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Westernmost of the Three Great Continents, Aldenard is currently governed by four city-states—Gridania ruling the interior forests of the Black Shroud, the sultanate of Ul'dah ruling the southern deserts of Thanalan, the Holy See of Ishgard ruling the northern highlands of Coerthas, and imperial-occupied Ala Mhigo in the mountains of Gyr Abania to the northeast.

Comprised of Aldenard, the westernmost of the Three Great Continents, and its surrounding islands, the realm of Eorzea has been the cradle of several unique civilizations throughout history. Towering mountains dominate the north, their peaks forever lashed with icy winds; to the south, a bleak expanse of unforgiving desert holds sway. Yet these inhospitable lands hold irresistible lure for man and monster alike, for wide and deep flow the currents of aether, and rich are the veins of power-infused crystal. In this harsh though vibrant region, the people of Eorzea have carved out their histories—a cycle of prosperous Astral and disastrous Umbral eras. The First Umbral Era brought an end to the age of the gods, and there have been six such eras of calamity since the First Astral Era ushered in the age of man. Each of the Umbral catastrophes has, in turn, borne the characteristics of one of the six elements. With all the elements now represented, it was believed the current Astral era would last into eternity. But in the seventh verse of the Divine Chronicles, Mezaya Thousand Eyes prophesied a less fortunate fate. The "senary sun," or Sixth Astral Era, would indeed end, and the "septenary moon," or Seventh Umbral Era, would cast its shadow upon the land.

La Noscea is the marine region located in the south-eastern part of Eorzea, and Limsa Lominsa, one of the starting cities, is located in La Noscea. The maritime metropolis is located in the south of the island Vylbrand that Aldenard precedes in the west, the Gulf of Rhotano. Their patron deity is Llymlaen, the aerodrome controller, the goddess of seafarers.

On the southern coast of the island of Vylbrand, under the shadow of ancient cliffs worn by the relentless onslaught of the Rhotano Sea, lies the marine city-state of Limsa Lominsa. Said to be blessed by the goddess of navigation, Llymlaen, the city is spread out over countless tiny islands, each connected by sturdy bridges of iron and wood construction, earning her the name the "Navigator's Veil" from traveling bards who have witnessed the city's beauty from afar. Limsa Lominsa is a traditional thalassocracy, with power lying in the hands of the ruling party and its leader, Admiral Merlwyb Bloefhiswyn. Its economy is driven by shipbuilding, fishing, and blacksmithing, but the majority of wealth comes from the lucrative shipping industry. To maintain the safety of its maritime routes, the city employs a formidable navy known as the Knights of the Barracuda, but even in the waters nearby the city, pirate bands run rampant, raving and pillaging. Admiral Merlwyb reinstated the Maelstrom to combine the forces of the Knights, conscripted pirates, and adventurers into a land-and-sea army to combat the Garlean Empire and the encroaching Sahagin of the Indigo Deep.

Many people, when they think of Thanalan both in-universe and out, are tempted to think of it as nothing but a trackless, sun-baked wasteland. This is far from the truth - while Thanalan is generally arid, it is only the Sagolii Desert proper that can be called desolate and lacking in vegetation. Much of Thanalan is more like a savanna, with somewhat sparse but active plant life which can get notably more lush near major sources of water, particularly in Western, Central and Eastern Thanalan, following the rivers. As a result, the geography varies significantly - from Central Thanalan's relatively flat plains to the towering canyons of Eastern Thanalan to the massive dunes in the Sagolii. Of the three starting areas, Thanalan has seen some of the worst effects of the Seventh Umbral Era. It was the first to have Atomos appear, and as a result the strongest of the Deepvoid have appeared here. The aftermath of Dalamud has resulted in some of the most spectacular landscape changes, particularly in Eastern Thanalan.

The bustling commercial hub of Ul'dah sits amid the desolate desert landscape of southern Aldenard. The city is organized strategically around the dome-shaped citadel at the center. Its towering fortifications and protective outer walls are visible for malms in all directions to deter would-be besiegers. Visitors from every corner of Eorzea come to Ul'dah to partake of the city's famed recreation, most notably the fighting arenas and gambling halls. Ul'dahn culture is known for its affluence, and the nation's wealth largely comes from its abundant mineral resources and prestigious clothcrafting industry. Historically, the sultan claims sovereignty over Ul'dah, but true power is wielded by the Syndicate, an elite group of six of the most influential and richest members of society. Nald'thal is the city's patron deity and two great halls devoted to his two aspects are found in the eastern and western sections of the city.

The Black Shroud also known as the Twelveswood, or Tinolqa to the Ixal, is a forest region surrounding the city-state of Gridania. The forest itself is known to take the lives of anyone who does not heed the Elementals, a danger often referred to as the "woodwrath". This makes it a natural filter against those who would bear arms against Gridania, though that hasn't stopped the Ixal, Ala Mhigo, or the Garlean Empire from trying. It is connected to Thanalan to the south, and Coerthas to the northwest. A large wall currently blocks off neighboring Gyr Abania in the east.

In the eastern reaches of the Aldenard landmass, home to vast, dense woodlands and coursing rivers, lies the forest nation of Gridania. The cityscape is a mosaic of labyrinthine waterways and great wooden structures, so gracefully constructed they seem a part of the surrounding environment. The Gridanian emphasis on natural harmony has led to its preeminence among Eorzea's city-states in trades such as forestry, agriculture, carpentry, and leatherworking. Gridania is also home to the Wood Wailers, a militant band of polearm-wielding sentries charged with the protection of their homeland. The favored goddess of the citizenry is Nophica, the Matron, but great faith is also placed in the wisdom of the Seedseers—young oracles who guide the nation based on the will of the forest's elementals. The elementals in the Twelvewoods around Gridania pervade all aspects of Gridanian culture. The Gridanians respect, and even fear, the elementals for the power they wield, and appease or communicate with the elementals through festivals and ritual dance. The elementals in the woods guard and watch over observant Gridanians, and would normally control creatures of the forest and use them to attack outsiders. A sort of barrier called the Hedge prevents outsiders from being subject to this violent elemental nature, called "woodsin" or "woodwrath". The Hedge occasionally falters, however, and when it does, those affected with woodwrath need to be purified through ritual dance.

Coerthas is a mountainous region outside the city of Ishgard located northwest of the Black Shroud and north of Mor Dhona.

Mor Dhona long laid between the various city-states of Eorzea, and generally unclaimed by any. It was said that since immemorial times, a great force slumbered there. This force was said to drain the element from anything that remained in contact with the ground for a long time; if a wind crystal was buried there, for example, it soon became a pure crystal devoid of wind properties. In spite of this, Mor Dhona was famous for its wild and rugged beauty, particularly its lush green forests and striking waterfalls, which fed into and out of one of Aldenard's largest inland bodies of water: Silvertear Lake.