Ocarina of Time Dungeon Order & How to Reach Each
The canonical dungeon order in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is: Inside the Great Deku Tree, Dodongo’s Cavern, Inside Jabu-Jabu’s Belly, Forest Temple, Fire Temple, Water Temple, Shadow Temple, and finally the Spirit Temple. This article lists every dungeon in that order and explains exactly how to reach each one, including the prerequisites and key items you need.
Why This Order Matters
Ocarina of Time is a 1998 action-adventure game for the Nintendo 64 (later ported to GameCube, 3DS, and other platforms). The game is split into two eras: Child Link (ages 9–10) and Adult Link (ages 16–17). The first three dungeons are played as Child Link, and the last five as Adult Link. The order above is the intended path—the game blocks you from doing them in a different sequence because you need items and story events from earlier dungeons to progress. For example, you cannot reach the Fire Temple without the Goron Tunic, which you get after defeating Dodongo’s Cavern.
Child Link Dungeons (First Three)
1. Inside the Great Deku Tree
How to reach it: After the opening sequence in Kokiri Forest, speak to the Great Deku Tree (the giant tree in the center). He tells you about the curse placed on him. Obtain the Kokiri Sword and Deku Shield from the shop and the training area, then walk up to the tree’s entrance (the door at its base) and step inside.
Key items: Fairy Slingshot, Deku Seeds, and the Spiritual Stone of Forest (the Kokiri’s Emerald) after defeating Queen Gohma.
2. Dodongo’s Cavern
How to reach it: After leaving the Deku Tree, go to Hyrule Field and head to the castle town. You’ll be told to visit Death Mountain. From Hyrule Field, go north to the base of Death Mountain (past the Kakariko Village entrance). You need to pass through the Death Mountain Trail. You’ll encounter a boulder blocking the path—use a Bomb (obtained from a Goron or by rolling into the Bomb Flower) to clear it. Then climb the trail to the cavern’s entrance.
Key items: Bomb Bag, Bombs, and the Goron’s Ruby after defeating King Dodongo.
3. Inside Jabu-Jabu’s Belly
How to reach it: After getting the Goron’s Ruby, return to Hyrule Field and go to Zora’s Domain (east of Hyrule Field, past the river). Speak to King Zora (he’s sitting on a throne). He asks you to find his daughter, Princess Ruto. She’s inside Lord Jabu-Jabu, the giant fish in the domain’s pool. To enter, you need the Zora Tunic (which King Zora gives you after you show him the Ruby) or the Silver Scale (optional). Walk up to Jabu-Jabu’s mouth and press A to be swallowed.
Key items: Boomerang, and the Zora’s Sapphire after defeating Barinade.
Becoming Adult Link
After collecting all three Spiritual Stones, you go to the Temple of Time in Hyrule Castle Town. Play the Song of Time on the Ocarina (which you got from Saria) in front of the altar, then draw the Master Sword. This seals you away for seven years, and you awaken as Adult Link in the Temple of Time. The game now opens up the five adult dungeons.
Adult Link Dungeons (Last Five)
4. Forest Temple
How to reach it: From the Temple of Time, go to the Sacred Forest Meadow (north of Hyrule Field, through the Lost Woods). As Adult Link, you’ll find the entrance to the Forest Temple in the meadow. You need the Hookshot (obtained from the temple itself) to fully explore it, but you can enter the temple without it.
Key items: Fairy Bow, and the Forest Medallion after defeating Phantom Ganon.
5. Fire Temple
How to reach it: After getting the Forest Medallion, return to Death Mountain. As Adult Link, you can climb the trail to the Fire Temple’s entrance (near the top of Death Mountain). You must have the Goron Tunic (bought in Goron City for 200 Rupees) to survive the heat. Also, you need the Megaton Hammer (found inside the temple) to break the cracked walls.
Key items: Megaton Hammer, and the Fire Medallion after defeating Volvagia.
6. Water Temple
How to reach it: After the Fire Temple, go to Lake Hylia (south of Hyrule Field). Dive to the bottom of the lake to find a plaque that you can read with the Zora Tunic and Iron Boots (both obtained earlier or from the Ice Cavern). The Water Temple’s entrance is under the lake’s surface. You need the Iron Boots to sink to the bottom, and the Longshot (from the temple) to progress.
