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Secrets of · Scavenger hunt

Secrets of Cologne Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour

4.4 on Google (23 reviews)

Secrets of Cologne Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Walking TourSecrets of Cologne Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour – Cologne (2)Secrets of Cologne Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour – Cologne (3)Secrets of Cologne Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour – Cologne (4)Secrets of Cologne Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour – Cologne (5)
  • 1.5–2 hours
  • 1–4 players per team
  • On your own phone, no app
  • Language of the game: English +31
  • Start any time within 12 months
  • Free cancellation until you start

Discover Cologne's legendary spirit as you explore its streets and landmarks, helping Johann von Werth reclaim his lost feathered hat.

Secrets of Cologne hands you the streets themselves as a puzzle. It is a self-guided scavenger hunt on your own phone — no guide, no group, no departure time.

It works off GPS, so the game knows where you are and hands over that location's riddle, puzzle or photograph. All of it points outward, at Cologne rather than at the phone. The history arrives sideways, through the puzzles, which is why it stays with you.

Among the stops: Obelisk Breslauer Platz, Hohenzollern Bridge and Museum Ludwig. What you are hunting for is rarely at the stop itself but somewhere on the way, in something you would have walked straight past.

You also reach Peters Brauhaus and Jan von Werth Statue. Everyone works out soon enough that the useful detail is never the obvious one.

A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Cologne, With Riddles Instead of a Guide

The shape of a walking tour, the mechanics of a puzzle. You cover a genuine route through Cologne and pick up what happened there, except nothing is narrated at you and nobody is waiting for stragglers. Walk, look, work it out. It sits at intermediate, which means a normal group gets through most of it and argues about what is left. Riddles, code-breaking, and a camera roll you did not expect.

Want to Plan a Fun Scavenger Hunt in Cologne?

This is one, already built. Setting it up is a date and a link: book, begin when you feel like it. Nothing gets printed, nothing gets hidden beforehand and no list gets written, because the route through Cologne, the riddles and the photo tasks all exist — about two hours over 3 to 4 km on foot. One ticket is €19.95 and covers up to four people on one phone. It is the same evening you were going to spend writing clues, spent walking instead.

Who It Suits: Adults, Teams and Families in Cologne

Adults. A scavenger hunt for adults in the sense that the puzzles actually resist you. Intermediate difficulty, riddles built on detail you have to go and look at, and two hours that hold a group that came out to enjoy itself.

Teams. One ticket covers four people, so a department divides straight into groups running the identical route through Cologne. No host to hire, no venue to reserve, no departure time. Put three or four teams on it together and the competition takes care of itself.

Families. Children walk it without trouble and are usually the fastest at the photo tasks. The riddles are the part you solve together, which is what makes it work for a group with a wide spread of ages.

Couples and friends. A self-guided walking tour that does not involve following an umbrella. You set the pace, stop where you want, and end up knowing things about Cologne that most people who live there do not.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Secrets exploration game work?

Book a date and a link arrives by email. You start it at the first location in Cologne, and from there your position drives everything — each stop brings a riddle, a puzzle or a photograph to take, and answering it opens the next stop.

Is this a walking tour or a game?

It is both at once. The route through Cologne is the route a self guided tour would take and you learn the same things, except nothing is narrated — you get riddles instead of commentary, and there is no one at the front with a raised umbrella.

What do we need to bring?

Just a charged phone and comfortable shoes for 3 to 4 km. You get a link when you book and open the game in your phone's browser at the first stop; nothing to print, nothing to plant beforehand, nothing to pick up anywhere.

How long does it take?

Two hours is typical, over a 3 to 4 km route. There is no clock and no scheduled departure — you fix the day when you book and start whenever you want on it.

How many people can play on one ticket?

One ticket covers a group of 1 to 4 people playing on one device, at €19.95 in total. Groups larger than four buy a second ticket, which also lets them play against each other.

Is it hard?

Intermediate. Observation and sideways thinking do the work; you do not need to know the city, and nothing on the route is built to stop you permanently.

Is it suitable for children?

Yes. Children manage the 3 to 4 km easily and are usually the quickest at the photo tasks. The riddles are intermediate, so most families work through them together — which is how the game is meant to be played anyway.

