Most Breathtaking Locations In Grand Theft Auto V

Highlights

• GTA 5’s open world design is a timeless and magical experience that sticks with players long after they finish the game.
• The game’s beautiful locations, such as Baytree Canyon and Tongva Valley, are a testament to Rockstar’s technical prowess.
• GTA 5 offers diverse and stunning landscapes like Palomino Highlands and Raton Canyon that provide moments of awe and tranquility amidst the action.

Rockstar Games has consistently been at the forefront of delivering excellence through its video games. One need only look at the massive success of Grand Theft Auto 5 to understand why this is the case. Initially coming out as a stellar single-player experience that was very much a must-play in every sense, Rockstar ended up going above and beyond the call of duty for this title, integrating a first-person perspective and also adding an Online functionality that has taken the world by storm.

A big part of what makes Grand Theft Auto 5 such a timeless and magical experience is the incredible design of its open world, featuring a bunch of unique and interesting locales that will stick with players long after they’re finished with this brilliant experience. The fact that these sights have aged so well is a testament to Rockstar’s technical prowess, creating state-of-the-art titles that age like a fine wine and never get tiring in the slightest. After all, there’s a reason why GTA 5 is still widely talked about to this day, and that’s not just because of its multiplayer component.

Updated February 4, 2024, by Ritwik Mitra: Grand Theft Auto 5 is one of the best video games ever made, and the sheer number of beautiful locations in this game are quite expansive. It’s hard to believe that this game is more than a decade old. Players love the longevity of this game and how it still feels amazing to play even now. A huge part of this is GTA Online, but even that mode would have failed had it not been for the solid base that helped this aspect of the game shine even more. As players explore the world of Grand Theft Auto 5, they’ll find many places that can keep them entertained for hours on end.

20 Baytree Canyon

Overlooks The Grand Senora Desert

• Located in the Great Chaparral area

Most players won’t be aware of Baytree Canyon’s existence, given that its name isn’t shown on the map. However, that doesn’t take away from the scenic views that players can enjoy in this canyon once they manage to locate it.

The view of the Grand Senora Desert is breathtaking from this area. Players can also see Vinewood Hills from here, letting them enjoy a visual treat during their adventures across the many immersive landscapes of Grand Theft Auto 5.

19 Heart Attacks Beach

An Oddly Named Beach With A Brilliant View

One of the most amusingly named locations in the game, Heart Attacks Beach is one of the many locations that players can find in the world of Grand Theft Auto 5. The beach is right next to Mount Gordo, which is perhaps why it has been given such a name.

Many people are familiar with Mount Gordo as the location where they can spot a ghost during certain hours of the night. It’s possible that some people saw this spirit from the beach, and were so scared that their hearts gave out. It’s a plausible story for the name, but is nothing more than speculation.

18 Great Chaparral

A Serene Location Where Less Is More

Most people would be surprised to see Great Chaparral here, given that the place is mostly empty barring a few farms and trees here and there. However, in a game that is jam-packed with detailed environments and dynamic landscapes, there’s something interesting about a location that doesn’t need all that much to wow players with how peaceful and subtle the views are.

Driving through Great Chaparral during the day is a treat for the eyes if players look around instead of trying to find the quickest way to get from point A to point B. It’s a treat for the ages, and fans will have a great time taking their time through this area before moving on to accomplishing the many activities that they can engage with in this amazing title.

17 Tongva Valley

A Beautiful Location With Unique, Varied Landscapes

• Located just south of Route 68

The region of Tongva boasts some of the best views in Grand Theft Auto 5, and there’s a reason why players who are well-versed when it comes to the game’s many regions love this area in particular. Most people talk about Tongva Hills in particular, and that’s understandable — that location is undoubtedly the highlight of this area and has many places where players can just stop and look around, amazed by the amazing visuals of the game.

