Belo Horizonte Self-Guided Walking Tour: App-Led Scavenger Hunt

A city designed in 1897 still hides puzzles in its grid.

This self-guided scavenger hunt takes you through Belo Horizonte's cultural landmarks on foot using an app and riddles to navigate between stops. You start whenever you choose, move entirely at your own pace, and solve photo challenges and trivia at the Edifício Niemeyer, Palácio da Liberdade, and Alameda Travessia. The whole experience runs around two hours and works for groups up to fifteen people, with no entrance fees required since all puzzles use public areas of the sights.

The experience

Around two hours of walking through Belo Horizonte, you navigate using the free Explorial app and a six-digit game code you receive by text after booking. The app feeds you riddles and trivia that guide you from one landmark to the next, turning the city's layout into a puzzle. There's no guide waiting for you, no fixed start time, and no pressure to keep pace with anyone else. You crack each clue when you're ready, take breaks whenever you want, and move through the route entirely on your own terms.

The trail connects three sites that mark BH's architectural journey. At the Edifício Niemeyer, you solve a puzzle about Oscar Niemeyer's 1954 curved masterpiece, the building that anchored the city's reputation for modernist design. From there you walk to the Palácio da Liberdade, a formal former seat of government set in a manicured park, where the app teaches you about the movements that shaped Minas Gerais. The route finishes at Alameda Travessia in the Praça da Liberdade complex, a tree-lined boulevard lined with museums and cultural centers. Photo challenges add a competitive edge if your group wants to keep score.

You'll need a fully charged smartphone with an active mobile data connection and the Explorial app downloaded before you start. The app works in 24 languages including English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French and German. You choose yours when you open the game. All puzzles use only public areas, so no entrance fees apply. Comfortable walking shoes and weather-appropriate clothing are the only other prep required.

What’s included

• Free download of the Explorial app for iOS or Android.
• a six-digit game code delivered by text and booking-platform message.
• self-guided walking route with interactive riddles, trivia challenges and photo tasks.
• live scoring and points system so you can compete within your group.
• access to a map showing marked locations so you always know where you are.
• stories, history and local legends about each landmark learned through the app.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (10 to 90 years) · Child (under 10): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Cantonese, Chinese, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Greek, Hindi, Hungarian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Swedish, Turkish and Ukrainian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 15 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Explorial

Is this one for you?The route takes around two hours of light walking at whatever pace you choose, so it suits anyone who wants to explore Belo Horizonte's landmarks without a guide or a fixed schedule. If you prefer someone leading you through the city and explaining as you go, a guided tour would be a better fit.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Romanian, Danish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Ukrainian, Czech, Norwegian, Hungarian, Cantonese, Greek, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Finnish, Swedish, Hindi and Turkish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 10): free.

Can I start the scavenger hunt whenever I want, or is there a set time?

You start whenever suits you. After booking, you receive a game code by text and booking-platform message. Download the Explorial app, enter the code, and begin. There's no fixed departure time and no time limit for completing the route.

What is the Edifício Niemeyer and why does it matter?

The Edifício Niemeyer is a 1954 curved building designed by Oscar Niemeyer that became the landmark anchoring Belo Horizonte's reputation as a city of modern architecture. The app's puzzle at this stop teaches you about the building's design and its role in the city's identity.

Do I need to pay entrance fees for the landmarks on the route?

No entrance fees are required. All puzzles relate to public areas of the sights, so you can complete the entire scavenger hunt without paying to enter any building.

What happens if bad weather or illness stops me from starting?

The tour comes with a weather and health guarantee. If bad weather or illness prevents you from starting, you can reschedule for another day, rebook to a different city, or request a refund.

Can I do this with a large group?

The maximum is 15 people per booking. If your group is larger, you can make multiple bookings and all walk the same route together, competing on the photo challenges and scoring system.