The Best Hidden Quests Fans Missed In Skyrim

Skyrim is the game that just keeps on giving. Despite the fact that it’s been available for over a decade now, the game is so expansive and full of hidden gems that even the most dedicated player probably hasn’t done everything there is to do yet. Hidden areas and secret quests are lurking around every corner, and it’s incredibly exciting when you come across one for the first time.

With The Elder Scrolls 6 on its way (someday…), there’s no time like the present to return to Skyrim and try to complete every single secret and hidden quest that’s on offer. Here are just a few of the hidden quests and locations in Skyrim worth finding.

Updated on February 2, 2025, by Jon Eakin: This list was originally published over five years ago, and yet we still don’t have Elder Scrolls 6 in hand. Given that fact, you really have no choice but to keep playing Skyrim (sorry Starfield). As such, we’ve updated this article with new entries and features to make sure you don’t miss any quests.

22

Repentance

Showdown With A Coven

If you’re interested in unlocking as many followers as possible in Skyrim, you won’t want to miss Repentance. Completing it will let you recruit the quest giver, Illia, who is particularly skilled with different kinds of magic.

Repentance will put you against her mother, Silvia, who resides within the impressive Darklight Tower. She’s a witch leading an entire coven, so don’t take them lightly or you’ll quickly regret it.

21

Kyne’s Sacred Trials

Ain’t Afraid Of No Guardians

If traveling the land to fight ghostly animals sounds like a good time to you, not only is that very specific, but you’re also in luck. Kyne’s Sacred Trials will have you doing just that, sending you all across the map to tackle guardian spirits.

Completing it will reward you with Kyne’s Token, an amulet that reduces damage from animals and increases the damage you deal when using a bow. Perfect for when you’re traveling through the snowy wilderness.

20

The Blackreach Dragon

Suddenly Vulthuryol Appears

Even if you’ve journeyed around the Dwemer ruins of Blackreach, you may have missed the fact that there’s an ancient dragon as a hidden side quest within its walls. If you use your Unrelenting Force shout on the hanging gong in the Silent City, the dragon Vulthuryol will appear.

Unusually for a dragon, he’ll remain on the ground for the majority of your battle. Whether that makes him easier or more difficult to defeat is for you to decide.

19

Forgotten Names

Put A Ring On It

Forgotten Names is triggered after the player comes across a grisly scene in The Midden Dark, underneath the College of Winterhold. In a room littered with skeletons and covered in blood, a statue in the shape of a gauntlet sits in the center of the destruction.

An incident report found nearby describes a failed ritual involving four rings. Can you locate these rings? What happens if you return the rings to the gauntlet? You’ll have to find out.

18

Rise In The East

High Seas High Stakes

If you’re looking for a fun little hidden side quest involving some morally questionable pirates and the East Empire Company, Rise In The East is perfect. Go to the East Empire Company office in the Windhelm Docks and speak to Orthus Endario to get started.

He’ll tell you about a group of pirates named the Blood Horkers who are making the work of the Company difficult. He suspects that the pirates could be working with Clan Shatter-Shield—and it’s up to you to confirm or disprove this hunch.

17

The Book Of Love

That’s The Power Of Love

The Book Of Love is one of the most wholesome hidden quests in the entirety of Skyrim, mainly because it doesn’t involve any violence or conflict whatsoever.

If you head to the Temple of Mara in Riften and speak to the priestess Dinya Balu, she’ll set you off on a quest that involves bringing love and joy to the citizens of Skyrim. The rewards are not too shabby either, with a permanent +15 percent Resist Magic buff applied to the Dragonborn.

16

Clearing Kagrenzel

A Classic Crawl

Since the Dwarven ruins of Kagrenzel are accessible via an unmarked path in the east of Skyrim and almost directly north of Riften, it’s easy to miss them. However, they’re definitely worth seeking out for a hidden, unofficial quest of dungeon crawling.

This dungeon is by no means an easy one to clear. Even before you reach it, you have frost trolls and a leveled conjurer to deal with. Once you get inside, there’s a whole host of Falmer to battle too. Still, the treasure you can find in Kagrenzel makes the struggle worth it. Two words: flawless diamond.

15

Ironbind Barrow

Worth Shouting About

Ironbind Barrow is another hidden dungeon quest that the casual Skyrim player might not have come across in their travels. Located to the southwest of Winterhold, it can be tricky to get to in the first place: there are a ton of wolves, frost trolls, and other beasts lurking in the area.

However, if you do make it to the barrow, make sure to explore it fully. There’s a powerful draugr warlord, Gathrik, waiting at the end—and some nice loot to collect if you can defeat him. The Become Ethereal Shout can also be found here at the Word Wall.

14

Forbidden Legend

Not Forbidden To You

Forbidden Legend is an extensive and super-fun hidden quest that is only unlocked if the player happens to read one of the books of the same name that are scattered around Skyrim. Two can be found in Dragonsreach in Whiterun: one in Farengar’s library and one in the Jarl’s private quarters.

Once the quest is unlocked, you’ll find yourself searching far and wide for the pieces of a legendary item, the Gauldur Amulet. You’ll definitely want to reforge it and take it for yourself. Considering the Amulet will give you a +30 point boost on your Health, Magicka, and Stamina, its pieces are worth searching for.

13

The Abandoned Rowboat

Not So Merrily

In the river located to the southwest of Sky Haven Temple, an abandoned rowboat sits in the water. This unmarked location isn’t the source of a long and arduous hidden quest—in fact, all that the boat has to offer is an apothecary’s satchel, a strongbox, a chest hidden under the water, and some gemstones.