Key items: Longshot, and the Water Medallion after defeating Morpha.
7. Shadow Temple
How to reach it: After the Water Temple, go to Kakariko Village. The well in the center of the village is the entrance to the Bottom of the Well (a mini-dungeon that gives you the Lens of Truth). After clearing the Bottom of the Well, you can enter the Shadow Temple through the graveyard (behind the windmill). You need the Nocturne of Shadow (learned from Sheik) to open the temple’s door.
Key items: Hover Boots, and the Shadow Medallion after defeating Bongo Bongo.
8. Spirit Temple
How to reach it: After the Shadow Temple, go to the Desert Colossus (west of Hyrule Field, through the Haunted Wasteland). As Adult Link, you can enter the Spirit Temple, but you must first go back in time (using the Ocarina’s Song of Time) to play as Child Link to open the entrance. The temple requires switching between Child and Adult Link to progress.
Key items: Silver Gauntlets, Mirror Shield, and the Spirit Medallion after defeating Twinrova.
How to Choose Your Own Order
While the intended order is fixed, you can actually deviate slightly after becoming Adult Link. For example, you can do the Fire Temple before the Forest Temple if you have the Goron Tunic (you can buy it before entering the Fire Temple). However, you cannot do the Water Temple before the Fire Temple because you need the Megaton Hammer to break the boulders blocking the Water Temple’s entrance. Similarly, you cannot do the Shadow Temple before the Water Temple because you need the Longshot to reach certain areas. The Spirit Temple is the last because it requires the Silver Gauntlets (from the Spirit Temple itself) and the ability to switch ages, which you have from the start, but the game’s story requires the other five medallions to open the final battle.
Common Problems and Misconceptions
A frequent mistake is trying to enter the Fire Temple without the Goron Tunic—you’ll take damage from the heat and die quickly. Another is getting stuck in the Water Temple because you forgot to raise the water level in a specific room. Many players also miss the Lens of Truth in the Bottom of the Well, which is essential for the Shadow Temple. A common misconception is that you need the Iron Boots to enter the Water Temple, but you actually get them from the Ice Cavern (a mini-dungeon) before the Water Temple. Also, you don’t need to complete the Bottom of the Well to finish the Shadow Temple, but you do need the Lens of Truth to see invisible platforms and enemies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I do the Spirit Temple before the Shadow Temple?
Technically, you can enter the Spirit Temple after the Water Temple, but you cannot complete it fully because you need the Silver Gauntlets (from the Spirit Temple itself) to lift the heavy blocks, and you need the Mirror Shield to reflect light puzzles. The game’s story also requires you to collect all five medallions before the final battle, but you can visit the Spirit Temple earlier to get the Silver Gauntlets and Mirror Shield, then leave and come back later.
Do I need to play as Child Link in the adult dungeons?
Only the Spirit Temple requires switching between Child and Adult Link. The other four adult dungeons are played entirely as Adult Link. However, you might need to go back in time to access certain areas outside the dungeons (like the Ice Cavern) to get items like the Iron Boots.
What is the hardest dungeon in Ocarina of Time?
Many players consider the Water Temple the hardest due to its confusing water-level mechanics and the need to constantly switch between Iron Boots and regular boots. The Shadow Temple is also challenging because of its dark, trap-filled corridors, but the Water Temple is the most commonly cited as frustrating.
Is there a dungeon I can skip?
No, you must complete all eight dungeons to finish the game. Each gives you a medallion or stone that is required to access the final battle with Ganondorf. Skipping any dungeon is not possible in normal gameplay.
Do I need to get the Biggoron Sword before the dungeons?
No, the Biggoron Sword is optional. It’s a powerful two-handed sword that can be obtained through a trading sequence, but it’s not required to complete any dungeon. You can get it anytime after becoming Adult Link, but it’s not necessary for progression.
Final Tips for a Smooth Playthrough
Always carry a few bottles with fairies or potions, especially for the Water and Shadow Temples. Use the map and compass to keep track of rooms you’ve visited. When you’re stuck, check your inventory—you often have an item that can interact with a suspicious wall or floor. And remember to play the Song of Time in front of the Temple of Time to change between ages when needed, especially for the Spirit Temple.
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