Summary
There are nine distinct cities inSkyrim, and each of them has its own Jarl, laws, and colorful characters that help make the world ofSkyrimmore interesting to the Dragonborn. The culture within each city, and the stories within make them all worth visiting due to what they hold. Yet, with 9 cities inSkyrim, players might ask what ones are the safest, and which ones would they like to move into that don’t make them feel like they’re going to be a target of the Dark Brotherhood or the sole protector against a dragon attack.
Players are spoilt for choice when it comes to the best city inSkyrim, as many have their advantages, such as structures, NPCs, and general aesthetic and climate. However, they can also have disadvantages, such as problematic characters, dangerous guilds that lurk in the shadows, and freezing temperatures that might dismay players from ever stepping foot near said city again.
Updated on June 15, 2025 by Jake Fillery:Skyrim cities remain as hot spots for players to visit, and there’s a good reason for that. Each of the nine holds in Skyrim holds interesting characters, points of interest, and a set of quests to send them across the snowy plains of Skyrim. If players want to get the most out of Skyrim, or just find a nice place to raise a family and build a house from the ground up, then learning a little something about the best cities in Skyrim will probably aid the player on their quest, regardless of a dragon invasion or not.
Points of Interest
Notable Quests
Winterhold is perhaps the worst place to live in Skyrim. It used to be a major city that held a grand importance to Skyrim. Yet, now it is little more than a small village that holds the renowned College of Winterhold. There are barely any surviving houses and inns in Winterhold, and the climate is so far up North that everything freezes, and crops do not grow.
There was a geological disaster that occurred in Winterhold called The Great Collapse. This saw the devastation of storms and tidal waves hit Skyrim, which forever crippled Winterhold. However, the College of Winterhold was left unharmed and still thrives as a school for magic, which is thetrue selling point of Winterhold.
Windhelm is another Skyrim city located in the Northen region. It’s known as the City of Kings, and is a fitting title, considering the Jarl is Ulfric Stormcloak, the very man who murdered the High King and plunged Skyrim into a civil war regarding the true ownership of the realm and Nord pride. However, this very pride is the inherent issue with Windhelm, as it is home to some extreme bigotry.
Not only does Windhelm have a freezing climate, a cold and claustrophobic city design, but it houses a serial killer known as The Butcher. To make matters worse, the Nords that live in Windhelm relegate elves and other races to the Gray Quarter, and hurl abuse at them in the hopes they will leave Windhelm andSkyrim to the Nords.
Dawnstar is one of the quieter cities in Skyrim. The sun always seems to shine in Dawnstar, despite the rough weather of snow that ravishes the land. Dawnstar is mainly used as a trading town more than anything else, and those that venture here can expect an array of fish, smithing materials, or even a Daedric Museum to tickle their fancy.
There is nothing inherently wrong with Dawnstar. That is if the people of Skyrim can ignore the sleepless nightmares that plague their city. There just isn’t much to Dawnstar to keep it interesting amongst the other nine-major cities. Yet, that is within Dawnstar’s best interest, to be a safe placeto work and rest.
Morthal seems relegated and different from other cities in Skyrim. Morthal is located within the marshes of Hjaalmarch and was built within swamp-like areas. It’s nice to get away from the freezing temperatures, but the swamplands make Morthal a far cry from an attractive city, especially when its size is more boastful of an average town than anything else.
There isn’t much thatresidents can doin Morthal, other than experience herbalism and alchemy because of the plant life around their hold. However, there are some dangers in Morthal, as rumors of a vampire mistress hang heavy over the innocent town.
The City of Stone, Markarth is a sight to marvel at for those interested in the Dwemer. Markarth is a major city, rich in silver mines, forced labor, and defense. Practically everything is made of stone in Markarth, which makes it the safest hold in all of Skyrim for residents to hidewhen a dragon is attacking. Even the Jarl boasts that the beds are made of stone, except he is completely literal in his meaning, causing some discomfort when sleeping.
Markarth is the place to be for those fascinated with the Dwemer, as the city is built upon the ancient ruins of Dwarven designs. It’s also one of the richest cities, due to its influx of silver. However, the trip to Markarth is dangerous, and to make matters worse, a Forsworn conspiracy looms over the large city, that is ripe with shops, inns, and interesting residents.
In one of the rare warmer climates of Skyrim, players can find Falkreath toward the Southwest. Falkreath is warm, vibrant, and full of thriving green plant life. It’s a nice location to visit and is housed in a delicate forest. There’s also the Daedric shrine of Clavicus Vile, Haemar’s Shame, fairly close by, in which those that visit the city may see the wandering Barbas, the loyal hound to the Daedric Prince.
Another interesting hotspot of Falkreath is the graveyard, which houses many fallen Nords, who died from the many battles long past. It’s a sight to behold and pay respect to fallen warriors that bled for Skyrim, and shows just how much the Nords honor their dead. Although, this may make Falkreath a morbid visit for some.
The capital city of the province of Skyrim, Solitude is a sight to behold once players enter the well-guarded gates. Solitude thrives, even if that is at the command of the Imperial Legion. Solitude is encased in stone walls, protecting the city and the people from threats of dragon attacks and civil war invaders. It’s one of the safest places to visit in Skyrim and one of the best cities. That is if those have the coin to afford a house here.
Solitude is the capital for a reason. It’s bustling with life, opportunity, and a great many wares for residents to flex their wealth. However, for true Nords of Skyrim, Solitude may not feel like a welcome place, especially with the public executions and Thalmor Embassy. However, Bards College is a nifty addition.
In the Southeast of Skyrim, Riften can be located. This city sprawls over a giant lake, built upon wooden structures and piers. It’s not the safest place tosurvive a dragon attack, and all it takes is a well-lit match for the city to burn to ash thanks to its wooden design. However, with such a tight-knit community, a day like that should never come to pass. Especially whilst under the protection of the Thieves Guild.
However, that lies the problem. The Thieves Guild has their base located deep in the Ratway. Having the headquarters of the Thieves Guild within Riften is a cause for concern for many who live in Riften, especially those who don’t want their wares and valuables stolen. If players can get past the potential corruption and thievery, Riften is one of the most beautiful cities inSkyrim.
In the very center of Skyrim, there lies the city of Whiterun. Whiterun will be the first visit of many players upon their freedom from Helgen and for good reason. It’s a peaceful and neutral city that takes no side. Stormcloaks and Imperials are welcome, but only in their opinions, not their battles. The citizens of Whiterun believe in hard work and simpleness that helpforge a strong community.Even if the civil war has turned some ancient clans against each other.
Whiterun is essentially the heart of Skyrim, and the defensive capabilities of wood and stone make for a strong structure to hold against attacks from war or dragons. Dragonsreach is also a great capital that houses the Jarl, as well as the skeleton of the dead dragon Numinex.
