Can You Enter Upper City in Baldur's Gate 3

The question of how to enter the Upper City in Baldur’s Gate 3 Act 3 had been bothering me during my whole first playthrough. The world of Baldur’s Gate 3 is absolutely massive, offering myriads of locations to explore, questlines to complete, secrets to unravel and characters to meet. And yet, I wanted more! The logical next step of Act 3 was new quests and locations in the Upper City. During my stay in the Lower City, I was eagerly awaiting to reach Patriars’ fancy neighbourhood. And I eventually did! Read on as we explain how to reach the Upper City in BG3.

How to Enter the Upper City in Baldur’s Gate 3

As you make your way through the Lower City of Baldur’s Gate 3, you will eventually reach a river crossing with a gate, watched by a Flaming Fist group accompanied by a Steel Watcher. If you open the map here, it will show the “Baldur’s Gate” point of interest. It apparently indicates that the “main” part of the city is behind that bridge. Furthermore, you are technically free to cross the bridge and enter the Upper City. However, immediately upon reaching the bridge, the earth will begin to shake. The Emperor will warn you that the Brain is aware of you and that if you cross the bridge, it will destroy you. So yeah, you could try to enter the Upper City, but you will be shattered into smithereens. So, can you enter the Upper City in BG3, then? Yes, you can! Though not in the way you might expect.

During my exploration of the Lower City, I was expecting that the story would eventually lead to the Upper City, full of locations to explore, NPCs to meet, new quests, etc. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. However, you will eventually enter the Upper City. MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD! You will only go there for the final battle. Namely, the Elder Brain will become the Netherbrain with the help of the Crown. This will mark the start of the invasion, and the Netherbrain will nestle itself atop The High Hall in the Upper City. And that’s when you will enter the Upper City. However, there will be no exploration, quests, or anything like that. Just you and your allies battling the final battle until you reach The High Hall and the brain.