However, Tongva Valley shouldn’t be underestimated in this regard either. This area has its fair share of amazing locations that will wow players to no end. The sheer amount of detail present here goes a long way in making the location as picturesque as possible. Given how breakneck the pace of this game can be at times, players will always welcome a moment to just stand and gaze in awe at just how technically impressive this game looks despite being released around a decade ago!

16 Palomino Highlands

The Coastline Looks Amazing When The Weather Paints It In A Flattering Way

• Present in Southeast Los Santos County

A beautiful coastline area, Palomino Highlands is a great example of just how diverse the environments of Grand Theft Auto 5 are. Featuring the best of both worlds, players who have seen enough of the copious greenery in this area can walk down the coastline to enjoy the views afforded by the Pacific Ocean.

It’s an excellent location to unwind after a long day of butchering innocents and committing grand theft auto on a massive scale. It’s a beautiful area, and players will be especially lucky if they capture a great aerial view of this underrated location in the game.

15 Grand Senora Desert

An Arid Expanse With A Lot Of Detail

At a glance, a desert doesn’t seem like the most interesting area to explore in a video game. However, Rockstar Games has knocked it out of the park while designing this area as well.

The Grand Senora Desert not only looks incredible, but it is also full to the brim with unique secrets. It’s a surprisingly scenic area that serves as a breath of fresh air from the usual locales present in the game.

14 Vinewood

Grand Theft Auto 5’s Take On Hollywood

• A famous district in Los Santos

The posh area of Vinewood was bound to make its way into this list at some point. After all, it’s one of the most iconic locations in Grand Theft Auto 5!

Vinewood is a beautiful urban sprawl that is extremely scenic too. Roaming around this area and finding beautiful spots to take snapshots is surprisingly easy, due to how picturesque the area is. It’s a great place to just drive around and take a break from the chaos.

13 Chiliad Mountain State Wilderness

A State Park Whose Biggest Highlight Is The Eponymous Mountain

• A state park in Blaine County

Chiliad Mountain itself is a fun area to explore in Grand Theft Auto 5. However, the wilderness of this area also has some delightful parts of its own.

The flora and fauna of the Chiliad Mountain State Wilderness make the entire area feel alive — and pretty dangerous, at times. Thankfully, players don’t need to worry much, as long as they spot any danger quickly and don’t linger in one spot for too long.

12 Fort Zancudo

An Army Base With Rare Vehicles That Nets A Wanted Level Instantly

• Outskirts of the Lago Zancudo swamps

Fort Zancudo isn’t a breathtaking location in the usual sense. After all, it’s just a restricted military area that most people won’t even frequent all that much in the game.

However, even taking a look at this place from afar gives a sense of awe. This fort is a rare yet welcome sight — right up until a bunch of missiles come out of nowhere to bomb the player. Then it’s time to get out of there fast.

11 Grove Street

A Legendary Street That Fans Of GTA: San Andreas Are Intimately Familiar With

• Present in Davis, South Los Santos

Grove Street served as the iconic hub of San Andreas and has become one of the most memorable locations in video games. Seeing this area in Grand Theft Auto 5 is a nostalgic sight that many people will love.

For some reason, not many members of the GSF roam around this area that often, since the Ballas seem more prominent. It’s saddening, but this is just a small gripe for a location that is legendary and brings many fond memories.

10 Tataviam Mountains

A Beautiful Mountain Range

There is a slew of beautiful locales in Grand Theft Auto 5, but the Tataviam Mountains stand a cut above the rest because of its beautiful places right between the rural and urban areas of Los Santos.

This area is based on the San Jacinto Mountains of Riverside County and can prove to be quite a scenic and beautiful locale for players wanting to witness the masterful open-world design of this title.

9 Tongva Hills

An Undeveloped Area That Looks All The More Natural And Beautiful As A Result

Many places look beautiful when the sun is setting in the world of Grand Theft Auto 5, but not many can match the view from Tongva Hills in this regard.

The little streams and waterfalls scattered all across this area are beautiful enough as is, and watching the orange rays of the setting sun bounce off of these reflective surfaces is a treat to witness in every sense of the word.

