Best OSRS Map Locations: A Complete Overview

Old School Runescape (OSRS) is the original Jagex version of Runescape that was brought online by a backup of the source code. The game was restored as it was on August 10th, 2007, and was released on February 22nd, 2013. With the release of 50 servers and a free OSRS membership credit for users who voted to determine interest in the game player counts quickly rose to the same as the newer version of the game.

Gielinor

Gielinor is the world that Runescape takes place. The mainland is compromised of multiple kingdoms and islands. The world also boasts diverse geographical land including mountains, forests, tropical and desert areas, and is home to a variety of creatures most notably humans who inhabit most of the world.

The map is divided into free-to-access areas and areas meant for members only. A large portion of the mainland map is open to free players with specific member-only areas marked. Additionally, free members have access to the majority of the Wilderness as well. The island of Zeah and the kingdom of Morytania is available only for members and the majority of Karamja island and a couple of towns in Asgarnia.

Free Locations

Runescape is separated into free-to-play and membership areas. The areas available for free players are limited but designed to give you enough experience and enjoyment that you will want access to the rest of the map and the other perks that come with membership. Asgarnia is the main Kingdom available for free players with limited access to other Kingdoms and islands.

Asgarnia

Asgarnia

Asgarnia is the main kingdom in the Runescape world. It is currently ruled by a very ill King Vallance with Sir Amik Varze managing the Kingdom in his stead. The primary economic activities found within the kingdom are crafting, mining and fishing.

    • Falador is the capital of Asgarnia and is home to the Mining guild and a large underground mine making it a great spot for mining. Before the release of the Grand Exchange, the city was typically crowded with players trading with one another. The city features all of the amenities of a city in Runescape, including an inn, a variety of stores, banks, and a park.
    • Port Sarim is a village located in the southeastern area of Asgarnia. From Port Sarim, players can access a variety of locations including Karamja, Zeah, and Crandor. The village contains a variety of shops and a jail which becomes a focal point of a quest later on.
    • Rimmington is a small village southwest of Asgarnia. The village contains a general store, a crafting store, and an archery supply store. Some crops and a mining area are also nearby.

Karamja

Karamja

Karamja is a large tropical island located on Geilinor. The majority of the island is a tropical jungle and only available to member players. However free players have access to Musa Point a trading area to Asgarnia with an abundance of lobster and bananas.

Musa Point is very small and only contains a pub and a general store with basic stock. Players who have completed the Dragon Slayer I quest will also have access to the island of Candor through a door in the Volcano. This is useful for training against skeletons, spiders, and lesser demons. Imps are also a common creature in this area.

Kharidian Desert

Kharidian Desert

Kharidian Desert is an expansive largely uninhabited desert region on Gielinor. The main town is called Al Kharid and is the only desert city that is open to free players. The town is governed by the Emir, however, Chancellor Hassan has taken over since the Emir’s son was kidnapped. The city is useful for miners, as there is a mining pit nearby and a bank in the city.

    • Past Al Kharid is an area known as the Shantay pass that requires players to stay hydrated using waterskins or another source of hydration. When players don’t stay hydrated they will suffer hit point losses periodically. This does not apply in villages located in the desert. While some of the passes is open to free players, you need to be a member to access most areas.

Misthalin

Misthalin

Misthalin is one of the biggest and most important kingdoms on Gielinor. It is ruled by King Roald III and Queen Ellamaria. The kingdom has existed since the Fourth Age making it the oldest kingdom in the game.

    • Varrock is the capital of Misthalin and is the largest city available to free players, as well as, one of the most popular cities in the game. This largely because the city contains the grand exchange, a place where players can trade with each other. The city also contains a variety of shops, two banks, and multiple pubs.
    • Lumbridge is the starting town of Runescape where new players spawn for the first time outside of the tutorial island. This is also the default spawn place after a character’s death. The castle is the main building in the village and contains a bank on the top floor. Otherwise, the village contains an ax shop, a graveyard, and a church. Players can easily go north to Varrock to acquire better supplies.
    • Draynor Village is a small village between Falador and Lumbridge. The village is home to a willow woodcutting spot that is popular among players for both wood cutting and fire-making skill training. The village is home to a bank, a jail, a small market, and a witch who will give dyes in exchange for ingredients.
    • Edgeville is a small village that borers the wilderness of Gielinor and is a good last stop for those venturing into it. The village has one bank, a general store, and an armor store. The general store has a traveling dwarven merchant that returns reward items he thinks you may have lost for a price. Usually, that price is high and not worth it.
    • Barbarian Village is the smallest settlement in the game and is home to many aggressive barbarians. It is home to the Stronghold of Security which is a medium-sized dungeon that gives the player rewards for making it to the center of each level.

