Grand Theft Auto V has been around since 2013. It was one of the most hyped games ever made, and his since gone on to become the second biggest-selling game of all time, and one of the most well-reviewed entertainment products ever made. Despite no dramatic single-player updates, GTA V remains immensely popular thanks to the ever-changing landscape of its online mode.
The huge (almost fifty square miles) map is full of areas of outstanding interest, beauty and purpose, so we’ve taken it upon ourselves to rank the best areas in Los Santos and Blaine County.
10 Vespucci Beach
Over on the left side of Los Santos is a long, sandy beach full of incredible views of the sea and the mountains in the distance. Not only is it fantastic to look at, but you can find a variety of boats along the shoreline and a pier complete with a rideable rollercoaster and Ferris wheel. Oh, and you can find a variety of characters crowded around fires if you’re the ‘senseless killing’ type.
9 Fort Zancudo
As Fort Zancudo is a military base, it is incredibly heavily fortified. One cannot simply walk into Zancudo. Without getting into an immediate four-star battle with the military who, remember, have tanks.
The way to get in with a few seconds to spare is by jumping (in a vehicle) your way over the fence via a convenient incline just after the tunnel near Mount Chiliad. If you can move with enough speed and skill, you might just be able to find your way into a military plane or a tank and wreak absolute havoc.
8 Grove Street
Something that many people don’t realize is that Los Santos previously appeared in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas all the way back in 2004.
Grove Street is one of the very few places that appear in both that game and GTA V, making a visit there a nostalgic experience. The tiny area is also rife with crime, so if you fancy a quick shootout, then this is probably the best place to be.
7 The Top Of The Maze Bank Tower
There are a multitude of places to visit in Los Santos and the surrounding areas to get incredible views. The best view attainable in the middle of the built-up city, however, is certainly the top of the Maze Bank Tower.
It’s the tallest building in the game, meaning you can see everything from the sea to the mountains from up there. You can also test your helicopter piloting skills by trying to land there, and maybe even see if you’re any good at parachuting by jumping off.
6 The Diamond Casino & Resort
The Diamond Casino has always been present in the GTA V map, though it took more than five years for players to make their way inside. Now, GTA Online players can gamble at a variety of high-stakes tables, slot machines and even a horse racing area.
There is also the option to buy expensive luxury penthouses within the building, giving your fake-life some much-needed flair. There are very few places in GTA as fancy as this.
5 Vinewood Hills
A lot of signs point to Los Santos being a parody of Los Angeles. One of the most obvious is, literally, a sign. The huge Vinewood sign sits in the hills overlooking the most expensive area of the city.
Whether you’re walking through the heat-soaked wilderness or wandering the winding roads full of luxury apartments and million-dollar cars, it’s all worth exploring.
4 The Top Of Mount Chiliad
There are so many reasons that the top of Mount Chiliad is one of the best locations in GTA V. You can reach the peak via a cable car (how many games have one of those?) and drive all the way back down on a mountain bike.
It’s also one of the easiest places to commit some severe crimes and avoid punishment. Most importantly, though, on a clear day, you can get a mesmerizing view of the entire landscape.
3 El Gordo Lighthouse
The reason El Gordo Lighthouse makes it onto this list is simply because so few players even know it exists or remember it from the single-player campaign.
Right over on the East Coast of the map in Cape Catfish, the lighthouse can be seen out in the sea. This location has the unique distinction of being beautiful in the bright sunlight, and genuinely terrifying in the mist and rain.
2 The Alamo Sea
While it does connect directly to the sea, The Alamo Sea is just a big lake. It takes up a huge portion of Blaine County, sitting right next to Trevor’s airfield and in front of the mountain range.
Not only is it beautiful to look at, but as the largest body of water (not counting the ocean around the edge of the map) it’s probably your best option for a swimming or sailing lesson.
1 Raton Canyon
The undoubtedly best location in the GTA V map is Raton Canyon. It connects the waters of The Alamo Sea into the ocean via twisting and turning rivers that can be accessed on foot or bike for a lovely walk, boat for bold sailors, and plane for truly life-risking stuntmen.
Not only is it fun to navigate, but there isn’t a single more beautiful spot anywhere in Los Santos or Blaine County.