Elden Ring's sprawling open world, the Lands Between, is breathtaking. It features diverse landscapes that reach the horizon and awe-inspiring underground worlds waiting to be discovered. The many regions of the Lands Between feature unreal natural phenomena and majestic structures from bygone eras, all hinting at the history that led to the current state of the realm.
Players can experience endless blizzards, golden plains, citadels suspended in the air, and starry nights beneath the earth. From Software has created a beautiful and dangerous world that will stay in the hearts and minds of players long after their adventure is over. It's not easy choosing a favorite area in such a large and varied land.
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8 Limgrave, Weeping Peninsula
Where It Started
It's easy for players to progress through new areas and higher levels and forget where the journey began, where the Tarnished opened the doors of the stranded graveyard and laid their eyes on the Lands Between for the first time. Limgrave sets the stage for an epic adventure.
Every once in awhile, the Tarnished should return to the jagged grasslands, lakes, cliffs, and ancient stone complexes towering over the quiet coastlines. They should stroll through Mistwood, now fearless against Runebears, and look upon the grand structures, from the Colosseum to the north to Castle Morne to the south.
7 Mountaintops of the Giants, Consecrated Snowfield
The Frozen North
To many, paradise is a rich tropical place filled with life. But for others, nothing is more beautiful than a snow-covered mountain range overlooking the world. The Mountaintops of the Giants tells a tragic tale of war, with the corpses of Giants frozen in place leading up to the forge guarded by the Fire Giant, the last of his kind.
Elden Ring: 7 Best Locations In Mountaintops Of The Giants
Elden Ring players shouldn't miss out on giving the Mountaintops of the Giants its due. Plenty of beautiful and interesting points of interest await.
The distant howling of wolves cuts through the endless blizzard that obscures all vision in the Consecrated Snowfield. These northern lands are dangerous, but between the Black Knife Assassins, Night's Cavalry, and Zamor Warriors, there are moments of silence, where the Tarnished can find much-needed peace of mind.
6 Deeproot Depths and the Nameless Eternal City
A City In The Roots Of The Erdtree
There are many things to discover below Elden Ring's already expansive surface world, and one is an Eternal City with no starry sky. This place at the Erdtree's roots questions the validity of grace itself. It shows traces of a tradition separate from Marika's, and reveals the twisted corpse of her once-golden son, Godwyn.
The winding roots lead players to the ruined city, home to a Wandering Mausoleum surrounded by headless knights, Basilisks, and more. The area is hauntingly beautiful, challenging what players thought they knew about the world so far. It shows the curse of death's influence over the very roots of the Erdtree.
5 Liurnia of the Lakes
The Home Of Sorceries
Players may not truly recognize the scale of the Lands Between until they defeat Grodrick the Grafted and walk out of Stormveil Castle onto the cliff that overlooks Liurnia of the Lakes. This vast landscape is dotted with ruins that lead the eye to the extravagant Raya Lucaria Academy, clouded in mist from the waters below.
The Tarnished must first travel through a tree-covered area before it opens up to the sunlight and reveals the beauty of the lake. Sharp rocks jut out of the water's edge where cliffs stand tall, and the surrounding grasslands are home to structures enveloped in the landscape by the passage of time.
4 Altus Plateau, Leyndell, Royal Capital
The Home Of The Erdtree
The realm's most central region is the Altus Plateau, a land of rolling golden plains touched by the Erdtree's light. This vast area is home to Leyndell, the capital city at the tree's base. It's filled with beautiful golden architecture that reaches the Royal palace and descends to the lower levels and sewers.
Elden Ring: Why Leyndell Capital is the Game's Best Legacy Dungeon
Of all the regions throughout the Lands Between, the Leyndell Capital City legacy dungeon is one of Elden Ring's best locales to explore.
Now, a part of this city is the petrified corpse of the colossal ancient dragon who fell there, becoming a landmark too large to move. The surrounding plains are home to lakes, forests, stone ruins, and windmill villages that appear peaceful at a distance and sinister upon closer inspection.
3 Elpheal, Brace of the Haligtree
The Hidden Tree Palace
Many minor Erdtrees dot the Lands Between, but only one can compare to the Golden tree. Miquella's Haligree is hidden beyond the consecrated snowfield, and within its roots is the city of Elpheal. This palace is visually stunning, with similar and distinct architecture from its counterpart, Leyndell.
Overlooking a calm and distant ocean, golden walkways descend deeper into the tree's roots, slowly revealing the rotting interior that houses Malenia. Scarlet Rot plagues the Haligree, but the many layers of Elphael Palace continue to enchant players with its vertical design and intricate artistry.
2 Siofra River
Starry Skies Beneath The Earth
Early in their adventure, many Tarnished will stumble upon an enchanted lift that burrows deep into the earth. After descending for what feels like minutes, a starry night sky is revealed to the player, illuminating the underground region of Siofra. This mysterious land beneath the earth inspires many questions.
It has cliffs that drop to unseen depths and stunning vistas that reveal faraway points of interest. It's home to Nokron, an Eternal City below the Lands Between. A 
Crucible Knight can be seen in the distance, standing against a backdrop of stars, staring into space, capturing the quiet beauty of Siofra.
1 Crumbling Farum Azula
The Temple In The Sky
Crumbling Farum Azula is a monumental temple suspended in the air, surrounding a giant whirlwind that seems to affect time and gravity. The massive stone complex is often described as a city because of its scale, but there are no homes there, only graves.
Elden Ring: How To Get To Crumbling Farum Azula
Crumbling Farum Azula is one of Elden Ring's last major zones, but it can be accessed far earlier if you know which teleporter to take.
The place is a maze, with risky jumps across floating rocks and convoluted hallways leading to new areas guarded by ancient dragons, banished knights, and Azula beastmen. Though decaying, the stonework of the ruins is beautifully crafted, with pillars and detailed statues found everywhere. Farum Azula is a visually striking and hauntingly beautiful place to set foot in.
Elden Ring
- Released
- February 25, 2022
- Developer(s)
- From Software
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