Do we need to book a time slot?

No — only a date. The hour you actually begin is yours, and there is nobody waiting: no meeting point, no guide, no group.

What happens if it rains?

You decide when to play and you can pause whenever you like. If a shower comes over, step inside somewhere, wait it out and pick up where you left off — you pause whenever you like and there is no clock running.

Will we actually learn something about Cologne?

Yes, and not as a side effect. The riddles are made from the history and the characters of Cologne and from details most people never notice, so the learning is the solving. Anyone who would rather follow a story can take one of the other city games in Cologne.

More City Games: city games across Germany · Secrets of Mainz

  1. Obelisk Breslauer PlatzBreslauer Platz, 50668 Köln
  2. Hohenzollern Bridge50679 Köln
  3. Museum LudwigHeinrich-Böll-Platz, 50667 Köln
  4. Peters BrauhausMühlengasse 1, 50667 Köln
  5. Jan von Werth StatueAlter Markt 38, 50667 Köln
  6. Groß St. MartinAn Groß Sankt Martin, 50667 Köln
  7. Fischweiber-BrunnenFrankenwerft 33, 50667 Köln
  8. Equestrian Statue of Friedrich Wilhelm IIIHeumarkt 43, 50667 Köln
Show all 15 stops
  1. St. AlbanQuatermarkt 4, 50667 Köln
  2. Farina DuftmuseumObenmarspforten 21, 50667 Köln
  3. Cologne City HallRathausplatz 2, 50667 Köln
  4. The PraetoriumKleine Budengasse 1-3, 50667 Köln, Germany
  5. HeinzelmännchenbrunnenAm Hof 12-14, 50667 Köln, Germany
  6. Cologne CathedralDomkloster 4, 50667 Köln
  7. St. Mariä HimmelfahrtMarzellenstraße 30, 50668 Köln

How it works

  1. BookYour ticket arrives by email.
  2. Go to the startThe start point is in your email. Any day within 12 months.
  3. PlayOpen the link on one phone per team and press start.

What players in other cities say

4.4 on Google (23 reviews)

  • ★★★★★

    Had great fun playing secrets of Haarlem!

    Martin M.March 2026 · via google
  • ★★★★★

    Game in Amsterdam was fun!

    Enzo L.March 2026 · via google
  • ★★★★★

    Had So much fun playing while exploring the city

    Philip C.March 2026 · via google
  • ★★★★★

    I had a fantastic experience with CityGame! The concept is creative, engaging, and a great way to explore a city in a completely new way. The games are well-designed, combining puzzles, storytelling, and adventure so you’re constantly discovering something interesting around every corner. What I especially love is how CityGame turns a normal walk through the city into an interactive experience. It’s perfect for friends, families, or team outings, and it makes sightseeing much more exciting than the usual tours. Everything was easy to use, the challenges were fun and clever, and it really encouraged us to look closer at the city and its hidden details. Highly recommended if you’re looking for a unique and memorable way to explore!

    Jessica S.March 2026 · via google
  • ★★★★★

    This is an interesting way to conduct a self-guided Amsterdam city tour. It used the GPS on your phone to guide you to stops on a route. There are mini quizzes once you arrive at the stops on the path. The quizzes draw your attention to features in front of you or to a brief history of the place. In many cases, we visited a spot that would not have been obvious as a regular passer by. The tour as a whole was interesting to us as newcomers, but I would have liked more information on many locations we visited - a few links outside of the app for each place would have been helpful. Beyond that, the interface was a bit clunky and sometimes awkward to navigate. We definitely don't regret trying this out and feel like we got our money's worth on the experience.

    JaibhijaiJune 2024 · via google
  • ★★★★★

    This was a fun game! It had a few challenges which was good and surprises. It got me to go around and explore Queenstown, New Zealand. I got to places in Queenstown, New Zealand I hadn’t been to before while on holiday here. Thank you for that and it gave a feel what it would be like to be the actual Sherlock Holmes!

    Dylan J.February 2024 · via google
How we check reviews

These reviews were left by players on Google and other review sites and are copied from there as they are, with their source.

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