Highlights
- Discover hidden secrets and surprises while exploring Hyrule, such as Zelda impostors and secret wells.
- Don't rush through the game - take your time to explore every nook and cranny for thrilling challenges and rewarding loot.
- Revisit familiar locations from previous games, like the Temple of Time ruins and Lon Lon Ranch, for nostalgic Easter eggs and special quests.
The Legend of Zelda franchise has captivated its fans for decades with immersive worlds and intriguing quests. Tears of the Kingdom unravels a never seen before a vast landscape with various secrets and hidden gems.
Whether you are a seasoned adventurer or a newcomer to the series, these hidden treasures can offer thrilling challenges, rewarding loot, or a dose of nostalgia. While speedrunning the game may be a nice challenge, it is way better to take your time and inspect every nook and cranny of Hyrule.
Updated by Peter Hunt Szpytek on August 24, 2023: This list was updated to include a video (featured below.)
15 Zelda Impostors
While you are wandering around Hyrule you may come across Zelda, or what seems to be her. In one occasion the princess will be imprisoned in a huge cage, while on the other she will be warming up next to a fire. When you go closer to talk to her, she is revealed to be a Yiga clan member in disguise.
It wouldn't be fun if you could find the princess so easy, no? In the case you are wearing the Yiga clans clothes, they will mistake you as a fellow member, and get angry for blowing their cover.
14 Zelda's Secret Well
If you played Breath of the Wild, then you must remember the quest where you could build Link his own house. Now, if you visit your old home in Hateno Village, you will find the house has been renamed to Zelda's house. When you go around it, you will find a secret well.
If you are in a hurry, you may not notice it, or the clues the princess left in her journal next to her bed. When you descend, you will find a treasure chest as well as another journal of Zelda, hinting to the location of the Champion's Tunic.
13 East Gerudo Ruins Cave
By now you should have discovered that sinkholes and whirlpools should not be avoided, rather sought after. Near the East Gerudo Ruins, you can find one of those sinkholes. When you enter it, you will discover yet another hidden cave.
The East Gerudo Ruins Cave may sound like its hiding some marvelous treasure, but it is more or less a normal cave. You can, however, find a Bubbulfrog and collect its gem.
12 Zelda's Golden Horse
If you were able to import your horses from Breath of the Wild, then there is a chance you may have skipped intentionally some of the horse-related quests. When you visit, though, the Snowfield stable, you will be given a quest related to a golden stallion.
This is Zelda's horse, which she had entrusted to the stable. After witnessing what seemed to be the princess passing by, the horse escaped from the stable and ran off. Finding it is not so difficult as long as you head northeast and avoid the Gleeok.
11 Lake Hylia Whirlpool Cave
If you have completed the Water Temple, then you already know that whirpools are hiding various secrets inside them. That is also the case for the whirlpool found in Lake Hylia. Inside you will find the En-oma shrine.
In order to unlock the shrine, you will have to head to the skies and find its green giant crystal. There are various occasions where you have to travel through all different maps to unlock new locations. Here, you are lucky, as only the sky and surface are needed.
10 Decayed Guardian At Hateno Tech Lab
If you played Breath of the Wild, then you can not forget the Guardians you had to fight against. In this sequel, none of these previous enemies can be seen running around freely anymore.
On the other hand, only one decayed Guardian can be found on top of the Hateno Tech Lab. It is a nice bonus of nostalgia, which even hides a Korok seed on top.
9 Shrine Of Resurrection
It is impossible to forget the iconic awakening of Link in Breath of the Wild. The young hero awakens from a long slumber unaware of where he is and what has transpired.
The Shrine where Link awakened can be found in Tears of Kingdom as well. This time, the entrance is hidden behind leaves. There are also some uninvited guests occupying the place.
8 Deku Tree's Mouth
If you are short on time and rushing to find the Master Sword you might not notice the comment of one of the Koroks near the Deku Tree. The Korok has lost his friend who was last seen near the mouth of the tree.
By using Ascend you can get directly inside the closed mouth of Deku and find Oaki. The young Korok needs help to decorate his room with glowing flowers. After you assist him, you can admire the most relaxing bedroom of the game.
7 Hidden Passage In Emergency Shelter
Once again, if you are rushing through locations and don't visit them more than once, you may miss many hidden quests and locations.
That is also the case with the hidden passage inside the Emergency Shelter. After completing your first temple, a passage opens inside the shelter that hides many quests, formidable foes, and powerful loot.
6 Temple Of Time Ruins
When Tears of the Kingdom made the map three times bigger, some of the previous locations got forgotten. That is also the case with the once-iconic Temple of Time.
If you revisit the old temple's ruins you will get to enjoy its beautiful views as well as a special quest from the Goddesses statue. There are also many ruins falling constantly from the sky, which allow you to enjoy an aerial view of the Great Plateau.
5 Gerudo Jail
When you visit Gerudo town for the first time you will notice everyone has hidden themselves inside the underground shelter. If you move around you will see a familiar face stuck in prison.
Wabbin is the person you helped out with his first date in Breath of the Wild. Now he has been imprisoned as he tried to enter the town to meet with his wife and daughter. To enter his cell you will have to find a secret passage and use ascension.
4 Lon Lon Ranch
If you are a seasoned Zelda fan, then Lon Lon Ranch definitely rings a bell. The ranch has made appearances in multiple titles, such as Ocarina of Time and The Minish Cap.
While it does not hide any loot or hidden bosses, it serves as a nostalgic Easter egg; a bit melancholic, though, as only ruins remain.
3 Gerudo Secret Club
Once again if you played Breath of the Wild, then maybe you remember the hidden club inside the Gerudo Town. To enter the shop you had to know a special code.
This time you will have to use underground passages and ascension to enter the club. At this special store, you can buy Gerudo clothes made specifically for men.
2 Forest Coliseum
When exploring the Depths of Hyrule you will soon come across multiple coliseums. In those places, you will have to battle against various dangerous monsters to get powerful loot.
A coliseum that is often overlooked is the one directly below the Korok Forest. After defeating a Black Hinox here, you will acquire the Korok mask.
1 Eventide Island
The Eventide island already made an appearance in Breath of the Wild. That time Link was stripped of his equipment and had to defeat all the island's monsters.
This time, the island works as the secret hideout of pirates. By following a disappearing ship, you will notice there is a hidden cave on its rocky side.