Gather ‘round, travelers! You may have heard about the adventures of the bard Edgin Darvis and his band of thieves, but you may be unfamiliar with the Forgotten Realms, the legendary lands that those heroes explore.

We’ll give you a gander at some sights that motley crew traveled to during their quest and a few other notable locations throughout the continent of Faerûn. If you’ve never explored the Forgotten Realms, here are a few spots along or near the famous Sword Coast you may have heard about in their stories or in other recent tales.

1. Neverwinter
2. Icewind Dale
3. The Underdark
4. Waterdeep
5. Baldur’s Gate
6. Candlekeep
7. Phandalin
8. Stormwreck Isle

Explore the Forgotten Realms With Characters From the D&D Movie

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1. Neverwinter

We begin our sightseeing in Neverwinter, often referred to as the City of Skilled Hands or the Jewel of the North. Neverwinter is nestled near the volcanic Mount Hotenow, which heats the Neverwinter River and gives the city and surrounding areas a warm climate in all seasons. It was known for hard-working crafters as well as a series of exquisite gardens beautifying the landscape. 

A devastating eruption of Mount Hotenow came close to wiping Neverwinter off the map about a half-century ago. This set off decades of turmoil and strife, with the city a frequent target of outside influences trying to wrest control of the city. Things are looking up for Neverwinter, though, as trade routes have reopened and the city is slowly being rebuilt to its former glory. And the massive Chasm that was formed in the wake of the eruption has been sealed, so nothing else threatening will be coming out of that. Right?

Neverwinter is a member of the Lords’ Alliance, less of a nation in and of itself but more a series of civil agreements between the rulers and stewards of towns across the North. Lord Dagult Neverember, who claims the city as his ancestral home, has been instrumental in the rise of Neverwinter from literal ashes.

2. Icewind Dale

There’s the North, and then there’s the North. You can’t find a place more different from the perpetual warmth of Neverwinter than the lands around the mountain range known as the Spine of the World. A loose grouping of towns, known as Ten-Towns, exists around the shores of three lakes. The fishing is good and helps the nearby towns thrive, but I wouldn’t recommend going for a swim.

Most folks existing in this blustery cold wasteland either sought it out, having fled lives as pariahs, outcasts, or fugitives in their homelands or came in search of fortune. Others explicitly sought the isolation that only the harsh climate could provide. Most in the region are far too focused on their own survival to pry too deep into the business of others. 

While most of the Ten-Towns persist on a fishing economy, courageous visitors may actually find some useful trading at the largest of them, Bryn Shander. Those who find Ten-Towns a bit too civilized, on the other hand, might be more comfortable around the nearby tribes of Reghed barbarians.

Like anywhere else in the world, rumors abound, of course. Travelers might find themselves hearing tales of a secret necropolis hidden in the ice, a despotic duergar arriving from the Underdark to cause trouble, and legends of an Everlasting Rime responsible for locking the region in its wintery abyss. Might be worth checking out.

Revel’s End

While the Spine of the World may serve as a beacon of freedom to some of the world’s social exiles, many are brought north through no choice of their own. The Lords' Alliance has established a highly guarded prison tower nestled against a blade-shaped rock called Windbreak. If you find yourself unlucky enough to be on the boat to Revel’s End, settle yourself in for a lengthy stay. 

If you want to put your burglary skills to the test, try out the Prisoner 13 adventure—free with your D&D Beyond account! In this adventure, your party will need to infiltrate Revel's End and extract information from one of the inmates. How you choose to do so is up to you, so get your crew together and start planning!

3. The Underdark

The stories are true. An entire network of deep caverns exists beneath our very feet. The vast Realms Below have a reach at least as extensive as Faerûn. While, as far as I can tell, it is still part of the Material Plane, the Underdark isn’t like any place I’ve ever been to. It’s a hard land to travel, the dark and dingy tunnels are easy to get lost in, and when you run across some of their cities, you may wish you’d just disappeared instead. 

Still, the promises of rare treasure or access to unique magical secrets just might entice you down into these caverns. To those foolish enough to do so, I’ll say make sure you study up on your fungus because knowing the difference between a set of mushrooms could save your life. And those who can see a little better in the dark might fare well in these caves. I won’t bother to ask who can. I’m sure you’ll tell me.

I’d advise against making too many assumptions about folks like the duergar or drow you come across, but if you run into any mind flayers, well, it was nice knowing you.

