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Highlights
- The map in Baldur’s Gate 3 is extensive, with interesting locations outside of the city walls.
- It is recommended to explore important locations outside of Baldur’s Gate before venturing into the city.
- Different zones in Act 3 offer unique quests, characters, and plot points that add depth to the game.
The map for Baldur’s Gate 3 is vast and detailed, with plenty to see and do outside of the titular location. The main character and their companions don’t even reach the city until Act 3, and even after they emerge from the Underdark and the Shadow Cursed Lands, there are a few more interesting locations outside the city walls in Baldur’s Gate 3.
A city as big as Baldur’s Gate will have suburbs, environs, and surrounding farms and villages. Players can venture forth immediately to Baldur’s Gate, but it’s recommended that they explore a few other important locations outside the city walls first.
This zone is part of Act 3 and some of the NPCs and the related activities here will give away part of the story if the player is still progressing through Act 1 or 2.
8 Wyrm’s Lookout
A Crossroads For Companions
This is the closing scene of Act 2. Players camp at this scenic location on top of what looks like an old military outpost as they emerge from the Shadow-Cursed Lands and prepare to walk into Baldur’s Gate. There aren’t any quests here, and the protagonist only visits this location once, but there are several resolutions that take place at this point depending on Tav’s (the player-created character) choices.
Certain Companions might have stayed behind depending on how or if their quests were resolved, and others might be missing after falling victim to a Dark Urge. A Long Rest here involves several cut scenes and important conversations that set out the plot for Act 3.
7 Requisitioned Barn
Home of Refugees
This is a corner of Rivington that’s easy to miss but is important for a few reasons. In response to the number of refugees on the road to Baldur’s Gate, either because of the fall of Elturel or the army of the Absolute, the Flaming Fist has designated this barn as a repository for extra food and supplies.
Part of the “Investigate the Suspicious Toys” quest is resolved here and if Halsin is in the party, he Approves if Tav is nice to the resident pig. Chat with a guard outside who isn’t all that they appear, and speaking of which, that Strange Ox is in another, smaller barn on a nearby hill.
6 Temple Of The Open Hand
Playing Detective
Ilmater is the goddess of endurance and suffering, but at the time when Rivington most needs the help of the clergy, they close their doors in response to an internal tragedy. To find out why, and help them reopen their doors, visit and help them solve a gruesome murder.
The crime in question is closely connected to the larger story, in particular that of the Bhaal cultists, so it’s of special interest to those playing the Dark Urge character. There are also some interesting things to be found in the small graveyard out back, including the back gate to the Circus of Last Days.
5 Fraygo’s Flophouse
Cheap Accommodations
Travelers looking for cheaper accommodations can stop in Frago’s Flophouse, a rustic hostel in Wyrm’s Crossing. Some players will remember the Bridge District from the earlier games, and this is the same zone from that era, but it’s grown in the last century and is now considered more of a suburb than part of the main city.
There are a few interesting NPCs and a vendor that players can interact with on all three floors, and companions that have lived in Baldur’s Gate might run into some friends here. If Astarion is in the party he’ll comment that he’s stalked his prey here many times and have an altercation with a few of his spawn “siblings.”
4 Circus Of Last Days
Wacky Circus Adventures
The Circus of Last Days could be one of the biggest along with one of the most important locations in the whole game, let alone outside of Baldur’s Gate. It’s easy to find or miss and none of the quests or items here are mandatory for other points in the story, but for those that have time for fun and games, the fairground is located next to the Temple of the Open Hand.
Players who have heard about the Druid’s “love test” or the notorious “Find Dribbles” quest can satisfy their curiosity here. For those that can’t get through the front gate, there’s another entrance around the back through either the Open Hand Temple kitchen or the small cemetery out back.
3 Sharess’ Caress
Baldur’s Gate’s Brothel
A busy place that gets a lot of action from both the east and west ends, the main door of Sharess’ Caress is conveniently located right next to the Waypoint for the zone. Every player finds out about Baldur’s Gate’s most popular entertainment venue sooner or later, but unless they’re on certain side quests it’s not essential to visit.
Raphael has a permanent room upstairs, because of course he does, and other points of interest include the Nymph’s Grotto and the Underdark room. This is where Inspector Valeria likes to drink after work, and Artur Gregorio is enjoying the show on the first floor.
2 The Windmill
A Hidden Illithid
Another good reason to thoroughly explore Rivington is the lonely windmill on a hill behind Afur Gregori’s mansion. There are hidden cellars and basements in and near the cliffs that line the shore, and in one of them, players can find a newborn Illithid.
The choices are slightly different depending on what choices the main character has made already, for example, whether or not they’re using the Illithid powers. They can choose to feed the Illithd or kill it and take their tadpole.
1 The Beach
Housing A Secret Hideout
The adventuring party might be so focused on getting through the guarded exit from Wyrm’s Crossing to the Lower City that they miss what’s underneath the bridge. It’s worth exploring the fields and steep shoreline near the city not only for the lovely view but also for the various caves and loot scattered throughout the location.
Collect herbs, food, and liquor bottles from the occasional abandoned picnic basket, and continue to follow the path leading downhill to find some familiar-looking boats and a secret hideout. The thief’s abode in the tunnel, which unfortunately isn’t an alternate way into town is connected to the mysterious Stone Lord.
Baldur’s Gate 3
- Developer(s)
- Larian Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Larian Studios
- Platform(s)
- PC, Stadia, macOS, PS5
- Released
- August 3, 2023
