Freiburg Self-Guided Walking Tour: Riddles & Scavenger Hunt

Solve riddles through Freiburg's lanes on your own schedule

This self-guided scavenger hunt takes you through Freiburg im Breisgau on foot using an app with phone-based riddles and photo tasks to navigate from one landmark to the next. No guide meets you, no fixed start time applies, and you walk at your own pace with total flexibility to pause and explore. The tour runs around two hours and is available in 24 languages.

The experience

You download the Explorial app, enter a six-digit game code sent by text after booking, and start whenever you want at Rotteckring. The riddles guide you along the Bächle (the little water channels that thread through Freiburg's streets) into the old town. Each puzzle points you toward a landmark and asks you to solve trivia, answer questions about what you see, or snap a photo at the right spot to unlock the next clue. You're competing on a leaderboard against other players in your group and against the city's high score, but the pace is entirely yours: stop for coffee, linger at a shop, take a break whenever you need one.

The route anchors itself on three major stops. The Münster's filigree spire, called the most beautiful in Christendom, dominates the skyline and survived the 1944 bombing almost alone. The riddles climb through its gargoyles and the market noise around it. At the Neues Rathaus, trivia plays with the carillon over Rathausplatz, where window boxes overflow with flowers and civic pride. Konviktstraße closes the loop: wisteria hangs over cobbles, craft shops line the lane, and the old town reveals itself at its most romantic. Around two hours of walking covers the whole game, though you can stretch it longer if you explore side streets or stop frequently.

You'll need a fully charged smartphone with an active mobile data connection and the ability to disable any VPN before you start: city Wi-Fi can cause the app to disconnect. The app works on iOS or Android. No entrance fees apply. All puzzles use public areas of the sights, so you're never asked to pay to solve a riddle. Groups can be up to 15 people. Larger parties need to make multiple bookings.

What’s included

• Free download of the Explorial app (iOS or Android).
• self-guided walking tour with interactive riddles, trivia challenges and photo tasks.
• live location mapping with marked landmarks.
• clear hints and map guidance.
• points and scoring system to compete within your group and against the city high score.
• total flexibility to start anytime, walk at your own pace and take breaks whenever you want.

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 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Explorial

Is this one for you?Two hours of walking leaves room for a leisurely breakfast or lunch elsewhere in Freiburg, or time to explore the Black Forest on the same day. If you prefer a guide narrating history or a fixed itinerary, this self-guided format won't suit you. It's built for travelers who want to set their own rhythm and solve puzzles as they go.

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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.

How does the app know where I am and what I'm looking at?

The app uses live location mapping with marked locations so you always know where you are in the city. When you arrive at a landmark, the riddle prompts you to observe details on the building or square itself (the carillon on the Rathaus, the gargoyles on the Münster, the flowers in the square), and answer or photograph what you see to prove you're at the right spot and unlock the next clue.

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

There's no fixed start time. You download the app, enter your game code, and begin whenever suits your day. You walk at your own pace, take as many breaks as you want, and move through the city on your schedule. The only constraint is that your smartphone stays charged and connected.

What happens if I get stuck on a riddle?

The app provides clear hints and map guidance so you never get lost or stranded. If a riddle stumps you, hints appear in the app to nudge you toward the answer without spoiling it.

What is the Bächle and why does it matter?

The Bächle are the little water channels that run through Freiburg's streets, fed by the Dreisam River. Local legend says stepping in one brings marriage. It's a playful part of the city's character, and the game starts by following them into the old town as your first navigation landmark.

Do I need to pay to enter the Münster or the Rathaus to complete the tour?

No entrance fees are required. All riddles and photo tasks use public areas of the sights, so you solve the game from the streets and squares without needing to buy tickets to interiors.