You can’t reach the Imperial City from The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim: it is in Cyrodiil, and the game’s travel map covers Skyrim. If you meant The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO), choose Imperial City from the Campaign menu, subject to the access and level requirements below.
Why you can’t travel there in Skyrim
The Imperial City is in Cyrodiil, not Skyrim. The Skyrim manual describes the world map and fast travel among locations in Skyrim; it does not provide a route into Cyrodiil or the Imperial City. There is no Skyrim road, carriage, or quest marker that takes you there.
How to enter the Imperial City in ESO
The Elder Scrolls Online is a separate game with its own Imperial City access. Bethesda Support’s Imperial City entry instructions give this route:
- Make sure your account has acquired or already owns Imperial City, and use a character at level 10 or higher.
- Open the Campaign selection menu and select Imperial City.
- Your character will arrive at your Alliance’s home base in the Imperial Sewers.
Access and menu details can change; consult Bethesda’s current support page if the option or requirements differ in your game.
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If you are already in Cyrodiil in ESO
A 2015 ESO staff guide describes an alternate route: take an Imperial City quest from an Alliance captain or general, then enter through a sewer gate around Lake Rumare. This is older guidance; use the Campaign-menu route above when available.
Bethesda’s Cyrodiil travel instructions explain that players enter Cyrodiil through the Alliance War menu and can travel between keeps using Transitus Shrines or Keep Recall Stones, subject to restrictions. Recall Stones cannot be used in Imperial City. These are ESO systems and do not provide a way from Skyrim to Cyrodiil.
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