Wilderness

Wilderness

Wilderness is a dangerous area in the northern area of the map. A large portion of it is available to free-to-play members. The Wilderness is an area on the map where PVP is allowed.

This means players might fight each other and when a player dies they will drop all but 3 items from their inventory. It is advised players do not take valuable items into the wilderness unless they are prepared to lose them. The Wilderness does have rules, players can only fight each other if they are within a similar level range. The farther into the Wilderness the higher level the player needs to be to survive.

Members Only Locations

The vast map of Runescape is completely open for member players. With the ability to explore every continent and new content being added regularly the map size is one of the best perks of a membership.  Not only does it double the available locations, but these locations also come with new quests and some fun and interesting lore.

Zeah

Zeah

Zeah is a large continent that only members have access to making it one of the largest member-only areas in the game. It is compromised of the Kingdom of Great Kourend, Kebos Lowlands, and the Kingdom of Varlamore.

    • Great Kourend is the only Kingdom on Zeah that can be accessed by players. The Kingdom consists of five different cities, where each is in charge of a specific resource that is integral in running the kingdom. Underneath the Kingdom lies a massive cave system that serves as Catacombs for Great Kourend.
      • Arceuus is home to magic, research, and all things academia.
      • Hosidius is home to agriculture and food production.
      • Lovakengj is home to mining, smithing, and engineering.
      • Port Piscarilius is home to all things fishing and sea-related, including travel to and from Zeah.
      • Shayzien is home to all things military and police-related.
    • Kebos Lowlands is a region of Zeah that is located to the west of Great Kourend. The area is full of fertile soil which attracts farmers from Hosidius, as well as being the home of the farmers guild. The residents of this area are aggressive lizard men who will attack you.
    • The Kingdom of Varlamore is a player inaccessible region of Zeah that is south of the Kebos Lowlands. The kingdom was found by refugees who fled the Great Kourend over a thousand years ago. Currently, there are four known areas within the kingdom. Avium Savannah, Civitas illa Fortis which is the capital of the kingdom, Proudspire, and Tempestus.

Asgarnia

Asgarnia Location

Asgarnia is one of the kingdoms that free to play players can roam almost completely. However, to the west of the Kingdom is an area that is only for members. It contains a variety of locations most notable two villages Burthorpe and Taverley.

    • Burthorpe is a military principality that is northwest of Falador. It is the residence of Prince Anlaf and the only location in Asgarnia that is not controlled by the White Knights. Instead, the area is controlled by the Burthrope Imperial Guard. With Trollheim immediately to the North of Burthrope, the area is often under attack by trolls and the Imperial Guard is tasked with keeping the village safe.
    • Taverley sits at the most western point of Asgarnia and is the second village in the Kingdom that is for members only. The village is incredibly small and lacks the most basic shops including a bank. Players will find themselves in the area frequently as they complete quests but the village’s location to Falador means bank access is often not a problem.

Karamja

Karamja Location

Karamja is completely accessible for members, this opens the ability to explore the jungle, investigate new towns, and complete new quests.

    • Brimhaven is a pirate town for members only and is located in the northwestern area of the island. The village is home to an agility arena, a bar, and a dungeon. Unfortunately, there is no general store or bank in Brimhaven. There’s a small port in Brimhaven that will take players to Ardougne.
    • Shilo Village is a members-only village that is only accessible once a player has completed Shilo’s quest. The small village is home to a bank, a general store, a furnace, and fishing spots. There is also a gem mine close by for players to train mining skills.
    • Tai Bwo Wannai is a small village south of Brimhaven that is home to several villagers who are constantly battling the ever-growing jungle. The village has a small general store and a parcel service that will deposit items into your bank account for a fee.

