How to get around in World of Warcraft

World of Warcraft is a sizable place, and as its grown over the years navigating from place to place has become increasingly convoluted. How do you get to Dalaran from your capitol city? How do you get to classic, Burning Crusade-era Outland? How do you get to Theramore… but, you know, not the crater Theramore has become today? What’s the easiest way to get to Pandaria?

Though these are questions I could have answered off the top of my head when the content was new and I was using these transportation routes regularly, these days I tend to hit up Google when I’m not sure how to get where I need to go. Even with flying coming to help get us around Draenor, between boats and zeppelins and portals, there’s a lot of ways to get around the world — but no convenient subway-style map to figure out the easiest way from point A to point B.

Wherever you are and wherever you want to go, we’ll try to help direct you.

Navigating Azeroth 101

If you’re just trying to get around on the continent you’re on, the process is pretty straightforward. If you’re going somewhere you’ve never been before, you’ll want to walk, run, or hop on your mount (ground or flying) and point yourself in the right direction. If you’re not flying, it’s advisable to use the roads marked on the map to avoid running into trouble. Most major towns will have a flight path you can pick up by talking to the flight master — which will let you travel there faster in the future.

If you’ve picked up a flight path in the past, all you need to do is head to your nearest flight master and tell him where to send you — if you have the right flight path, you can catch a ride straight there without even having to steer. As you explore, you’ll definitely want to look for any green exclamation points on your map, those are flight paths you don’t have. Collect them as you see them, because it will make it easier to get around later!

Where things start to get tricky is when you want to go from one continent to another. Flight paths won’t take you there, so you’re looking for a boat, zeppelin, portal, or something else entirely. Now let’s look at how to get from continent to continent. Each of these transportation methods will typically — but not always — carry you both ways. (Mage portals being a major exception.)

Getting to and around Eastern Kingdoms

Boats

• Rut’theran Village in Teldrassil (outside of Darnassus) to Stormwind City
• Valgarde in Howling Fjord to Menethil Harbor in Wetland
• Valiance Keep in Borean Tundra to Stormwind City
• Theramore in Dustwallow Marsh to Menethil Harbor in Wetlands
• Ratchet in the Northern Barrens to Booty Bay in the Cape of Stranglethorn

Portals

• Mage portal or teleport to Stormwind City, Ironforge (Alliance); Undercity, Silvermoon City, Stonard in Swamp of Sorrows (Horde)
• Death Gate to Ebon Hold (Death Knight only)
• Shattrath City to Stormwind City
• Nordrassil in Mount Hyjal to Stormwind City
• Temple of Earth in Deepholm to Stormwind City
• Dalaran to Stormwind City
• Tol Barad to Stormwind City
• The Dark Portal in Hellfire Peninsula to Stormwind City
• Highbank in Twilight Highlands to Stormwind City
• Your faction’s Shrine in Vale of Eternal Blossoms to Stormwind City, Ironforge (Alliance); Undercity, Silvermoon City (Horde)
• Peak of Serenity to Stormwind City (Monk only)
• Pad’won Village in The Jade Forest to Stormwind City
• Stormwind City and Orgrimmar to Blasted Lands (requires level 58+)
• Shattrath City to Isle of Quel’Danas
• Stormwind City to Highbank in Twilight Highlands
• Orgrimmar to Dragonmaw Port in Twilight Highlands
• Tol Barad to Stormwind City
• Getting gold in dungeon challenge modes unlocks a teleport to that dungeon: Upper Blackrock Spire

Zeppelins

• Orgrimmar to Undercity
• Vengeance Landing in Howling Fjord to Undercity
• Grom’gol Base Camp in Northern Stranglethorn to Undercity

Other

• Deeprun Tram from Ironforge to Stormwind City
• Orb of Translocation in Sunfury Spire in Silvermoon City to Ruins of Lordaeron (above Undercity)
• Direbrew’s Remote, a Brewfest holiday reward, transports your entire party to the Grim Guzzler in Blackrock Depths
• Shroud of Cooperation, Wrap of Unity, and Cloak of Coordination can be bought from the guild vendor (depending on your reputation level) and teleport to Stormwind City on varying cooldowns
• The Brassiest Knuckle teleports to Bizmo’s Brewpub in Stormwind City

If you’re looking for the classic, pre-Warlords of Draenor version of Blasted Lands (for example, if you’re trying to complete Loremaster), look for Zidormi between Blasted Lands and Swamp of Sorrows. Talk to her to go back to the earlier version of the zone.

