If you’re looking to hit level 50 quickly in The Elder Scrolls Online, knowing where to go makes a huge difference. Some zones are just more efficient for leveling, thanks to densely packed enemies, convenient quest hubs, and zone-wide XP bonuses. Whether you’re a new player or leveling your tenth alt, this guide will walk you through the top 10 zones to level fast in ESO, based on practical experience and proven grind spots.

1. Alik’r Desert

Alik’r is a classic for fast leveling. The zone is wide open, with excellent grinding spots like the Zombies near Sentinel and the ever-popular Lost City of the Na-Totambu. Quests are easy to follow, and public dungeons are accessible. It's also a good spot to farm ESO Gold through materials and item drops.

2. Bangkorai

Located in the Daggerfall Covenant territory, Bangkorai features plenty of undead enemies that respawn quickly, making it ideal for grinding. Group events in the zone can yield nice XP and loot. Plus, if you're into Dolmens, the circular layout makes it easy to hit all three in rotation.

3. Greenshade

This Aldmeri Dominion zone is packed with XP-rich quests and great enemy density. It's not the best for grinding, but if you're focusing on story progression and want smooth, natural XP gains, Greenshade is a solid pick.

4. Stonefalls

One of the earlier zones in the game, Stonefalls is perfect for beginners looking to level efficiently. The zone has great accessibility and a straightforward questline. It also drops a decent amount of gear you can sell for ESO Gold while you level.

5. The Rift

A favorite among players for the dense and aggressive mob packs around Broken Helm Hollow and Northwind Mine. The area is known for its farming potential, both for XP and crafting materials. It’s especially good if you’re looking to pair leveling with ESO Gold farming through resource gathering.

6. Deshaan

This zone has a very well-organized quest structure, making it easy to move from one area to the next without wasting time. There are also solid grinding spots like the Forgotten Crypts public dungeon. Combine that with valuable crafting surveys and it becomes a great zone to level and earn at the same time.

7. Reaper’s March

If you want a change of scenery, Reaper’s March offers both story quests and a few solid grinding areas, particularly around the public dungeons. The zone is home to several crafting nodes that can be harvested for ESO Gold if you're multitasking.

8. Malabal Tor

Malabal Tor is often overlooked, but it has a great mix of quests and mob-heavy areas, especially around Velyn Harbor and the local Dolmens. The quests tend to chain together well, minimizing downtime.

9. Coldharbour

The zone’s dark and eerie aesthetic is backed up by excellent XP potential. Coldharbour is loaded with undead, Daedra, and other enemies that are grouped close together. The Hollow City also acts as a central hub, keeping travel time low and questing efficient.

10. Blackwood

Introduced in a newer chapter, Blackwood offers streamlined questing and many world events like Oblivion Portals that give strong XP gains. It’s also a place where many players farm both XP and ESO Gold thanks to the newer gear sets that remain in demand.

The key to leveling fast in ESO is choosing zones that match your playstyle—some zones are best for pure grinding, others for questing, and a few for a mix of both. If you can also gather materials or earn ESO Gold while you level, you’ll make the process even more rewarding. Try mixing up your route across a few of these zones, and you’ll be surprised how fast the levels (and the gold) stack up.