However, it’s actually pretty crucial for any Skyrim players who want to complete the quest The Only Cure. If you’re in need of a flawless ruby, you’d best go searching for this boat.

12

Coming Of Age

To Barrow Or Not To Barrow

Remember how we said that exploring Ironbind Barrow was definitely worth a shot? Well, if you do choose to head to this location, you’ll unlock a minor hidden quest along the way. Before entering the barrow, you’ll come across two friends—Salma and Beem-Ja—having a heated discussion about whether to explore the barrow or not.

Eventually, the three of you all choose to explore the area together—but was this the right choice? Can Salma and Beem-Ja really be trusted? That’s up to you to find out.

11

Defeating The Reaper

Don’t Fear Them

Who doesn’t love a good secret boss to defeat in their Skyrim playthrough? If you own the Dawnguard DLC, you can find one of these hidden adversaries in the Soul Cairn. The Reaper is a spectral figure who is feared by the residents of the Cairn.

If you want to summon him and defeat him, place three fragments of Reaper Gem on the altar inside the Reaper’s Lair. Be prepared, though—the Reaper can be a tricky boss to defeat. However, he does drop a Daedra Heart upon dying, which is a wildly useful and rare alchemy ingredient.

10

The King Arthur Quests

Arthurian Easter Eggs

If you’re at all familiar with the legend of King Arthur, you’re going to love a couple of Arthurian hidden easter eggs that are dotted around Skyrim. For example, just south of Broken Tower Redoubt, there’s a Steel Sword sitting in a stone outside Rebel’s Cairn.

Then there’s the pond near Bleakwind Basin which has a skeletal arm clutching a sword protruding from its waters. It’s the Lady in the Lake. The leveled sword is clearly meant to be Excalibur.

9

The Dragon Bridge Crime Scene

NCISkyrm

Near to Dragon Bridge, an unmarked location named the Ambushed Caravan exists. This place basically looks like a scene out of CSI: Skyrim—something pretty nefarious has clearly happened there.

A married couple has violently perished, as has their horse. Their cart has been ambushed, with the perpetrators leaving little behind except the woman’s journal—which tragically details her fear that this would happen. The question is, who committed this crime? Examine the scene and see if you can work it out.

8

The Ebony Warrior

Tis But A Scratch

Encountering the Ebony Warrior is a feat that only the most dedicated Skyrim players can achieve. There are two important prerequisites involved: you have to own the Dragonborn DLC, and your character has to be level 80 or higher.

The Ebony Warrior will appear in one of Skyrim’s cities and will challenge your character to a fight. Ultimately, he wants to lose: he’s ready for his soul to be sent to Sovngarde. However, this warrior is by no means easy to defeat.

7

Exploring Arcwind Point

Better With Dawnguard

Arcwind Point is a pretty interesting and partly hidden Ancient Nord Temple to explore. Located near the Rift Imperial Camp, it can be pretty difficult to find, and what you do discover there depends on what version of the game you have.

If you have the Dawnguard DLC installed, you’ll find that a dragon will spawn above the site. Plus, there’ll be a Word Wall for the shout “Drain Vitality” near the top of the Point. Even without the DLC, though, there’ll be a Draugr Deathlord waiting there who can be tricky to defeat.

6

Frostflow Abyss

A Murderous Mystery

Frostflow Abyss is a hidden quest that’s perfect for all the sleuthing Skyrim players out there. It’s triggered when you visit Frostflow Lighthouse, only to discover that its inhabitants—a seemingly ordinary family—have been brutally slain by an unknown assailant.

You’re tasked with solving the mystery of Frostflow but be warned: some tough foes lie ahead, but they are more than worth it for the Sailor’s Repose ability you’ll unlock at the end.

5

Composure, Speed, And Precision

Take Aim

In the Jerall Mountains near the holding of Falkreath, a somewhat surprising discovery can be made. A woman named Angi is hiding in a small camp in the mountains, having taken revenge on two soldiers for the slaying of her family.

If you find Angi, she’ll offer to train you in archery for free—and it’s an opportunity that you shouldn’t pass up. If you manage to successfully complete each of Angi’s trials, she’ll reward you with her own decently powerful bow.

This quest is both unmarked and has no trackable objectives, so it’s best not to wander away once you start it. If you get distracted before finishing it there’s absolutely nothing to remind you to go back to it.

4

The Mysterious Abandoned Prison

It’s A Riot

The Abandoned Prison is a pretty grim, hidden place to discover while you’re traveling around Skyrim. If you enter this ruined building, found to the northwest of Fort Amol, you’ll discover that a flood struck the prison. While the guards managed to escape, the prisoners weren’t so lucky. Their vengeful ghosts still haunt the ruins.

There’s not much to do here, but there are a couple of notable books that can be found lying about the place. Plus, who doesn’t love a bit of ghostbusting?

3

Liar’s Retreat

Those Pesky Falmer Again

Liar’s Retreat is both a location in The Reach and the name of an interesting quest that takes place in this underground hideout. When you discover the Retreat for the first time, you’ll find that its bandit occupants are being overrun by Falmer.

While this hidden quest is ostensibly about finding out how and why the Falmer launched this attack, it’s the prize you get at the end of it that really makes it worth your time. You’ll end up finding the Longhammer, which just happens to be one of the best unique weapons in the game.