lightning storms. Although seemingly fitting for the climate, it becomes clear after days and days of waiting for it to pass that this isn’t natural. Like the Thundra Plateau, this unusual weather is traceable to a shrine that, once the player completes it, will relieve the region of its relentless rain and reveal the beautiful falls that are absolutely worth the wait. 

5. Lurelin Village 

Lurelin Village is a humble little settlement on the southern coast of Hyrule, with straw-roof huts and fishermen’s hauls on the docks. Among the palm trees and coastline, it’s really an idyllic and tranquil place.

It’s a shame it doesn’t tie into the game’s story, as unlike with the other major towns, visiting it is optional. But nevertheless, it’s well worth the trip off the beaten track, as it’s the kind of village a busy city-dweller would dream of escaping to — whether for a holiday or to start their life over in a more peaceful place.

4. Talonto Peak 

There are many snowy regions in Hyrule, but the Hebra mountains are unquestionably the most vast and entrancing. Despite being home to many dangerous creatures, the endless snow feels so pure and quiet, both day and night. And the Hebra mountains are so towering that, on a clear day, you can see for miles and miles across Hyrule, which is just breathtaking.  

Talonto Peak is a particularly excellent vantage point, which the player is made aware of during The Bird in the Mountains sidequest. This spot gives you a perfect view of a bird-shaped formation in the mountains that houses a hidden shrine, but, more importantly, the view is awe-inspiring. It’s another curious natural formation that makes you wonder if it’s coincidental or mystical. 

3. The Seven Heroines

The Gerudo Desert is vast and unforgiving to those incapable of tolerating its heat. But if you can, you’ll find some incredibly scenic hot spots. Aside from the oasis and Gerudo Town, one incredible location is the East Gerudo Ruins, in which seven wondrous statues tower above the sand. They depict seven heroines, holding huge swords in front of them, who are dedicated to the legend of the Gerudo’s divine protectors. 

These may as well be one of the seven wonders of Hyrule, as the sheer scale of the statues and the work that must have gone into building them is unimaginable. 

2. Satori Mountain

There is a humble and rather ordinary mountain in Hyrule known as Satori Mountain. On most days, it is only noteworthy for some apple trees and other forage-worthy plants. But on one special day, beneath a beautiful cherry blossom tree and crescent moon, it is the home of an otherworldly experience. It is where the Lord of the Mountain, Satori, grazes among the cherry blossoms and calm spring, and the beast will leave anyone fortunate enough to witness it speechless. 

Legends say that the creature is a reincarnation of a sage that died on the mountain, and that it now protects the land. Whatever its origin may be, the simple spring becomes a portal into what feels like a whole other world when Satori graces it with its presence. 

1. Zora’s Domain

There is no other feat of architecture, no mountain, no meadow, no canyon, no forest, no castle as spectacular as Zora’s Domain in Hyrule. It is just perfection. Its gorgeous structure appears to be entirely composed of Luminous Stones, giving it its exquisite, glistening appearance. It is no doubt the result of years, possibly decades, of laborious yet love-filled work from unrivaled, talented Zora architects and builders. 

What’s truly impressive about Zora’s Domain is that it has been expertly built at the base of an incredible waterfall, where it is naturally cloaked by surrounding cliffs. It feels perfectly integrated into nature among the powerful waterfalls, hidden away from unwanted and undeserving visitors. Its enclosed location makes the player’s discovery of the domain feel all the more awe-inspiring and magical.