Sightseeing with children fails for a predictable reason: adults want to look at things and children want to do things. A city game turns the looking into the doing. The child holds the phone, finds the answer on a wall or a statue, and the walk between two sights becomes the point rather than the cost.
It is not magic, and it does not work equally well at every age. Here is what to expect.
Which ages it suits
Under five. Not really. Toddlers cannot read the clues and will not care about the score, and you will be carrying someone within twenty minutes. A playground and an ice cream serve you better.
Five to seven. Works if an adult reads the clues aloud and the child does the finding, counting windows, spotting an animal carved above a door, pressing the button on the phone. Keep it to an hour and expect to skip things.
Eight to twelve. The sweet spot. Old enough to read, argue and want to win; young enough to be genuinely delighted by a secret passage or a gargoyle. This is the age group the format is really built for.
Teenagers. Works surprisingly well, mostly because the phone is doing the leading rather than a parent. Give them the phone and let them be in charge. Competing against a rival family team is what gets a fourteen-year-old off a bench.
How long they will actually last
Less time than you think, and less than the route suggests. A route that takes adults two hours takes a family two and a half with stops, and children run out at a fixed point regardless of how much is left.
So: start earlier in the day than feels necessary, plan for a snack stop halfway, and be entirely relaxed about not finishing. There is no penalty for stopping, and a family that quits happily at three quarters has had a better afternoon than one that grimly completes.
Practical things that make the difference
Give the child the phone. The single biggest change you can make. A child holding the screen is leading; a child following an adult holding the screen is being walked.
Split into two teams if you can. Two families, or parents against children. Competition does more for engagement than any puzzle.
Bring water and a snack. The most common reason a family afternoon falls apart is not boredom.
Check the route length before you book. A few kilometres is a lot with short legs and a pushchair. Ask for the shorter option.
What children get out of it
Not a history lesson, and it is worth being honest about that. What they get is a city they have looked at properly for two hours, a handful of facts they will repeat at dinner, and the experience of being the one who solved something in front of their parents. That last one is the part they remember.
The how it works page explains the format, and you can see it in advance so nothing on the day is a surprise.
Rainy days and school holidays
It runs outdoors, so a downpour is a genuine problem with small children in a way it is not with adults. In changeable weather, take the shorter route and plan an indoor stop at the end.
School holidays are when this format earns its keep: a self-guided activity with no fixed start time, in a city you are visiting anyway, that costs a fraction of most attractions and does not require booking a slot weeks ahead.
Where you can play
City games run in cities across Europe and beyond. See every city we cover, and if you are heading somewhere that is not listed, ask us. If you are organising something for several families at once, a birthday, a school group, a reunion, the groups page covers the practical side.
Frequently asked questions
What age is a city game suitable for?
Eight to twelve is ideal. Five to seven works with an adult reading the clues, and teenagers do well if you give them the phone.
How long does it take with children?
Allow two and a half hours for a two-hour route, including stops. Be prepared to stop early without finishing.
Is it suitable for a pushchair?
Often, but it depends on the city and the route. Ask before booking, especially anywhere with cobbles or steps.
Do children need their own phone?
No. One phone per team is enough, and handing it to the child is usually what makes it work.
Is it educational?
Loosely. Children pick up real details about a city because they had to look for them, which sticks better than a plaque they walked past.
What if the weather turns?
You can shelter and continue, or stop entirely. With young children in heavy rain, stopping is usually the right call.
Give them the phone and follow
The best family afternoons are the ones where the adults stop leading. For a related idea, read a treasure hunt for kids in the city, or get in touch if you are planning something for a group of families.
Secrets of …
Discover the stories behind the facades. For everyone. See the games ›
