Olten Self-Guided Walking Tour: Riddle Game Through Old Town

You solve riddles to find your way, not follow a guide's script.

A self-guided scavenger hunt through Olten's old town using the Explorial app on your smartphone. You download the app, enter a game code, and follow phone-based riddles from landmark to landmark (the Alte Holzbrücke wooden bridge, the Chorherrenhäuser canons' houses, and the Rathskeller civic landmark) at your own pace with no fixed start time. Around 2 hours of walking, available in 24 languages, and suitable for any group size up to 15 people per booking.

The experience

You start at Frohburgstrasse 1, by the edge of the old town, download the Explorial app to your phone, enter the 6-digit game code you receive by text, and head for the river on your own. The app feeds you riddles, trivia challenges and photo tasks that guide you from one stop to the next: no guide walking ahead, no fixed pace, no waiting. The Alte Holzbrücke, the covered wooden bridge rebuilt after Napoleon's troops burned its predecessor, is the centerpiece: the app knows which details to ask about the Aare crossing and the centuries of history it carries.

From there you move through the Chorherrenhäuser, the dignified homes of the canons who shaped old Olten, where facades hold dates, crests and clues in equal measure. The Rathskeller adds the civic chapter: a fixture of town life where politics and beer have shared a table for generations. Each stop is a puzzle to solve, not a plaque to read. You walk at strolling pace, take breaks at the old town's cafés whenever you want, and compete against other players in your group or against the city's high score. The whole route takes around 2 hours, but you set the rhythm.

The app works in 24 languages, so you can play in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian or 19 others. Pick your language when you start the game. You need a fully charged smartphone with active mobile data and no VPN. The app won't work on city Wi-Fi. All the puzzles relate to public areas, so no entrance fees are required. If bad weather or illness stops you before you start, you can reschedule for another day or switch to a different city.

What’s included

• Free download of the Explorial app for iOS or Android.
• self-guided walking tour with interactive riddles, trivia challenges and photo tasks.
• points and scoring system to compete within your group or against the city's high score.
• live location map to navigate and always know where you are.
• learn about Olten's stories, history and local legends.
• total flexibility to start anytime, walk at your own pace and take as many breaks as 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 16 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Explorial

Is this one for you?This tour suits anyone who enjoys solving puzzles and exploring a town on their own terms. The self-guided format means you set the pace, choose when to start, and take breaks whenever the old town's cafés call. If you prefer a guide's voice and a fixed itinerary, look for a different option.

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

You start anytime you want. There's no fixed departure or meeting time. Once you download the Explorial app and enter your game code, you head out on your own schedule and walk at your own pace.

What is the Alte Holzbrücke and why is it the main stop on this tour?

The Alte Holzbrücke is the covered wooden bridge that has spanned the Aare River for centuries. It was rebuilt after Napoleon's troops burned its predecessor, and the app uses it as the centerpiece of the scavenger hunt: the first riddles guide you across it and into the old town.

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

No entrance fees are required. All the puzzles relate to public areas of the sights, so you can solve the riddles and explore the landmarks without paying to enter anything.

What do I need to bring to play this scavenger hunt?

Bring a fully charged smartphone with an active mobile data connection. The Explorial app works on iOS and Android. Disable any VPN before you start, as it will cause the app to malfunction. Wear comfortable walking shoes and weather-appropriate clothing for about 2 hours of light walking.