How to sneak into Hyrule Castle in Zelda: Ocarina of Time

When you first try to get into Hyrule Castle in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, you’ll be kicked out by the guards.

However, you must find a way to get inside, so you can meet the Princess of Hyrule. No matter what you do, getting inside seems to be an impossible task, but with the help of the townsfolk, you’ll learn of a secret passageway.

Here’s how to sneak into Hyrule Castle in Ocarina of Time.

[Ed. note: This guide is for the Nintendo 64 – Nintendo Classic version of the game, which is playable if you have a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership. This walkthrough uses the updated control scheme, so if you’re playing on a Nintendo 64 or 3DS, you may need to press different buttons.]

How to sneak into Hyrule Castle in Ocarina of Time

To sneak into Hyrule Castle, you’ll need to sneak through the small drain hole that’s found on the right side of the castle. However, you’ll need to get past a few guards before you can find the drain hole.

Graphic: Johnny Yu/Polygon | Source image: Nintendo via Polygon

Enter the castle grounds and look along the right wall to find Malon and a climbable vine. If this is your first time, Malon won’t be there, so exit and come back for Malon to appear. Talk to Malon, who will give you a weird egg. You’ll need to hatch the egg, which will only hatch when the sun rises. Time doesn’t flow when you’re in the city or Lon Lon Ranch, so make sure you’re either on the castle grounds or in Hyrule Fields.

Go up to the top and follow the path to the brick gate. You can either go down the ladder or walk off the ledge, so that you end up on the east side of the gate.

Link walking on a grass path toward a ladder in a stone floor in Ocarina of Time.

Walk up the path, but don’t walk up to the guards at the top. Instead, turn to the left and go up the grassy hill.

Link standing on a white path with two guards with an arrow point up a hill in Ocarina of Time.

Head to the northwest corner of the area to find a rocky wall. Climb it and drop off the ledge to get into the fenced area.

Link standing in a grassy area in front of a rocky wall in Ocarina of Time.

Before you move any further, drop into the moat to avoid the guards by the gate. Then, swim ahead to the corner, and walk up the ramp out of the water.

Link standing over a moat and swimming in it in Ocarina of Time.

Follow the pathway to the right side of the castle, where you’ll find a sleeping man, a couple movable boxes, and a drain hole in the side of the castle. You need to push the boxes to the platform in front of the drain hole, but a sleeping man is blocking your path. To move him, use the hatched chicken beside his body.

A sleeping man with a mustache, blue overalls, and a red shirt in Ocarina of Time.

Look in front of the drain hole to spot a platform just above the water. This is where you want to push the boxes. Walk up to a box, grab it, and move it off the edge. Then, do the same with the second box, only this time it’ll end up on top of the previous box. After you move it into place, you’ll hear a little jingle indicating that the box is in the right place. Climb on top of the box, jump over to the drain hole, and crawl inside.

Link standing in front of wooden boxes and on top of boxes in front of a hole on the side of a wall in Ocarina of Time.

For this next portion, you’ll need to avoid being detected by the patrolling guards. In the first two rooms, wait for the guards to move to the right side of the room, and then run across the path.

Guards in a garden with hedge bushes and a fountain in Ocarina of Time.

In the third room, go up the stairs and walk across the wood beam. If you desperately need rupees, you can drop down to get them, but it’s not exactly worth it.

Link walking on wooden scaffolding in a garden in Ocarina of Time.

For the fourth and fifth room, there are two patrolling guards that walk fairly close to one another. Wait for both guards to pass, and follow the second guard. They won’t turn around, so just slowly walk behind them until you can go to the next room.