Getting to and around Kalimdor

Boats

• Stormwind City (far left dock) to Darnassus
• Rut’theran Village in Teldrassil (outside of Darnassus) to Azuremyst Isle
• Menethil Harbor in Wetlands to Theramore in Dustwallow Marsh
• Booty Bay in Cape of Stranglethorn to Ratchet in Northern Barrens

Portals

• Mage portal or teleport to Darnassus, The Exodar, Theramore (Alliance); or Orgrimmar, Thunder Bluff (Horde)
• Druid teleport to Moonglade
• Temple of the Moon in Darnassus to The Exodar
• Your faction’s Shrine in Vale of Eternal Blossoms to Darnassus, The Exodar (Alliance); or Orgrimmar, Thunder Bluff (Horde)
• Shattrath City to Orgrimmar
• Nordrassil in Mount Hyjal to Orgrimmar
• Temple of Earth in Deepholm to Orgrimmar
• Dalaran to Orgrimmar
• Tol Barad to Orgrimmar
• Honeydew Village in The Jade Forest to Orgrimmar
• The Dark Portal in Hellfire Peninsula to Orgrimmar
• Dragonmaw Port inTwilight Highlands to Orgrimmar
• Peak of Serenity to Orgrimmar (Monk only)
• Dalaran (Violet Citadel) to Caverns of Time in Tanaris
• Orgrimmar and Stormwind City to Ramkahen in Uldum (after you’ve completed the initial zone quests)
• Orgrimmar and Stormwind City to Nordrassil in Mount Hyjal (after you’ve completed the initial zone quests)
• Sholazar Basin to Shaper’s Terrace in Un’goro Crater (once An Issue of Trust is completed)

Zeppelins

• Orgrimmar to Thunder Bluff
• Warsong Hold in Borean Tundra to Orgrimmar
• Undercity to Orgrimmar
• Grom’gol Base Camp in Northern Stranglethorn to Orgrimmar

Other

• Shroud of Cooperation, Wrap of Unity, and Cloak of Coordination can be bought from the guild vendor (depending on your reputation level) and teleport to Orgrimmar on varying cooldowns
• The Brassiest Knuckle teleports to the Brawl’gar Arena in Orgrimmar
• Dimensional Ripper – Everlook sends you to Everlook in Winterspring for goblin engineers
• Ultrasafe Transporter: Gadgetzan sends you to Gadgetzan in Tanaris for gnomish engineers
• Teleport from World’s End Tavern in Shattrath City to Caverns of Time in Tanaris by talking to Zephyr (requires revered with Keepers of Time)

If you’re looking for the classic, pre-Mists of Pandaria version of Theramore (for example, if you’re trying to complete Loremaster), look for Zidormi located at the end of the bridge between Thereamore and Dustwallow Marsh. Talk to her to go back to the earlier version of the zone.

Getting to and around Outland

Portals

• Mage portal or teleport to Shattrath City
• Stormwind City, Ironforge, Darnassus, The Exodar to Hellfire Peninsula in Outland
• Orgrimmar, Thunder Bluff, Undercity, Silvermoon City to Hellfire Peninsula in Outland
• Your faction’s Shrine in Vale of Eternal Blossoms to Shattrath City

Other

• Ultrasafe Transporter: Toshley’s Station sends you to Toshley’s Station in Blade’s Edge Mountains for gnomish engineers
• Dimensional Ripper – Area 52 sends you to Area 52 in Netherstorm for goblin engineers

Getting to and around Northrend

Boats

• Stormwind City to Valiance Keep in Borean Tundra
• Unu’pe in Borean Tundra to Moaki Harbor in Dragonblight
• Menethil Harbor in Wetland to Valgarde in Howling Fjord
• Kamagua in Howling Fjord to Moaki Harbor in Dragonblight

Portals

• Mage portal or teleport to Dalaran
• Wintergrasp to Dalaran
• Your faction’s Shrine in Vale of Eternal Blossoms to Dalaran
• Shaper’s Terrace in Un’goro Crater to Sholazar Basin (once An Issue of Trust is completed)

Zeppelins

• Orgrimmar to Warsong Hold in Borean Tundra
• Undercity to Vengeance Landing in Howling Fjord

