A treasure hunt is one of the few city activities where children usually outperform the adults. They look at things grown-ups walk past, they are not embarrassed to stare at a facade, and they will happily count arches on a bridge. The trick is keeping the route short enough that the day ends well.
This guide covers distance, clue types, safety and the practical bits of playing with children. For the format itself, see how a City Game works from booking to finish.
How long should it be?
For children aged roughly six to twelve, plan ninety minutes to two hours of playing time including breaks, and keep the walking under three kilometres. Younger than that, treat an hour as a success. The route matters more than the total: a compact loop with stops close together feels shorter than the same distance in a straight line.
Walking distances differ per city and per concept, so check the destination page in the list of cities where you can play a City Game before you book.
Clue types children solve well
- Counting. Windows, steps, arches, lions on a gate. Reliable, visual, and everyone can join in.
- Spotting. Find the animal on the facade, the smallest door, the odd house number.
- Matching. Which of these four photos was taken on this square?
- Doing. Copy the statue pose, make the whole team fit in one photo.
Word puzzles and heavy logic work less well below ten, and long reading passages are where attention goes first. If a game offers a family or exploration route, that is usually the one to pick: the Secrets of exploration game keeps the puzzles lighter and the discovery central.
Keeping it safe and calm
- Agree that nobody reads the phone while walking, adults included.
- Give each child one job: photographer, counter, map holder. Rotate every few stops.
- Point out the bike lanes at the start. In Dutch and Danish cities they matter more than the road.
- Agree a meeting point in case someone gets separated, and take a photo of the children at the start.
- Bring water, a snack and a power bank; hunger ends more hunts than difficulty does.
When someone gets tired
Take the hint. Every challenge has them, and using one costs a few points at most. A team that stops for ice cream and finishes the route beats a team that argues its way to a perfect score. Because the game is self-guided, you can pause for as long as you like and pick up where you left off.
Playing with several families
Split into teams of four to six with at least one adult each, play the same route in parallel and meet at the finish. Scores give the day a shape, and children who did not know each other at the start usually do by the end. For larger groups, bookings run through the page for companies and groups.
Frequently asked questions
What age is a city treasure hunt suitable for?
Children from about six can play in a mixed team with an adult. From ten, they often lead the team. Below six, keep it very short and treat it as a walk with games.
Do children need their own phone?
No. One phone per team is enough, and passing it around works better than everyone staring at a screen.
What if it rains?
Bring rain jackets and plan an indoor finish. Because you choose the date and time yourself, moving the game to a drier day is always an option.
Is it educational?
It teaches children to look at a city closely, which is more than most walking tours manage, but it is a game first.
Can grandparents join?
Yes, and mixed-age teams work well. Check the route details for stairs and slopes if anyone in the group needs an easier walk.
Choose a city and keep it short
Pick a compact centre, a route under two hours, clue types your children can actually solve, and a finish with something to eat. That is the whole recipe.
For the version aimed squarely at families rather than at a party, see our guide to a family scavenger hunt.
Secrets of …
Discover the stories behind the facades. For everyone. See the games ›
