You finally made it across the blistering sands of the Gerudo Desert. You see those massive, sandstone walls of the city rising out of the heat haze. You walk up to the main gates, ready to restock on arrows or maybe find a cool place to sit, and then—bam. The guards cross their spears. "Voe are not allowed!" they bark.
It’s frustrating. You’re the hero of Hyrule, but the rules are the rules.
Getting past those guards is one of the first real "puzzles" the game throws at you that isn't inside a shrine. If you’re wondering about breath of the wild how to get into gerudo town, the answer isn't about fighting your way in or climbing over the back wall. Believe me, I tried scaling those rocks and dropping in from the top. The guards have some kind of sixth sense. They'll warp you right back outside the gates faster than you can say "Sarqso."
Basically, you need to stop being a "Voe" (man) and start looking like a "Vai" (woman).
The Guy on the Rooftop: Your Ticket Inside
Start by chatting with the folks hanging around the Kara Kara Bazaar. That’s the little oasis you passed on your way to the city. There’s a guy named Benja standing near the entrance of Gerudo Town who mentions a "man who has successfully snuck into Gerudo Town." He’s been seen frequenting the Bazaar.
Head back to Kara Kara Bazaar. Look for the tallest building there—it’s the general store/inn combo. You’ll hear rumors about a beautiful Hylian woman who hangs out on the roof.
Go around the side and climb the ladder (or use Revali’s Gale if you’ve already tackled Vah Medoh, though most people do Gerudo later). On the roof, you’ll find Vilia. Honestly, she’s just vibing. When you talk to her and compliment her look, she’ll offer to sell you a set of "Gerudo Clothes" for 600 Rupees.
600 Rupees might feel steep if you've been spending your cash on ancient gears or bomb arrows, but you need this. It’s non-negotiable. Buy the Gerudo Veil, Top, and Slacks.
Putting the "Vai" Outfit to Work
Once you have the set, open your inventory and put it on. Link looks... surprisingly comfortable.
Now, here is the catch that trips people up: you must wear the full set. If you take off the veil to put on your Thunder Helm or switch to your climbing gear because you're bored, the guards will instantly recognize you as a man and boot you.
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Walk back to the gates of Gerudo Town. This time, the guards won't even blink. They’ll welcome you in with a "Sava’aq."
Inside, the town is a goldmine. You’ve got the secret club (which requires a whole different password involving a bar and a back alley), the jewelry shop where you can get the Diamond Circlet or Ruby Earrings, and the canteen where everyone is gossiping about the local drama. It's easily the most "lived-in" feeling place in the game.
Why the Desert Voe Armor Won't Help You (Yet)
A lot of players get confused because they find the "Desert Voe" armor set later. It looks cool. It gives you heat resistance. It sounds like it belongs in the desert.
But it won't get you into the city.
The Desert Voe set is actually sold inside Gerudo Town (specifically at the Gerudo Secret Club) or over in Tarrey Town if you’ve progressed that side quest. Even though it's traditional Gerudo menswear, the law of the city is absolute: no men. If you try to walk through the gates wearing the Desert Voe set, you’re getting kicked out. Keep the "Vai" outfit in your inventory forever. You're going to be swapping back into it every single time you want to buy some Voltfin Trout or talk to Riju.
Realities of the Gerudo Secret Club
While we are talking about breath of the wild how to get into gerudo town, we have to mention the "town within the town."
On the east side of the city, there’s a plain-looking wooden door. If you try to open it, a voice asks for a password. If you guess wrong, you’re locked out for a day. This is the Gerudo Secret Club (GSC).
To find the password, head to the "Noble Canteen" on the north side. There are some women sitting around a table whispering. If you try to listen, they’ll tell you to buzz off.
Go outside, go around the back of the building, and stand by the window. You can eavesdrop on their conversation. You’ll hear the password: G-S-C-Diamond.
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Once you’re in there, you can finally buy that male desert armor and the Radiant Set (the one that glows like a skeleton). It doesn't help with the "sneaking in" part, but it makes surviving the Wasteland much easier.
Surviving the Heat While You Travel
It’s worth noting that "Heat Resistance" and "Fire Resistance" are two different things in Breath of the Wild.
