The GTA series is known for its immersive open world and iconic locations. These locations are often modeled after real counterparts. From famous landmarks like Statue of Liberty and Golden Gate Bridge to the entire urban landscape like Los Santos and Vice City, Grand Theft Auto certainly provided plenty of cool places to explore.
It’s safe to say that Rockstar doesn’t cut many corners, but there’s certainly an area where you can offer players more than others when it comes to unmanned wildlife.
There are some outstanding places that every player should visit in each mainline GTA game, in terms of missions, vendors, aesthetics and overall fun.
10 Sand beach
On the surface, Sandy Shores is a quaint desert town, which is not much progressing, but the longer you spend here, the more you learn about its secrets and quirky inhabitants. In contrast to the busy urban life of Los Santos, Sandy Shores is a great escape to a more peaceful environment, offering spectacular views across the towering Mount Chiliado and the Alamo Sea.
The town, which appears as a Trevor residence in GTA 5, is featured as a dusty, worn trailer park that has never progressed. It may not be for everyone’s preference, but something about this pioneering American spirit and enduring such conditions is appealing to many players, especially when they get bored of exploring the city.
The town itself has many useful items, such as the AMM-Nation and nearby airfields. With immediate access to the land, sea and air, Sandy Shores will be a major business hub when it comes to planning robberies.
9 Chinatown
One of the clear enclaves of Liberty City
Liberty City’s Chinatown is certainly one of the most unique districts. Just like Little Italy, this ethnic enclave is quickly recognised for its stylized architecture, Chinese road signs and decorative red lanterns hanging overhead.
Nico visits the area several times via GTA 4 main stories, including “Eating Out” and “Three Leaf Clovers.” However, the episode of Liberty City expansion also featured in several missions for both Johnny and Lewis.
This charming area also was born in GTA: Chinatown Wars. This is a very unique game from the GTA franchise, centered around Triad member Juan Lee.
8 Coast lift bridge
The impressive achievements of engineering
The incarnation of Liberty City in GTA 3 is not as close to as advanced or detailed as the GTA 4, but there is still a charm and reason to visit. One of the game’s main landmarks is the coastal lift bridge that connects Stanton Island to Shorely Side Veil.
Not only is the bridge fully functional, it is fun to cross, but it also makes it a great escape route when pursued by the police. The Stanton Island side of the bridge has a much larger urban vibe, but the veil of Shawdade is a relaxed mountain town.
The views from both the bridge and from the bridge are good, especially when classic lighting is enabled in GTA 3: Definitive Edition. It may not be the cleanest structure, but its monumental size governs the area and is somewhat unmissable.
7 broker
The Underrated Jewels of Liberty City
The broker, modeled after Brooklyn, New York, is Nico’s starting island for the GTA 4, representing one of the city’s less-rich areas. Nevertheless, it is an attractive place to explore for many diverse communities. Russians, Puerto Ricans, Jamaicans, Asians and more are located in this district in the shadow of the fantastic brokerage bridge to Algonquin.
In addition to the old waterfront, the island also has thriving commercial districts, quiet residential areas, and a Funland amusement park on Firefly Island. It is also home to Francis International Airport and many railway stations that can take you around town.
Not only is the fun place to explore and relax, the broker also has many convenient shops, from food and clothing vendors to weapons and car shops. Additionally, Radio Broker, a custom radio station in the district, has some interesting music with quite a few hidden gems.
6 vinewood
Rich and famous house
Based on Hollywood in Los Angeles, Vinewood is one of the most luxurious areas of Los Santos and is home to the city’s film industry and its stars. Many mansions dotted with Vinewood Hills showcase the wealth and diversity of their inhabitants with a wide range of architectural designs, ranging from traditional Spanish villas to modern minimalist rectangles.
Featuring both GTA 5 and GTA: San Andreas, the area is located on the north side of Los Santos City and features several purchaseable and accessible properties in two games. Additionally, many of the most valuable player homes in GTA Online are also found in this area.
Not only is it an iconic place in itself, but the illuminated Vinewood sign is the most prominent landmark, but the place also offers a stunning view of Los Santos.
5 Ocean Beach
Iconic Vice City setting
Based on South Beach in Miami, Ocean Beach is one of the most lively areas in Vice City. With a prominent culture of many waterfront hotels, bars and underground street racing, Ocean Beach is certainly a place at sunset.
In GTA Vice City, the Ocean View Hotel is located along Ocean Beach’s main street and is the starting save point for Tommy Versetti. It appears to be featured in GTA 6 as the hotel was significantly included in its first release trailer.
This popular neon-covered spot is located on the southeast side of the map. This includes many clothing and weapons shops, a pole position nightclub, which can be acquired as income assets.
4 Globe Street
Globe Street OGS House
Located in the heart of Los Santos, home to the Johnson brothers and the Grove Street family, this small culprit is not as peaceful as it looks. Being caught up in a permanent gang war with rivals, Roses and Grove Street families, one of the most violent gangs in the city, the grass is frequently attacked.
Nevertheless, the small hubs offered by the streets feel very homey and gives off a wonderful community atmosphere. The basketball court next to Sweet’s House offers fun side activities, but you can use the main Johnson House and Garage to save the game and save the vehicle.
Globe Street itself is conveniently located near the Ganton gym where several food and clothing stores, barbershops and tattoo parlors, and CJs can take shape and learn boxing.
3 Malibu Club
One of Vice City’s top nightclubs
The Malibu Club is one of Vice City’s most iconic nightclubs, and is available to asset players who can buy it in the game. Not only is it a very detailed building itself with fully model decor, but it is also the setting for some of the best missions in the game.
After purchasing the club for $120,000, you will be able to start a bank robbery mission. These consist of putting together a team and ultimately taking away El Banco’s destructive grande, after which the venue will provide a normal income of $10,000 per day.
The Malibu Club is the perfect hub of operation for gangs like Tommy Versetti, and the idyllic location on the Waterside is also an added bonus. You can only speculate on how the building will be represented in the GTA 6, but you may receive a significant upgrade.
2 Star Junction
Liberty City’s heartbeat
It’s hard to think of any place in the GTA series as more spectacular than the Star Junction of the GTA 4. Based on New York’s Times Square, the downtown landmark is the heart of trade and advertising, with the large screens and neon lights giving it an almost futuristic cyberpunk vibe when compared to other parts of the city.
Recreation is not only relatively accurate in real life, but also provides news and information about in-game events such as stock exchanges and advertising campaigns for specific in-game companies and products.
Whenever you drive through Liberty City, it’s always a special feeling around Star Junction. The area also has some convenient shops to visit, including food and clothing vendors. There’s even a comedy club where you can take Nico’s friends with you, featuring performances from legendary comedians Kat Williams and Ricky Gervais.
1 Venture Flip
San Andreas’s City of Sin
All the beloved places of the GTA: Even among San Andreas, the Las Venturas Strip stands out as a vibrant gem of the desert. Lined with luxurious casinos such as Caligula Palace, four dragons and camel toes, Ventura glows in the night sky, giving it an unmistakable atmosphere of fun and confusion in a barren environment.
This strip features many available properties, expensive vehicles, entertainment venues, and opportunities for advantageous missions for both the Triad and Mafia. It also offers one of the longest and straightest roads in the game. This is perfect for testing the top speed of a car or bike.
Overall, the strip has everything you need to satisfy your CJ. As an additional bonus, the Triad Robbery mission is the best in the game, centering around the huge robbery that takes place in Caligula. With Vice City confirmed as a GTA 6 setup, I only hope for Las Venturas to return with GTA 7 and above.
