Tarkov Map Guide: Interchange, Lighthouse, Streets of Tarkov & Customs Explained

Knowing your map is the difference between a successful extract and a body bag. This guide covers four of Tarkov’s most played maps — Interchange, Lighthouse, Streets of Tarkov, and Customs — with loot zones, extraction points, and survival tips for each.

Table of Contents

• Customs
• Interchange
• Lighthouse
• Streets of Tarkov

Customs

Difficulty: ⭐⭐☆☆☆ (Beginner Friendly) Raid Duration: 45 minutes Player Count: 8–12

Customs is the most iconic map in Tarkov and the go-to starting point for new players. It features a mix of open roads, industrial zones, and the infamous Dorms — one of the most contested areas in the entire game.

Map Layout

Customs is split into two main halves connected by a bridge and a set of roads:

• West side — Gas station, construction site, trailer park, and new gas station
• East side — Dorms (2-story and 3-story), customs office, and RUAF checkpoint
• Center — The bridge connecting both halves; a key chokepoint

Top Loot Areas

Extraction Points (PMC)

• Customs Office Gate — south side of the map, always available; one of the most reliable exits
• RUAF Roadblock — east side near the checkpoint; commonly used
• Old Gas Station — requires a SCAV or player SCAV to be present nearby
• ZB-1011 / ZB-1012 — underground bunker extracts; require a key or 5,000 ruble payment
• Railroad to Tarkov — far east side, open for limited time in mid-raid

Boss

Reshala spawns at the Dorms or gas station with 4–5 armed guards. His loot includes the iconic Golden TT pistol. Guards are more dangerous than the boss himself — approach from angles, not head-on.

Tips for Customs

• Learn the bridge sightlines early — it’s the most dangerous chokepoint on the map
• The 3-story Dorms room 314 key is one of the best early investments
• Sniper Scavs spawn on the overpass — be careful crossing open roads
• If you spawn west, consider looping around rather than crossing the bridge in early raid

Interchange

Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (Intermediate) Raid Duration: 55 minutes Player Count: 10–14

Interchange is built around the massive ULTRA shopping mall — one of the best loot maps in the entire game. Tech items, weapons, and barter goods spawn here in high concentrations, making it a popular destination for loot-focused runs.

Map Layout

The map has three main zones:

• ULTRA Mall (inside) — the main loot area, split into multiple store sections
• Parking lots (outside) — vehicle extracts, container areas, and spawn zones
• Power station — activating the power here opens locked stores inside the mall

Key Stores Inside the Mall

Extraction Points (PMC)

• Emercom Checkpoint — car extract outside the mall on the west side; always active, costs nothing
• Shared Fence — walk-through extract in the south parking lot; reliable
• Hole in the Fence — small east-side exit near the loading docks
• Railway Exfil — requires power to be on and a specific lever pulled inside the mall

Boss

Killa roams the entire mall interior. He wears Class 5 armor and an armored face shield, and charges aggressively with an RPK or AK. Aim for his legs — they’re unarmored and bleed heavily. High-pen ammo (M995, Igolnik) can punch through his helmet visor.

Tips for Interchange

• Turn on the power at the generator station to open locked stores (worth the detour)
• The Techlight and Rasmussen stores are the highest-priority loot rooms
• Killa’s patrol path is somewhat predictable — listen for his footsteps through the mall
• The parking garage is a common ambush spot — move carefully around blind corners
• Emercom Checkpoint extract is your most consistent exit regardless of spawn

Lighthouse

Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (Advanced) Raid Duration: 45 minutes Player Count: 9–12

Lighthouse is one of Tarkov’s most visually striking maps — a coastal area centered around a water treatment plant and a heavily fortified lighthouse compound. It features a unique NPC faction called the Rogues who guard the water treatment plant and will shoot PMCs on sight.

