Skyrim is the game that just keeps on giving. Despite the fact that it’s been available for years now, the game is so expansive and full of hidden gems that even the most dedicated player probably hasn’t done everything there is to do yet. Hidden areas and secret quests are lurking around every corner, and it’s incredibly exciting when you come across one for the first time.
With The Elder Scrolls 6 on its way there’s no time like the present to return to Skyrim and try to complete every single secret and hidden quest that’s on offer. As mentioned, there are a ton of hidden quests and areas in Skyrim that even the most exhaustive of playthroughs might not have covered yet. Here are just a few of the hidden quests and locations in Skyrim worth finding.
25 The Blackreach Dragon
Even if you’ve journeyed around the Dwemer ruins of Blackreach, you’ve probably missed the fact that there’s an ancient dragon as a hidden side quest within its walls. If you use your Unrelenting Force shout on the hanging gong in the Silent City, the dragon Vulthuryol will appear.
Unusually for a dragon, he’ll remain on the ground for the majority of your battle. Whether that makes him easier or more difficult to defeat is for you to decide.
24 Forgotten Names
Forgotten Names is something of a forgotten hidden quest amongst the majority of Skyrim players. It’s triggered after the player comes across a grisly scene in The Midden Dark, underneath the College of Winterhold. In a room littered with skeletons and covered in blood, a statue in the shape of a gauntlet sits in the center of the destruction.
An incident report found nearby describes a failed ritual involving four rings. Can you locate these rings? What happens if you return the rings to the gauntlet? You’ll have to find out.
23 Rise In The East
If you’re looking for a fun little hidden side quest involving some morally questionable pirates and the East Empire Company, Rise In The East is perfect. Go to the East Empire Company office in the Windhelm Docks and speak to Orthus Endario.
He’ll tell you about a group of pirates named the Blood Horkers who are making the work of the Company difficult. He suspects that the pirates could be working with Clan Shatter-Shield—and it’s up to you to confirm or disprove this hunch.
22 The Treasure Hunt
If you fancy totally abandoning main and secondary quests for a while and just going on an adventure around Skyrim, why not spend a bit of time doing some treasure hunting? There are around a dozen hidden quests in the form of treasure maps to be found dotted around Skyrim, and the reward that you get for successfully following one is pretty great.
If you’ve obtained or even just read a treasure map, you can head to the spot marked by an X and find a chest filled with precious loot waiting for you. Most maps will show known or familiar landmarks around Skyrim, nearby which the treasure is located.
21 The Book Of Love
The Book Of Love is one of the most wholesome hidden quests in the entirety of Skyrim, mainly because it doesn’t involve any violence or conflict whatsoever.
If you head to the Temple of Mara in Riften and speak to the priestess Dinya Balu, she’ll set you off on a quest that involves bringing love and joy to the citizens of Skyrim. The rewards are not too shabby either, with a permanent +15% Resist Magic buff applied to the Dragonborn.
20 Clearing Kagrenzel
Since the dwarven ruins of Kagrenzel are accessible via an unmarked path in the east of Skyrim and almost directly north from Riften, it’s easy to miss them. However, they’re definitely worth seeking out for a hidden, unofficial quest of dungeon crawling.
This dungeon is by no means an easy one to clear. Even before you reach it, you have frost trolls and a leveled conjurer to deal with. Once you get inside, there’s a whole host of Falmer to battle too. Still, the treasure you can find in Kagrenzel makes the struggle worth it. Two words: flawless diamond.
19 To End An Empire
This isn’t technically a “hidden” quest, but it’s one you won’t have encountered unless you’ve ever played as a Dark Brotherhood assassin. Skyrim players with a slightly stronger moral compass won’t have realized that if you take up Astrid’s offer of joining the Brotherhood, one of your contracts will see you assassinating the emperor of Tamriel himself.
Of course, this particular quest isn’t exactly smooth-sailing, as you’d expect when your task is to slay the most important man in Tamriel. However, it’s definitely worth giving a try, especially since boarding the Katariah where the Emperor is located gives you a chance to get your hands on one of the best unique swords in the game, the Windshear.
18 Ironbind Barrow
Ironbind Barrow is another hidden dungeon quest that the casual Skyrim player might not have come across in their travels. Located to the south-west of Winterhold, it can be tricky to get to in the first place: there are a ton of wolves, frost trolls, and other beasts lurking in the area.
However, if you do make it to the barrow, make sure to explore it fully. There’s a powerful draugr warlord, Gathrik, waiting at the end—and some nice loot to collect if you can defeat him. The Become Ethereal Shout can also be found here at the Word Wall.
17 Forbidden Legend
Forbidden Legend is an extensive and super-fun hidden quest that is only unlocked if the player happens to read one of the books of the same name that are scattered around Skyrim. Two can be found in Dragonsreach in Whiterun: one in Farengar’s library and one in the Jarl’s private quarters.
Once the quest is unlocked, you’ll find yourself searching far and wide for the pieces of a legendary item, the Gauldur Amulet. You’ll definitely want to reforge it and take it for yourself. Considering the Amulet will give you a +30 point boost on your Health, Magicka, and Stamina, it’s pieces are worth searching for.
