Cities Skylines 2 maps guide: complete breakdown of all 10 launching maps, 441 buildable tile limits, climate attributes, map editor, and modded maps.
Cities Skylines 2 Maps Guide — Every Map, the Editor & Custom Maps (2026)
The short version: CS2 ships with 10 base maps, each with 441 unlockable tiles (21×21) and its own climate/vegetation theme system; CS1 has about 11 base maps with 9 tiles (moddable to 81). But for both games the real map library lives in the community — CS1's tens of thousands of custom maps on Steam Workshop, CS2's Paradox Mods plus the built-in editor. If you're searching "cities skylines 2 maps," you're either picking a starting map or hunting custom maps (including the famous Boston replica) — this guide covers all of it.
Official resources: Steam store page (CS2) · Steam store page (CS1) · CS2 official Wiki — Maps · CS1 official Wiki — Maps · Wikipedia — Cities: Skylines II
CS2's 10 Base Maps
CS2's maps split into theme groups (temperate/nordic, etc.), and each has a preset climate that affects snowfall, flooding, and other disaster events:
| Map | Character |
|---|---|
| River Delta | Big river delta, rich water resources, beginner-friendly |
| Twin Mountain | Twin-peak terrain, mountain building challenge |
| Barrier Island | Coastal barrier island, waterfront/tourism city material |
| Lakeland | Lake country, dense water networks |
| Windy Fjords | Fjord terrain, steep elevation, scenery-oriented |
| Mountain Village | Mountain-town layout, terraced building |
| Sweeping Plains | Open plains (Canterbury Plains vibes), most flat land, top beginner pick |
| Great Highlands | Highland hills, pronounced elevation changes |
| Tampere | Lake city modeled on Tampere, Finland |
| Crimsonland | Red-earth terrain, arid theme |
Sweeping Plains (flattest) or River Delta (balanced water + flatland) are best for a first city; try Mountain Village or Windy Fjords for terrain challenges; scenery lovers go straight to Lakeland.
The tile system: CS2 gives you 441 tiles across the whole map (21×21, about 159 km² per the official Wiki) — a full order of magnitude over CS1's 9 tiles (81 with mods) and the Remastered's 25. Unlocking still works through milestones + buying tiles, but the ceiling is far higher. Individual tiles are smaller (denser simulation).
CS1 Map Comparison (For Veterans)
- ~11 base maps: Black Woods, Cliffside Bay, Diamond Coast, Foggy Hills, Grand River, Green Plains, Islands, Riverrun, Sandy Beach, Shady Strands, Two Rivers (per the official Wiki).
- DLC maps: expansions like Mass Transit and Campus brought new maps; there are also official Map Packs.
- Tiles: 9 base tiles (81 across the full map); the 81 Tiles mod unlocks everything.
- Scale reality: CS1's single-city cap is about 65,000 simulated citizens (CS2 has no hard cap — only your hardware). That's one of the biggest simulation differences between the two. The PS5/Xbox Remastered bumps CS1 to 25 tiles — see the platforms guide.
The Map Editor: Making Your Own
- CS1: a full terrain editor (terrain/water/resources/roads) — it's precisely what spawned the Workshop's hundreds of thousands of custom maps.
- CS2: the editor was rebuilt and built into the game (the official Wiki's Modding pages serve as beta docs) — maps, assets, and code mods can all be made in-game and published to Paradox Mods; the community has already built tooling around the new editor.
- Basic flow: sculpt terrain → save the map → publish (Paradox Mods / Workshop) or use locally.
Custom Maps: Where to Get Them and How to Install
- CS1 (Steam Workshop): subscribe → new game → the map appears in the list, one-click install; library size is in the hundreds of thousands.
- CS2 (Paradox Mods + built-in editor): download maps/assets from Paradox Mods (official); in-game subscription syncs.
- Famous works: real-city replicas are the community's crown jewels — Boston is the most famous (a long-running project with heavily reproduced streets and terrain), plus countless other cities and fictional themes.
- Paid-content tie-ins: some DLC ships its own maps (like Bridges & Ports) — DLC list in the DLC guide.
- Compatibility: CS1 maps don't work in CS2 (different map formats and entirely different content platforms — Workshop ↔ Paradox Mods don't talk to each other).
① Check mod dependencies: many Workshop maps require specific asset packs/mods — missing them means a "bald" city. ② Old-map compatibility: after CS1 updates, older maps often need fixed versions — prefer recently updated ones. Install methods in the sandbox guide.
Best Map Type Quick Reference
| Need | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| First-time player | A flat map (CS2's Sweeping Plains) |
| Harbor/waterfront city | Barrier Island / River Delta |
| Terrain challenge | Mountain Village / Windy Fjords / Great Highlands |
| Real-city builder | Workshop city replicas (Boston and friends) |
| Challenge playthrough | High-difficulty resource/terrain maps (community "challenge maps") |
| CS1 veteran | Jump into CS2's Twin Mountain (feels like the DLC mountain maps); gen differences in the 1 vs 2 guide |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many maps does Cities Skylines 2 have?
10 base maps (River Delta, Twin Mountain, Barrier Island, Lakeland, Windy Fjords, Mountain Village, Sweeping Plains, Great Highlands, Tampere, Crimsonland) plus custom maps from Paradox Mods.
How do I use custom maps in Cities Skylines?
CS1: subscribe on Steam Workshop and it's installed. CS2: subscribe/download via Paradox Mods. Pick the map from the list when starting a new game.
Is there a Boston map in Cities Skylines?
Yes. Boston is one of the Workshop's most famous real-city replicas (a long-running community project), and it plays best on CS1.
What is the Cities Skylines map editor?
CS1 has a standalone terrain editor; CS2 built the editor into the game (maps/assets/code mods can all be made and published in-game).
Can I use CS1 maps in CS2?
No. The two generations use different map formats and different content platforms (Steam Workshop vs Paradox Mods) — nothing transfers.
For more guides, builds, and strategies, check out our Cities Skylines Hub.
Related Guides
- Cities Skylines Sandbox Guide — Dev Mode, Cheats & How to Play (CS1 + CS2)
- Cities Skylines 2 DLC Guide — Every Expansion & What's Worth It (2026)
- Cities Skylines 2 System Requirements & PC Guide — Can Your PC Run It? (2026)
- Cities Skylines 1 vs 2 — Which Should You Play in 2026?
- Is Cities Skylines Multiplayer? Co-op, Mods and the Honest Answer (2026)
Last updated: August 12, 2026.