An urban discovery tour is a route built around the parts of a city you would not find on your own: the courtyard behind the shopping street, the mural on a side wall, the market that only locals use. Played as a self-guided game, you follow it on your phone and solve a challenge at each stop.
It suits travellers who have already seen the obvious sights, and residents who suspect their own city has more to show. Start with how a City Game works in practice if you want the format explained first.
What is an urban discovery tour?
It is a walking route with a purpose: each stop asks you to notice something specific and answer a question about it. Because you are looking for details, you end up in streets that a normal walk would skip, and you remember them afterwards.
What makes a stop worth including
- It is permanent. A carved date, a statue, a street name, a facade detail.
- It rewards attention. You have to look twice to see the answer.
- It is on the way. Good routes connect discoveries without long stretches of nothing.
How the route works
- Choose a city and concept, then set your own date and starting time.
- Open the game at the meeting point with one charged phone per team.
- Follow the trail; each location holds a clue, a challenge or the next part of the story.
- Use a hint when you need one, so the route always continues.
- Finish at the end point and compare what each team spotted.
Distance, playing time and available languages differ per city and per concept. Check the destination page in the list of cities where you can play a City Game.
Choosing the right route
To discover the city itself
The Secrets of exploration game is built for exactly this: the landmarks first, then the corners behind them.
To turn the discovery into a case
If your group wants a plot to follow, The Syndicate city escape game layers a story over the route and makes the city the board you play on.
To take a group out
Discovery routes work well for team outings because several teams can play at once and swap findings afterwards. Bookings for larger groups run through the page for companies and groups.
How to see more while you walk
- Look above shop level. Most of a city character sits on the first floor and higher.
- Take the narrower street when the route offers a choice.
- Photograph what you find; the debrief afterwards is better with pictures.
- Leave time at the end for the place you want to go back to.
- Stop walking before you read the phone, and keep clear of traffic.
What to bring
- One charged phone per team with mobile data, plus a power bank on longer routes.
- Comfortable shoes: historic centres mean cobblestones, stairs and slopes, and this differs per city.
- Clothing for the weather, since the route is outdoors from start to finish.
- Two to six players per team.
Frequently asked questions
What is an urban discovery tour?
It is a self-guided walking route that leads you to lesser-known parts of a city through clues and challenges you solve on the spot.
Is it only for tourists?
No. These routes are often played by people who live in the city, because the stops are chosen for detail rather than fame.
Do we need a guide?
No. The route, the clues and the hints are all in the game on your phone.
How long does it take?
Most routes take a couple of hours including breaks, and you decide the pace. Exact playing times are listed per city.
Can we play with children?
Yes. Mixed teams work best, and the city page tells you the walking distance in advance.
Start with a city you think you know
An urban discovery tour usually works best in the place you assumed you had already seen. Pick your city and the concept that suits your group.
Secrets of …
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