The Gerudo Desert has a temperature gauge that swings wildly. During the day, you need Heat Resistance (the sun icon). At night, it drops below freezing, and you need Cold Resistance (the snowflake).
If you don't have enough money for the Gerudo clothes yet, or if you're trying to reach the Bazaar from the Great Plateau, you can cook some "Chilly" food. Use Hydromelons—they grow all over the desert floor. Cooking five of them together gives you a decent window of protection so you don't lose hearts just by standing in the sun.
Also, stay in the shade. The game actually tracks whether you’re under a rock or a building. Your temperature gauge will noticeably drop.
The Sand Seal Strategy
Walking across the sand is slow. It’s painful. It eats up your stamina.
Look for the Sand Seals. They’re basically the camels of Hyrule, but much cuter. You can’t just walk up to them; they have sensitive hearing. Sneak up behind one (crouch and move slowly) and "mount" it. Link will grab his shield, and the seal will drag him across the dunes at high speed.
It makes the trip from the Kara Kara Bazaar to the city gates take about thirty seconds instead of five minutes. Just remember that if you hit a rock, you’ll get bucked off.
Getting the Thunder Helm
Once you've mastered the art of getting into the city, your next big goal is the Thunder Helm. This is arguably the best headpiece in the entire game because it makes you completely immune to lightning.
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To get it, you have to help Riju. First, you’ll have to clear out the Yiga Clan Hideout (which is a whole different stealth nightmare involving a lot of Mighty Bananas). After you defeat Master Kohga and return the helm, it’ll sit on a pedestal next to Riju.
She won't just give it to you. You have to "earn the trust" of her people. This means completing almost every side quest within the city walls:
- The Mystery Polluter: Find the kid crying by the water flow. Follow the trash upstream to find a woman eating melons on a roof. Give her some wildberries to make her stop.
- Medicinal Molduga: A woman needs a Molduga heart to save her husband. You’ll have to hunt one of the giant sand whales in the dunes. Use bombs to lure them, then hit them with your strongest weapons when they fly into the air.
- The Search for Barta: One of the guards went missing near the Gerudo Great Skeleton. You’ll need a Hearty Durian to revive her.
- Tools of the Trade: Give Isha some flint so she can reopen her jewelry shop.
Once the "Star" icon appears over the head of everyone in town and you've helped them all, Riju will let you borrow the helm indefinitely. It's a grind, but it's worth it for the convenience of never being struck by lightning again.
Final Actionable Tips for Gerudo Success
If you're heading into the desert right now, keep these things in mind to save yourself a headache.
- Bring 600 Rupees: Don't even bother going to Kara Kara Bazaar if you're broke. Sell some ore (amber and opal are easy to find) to the merchants at Dueling Peaks or Kakariko first.
- The Travel Medallion: If you have the DLC, place your travel medallion right outside the Gerudo Town gates. It saves you from having to catch a Sand Seal every time you need to visit the shops.
- Check the Time: If it's night, your "Vai" outfit won't keep you warm. You’ll take damage from the cold unless you eat something or carry a flame weapon.
- The Secret Club Password: Remember G-S-C-Diamond. Don't guess. They really do lock the door for 24 in-game hours if you mess it up.
- Sand Boots/Snow Boots: Talk to the guy running around outside the city (Bozai). He’s desperate for attention. If you do his "Eighth Heroine" quest, he’ll give you boots that let you run at normal speed on sand. It's a game-changer.
Getting into Gerudo Town is a rite of passage in Breath of the Wild. It forces you to stop thinking like a warrior and start thinking like an explorer. Once you're inside, the desert becomes a lot less intimidating and a lot more like a playground.
Stock up on those Shock Arrows while you're there—you're going to need them for the Divine Beast.
Next Steps
Now that you've bypassed the guards and secured your spot in the city, you should track down the Gerudo Secret Club to pick up the Radiant Armor set. It’s expensive, but it allows you to blend in with the Stal-enemies that haunt the desert at night. Alternatively, head out into the dunes to hunt a Molduga—they are the most efficient way to farm high-tier guts and fins for upgrading your gear at a Great Fairy Fountain.