Map Layout

• Water Treatment Plant (WTP) — the centerpiece, guarded by Rogues; high-tier loot inside
• Village — small civilian area with moderate loot; safer zone
• Lighthouse island — the titular lighthouse, guarded and locked behind a key
• Mountain pass — connects the north and south halves of the map
• Chalet (Rogue boss area) — high-value residential building near the water

Top Loot Areas

Extraction Points (PMC)

• Side Tunnel — reliable exit in the south; one of the easiest to access
• Southern Road — car extract on the south road, costs 3,000 rubles in the boot
• Armored Train — spawns mid-raid on the train tracks; powerful extract with good safety
• Cliff Descent — requires a paracord and Red Rebel ice pick to use (late-game item)
• Northern UN Roadblock — north side extract, good for players who spawned north

Boss

Zryachiy is the Lighthouse sniper boss who guards the lighthouse island. He and his guards will engage at extreme range with precision sniper rifles. Avoid approaching the lighthouse without a proper suppressed build and good cover routing.

Rogues — The Unique Threat

Unlike regular Scavs, Rogues are ex-USEC operatives who:

• Shoot all PMCs on sight (they will not tolerate you near the WTP)
• Have coordinated squad behavior and use grenades
• Do not shoot player SCAVs — running a Scav here is much safer
• Can be pacified if you increase your USEC reputation (advanced mechanic)

Tips for Lighthouse

• Do not walk toward the WTP without a plan — Rogues will one-tap you from towers
• The village is a safe starting area to loot before deciding whether to push WTP
• Cliff Descent is the best extract if you have Red Rebel — otherwise use Side Tunnel
• The armored train is a great panic extract if you’re in the center of the map mid-raid

Streets of Tarkov

Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Expert) Raid Duration: 55 minutes Player Count: 12–20

Streets of Tarkov is the largest and most complex map in the game. Set in the urban heart of the city, it features multi-story buildings, tight alleyways, rooftop sightlines, and the highest player count of any map. Not recommended for beginners — but essential for experienced players seeking the best loot in the game.

Map Layout

Streets is divided into several named districts and landmarks:

• Primorsky Ave — main commercial street; dense loot and high player traffic
• Klimov Street — residential area; apartment buildings with per-floor loot
• Concordia — luxury apartment complex; one of the best loot buildings on the map
• Chek-13 / Pinewood Hotel — high-value buildings heavily contested at raid start
• Scav base area — south-east section; industrial and military loot
• Cinema and mall — central landmarks with dense interior loot

Top Loot Areas

Extraction Points (PMC)

• Primorsky Ave Taxi V-Ex — car extract on the main street; costs rubles
• Collapsed Crane — one of the more accessible on-foot extracts
• Sewer River — underground exit in the south; consistent and low-risk to reach
• Scav Checkpoint — conditional extract requiring no hostile Scavs nearby
• kardoman — extract on the south-east side near the industrial zone

Boss

Tagilla can spawn on Streets as well as Factory. Additionally, Kollontai is a Streets-specific boss who roams with guards near the Concordia area. She is highly dangerous and requires coordinated fire to take down.

Tips for Streets of Tarkov

• Sound discipline is critical — the multi-story buildings amplify footsteps; enemies can hear you through floors and ceilings
• Don’t sprint in the streets — open roads are covered by rooftop snipers and window campers
• Concordia is always contested at raid start — only push it if you spawned close
• Learn at least 3 extract locations before raiding; the map is so large that running to a single extract can cost you the raid
• Flashlights are dangerous here — they reveal your position; use night vision if possible
• The Sewer River extract is underused by most players — learn it as a safe fallback

Map Comparison Summary

Recommended Progression Order

If you’re working through maps for the first time, this is the suggested order:

Customs → Interchange → Lighthouse → Streets of Tarkov

Master each map’s extractions and key loot areas before moving to the next. Rushing to Streets of Tarkov without map knowledge is one of the fastest ways to lose expensive gear.

Tags: #Tarkov #MapGuide #Customs #Interchange #Lighthouse #StreetsOfTarkov #Extractions #EscapeFromTarkov #LootGuide