A Link to the Past Maps: Light World & Dark World
Both overworld maps and 39 key places, paired with their counterpart in the other world. Select a map for full size.
Places and their counterparts
| Light World | Dark World |
|---|---|
| Link’s HouseWhere the adventure begins; a chest inside holds the Lamp. | Bomb ShopSells Bombs, and later the Super Bomb that opens the Pyramid Fairy’s pond. |
| Hyrule CastleThe opening dungeon where Zelda is held, and the tower where Agahnim waits. | Pyramid of PowerLink’s landing spot in the Dark World, home of the Cursed Fairy, and the arena for the fight with Ganon. |
| SanctuaryZelda’s refuge and the Loyal Sage’s chapel; one of the places Link can restart from after saving. | — |
| GraveyardGravestones that slide aside with a Pegasus Boots dash, hiding the Magic Cape and a passage into the castle sewers. | Ghostly GardenRock statues in place of graves; dashing into them turns up a few small items. |
| Kakariko VillageThe main town: Sahasrahla’s house, the Sick Kid, the tavern, shops, a bottle seller and the weathercock. | Village of OutcastsA run-down thieves’ town hiding Thieves’ Town, the fourth Dark World dungeon, with chest, digging and archery games close by. |
| Lost WoodsA foggy forest full of thieves, with the Mushroom and the Master Sword’s pedestal deep inside. | Skeleton ForestBone-lined paths over Skull Woods, a dungeon with several entrances scattered through the trees. |
| Master Sword PedestalA clearing in the Lost Woods where Link draws the Master Sword once he holds all three Pendants. | — |
| Woodsmen’s HutThe lumberjacks’ home; their tree hides a Piece of Heart after Agahnim’s defeat. | — |
| Death MountainA cave maze leads up to the summit, home to the Lost Old Man, Spectacle Rock and the Ether Tablet. | Dark Death MountainStorm-lashed peaks topped by Ganon’s Tower, with Turtle Rock on the eastern side. |
| Tower of HeraThe third Light World dungeon, where Link wins the Pendant of Wisdom. | Ganon’s TowerThe final dungeon; its barrier only breaks once all seven crystals are in hand. |
| Eastern PalaceThe first dungeon, holding the Pendant of Courage; Sahasrahla hides nearby. | Palace of DarknessThe first Dark World dungeon, reached through a hedge maze with Kiki’s help. |
| Magic ShopSyrup the Witch’s potion shop, where the Mushroom becomes Magic Powder. | — |
| Zora’s WaterfallThe river’s source, where King Zora sells Zora’s Flippers. | Lake of Ill OmenA gloomy lake whose ring of stones hides the Catfish and the Quake Medallion. |
| Waterfall of WishingA cave behind a waterfall where a fairy upgrades the Boomerang and shield. | — |
| Desert of MysterySandy ruins with Aginah’s cave, the Desert Palace and the clifftop Bombos Tablet. | Swamp of EvilA rain-soaked marsh reached only by Flute and portal, home of the Misery Mire. |
| Desert PalaceThe second dungeon, opened by reading the Book of Mudora at its entrance; holds the Pendant of Power. | Misery MireThe sixth Dark World dungeon, opened with the Ether Medallion. |
| Haunted GroveA clearing where the Flute Boy’s ghostly image plays; the Flute is buried here. | Haunted Grove (Dark World)Where the transformed Flute Boy waits and gives Link the Shovel. |
| Great SwampMarshy fields south of the castle with a floodgate building that controls the water level. | Plains of RuinMarshes around the Swamp Palace, which only opens once the Light World floodgate is drained. |
| Lake HyliaHyrule’s great lake, with the Pond of Happiness on its island and the Ice Cave to the east. | Ice LakeA murky frozen lake surrounding the Ice Palace. |
| Pond of HappinessThe fairy Venus’s island cave in Lake Hylia, where thrown Rupees raise Bomb and arrow capacity. | — |
| Ice CaveA frozen cave east of Lake Hylia holding the Ice Rod and a hidden fountain with the Golden Bee. | — |
| SmithyThe Dwarven Swordsmiths’ forge east of Kakariko, where the Master Sword is tempered. | — |
| LibraryA Kakariko building where the Book of Mudora sits atop a shelf, knocked down with a Pegasus Boots dash. | — |
| — | Turtle RockA turtle-shaped dungeon on eastern Dark Death Mountain, opened with the Quake Medallion; Zelda’s crystal lies inside. |
| — | Ice PalaceThe fifth Dark World dungeon, frozen into an island in the middle of the Ice Lake. |
By region
South
Link’s House · Bomb Shop · Haunted Grove · Haunted Grove (Dark World) · Great Swamp · Plains of Ruin
Central
North
Sanctuary · Graveyard · Ghostly Garden · Death Mountain · Dark Death Mountain · Tower of Hera · Ganon’s Tower
West
Northwest
Lost Woods · Skeleton Forest · Master Sword Pedestal · Woodsmen’s Hut
Northeast
Turtle Rock · Zora’s Waterfall · Lake of Ill Omen · Waterfall of Wishing
Southwest
Desert of Mystery · Swamp of Evil · Desert Palace · Misery Mire
Southeast
Lake Hylia · Ice Lake · Pond of Happiness · Ice Palace · Ice Cave
Map close-ups
FAQ
What is the Dark World in A Link to the Past?
The Sacred Realm twisted by Ganon’s wish. Its map mirrors the Light World, so each place has a counterpart, and the Magic Mirror warps Link from a Dark World spot to the same spot in the Light World.
What is the Light World counterpart of the Village of Outcasts?
Kakariko Village. Other pairs include the Lost Woods and Skeleton Forest, Hyrule Castle and the Pyramid of Power, and Lake Hylia and the Ice Lake.
Sources & picture credits
- Light World (Zeldapedia)
- Dark World (Zeldapedia)
- Picture: Lightworldalttp.png
- Picture: Darkworldalttp.png
Guide text is original retrogameindex writing, checked against Zeldapedia. Screenshots, sprites and artwork © Nintendo; local copies archived from Zeldapedia file pages (listed on the image gallery).