Top 10 Best Cities In The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

It's an old-fashioned Nordic city with amazing Anglo-Saxon-style architecture. The surrounding countryside and mountains really make it a beautiful place. It's also steeped in so much history and lore, it really feels like an old Nordic city.

Ok, this is the best city ever. It's easy to get around, it's where my home is, my wife is also there, and my friends, the Companions, also live here. I also think that it's the best place ever to play werewolf, especially when you go on a killing spree with beast form and destroy everything.

Whiterun is home, but Riften feels alive. It has a fishery, a honey producer, a meadery, a temple, an orphanage, a realistic market, slums, townhouses, a castle, a guest house run by a swinger, the Thieves Guild, the rich, the poor, the criminals, loads of interconnected quests, an interesting layout, a ton of merchants, and a tavern smack dab in the middle where it belongs. Out of all the places in Skyrim, it's definitely the one where I would choose to live.

Best city ever created in any Elder Scrolls game: it has a real background, every NPC is connected, and there are many quests. It's the only city in Skyrim with two sides: the "candy" one, with honey references everywhere, autumn colors when it's sunny, an animated market, and a lot of people everywhere in the city. And the darker side, with the Thieves Guild, the fog, and the Ratway. Riften is the ultimate Elder Scrolls city!

Everyone who says the Stormcloaks should take over doesn't understand the lore. Solitude is a beautiful and sunny place. I would recommend living here.

I'm probably the most wanted person in Solitude. They hate me because I murdered someone. How is that a crime?

Great-looking city, with arguably the best Daedric quest for my favorite Daedric prince. It has the best house and is home to the Imperial Legion, which I am sided with.

I found that Markarth was the only city with a distinct atmosphere. There are poor people living in the warrens, the Forsworn attack, and everyone is busy working. It also has an amazing investigation quest, which, when completed, triggers a huge civil war within the city. Some of the citizens are actually part of a cannibal cult, you can buy war dogs, and there are massive Dwemer dungeons in the Jarl's keep. Not to mention the huge mountains, waterfalls, and unique shrubbery. No other city in Skyrim can compete with Markarth.

It's a mighty Atmoran city full of hardy Nords. It really fits the fierce and wintry warrior aesthetic of Skyrim, but I wish the city wasn't so run-down. Either way, the city represents the tough-as-nails culture of Skyrim. The proud Nordic heritage and architecture are very prevalent in this city, as it is the mighty capital of Skyrim.

At first, I hated it. Once the Empire took it, it became my favorite. I live there now.

Windhelm is average, but it has my favorite house, Hjerim, so that puts it in my top 5.

This city is gorgeous. The pine forest and rural aesthetic, with the mountains in the background, make the small town so beautiful. It reminds me of Wyoming. Falkreath is almost picturesque.

A nice little town with great side quests, good vendors, a nice house if you have Hearthfire, and a scenic Nordic atmosphere.

When you download the mod "Perfect Falkreath," the town turns out to be one of the best in Skyrim.

Riverwood is no doubt one of the most beautiful and subtle places to visit. It has everything a village should have, and you can even do side jobs to earn money. It might not have full surrounding walls, but it's flanked by tall mountains and a pretty river. If you're looking for a little place to hide out or just chill, Riverwood is your place to go.

A big city for the main quest, with very friendly people, great scenery, and many quests. Riverwood was the first city that I came across in Skyrim (besides Helgen), and it was very welcoming.

The only downside to this magnificent city is that you can't actually live in it. Heljarchen Hall is too far away, dammit!

Dawnstar is so good that it automatically froze the game when two frost dragons attacked the city. Great, m8. I r8 8/8.

Who knows how many times I had to save Dawnstar from frost and elder dragons.

The Jarl and I are best buds. I should buy a plot of land and make my beggar kid move there so I can hang out with my Jarly buddy.

Another village overlooking a huge area of Skyrim, since it's near the mountains. The bridge itself is also awesome, and the whole atmosphere of Dragon Bridge is great. Definitely an underrated city.

The scenery around the area is beautiful, and the bridge looks really cool. This town is really underrated.

Beautiful and interestingly mundane. I can really imagine living there for real.

Gorgeous little village. The river beside it and The Throat of The World just ahead really give the city a great look. Just like Falkreath, Rorikstead, and Riverwood, it has a rural old Norse aesthetic, with such a clean environment and atmosphere.

Home to most of the Dunmer population in Skyrim, this mining colony features an ebony mine as well as unique Redoran-themed buildings made of chitin.

Raven Rock is cool. It has cool missions like the blade and the hammer, and you can get a warrior pet.

A quintessential farming village, it's small, rural, and isolated out in the fields. It feels so separated from the troubles of Skyrim, and it's very calm.

Rorikstead is beautiful and a small, quiet town. Great place to live!

A perfect little place to live, especially if you are a miner.