Five Real-Life Warhammer 40K Locations You Can Visit

Anyone else want to go on an epic Warhammer 40K road trip – like now, in real life?

Warhammer 40,000 is a setting that spans the galaxy and beyond. It’s massive and sprawling and set in the far future. It’s evocative, but it’s hard to visit. Unlike some other large fantasy settings, there is no Hobbiton to visit. So, I think it’s generally thought that 40K is not a setting you can visit or see for yourself in any way. However, that’s not entirely true.

A good chunk of 40K takes place on Holy Terra, here on Earth. While much of the setting is shrouded in mystery, there are some places that we know have real-world locations. Locations you can, maybe not with ease, visit. So let’s take a look at some real places on Earth you can visit to feel a connection to the Grimdark.

The Imperial Palace

Yes, it’s totally possible to visit the Imperial Palace on Terra. Or at least where it will be (time in 40K is pretty odd anyway; the city is inevitable, right?). The Palace will one day be located in the Himalayan Mountains. We don’t have an exact location, but it takes up a truly massive amount of ground, most likely anywhere you go will be part of the Imperial Palace one day. The mountains you will look at will one day gaze down on the Emperor and His mighty city. We also know that beneath the Palace are very old ruins. Maybe whatever city you visit will one day form the foundation of the Throne Room!

Mt. Ararat

Mount Ararat is a very real mountain in current day Turkey. It’s the highest peak in Turkey and a tourist destination. It’s been considered a holy mountain by many and is supposedly the resting place of Noah’s Arc. However, in roughly 30,000 years, it will also be the location of the final battle of the Unification Wars. It is here that the modern Imperium will truly be born. It’s at this battle that the last of the Thunder Warriors will fall, most likely betrayed and killed by the Emperor. This is maybe one of the easiest locations to visit or at least see on our list.

Iwo Jima

Now we move to visiting a site that has already had its 40K event happen. Iwo Jima is a small Pacific island famous for the World War II battle that took place there. It’s a bit hard to visit, but it can be done with the right tour and timing. Well, what does this have to do with 40K? It turns out that the Perpetual Damon Prytanis fought in the battle there. Not only that but soon after, he was recruited to join the Xenos cabal, likely by an Aeldari.

This means that a number of 40K characters, including Xenos, have already chronologically visited the island. In the same vein, there are a number of other sites and battlefields that Oll Persson has already visited or fought- you could make a list of just those!

The Eclesiarchal Palace

The Eclesiarchal Palace is a massive, sprawling palace complex. It’s the home of the Sisters of Battle and the Ecclesiarchy. It’s one of the most important locations on Terra, possibly the most important after the Palace. It will one day take up most of Antarctica. Like the Imperial Palace this means it is possible to visit the future location of this Important location. Not easy at all mind you, but with a little pluck and a lot of money, you can visit the site. There are better reasons to visit Antarctica than 40K, but if you just happen to be there already, think of it as an added bonus!

The Eye Of The Sahara

The Eye of the Sahara, also known as the Richat Structure is a unique geographical feature located in the Western Sahara desert. It’s a well-known location, and humans have visited it and attached symbolic value to it for thousands if not tens of thousands of years. There are even a few theories that it is tied to Atlantis.

In 40K lore, it is also sometimes the home of the Perpetual Erda, the genetic mother of the Primarchs. It is here that she will be living during the Siege of Terra. John Grammaticus will visit her here. Later, Erebus will fight Erda around the Eye and seemingly kill her, though not before she defeats four greater daemons. It’s an important site both in real-world history and future 40K history.

Let us know what real-world 40K locations you’d like to visit down in the comments! 

Author: Abe Apfel

Abe is that rare thing, an Austin local born and raised here. Though he keeps on moving around, DC, Japan, ETC., he always seems to find his way back eventually. Abe has decades of experience with a wide range of tabletop and RPG games, from historicals, to Star Wars to D&D and 40K. He has been contributing to BOLS since almost the start, back when he worked at and then owned a local gaming store. He used to be big into the competitive Warhammer tournament scene but age has mellowed him and he now appreciates a good casual match. He currently covers 40K tactics and lore, as well as all things Star Wars, with occasional dabbling in other topics. Abe remains in mourning over the loss of WFB to this day.