16 The Abandoned Rowboat
In the river located to the south-west of Sky Haven Temple, and abandoned rowboat sits in the water. This unmarked location isn’t the source of a long and arduous hidden quest—in fact, all that the boat has to offer is an apothecary’s satchel, a strongbox, a chest hidden under the water, and some gemstones.
However, it’s actually pretty crucial for any Skyrim players who want to complete the quest The Only Cure. If you’re in need of a flawless ruby, you’d best go searching for this boat.
15 Coming Of Age
Remember how we said that exploring Ironbind Barrow was definitely worth a shot? Well, if you do choose to head to this location, you’ll unlock a minor hidden quest along the way. Before entering the barrow, you’ll come across two friends—Salma and Beem-Ja—having a heated discussion about whether to explore the barrow or not.
Eventually, the three of you all choose to explore the area together—but was this the right choice? Can Salma and Beem-Ja really be trusted? That’s up to you to find out.
14 Defeating The Reaper
Who doesn’t love a good secret boss to defeat in their Skyrim playthrough? If you own the Dawnguard DLC, you can find one of these hidden adversaries in the Soul Cairn. The Reaper is a spectral figure who is feared by the residents of the Cairn.
If you want to summon him and defeat him, place three fragments of Reaper Gem on the altar inside the Reaper’s Lair. Be prepared, though—the Reaper can be a tricky boss to defeat. However, he does drop a Daedra Heart upon dying, which is an insanely useful and rare alchemy ingredient.
13 The King Arthur Quests
If you’re at all familiar with the legend of King Arthur, you’re going to love a couple of Arthurian hidden easter eggs that are dotted around Skyrim. For example, just south of Broken Tower Redoubt, there’s a Steel Sword sitting in a stone outside Rebel’s Cairn.
Then there’s the pond near to Bleakwind Basin which has a skeletal arm clutching a sword protruding from its waters. It’s the Lady in the Lake. The leveled sword is clearly meant to be Excalibur.
12 The Dragon Bridge Crime Scene
Nearby to Dragon Bridge, an unmarked location named the Ambushed Caravan exists. This place basically looks like a scene out of CSI: Skyrim—something pretty nefarious has clearly happened there.
A married couple has violently perished, as has their horse. Their cart has been ambushed, with the perpetrators leaving little behind except the woman’s journal—which tragically details her fear that this would happen. Question is, who committed this crime? Examine the scene and see if you can work it out.
11 The Shipwrecks
There are a number of hidden shipwrecks for you to explore around the coast of Skyrim. Some of these have been totally abandoned and can be investigated without the player facing much of a threat. Others, however, have been taken over by bandits or marauders.
It’s definitely worth checking these shipwrecks out, whether or not they’re currently occupied. They all contain some interesting loot, and some are even home to important quest items. The Wreck of the Brinehammer is a decent place to start, and is found in the northern sea between Solitude and Dawnstar. The wreck is visible from the shoreline, so walking west by the water from Dawnstar is a good strategy to find it.
10 The Ebony Warrior
Encountering the Ebony Warrior is a feat that only the most dedicated Skyrim players can achieve. There are two important pre-requisites involved: you have to own the Dragonborn DLC, and your character has to be level 80 or higher.
The Ebony Warrior will appear in one of Skyrim’s cities and will challenge your character to a fight. Ultimately, he wants to lose: he’s ready for his soul to be sent to Sovngarde. However, this warrior is by no means easy to defeat.
9 A Night To Remember
Skyrim meets The Hangover in this hilarious hidden side quest. A Night To Remember begins when a man named Sam Guevenne challenges you to a drinking contest in any of Skyrim’s major taverns. Things quickly go awry.
After blacking out, your character will wake up in Markarth’s Temple of Dibella. You’ll learn that you apparently trashed the temple in a stupor, and may have gotten up to some other questionable acts the night before too. Time to investigate and find out exactly what you did or didn’t do.
8 Exploring Arcwind Point
Arcwind Point is a pretty interesting and partly hidden Ancient Nord Temple to explore. Located near the Rift Imperial Camp, it can be pretty difficult to find, and what you do discover there depends on what version of the game you have.
If you have the Dawnguard DLC installed, you’ll find that a dragon will spawn above the site. Plus, there’ll be a Word Wall for the shout “Drain Vitality” near the top of the Point. Even without the DLC, though, there’ll be a Draugr Deathlord waiting there who can be tricky to defeat.
7 Frostflow Abyss
Frostflow Abyss is a hidden quest that’s perfect for all of the sleuthing Skyrim players out there. It’s triggered when you visit Frostflow Lighthouse, only to discover that its inhabitants—a seemingly ordinary family—have been brutally slain by an unknown assailant. You’re tasked with solving the mystery of Frostflow but be warned: some tough foes lie ahead. This isn’t a quest for the faint-hearted or the under-leveled players out there.
6 Angi’s Camp
In the Jerall Mountains near the holding of Falkreath, a somewhat surprising discovery can be made. A woman named Angi is hiding in a small camp in the mountains, having taken revenge on two soldiers for the slaying of her family.
If you find Angi, she’ll offer to train you in archery for free—and it’s an opportunity that you shouldn’t pass up. If you manage to successfully complete each of Angi’s trials, she’ll reward you with her own decently powerful bow.