Morytania

Morytania

Morytania is located in the far east of Gielinor and can only be accessed by members who have completed the Priest in Peril quest. The region is considered to be the land of evil and is where vampires, werewolves, ghasts, and the undead are found.

    • Paterdomus is a Saradominist temple on the River Salve and is the gateway to Morytania. The monks that live in the temple are there to protect the land from Misthalin and Asgarnia. It is also the main focus of the Priest in Peril quest.
    • Canifis is the first town a player will come across in Morytania and is home to a large werewolf population that has no hesitations on killing adventures that provoke them. The village is home to a general store, pub and a bank.
    • Port Phasmatys is a village that is populated by ghost characters who require a ghost speak amulet to be spoken with. The town contains a bank, general store, pub, and furnace. It is also notable for the ectofuntus located to the north of the town. The ectofuntus causes citizens to lose their minds by invading their every thought and is responsible for the citizen’s ghostly existence.
    • Mort’ton is a town populated completely by the undead. It was once a thriving market town that specialized in burials. Using the natural tunnels under the village as tombs the village became a hot spot for burying the dead. Unfortunately, the town’s citizens were cursed into afflicted by foul vapors from the Sanguensti region. Those buried under the village were also cursed back to life.
    • Burgh de Rott is located in the southernmost area of Morytania. The village is the last free settlement that isn’t under Drakan’s rule. Unfortunately, it’s slowly falling apart and its citizens are starving. The village contains a general store, bank, pub, and a furnace. There is a small port and several fishing spots located just south of the village.
    • Meiyerditch is the largest city in the game and its primary use is for vampires to harvest blood from the poor humans in the city. The city is in ruin and while densely populated is little more than an agility course outside of quests for players. The most notable feature of the town is the Theatre of Blood a minigame where players can fight for valuable rewards.
    • Darkmeyer is the capital of Morytania and is inhabited by vampires. The city is inaccessible to all players.
    • Slepe is a small coastal village that is infected with a sleeper plague. The plague causes the infected residents to fall into a deep sleep. The village is home to a pub and an anvil.

Fremennik Province

Fremennik Province

Fremennik Province is a province north of Kandarin that is home to the Fremenniks otherwise known as the barbarians. The province is known as the birthplace of mankind since all humans in Runescape are descended from the Fremenniks. The other inhabitants of the province are dwarves who have lived in the provinces for nearly as long as the Fremenniks. The province is made of up a mainland and several smaller islands located off its coast.

    • Rellekka is the capital of the Fremennik Province and is open to member plays who have completed The Fremennik Trial quest. Its popular thanks to the number of training facilities there including agility, cooking, mining, smithing, and fishing. The city also has a port that can take players to several islands.
    • Miscellania and Etceteria are two small islands off the coast of Fremennik that are accessible after completing the Throne of Miscellania and Royal Trouble quests. The islands are unusual because the work you do, such as cutting trees or mining doesn’t benefit you with items but instead will improve your rating among the citizens.
    • Jtizso and Neitiznot are the two cities that make up Fremennik Isle. They are accessible after starting The Fremennik Isles. Both cities have a general store, bank, and port. Neitiznot has a furnace and clothing store where Jatiszo has mining, an anvil, and an armor store.
    • Lunar Island is a crescent moon-shaped island that is accessible for members who have completed enough of the Lunar Diplomacy quest. The island is home to the Astral Altar. It is also home to a bank, general store, a fine clothing store, and the Lunar Isle mine.
    • Waterbirth Island is another crescent moon-shaped island. The island is great for training combat thanks to its incredibly large dungeon. There are no houses or citizens on the island making its use almost entirely for combat training and dungeon exploring.

Kandarin

Kandarin

Kandarin is a kingdom in Runescape that is ruled by King Lathas in East Ardougne. Kandarin is home to the only democratic government in Runescape, however, it is very weak in comparison to the established monarchy.

