Just curious which cities people have based themselves in where they explore the whole area and quest a lot. I'm guessing Whiterun is most popular. I've also done the Morthal and Riften areas fairly extensively. I've visited all the cities, though.

I am level 35 and I haven't done any quests outside of Falkreath Hold and Whiterun Hold. I have visited other holds on quests started in Whiterun and Falkreath.

I haven't done much of anything around Falkreath, other than walk through it while ingredients collecting. There are a lot of otherwise rare ingredients down there, especially on the lake islands.

And an underwater ship with a chest and a tower with a chest underwater. I may start really checking the area out, as it did have neat finds like that.

I actually went to and quested in Faelkreath before I ever went to Whiterun. Faelkreath was the first Hold I wanted to visit.

Whiterun was sweet in the beginning but I fell in love with Riften mainly for the house. I'm an avid blacksmith and enchanter so having the house close to the blacksmith area and an enchanting table at the house makes it my favorite.

I am level 23 and have yet to even visit dawnstar soleitude falkreath morthal and winterhold. This game is huge. Marakarth is the best city thus far in my opinion. Visually stunning and Ive spent about 5 hours here on city specific quests.

Wow! That list gives me some perspective on my own adventure and the places I have yet to be and those regions I have yet to explore.

Solitude, Riften, Whitehold, Winterhold and Windhelm

Those are the only cities I've been to in 48 hours or playing. Riften, Whiterun and Solitude I know the best.

Half the fun in the game has nothing to do with dragons. Just wander the cities and talk to people. TONS of quests. I know I haven't done even half of those available.

Haven't done many quests outside Whiterun that aren't MQ related. Just a couple in Markarth.

Whiterun is kind of the starting area, so I'm not surprised it's doing so well. Riften is for thieves, and Winterhold for mages.

I headed for Solitude ASAP because I wanted to be a bard

Was kinda disappointed that doing all the Bards quest doesn't make you head of the College... still worth doing though, since all their quests have skill rewards (do them all and you'll get a free point in every skill).

Plus access to all the loot in the place

Solitude...iv only been there a few times and i never stay longer than i have too, its one of the holds i know realativly nothing about (all my RPs have been avoiding them but one, and he is too busy to bother with the empire right now)

but i know riften relativly well, i know whiterun like the back of my hand, dawnstar is in my own backyard so i should know about the place, windhelm is the the home of the stormcloaks and me, and winterhold is a nice place for dragon/horker/ice wraith hunting so i visit if i need money or something for my potions

the rest are just dots on a map as far as i know, i have never avoided them like solitude but i dont visit them in my spare time like riften or winterhold

Markarth itself isn't my favourite. But the rest of The Reach is so far my favourite. Havent been to Falkreath, Dawnstar, Solitude, Riften, or Morthol though But i really like the fornsworn and hagravens and the terrain/feel of the Reach.

I was just exploring the whole Dawnstar area and it is a lot of fun.

Everywhere but morthal.