Other

• Wormhole Generator: Northrend will teleport engineers to a random Northrend location
• Any of the Kirin Tor rings, purchasable in Dalaran for 8500 gold, will teleport you to Dalaran
• Argent Crusader’s Tabard, purchasable for 50 Champion’s Seal, will teleport you to the Argent Tournament Grounds in Icecrown

Getting to Vash’jir and Deepholm

Despite the distance of Vash’jir and Deepholm, Cataclysm zones are quite easy to reach via portals. Deepholm, Hyjal, Twilight Highlands, Uldum, and Vash’jir each have portals from Orgrimmar and Stormwind once you’ve completed the initial quests to unlock them (and portals back, too). Hyjal and Uldum are the easiest to reach, simply being part of Kalimdor and Eastern Kingdoms, respectively, and accessed by walking, riding, or taking a flight path. The more distant Vash’jir is also, surprisingly, accessible by flight path, but for the most part you’re likely to lean on portals to come and go from these zones.

Flight paths

• Ironforge to Vash’jir
• Undercity to Vash’jir

Portals

• Stormwind City to Vash’jir (after you’ve completed the initial zone quests)
• Stormwind City to Deepholm (after you’ve completed the initial zone quests)
• Orgrimmar to Vash’jir (after you’ve completed the initial zone quests)
• Orgrimmar to Deepholm (after you’ve completed the initial zone quests)

Getting to and around Pandaria

Portals

• Mage portal or teleport to your faction’s Shrine in Vale of Eternal Blossoms
• Townlong Steppes (near Shado-Pan reputation hub) to Dawnseeker Promontory on Isle of Thunder
• Townlong Steppes (near Shado-Pan reputation hub) to Violet Rise on Isle of Thunder
• Stormwind City to Paw’don Village in The Jade Forest
• Orgrimmar to Honeydew Village in The Jade Forest

Other

• Zen Pilgrimage to Peak of Serenity (Monk only)
• Wormhole Generator: Pandaria will teleport engineers to a random Pandaria location
• Sunreaver Beacon (Horde) will send you to Dawnseeker
• Promontory on the Isle of Thunder after completing the initial quest chain
• Kirin Tor Beacon (Alliance) will send you to Violet Rise on the Isle of Thunder after completing the initial quest chain
• Time-Lost Artifact will send you to Timeless Isle (requires honored with Shaohao)
• Click on this campfire in Gorgrond to get to Timeless Isle

Getting to and around Draenor

Portals

• Mage portal or teleport to your faction’s Ashran city
• Garrison (level 3) Tower of War to your faction’s Ashran city
• Mage Tower (Alliance) or Spirit Lodge (Horde) garrison building allows the creation of up to three portals to the Draenor zone of your choice.
• Your faction’s Ashran city to Ironforge, Darnassus, Stormwind (Alliance); Orgrimmar, Thunder Bluff, Undercity
• Getting gold in dungeon challenge modes unlocks a teleport to that dungeon: Auchindoun, Bloodmaul Slag Mines, Grimrail Depot, Iron Docks, Shadowmoon Burial Grounds, Skyreach, Everbloom

Other

• Go through the Dark Portal in Blasted Lands in Eastern Kingdoms (there’s a portal to Blasted lands from Stormwind and Orgrimmar to make getting there easier)
• Use your Garrison Hearthstone to return you to your garrison in Shadowmoon Valley or Frostfire Ridge (once you’ve completed the initial garrison quests)
• Click on this campfire on Timeless Isle to get to Gorgrond
• Wormhole Centrifuge will teleport engineers to a random Draenor location
• Home Away from Home will send you to your Spires of Arak outpost if you’ve chosen to build the brewery
• Relic of Karabor (Alliance) teleports you to the Path of Light in Shadowmoon Valley (requires revered with Council of Exarchs)
• Bladespire Relic (Horde) teleports you to Bladespire Fortress in Frostfire Ridge (requires revered with Frostwolf Orcs)

Looking to simplify your transportation needs? If you need to continent hop frequently, our best advice is to set your hearthstone you your faction’s Pandaria Shrine, which will have a portal to major cities on each continent, allowing for zippy transportation everywhere. If you’re having trouble finding out how to get from place to place, beyond the confines of this list, it’s no surprise that there’s an addon for that: Atlas Transportation adds transportation maps to the in-game client. (Note that you’ll also need the addon Atlas to use it.)