City
Cities are special safe zones containing a variety of NPCs, merchants, quests, and other services and activities. Players can teleport throughout a city using the Aethernet - an interconnected system of smaller attuning crystals. The three starting cities are occasionally decorated for special events such as Valentione's Day and Starlight Celebration.
Major Cities
- See also: Major City
The character starts at Limsa Lominsa, Gridania, or Ul'dah and develops their classes and jobs, as well as unlocking various systems, by traveling to each of the cities. The main scenario quest will take players to all of the cities at different steps, and usually requires revisiting the main cities every so often. Large portion of every character's story plays in the capital cities. Market Boards are available in every major city.
With A Realm Reborn, players could travel to Limsa Lominsa Lower Decks, Limsa Lominsa Upper Decks, New Gridania, Old Gridania, Ul'dah - Steps of Thal and Ul'dah - Steps of Nald.
With Heavensward, players could travel to Foundation and The Pillars in Ishgard.
With Stormblood, players could travel to Kugane.
With Shadowbringers, players could travel to The Crystarium.
With Endwalker, players could travel to Old Sharlayan.
With Dawntrail, players will be able to travel to Tuliyollal.
Minor Cities
- See also: Minor City
Minor cities are smaller than major cities and contain vendors that are utilized for the endgame of each expansion. Market Boards are not available in minor cities. The main scenario quest also will take players to all of the cities at different steps.
With A Realm Reborn, players could travel to Revenant's Toll in Mor Dhona. This "city" is part of the Mor Dhona zone and does not have a separate Aethernet.
With Heavensward, players could travel to Idyllshire.
With Stormblood, players could travel to Rhalgr's Reach.
With Shadowbringers, players could travel to Eulmore.
With Endwalker, players could travel to Radz-at-Han.
Special areas
There are a few other special zones. They work similarly to cities, but they serve as the staging points for specific game modes or activities.
- Gold Saucer - hub zone for various minigames
- Wolves' Den Pier - The lobby for PvP.
- Residential Districts - for player/FC housing
- The Firmament - hub zone for Ishgard Restoration
- The Doman Enclave - location of some Main Scenario Quests in Stormblood, physical ranged DPS role quests in Endwalker, and hub zone for Doman Enclave Reconstruction
- Gangos - hub zone for Save the Queen content
