Scavenger Hunts, Escape Games & Walking Tours in Scotland

Choose a self-guided scavenger hunt, outdoor escape game or audio walking tour in Edinburgh or Glasgow. 10 stops, about 3 hours, no guide and no fixed start time: play whenever you arrive in Scotland. 4.6 · 68 reviews2 cities✓ Instant access✓ Start any time✓ No guide needed

Scotland. Route, every stop, local tips and prices on our local site: worldcitytrail.co.uk →

United Kingdom: more places with city guides

No game here yet, but our guides cover them: where locals eat, what to see, day trips and more.

Self-guided city games in Edinburgh and Glasgow

World City Trail runs self-guided scavenger hunts in Scotland’s two largest cities, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Each 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.

Both scavenger hunts have 10 stops and take about 3 hours. In Edinburgh you walk 4.1 km, from the Scott Monument up to the castle, through the Old Town and on to Calton Hill. In Glasgow the route is 2.9 km, from St Enoch Square through George Square and the Merchant City to Glasgow Green.

CityScavenger hunt ratingTimeWalkingStops
Glasgow 4.7 (37)about 3 hoursabout 40 min · 2.9 km10See the games →
Edinburgh 4.5 (31)about 3 hoursabout 56 min · 4.1 km10See the games →

Edinburgh or Glasgow? The best Scottish city for your trip

Best for a first trip to Scotland

Edinburgh

Solve riddles at the Castle Esplanade and Edinburgh Castle, then head down through the Grassmarket, past Greyfriars and St Giles’ Cathedral to the Canongate.

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Best for views over the city

Edinburgh

The route finishes on Calton Hill, by way of the Burns Monument, so the last stop comes with a wide view over the Old Town and the New Town.

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Best for families with children

Glasgow

The shorter of the two routes, at 2.9 km, links the Gallery of Modern Art, George Square and the Tolbooth Steeple and ends on Glasgow Green by the Doulton Fountain.

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Best for Victorian architecture

Glasgow

Look closely at the City Chambers, the City Halls and Old Fruitmarket in the Merchant City, and the People’s Palace at the finish.

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How it works

  1. Book online Choose the game and the number of players. Your booking reference arrives by email straight away.
  2. Get the app Download the World City Trail app from the App Store or Google Play and enter your booking reference.
  3. 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 Scotland with a self-guided city game

A self-guided scavenger hunt is an easy way to see the main sights of Edinburgh or Glasgow in about three hours, with no guide and no fixed start time. Each route links 10 landmarks on foot, so you see the castle, the squares and the old streets in one walk.

Compared with a guided tour, you choose the day, the start time, the pace and the order of the stops, and you can duck into a café when a shower passes. The riddles make you look closely at statues, closes and inscriptions most visitors walk past, and the stories and legends that follow explain what you just found.

One app works in both cities, which makes it easy to play both on one trip. Edinburgh and Glasgow are linked by frequent trains, and the journey takes under an hour, so the second city fits into a day trip.

  • Bring a rain jacket and good shoes: the games work in the rain, and Edinburgh’s route climbs to the castle and Calton Hill.
  • In winter it gets dark early, so start the escape game by late morning or early afternoon.
  • Every stop is seen from outside, so you need no castle or museum tickets.
  • Planning both cities? Book them together: the tickets have no time limit.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best city in Scotland for a scavenger hunt?

For a first visit, Edinburgh is the classic choice: the route takes in the castle, the Grassmarket, St Giles’ Cathedral and Calton Hill. Glasgow is a good pick for a shorter walk and grand Victorian buildings, and it also works well with children.

How long does a scavenger hunt in Scotland take?

Both Scottish scavenger hunts take about 3 hours, including 56 minutes of actual walking in Edinburgh and 40 minutes in Glasgow. You can pause at any time, stop for lunch and continue later or on another day.

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 Scotland 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. Glasgow has the shorter route (2.9 km); Edinburgh’s route includes some climbs.

Which languages are the Scotland games in?

All games in Edinburgh and Glasgow are available in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish and Dutch. You choose the language in the app.

Can I do Edinburgh and Glasgow with the same app?

Yes. The World City Trail app works in both cities: buy a ticket for each game, enter each booking reference and play whenever you are there. Your personal Trail Map collects every city you finish and the kilometres you walked.

Ready to explore Scotland your own way?

Choose Edinburgh or Glasgow, book online and get your booking reference straight away. Start whenever you are there, with no guide and no time slot.

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