Bielefeld Self-Guided Walking Tour: Riddles & Scavenger Hunt

Riddles, Sculptures and a 13th-Century Fortress: Bielefeld on Your Terms

A self-guided scavenger hunt through Bielefeld using an app on your phone to solve riddles and navigate between landmarks. You start at Jahnplatz whenever you choose, work through the Alter Markt's merchant houses, the Skulpturenpark's open-air art and the Sparrenburg fortress, competing on a leaderboard as you go. No guide, no fixed schedule, around two hours of walking at your own pace.

The experience

Does a city that doesn't exist have a scavenger hunt? Bielefeld does, and this one proves it. You download the Explorial app, enter a six-digit code sent to your phone, and the riddles begin at Jahnplatz, the central square. From there, the app guides you on foot through the old town without a live guide or a fixed start time. You move at your own pace, take breaks whenever you want, and solve photo tasks and trivia challenges as you go.

The route threads through three distinct stops. The Alter Markt gathers Renaissance gabled merchant houses around the theatre and café tables. Riddles knock on their carved doors as clues. The Skulpturenpark spreads modern sculpture across the slopes below the castle hill, each piece a potential puzzle piece. Then comes the Sparrenburg, the 13th-century fortress whose tower and underground passages watch over the rooftops: the climb earns the riddle that settles the conspiracy. Around two hours from square to summit, the leaderboard renders the final verdict.

You'll need a smartphone with a full charge and an active mobile data connection. The app works in 24 languages, so you choose yours when you start. The game covers only public areas, so no entrance fees apply. Weather turns bad or illness strikes? Reschedule for another day, switch to a different city, or request a refund. Groups stay under 15 people per booking. Larger parties split across multiple codes.

What’s included

• Explorial app download for iOS or Android.
• self-guided walking tour with interactive riddles, trivia challenges and photo tasks.
• live location navigation on the app map.
• points and scoring system to compete with your group and the city leaderboard.
• access to stories, history and local legends about Bielefeld's landmarks.

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 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Explorial

Is this one for you?Start at Jahnplatz in the city center, so you don't need a car or prior knowledge of where to go. The app handles the navigation. This suits anyone staying in central Bielefeld or arriving by public transport, since the entire route stays walkable from the square.

Traveler reviews

4.20★★★★★★★★★★

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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 Bielefeld scavenger hunt whenever I want, or is there a set time?

The tour is fully self-guided with no fixed start time. You download the app, enter your game code, and begin whenever suits your day. You control the pace and can take breaks as needed.

What happens at the Sparrenburg? Is it a museum I have to pay to enter?

The Sparrenburg is the 13th-century fortress above the rooftops, and the riddles guide you through its public areas. No entrance fees are required. All puzzles relate to spaces open to the public.

Do I need to download anything before I arrive, or can I set up the app on the day?

Download the Explorial app from your phone's app store before you go. Once you arrive at Jahnplatz, open the app, enter the six-digit code you'll receive by text and booking-platform message, and the game starts.

What's the Alter Markt, and why is it part of this tour?

The Alter Markt is Bielefeld's old town square, ringed by Renaissance merchant houses with carved gables. It's where the riddles begin, and the architecture itself becomes part of the puzzle.

Can I do this tour with a group, and is there a limit on how many people can play together?

Yes, groups can play together and compete on the same leaderboard. The maximum is 15 people per booking. If your group is larger, you'll need to make multiple bookings with separate game codes.