4. Waterdeep

Yes, yes, of course, we’re going to talk about Waterdeep. Everyone knows about the City of Splendors, I suppose, and everyone in every corner of Faerûn knows its name. It’s not every city that survives encounters from the gods themselves and keeps on ticking, albeit after licking its wounds just a bit.

It’s an unusual system of government, keeping most of its lords hidden behind masks, but whatever the thought behind it, it seems to work because the city has certainly pulled itself back from the brink. And there is certainly money to be made—or stolen—in Waterdeep.

Visitors to Waterdeep would be remiss not to visit the world-famous Yawning Portal. This massive tavern attracts adventurers from around the world. The Yawning Portal isn’t just a great place to learn some of the finer tales of Faerûn. It also contains an entryway into the Undermountain, a mega-dungeon that promises either riches or certain death to those brave enough to explore it.

5. Baldur’s Gate

If you’re a fan of shopping and aren’t afraid to let a few dark gods get in the way of a good deal, the city of Baldur’s Gate might appeal to you. Here you’ll find some of the finest trade on the Sword Coast. Baldur’s Gate is divided between the upper crust of the Upper City and the rank-and-file hard workers of the Lower City.

People looking to get into some real trouble might find it outside the city walls, though, in the tight, overcrowded streets of the Outer City. Just make sure you don’t run afoul of the underworld cutthroats that operate under the auspices of the Guild. And don’t get too caught up in the affairs of the Dead Three, or you just may find yourself on a detour into the Nine Hells. 

6. Candlekeep

Just south of Baldur’s Gate, facing out into the Sea of Storms, stands this massive library containing the largest collection of writing anywhere in the world. It’s not easy to gain entry—one must donate a piece of writing not already present inside the keep’s walls. It’s a daunting task, but those clever enough to figure out a way to meet it will find plenty of rewards between the pages of the vast works found within. 

7. Phandalin

The countryside of the Realms is littered with small towns, each with their share of secrets and troubles. But this little town just down the road from Neverwinter is the perfect spot for first-time adventurers to set out on their journeys. Plenty of nearby locations, such as the crumbling old Cragmaw Castle, offer opportunities to get the hang of exploring, and rumors of a lost mine should entice anyone trying to seek out a name for themselves in the world. 

You can take your players to Phandalin in the Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk adventure, which takes adventurers from levels 1-12 while they unearth a dark secret in the depths below the town.

8. Stormwreck Isle

Legends say Stormwreck Isle was formed by the captive rage of the red dragon Sharruth. If the tales speak true, her fires caused the land itself to spring forth from volcanos under the sea where she had been imprisoned by her enemies. Whether or not this is true, the land is scarred from ages of battles between the chromatic and metallic dragons. These days, the cloister of Dragon’s Rest has tried to put aside the days of conflict and serve as a refuge from violence, making it a perfect spot for those looking for such serenity.

If you're looking to start your adventures off on the right foot, Dragons of Stormwreck Isle is the perfect introductory adventure that will help you and your players understand the rules of D&D. In this adventure, you'll explore the secrets of Stormwreck Isle, all while learning the intricacies of the game. 

Explore More of the Forgotten Realms

The crew of Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves go on a bit of a whirlwind tour of some of the most known locations in the Forgotten Realms. If you want a much deeper dive into the histories and backgrounds of many of these regions in order to build stories for your adventures, the Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide can give you detailed descriptions of the lands of Faerûn, as well as extensive subclass and background options tailor-made to its regions. 

Plus, many of the most popular adventures in the fifth edition of D&D use the locations of the Forgotten Realms, including some outside the Sword Coast, as the settings for their stories. They provide rich maps and details to help DMs build a narrative world that feels lived-in, and players build characters who feel immersed in that world.

That said, we've only visited a sliver of the Forgotten Realms here today. What are some of your favorite locations to journey to?

Riley Silverman (@rileyjsilverman) is a contributing writer to D&D Beyond, Nerdist, and SYFY Wire. She DMs the Theros-set Dice Ex Machina for the Saving Throw Show, and has been a player on the Wizards of the Coast-sponsored The Broken Pact. Riley also played as Braga in the official tabletop adaptation of the Rat Queens comic for HyperRPG, and currently plays as The Doctor on the Doctor Who RPG podcast The Game of Rassilon. She currently lives in Los Angeles.