The City of Tears is Hallownest’s abandoned capital, built inside a vast cavern beneath the Blue Lake. Its rain-soaked towers, lifts, and divided districts connect several major routes and story locations. You can enter from Fungal Wastes, Ancient Basin, Resting Grounds, or Kingdom’s Edge, depending on which unlocks you have.
What is the City of Tears?
The City of Tears is Hallownest’s central capital, set inside an enormous cavern. Tall buildings with broad windows face the city, while small lifts link its different levels. Its name reflects the water that seeps through cracks in the cavern ceiling from the Blue Lake above.
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The city’s layout also suggests a divide in status and wealth. The eastern district, associated with high society, has richer red- and purple-toned interiors; the western side is more modest, with plainer blue-toned interiors. These details are environmental clues rather than a complete account of Hallownest’s political system.
How do I get to the City of Tears?
There are several entrances. Choose based on the item or transit connection you already have; the routes below are not ranked by speed.
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- Forge your own path! The world of Hallownest is expansive and open. Choose which paths you take, which enemies you face and find your own way forward.
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| Approach | Requirement or connection | Where it leads |
|---|---|---|
| Fungal Wastes | Use the City Crest on the statue of Great Knight Hegemol. | The main western gate. |
| Ancient Basin | Have the Tram Pass and ride the tram to Ancient Basin. | Head north from Ancient Basin to enter the eastern city. |
| Resting Grounds | Use the elevator connecting the areas. | The eastern part of the city. |
| Kingdom’s Edge | Reach Kingdom’s Edge by tram. | A broken wall on its western side connects to King’s Station. |
What is in the City of Tears?
The city’s landmarks are spread across its western, central, and eastern sections. Several are important for exploration, encounters, or story progression.
West side
- City Storerooms: The area includes the City Storerooms Stag Station.
- Nailsmith: The Nailsmith’s forge is in this district.
- Relic Seeker Lemm: His shop is on the west side.
- Soul Sanctum: This location is home to Soul Master, a major boss.
Quirrel and Zote may also appear in the western city under particular game conditions.
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- Classic side-scrolling action, with all the modern trimmings.
- Forge your own path! The world of Hallownest is expansive and open. Choose which paths you take, which enemies you face and find your own way forward.
- Evolve with powerful new skills and abilities! Gain spells, strength and speed. Leap to new heights on ethereal wings. Dash forward in a blazing flash. Blast foes with fiery Soul!
- Equip Charms! Ancient relics that offer bizarre new powers and abilities. Choose your favorites and make your journey unique!
- An enormous cast of cute and creepy characters all brought to life with traditional 2D frame-by-frame animation.
Fountain Square and the center
Fountain Square is the city’s central landmark. Its fountain commemorates the Hollow Knight and bears imagery of the Pale King’s crown and the three Dreamers. Hornet can be encountered here. Lemm appears at the square only after one Dreamer has been defeated.
East side
- Watcher’s Spire: Watcher Knights guard progress toward Lurien the Watcher.
- Tower of Love: The Collector is found inside. The first entrance is from Kingdom’s Edge and requires the Love Key; a switch inside opens a connection to King’s Station.
- Pleasure House: This area requires a Simple Key and contains the city’s only Hot Spring.
- King’s Station: The station lies at the far eastern end of the city.
Why is it raining in the City of Tears?
Water from the Blue Lake above the cavern leaks through cracks in the stone ceiling and falls across the city. The rain is not ordinary weather in an open sky: it is part of the city’s underground setting. Quirrel describes the cavern and the water overhead when he observes, “The city looks to be built into an enormous cavern, and the rain pours down from cracks in the stone above. There must be a lot of water up there somewhere.”
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What happened to Hallownest’s capital?
Before Hallownest fell, the capital was described as the kingdom’s heart. The Pilgrim’s Way led toward it from Forgotten Crossroads, passing through Greenpath, Fog Canyon, and Fungal Wastes. An invitation promised that travelers’ wishes would be granted and truths revealed. Goods from across Hallownest flowed into the city, while comparatively few were sent back, suggesting an imbalance between the capital and the rest of the kingdom.
When the Infection spread, the city’s great gates were sealed in an attempt to keep it out. The effort failed, and the capital itself became infected. Its original name was lost; the leaking water that defines the city now gives it the name City of Tears.
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- Classic side-scrolling action, with all modern trimmings
- Tightly tuned 2D controls. Dodge, dash, and slash your way through even the most deadly adversaries
- Explore a vast interconnected world of forgotten highways, overgrown wilds, and ruined cities
- Forge your own path. The world of Hallownest is expansive and open. Choose which paths you take, which enemies you face, and find your own way forward
Spoilers: what does the Hollow Knight memorial reveal?
Spoilers for Hollow Knight’s central story. The Fountain Square memorial reads: “MEMORIAL TO THE HOLLOW KNIGHT / In the Black Vault far above. / Through its sacrifice Hallownest lasts eternal.” The words and the fountain’s imagery connect the Hollow Knight, the Pale King, and the three Dreamers to the kingdom’s attempt to preserve itself. The memorial’s promise of eternity sits in sharp contrast with the city’s abandoned, infected state.
Source note
The location and lore details here are consolidated by the Hollow Knight Wiki’s City of Tears page, which draws on game dialogue, item descriptions, the official manual, and other references. The Quirrel quotation is attributed to the character in the game.
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Best Value
- Classic side-scrolling action, with all the modern trimmings. Dodge, dash and slash your way through even the most deadly adversaries.
- Tightly tuned 2D controls. Dodge, dash and slash your way through even the most deadly adversaries.
- Forge your own path! The world of Hallownest is expansive and open. Choose which paths you take, which enemies you face and find your own way forward.
- An enormous cast of cute and creepy characters all brought to life with traditional 2D frame-by-frame animation.
- Leap into minds with the Dream Nail. Uncover a whole other side to the characters you meet and the enemies you face.
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