Best for a first trip to Austria
Vienna
The Vienna route runs from the University past the Ankeruhr, St Stephen’s Cathedral, the Hofburg and the State Opera to the gilded Johann Strauss Monument.
Scavenger Hunts, Escape Games & Walking Tours in Austria
Play a scavenger hunt, outdoor escape game or self-guided audio walking tour in five Austrian cities: Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Graz and Hallstatt. Solve riddles at about 10 landmarks or just hear their stories, and plan with our city guides. 4.5 · 451 reviews5 cities✓ Instant access✓ Start any time✓ No guide needed
Austria: more places with city guides
No game here yet, but our guides cover them: where locals eat, what to see, day trips and more.
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Kitzbühel City Guides by World City Trail
Price range: 4.99 € through 19.99 €
Self-guided city games in 5 Austrian cities
World City Trail runs self-guided scavenger hunts in five Austrian cities: Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Graz and the lakeside village of Hallstatt. Every city has three games: a scavenger hunt with a riddle at each stop, an outdoor escape game with a puzzle at every landmark, and an audio walking tour with stories and no puzzles.
The scavenger hunts take about 2 hours in Hallstatt, Innsbruck and Salzburg and about 3 hours in Vienna and Graz. Hallstatt has the shortest walk at 1.3 km and Vienna the longest at 5.2 km.
| City | Scavenger hunt rating | Time | Walking | Stops | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vienna | 4.6 (354) | about 3 hours | about 64 min · 5.2 km | 10 | See the games → |
| Salzburg | 4.5 (76) | about 2 hours | about 31 min · 2.5 km | 10 | See the games → |
| Hallstatt | 4.6 (21) | about 2 hours | about 21 min · 1.3 km | 10 | See the games → |
| Graz | – | about 3 hours | about 40 min · 2.6 km | 10 | See the games → |
| Innsbruck | – | about 2 hours | about 24 min · 1.8 km | 10 | See the games → |
The best city in Austria for a scavenger hunt, by type of trip
Best for music lovers
Salzburg
Pass the Mozart Residence and Mozart’s Birthplace on Getreidegasse, cross Residenzplatz to the cathedral and finish at Hohensalzburg Fortress above the old town.
Best for the Alps
Innsbruck
From the Triumphal Arch on Maria-Theresien-Straße you look straight up at the Nordkette mountains, then continue to the Golden Roof, the Hofburg and St James’ Cathedral.
Best for a short, easy walk
Hallstatt
Only 1.3 km between the lake and the mountainside: the Marktplatz, two parish churches, the Charnel House with its painted skulls and a viewpoint over the village.
Best for old lanes and courtyards
Graz
Solve riddles at the Mausoleum of Emperor Ferdinand II, Graz Cathedral, the Glockenspiel and the arcaded Landhaus courtyard, then climb Sporgasse to the Clock Tower.
How it works
- Book online Choose the game and the number of players. Your booking reference arrives by email straight away.
- Get the app Download the World City Trail app from the App Store or Google Play and enter your booking reference.
- Play when you like Start whenever you are ready, walk at your own pace and pause any time. No guide, no fixed schedule.
Why explore Austria with a self-guided city game
A self-guided scavenger hunt is the easiest way to see the main sights of an Austrian city in two to three hours, without a guide or a fixed start time. The historic centres of Vienna, Salzburg and Graz are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and our routes link their squares, churches, palaces and fountains in a single walk.
Compared with a guided tour, you choose the pace, the start time and the order of the stops, with no group to follow. The riddles make you look closely at façades, fountains and inscriptions, and the stories that follow tell of the Habsburgs, Mozart and the salt that made Hallstatt and Salzburg rich.
One app works in all five cities, which suits the way many people travel in Austria: a few days in Vienna, then Salzburg with a side trip to Hallstatt, and Innsbruck on the way into the Alps.
- Hallstatt is busiest in the middle of the day, so play early in the morning or later in the afternoon.
- Start the escape game in daylight, because its puzzles rely on details of buildings and statues.
- Every stop is seen from outside, so you need no entry tickets.
- Visiting several cities? Book them all at once: the tickets have no time limit.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best city in Austria for a scavenger hunt?
For a first visit, Vienna is the best choice: its route links St Stephen’s Cathedral, the Hofburg and the State Opera. Salzburg suits music lovers with Mozart’s Birthplace, while Hallstatt and Innsbruck have the shortest walks, both under 2 km, and suit children.
How long does a scavenger hunt in Austria take?
Most Austrian scavenger hunts take about 2 hours, including 20 to 30 minutes of actual walking. Vienna and Graz take about 3 hours. You can pause and continue later.
Do I need to book a time slot?
No. You book online and receive your booking reference by email straight away. Download the World City Trail app, enter the reference and start whenever you like, with no guide and no time slot.
Can I do a scavenger hunt in Austria with kids?
Yes. The riddles are solved by observation and logic, not prior knowledge, so children can play along with an adult, and everyone can follow on their own phone. For young children, Hallstatt (1.3 km) and Innsbruck (1.8 km) have the shortest routes.
Which languages are the Austria games in?
All five Austrian scavenger hunts can be played in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish and Dutch. Graz is also available in Polish, and Salzburg in Chinese.
Is a self-guided tour better than a guided tour in Vienna?
For most visitors, yes: a self-guided tour starts whenever you want, follows your pace and leaves time for a coffee house. The riddles and stories keep everyone involved. A guided tour suits people who mainly want to ask a guide questions.
Ready to explore Austria your own way?
Pick a city above, book online and receive your booking reference by email straight away. Then start whenever you arrive, at your own pace and without a guide.
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