8 Vespucci Beach

A Beautiful, Well-Maintained Beach

• Located in Vespucci, Los Santos

However, there’s another place where people can catch the sunset and be more than appeased by the views — Vespucci Beach. This area is Rockstar’s take on the famous Venice Beach, and this certainly shows in every aspect of its design.

The area is populated with NPCs going about their day, making this area feel all the more lively and invigorating to explore. It certainly helps that the landscape also features interesting sights, including a massive Ferris Wheel that is surprisingly beautiful to witness.

7 Alamo Sea

A Salt Lake That Is Breathtaking To Behold

• In the middle of Blaine County, San Andreas

At a glance, it might seem like the seas and oceans of Grand Theft Auto 5 are nothing more than vast expanses of water with nothing to do. However, people who share this notion have never explored the beautiful Alamo Sea.

Driving around the shores of this sea in a boat — or even flying around in a slow plane — is surprisingly calming and makes for a rather underrated highlight in a game that usually sells itself on promoting bombastic action and zany humor over anything else.

6 Paleto Forest

A Coniferous Forest That Looks Amazing In The Right Conditions

Paleto Forest is a vast expanse of wilderness where pollen can also fill up the air at times to make for a genuinely breathtaking landscape. It’s too bad that this area is populated with bears that will force players to occasionally go into action mode, ruining their enjoyment of this scenic location.

For players who want to explore the areas around Paleto without being hounded by animals, there’s a way better place to explore — namely, the town near this area itself.

5 Paleto Bay

A Small Town That Looks Positively Quaint

• Northwest of Paleto Forest

The small town of Paleto Bay is easily one of the best places to explore in the game, featuring a quaint and calming aesthetic that will keep fans occupied with its innate charm and hypnotizing views. This town is based on the real-life area of Fillmore and is the perfect depiction of small-town America in Grand Theft Auto 5.

It’s easily a much better place to explore for players who wish to avoid attacks from bears, that’s for sure. Along with this, people who get bored of the town in itself can always choose to roam around the nearby Paleto Cove instead as well.

4 Mount Chiliad

A Legendary Mountain That Needs No Introduction For Long-Time GTA Fans

• The tallest mountain that’s easy to spot in Blaine County

Mount Chiliad is a legendary location in the Grand Theft Auto series, featured prominently in San Andreas and rearing its majestic head in Grand Theft Auto 5 as well.

While this place might be infamous for featuring one of the most obtuse easter eggs around, one can’t deny that the place itself looks majestic and a complete treat to explore at times as well!

3 Mount Gordo

A Ghostly Mountain Where Players Can Stumble Upon Something Unnerving

• Northeast of Blaine County

Another mountain that is notorious for featuring a supernatural encounter — the fact that there’s a ghost in Mount Gordo is not the only reason why people should explore this location.

The Mount Gordo cliffside can be an absolute treat to explore, and the lighthouse present near this area is eerily beautiful in its way as well.

2 Banham Canyon

A Hilly Region Where Players Can Calmy Explore, Drinking In The Sights

• Located in Los Santos County

Of course, it would be impossible to talk about breathtaking locations in Grand Theft Auto 5 without mentioning the incredibly designed canyons present in this game.

While Banham Canyon isn’t an area where one can just get off and admire the views, one has to admit that driving through the winding roads of this area — preferably in a fast sports car or something along the same lines — is easily one of the most satisfying moments in the game.

1 Raton Canyon

A National Park Where Sunsets Are Particularly Breathtaking

• Present within the Chiliad Mountain State Wilderness area

However, when it comes to talking about the most breathtaking location in Grand Theft Auto 5, nothing comes close to the serene beauty of Raton Canyon. It’s a visual treat full to the brim with mountains, cliffs, rivers, streams, and everything else along the same lines scattered throughout the location.

Players who manage to catch a sunset — or even a sunrise, for that matter — in this location will be able to enjoy one of the most memorable moments in the entire game.