Vice City's map is one of the most iconic in gaming history. Inspired by Miami in the 1980s, it consists of two main islands connected by bridges, surrounded by water and smaller waterways. Each district has its own distinct personality — from the neon glamour of the beach strip to the grimy industrial sprawl of the west side.
When you first arrive, only the east island is accessible. The second island is blocked by police roadblocks until you complete enough story missions. Here's everything you need to know about both islands.
Ocean Beach occupies the southern tip of the east island. This is where Tommy starts the game — his first safe house (the small apartment at 3321 Vice Point) is here. Ocean Beach is beach-front residential: hotels, Art Deco apartments, the 24/7 convenience stores. The Vice City Police Department has a station here too. It's a relatively safe area and a good base of operations early on.
Running north along the beach from Ocean Beach, Vice Point is the tourist and entertainment heart of Vice City. The strip is lined with hotels, nightclubs and shops. The Malibu Club (one of Tommy's purchasable businesses) is in Vice Point. So is the North Point Mall, the largest indoor shopping area in the game. Vice Point has the highest density of fast cars cruising the strip at night — ideal for vehicle hunting.
Between Ocean Beach and Vice Point lies Washington Beach — a quieter, more residential stretch. It's home to the Washington Mall, the Vice City Police station, and several safe house options. Smaller than its neighbours but strategically placed in the middle of the east island.
Downtown is the business and civic heart of Vice City. Tall office towers, the courthouse, the police headquarters and the Hyman Memorial Stadium are all here. Missions frequently take you through Downtown. It also has the most useful Ammu-Nation shop on the east island, and several Unique Stunt Jumps on its rooftops and parking structures.
Technically a small separate island connected by bridges, Prawn Island sits between the east and west islands. It's home to the Interglobal Films studio — a major location for several missions and a property you can purchase. The studio lot has multiple film sets you can explore freely once you own it.
Another small island, south of Prawn Island. This is Vice City's Beverly Hills — massive mansions, gated properties and manicured gardens. Tommy's eventual home base (the Vercetti Estate) is on Starfish Island after you complete the mansion story mission. The area is full of high-end cars parked on driveways.
Little Haiti is in the north-west of the second island. This industrial, working-class area is Haitian gang territory in the game's story. The area has a fuel depot, a body shop (Phil's Place) and the Print Works building — another purchasable property. It feels dangerous and chaotic, reflecting the gang conflicts central to the story.
South of Little Haiti sits Little Havana — Cuban gang territory and home to Kaufman Cabs. This area is dense with small businesses, apartment blocks and the Vice City Police station for the west island. The laundromat and the Cherry Popper Ice Cream Factory (purchasable) are both here.
The airport occupies the south-west of the second island. It has runways, hangers and access to planes if you know where to enter the gate. The Dodo plane (hard to fly) and occasionally better aircraft can be found here. The airport also has several hidden packages in its cargo areas and on the runway perimeter.
A massive golf course sits in the centre of the west island — so large it effectively cuts the island in half. You visit it for the "Four Iron" mission. Outside of that, it's mainly a curiosity. The golf carts inside are fun to steal, and a hidden package sits on the course. The area is fenced off from vehicle access, though you can walk in from the entrance.
In the north-west, Fort Baxter is the military base guarded by soldiers who will immediately give you a 5-star wanted level if you trespass. The payoff: a Hunter military helicopter is parked inside, and the Rhino tank can occasionally spawn here too. After collecting 100 hidden packages, the Hunter spawns permanently inside the base.
Vice City's waterways are more than decorative. Several missions involve boats, and the ocean contains hidden packages you can only reach by swimming or diving. The two main bridges connecting the islands — the main causeway in the middle and the northern bridge — can be driven or walked across. A small boat marina sits north of Escobar International where you can steal watercraft.
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