    • Ardougne is the capital of Kandarin and is divided into East and West areas. West Ardougne is closed off to the general public due to a mysterious plague. Players can gain access by working on the Plague City questline. The city is large and contains various shops, two banks, a zoo, a pub, fields, and a combat training camp.
    • Catherby is a small fishing village and is considered the best place to train fishing. The village contains a bank, an archery store, a general store, and a small port.
    • Seer’s Village & Camelot Castle are two locations that are right next to each other. Seer’s village is home to a pub, an anvil, and a bank. Camelot Castle is the starting point for the Holy Grail and Merlins Crystal quests. The castle also serves as the nearest teleport spot for Seer’s Village.
    • Hemenster is another small fishing village in Kandarin. While small, the village has several fishing spots, a bank, a fishing store, and a home to the fishing and ranging guilds.
    • Yanille is the second-largest city in Kandarin and is located south of Ardougne. The city is heavily guarded due to the attack of ogres. The city is home to a bank, a pub, a hunting emporium, and the Wizards Guild.
    • Tree Gnome Stronghold is the gnome capital city and is home to the first agility training camp. The Grand Tree area of the stronghold has two banks, several shops, and a pub. Another bank is located near the agility training area and several places to train tree cutting and fishing.
    • Tree Gnome Village is the home of the gnomes and sits in a large hedge maze center. The village is small and only contains a general store. There is a dungeon located under the village.
    • White Wolf Mountain is the borderline being Asgarnia and Kandarin. The mountain is dangerous for lower-level players but useful for training combat skills for higher-level players. Underneath the mountain is a tunnel that can be accessed after completing the Fishing Contest Quest, making travel through the mountain safer and easier

Tirannwn

Tirannwn

Tirannwn is a heavily forested area west of Kandarin and can be accessed after starting the Regicide quest. The region is home to the Elves who retreated to the area after the God Wars.

    • Prifddinas is a great Elven city and is surrounded by walls made from Elven crystal. Not much has been released about the city and it’s only accessible during the Song of the Elves quest.
    • Tyras Camp is a small military camp lead by King Tyras. The camp has a furnace and a general store. You can also buy every type of halberd here except the white halberd.
    • Elf Camp is a small camp of elf warriors that is led by Lord Lorewerth. The camp is home to one of four looms that are present in the game, making it a popular spot for crafting.
    • Lletya is a city that is accessible after starting Mourning’s Ends Part 1. The city contains a bank, an altar, a range, a spinning wheel, a general store, a food store, and a seamstress.

Wilderness

Wilderness Location

Wilderness is available to all players, except for the northernmost area. The northernmost area of the Wilderness is a member-only area that contains a mage arena and an agility course. While there are some perks to training in these areas the agility course and the mage arena are deep in the wilderness and leave players open to PVP combat and high-level enemies.

Feldip Hills

Feldip Hills

Feldip Hills are located south of Yanille and is home to ogres. The main city of Gu’Tanoth has a general store. To the west of the city is Jiggig which is filled with Zogres and Skogres. In the southern area of the region is a Hunter Training area that can be used for hunting chompy. In Corsair Cove, there is a bank and a port.

Troll Country

Troll Country

Troll Country is in the northern area of Geilinor and is a mountainous kingdom ruled by trolls. The main village is called the Troll Stronghold. The stronghold doesn’t contain much but adventures will find themselves there as they complete quests involving trolls. Close to the Stronghold is Trollheim the tallest mountain in Troll Country.

FAQ

Question: Is Old School Runescape free to play?

Answer: Yes to an extent. Originally OSRS was available only to players who had a membership to the game. As of 2015 limited free-to-play areas as detailed above became available for free players. Additionally, unlike RS3, OSRS doesn’t contain microtransactions making it more accessible for free players.

Question: Where can I play OSRS?

Answer: You can download OSRS from https://oldschool.runescape.com/download. The site has links to download the game for every system it is available for including Steam, iOS, and Android. The full site https://oldschool.runescape.com/ also contains links to various polls, maps, forums, and merchandise. You can also find any game updates here as well.

Question: Is OSRS better than RS3?

Answer: This depends on what type of content you are looking for overall. RS3 boasts more quests, a better combat system, and better graphics. While OSRS has a firm grasp on nostalgic gameplay and graphics in addition to fewer micro-transactions and updates. At the end of the day why only have one when you can play both either for free or with the same membership.

Final Thoughts

Runescape boasts a huge map and a lot of exploration for free players and members. For new players, the free areas give you just enough taste of the game to see if you like it. Once subscribed you will be able to explore new continents, islands, and the rest of the main continent. Along with membership comes new skills and new quests to go along with these new areas.

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