Solve riddles from the Scott Monument up to Edinburgh Castle, along the Royal Mile and on to Calton Hill, and hear the stories behind Scotland’s capital, all on your phone, at your own pace and without a guide. 4.5 · 31 reviews✓ Instant access✓ Start any time✓ No guide needed
Edinburgh. Route, every stop, local tips and prices on our local site: worldcitytrail.co.uk →
New for Edinburgh: six interactive city guides to food, sights, family, nightlife, day trips and budget. See the guides →
Scavenger hunt 4.5 (31)
Best for first-timers, couples and families: solve a riddle at every stop, then unlock the stories and legends of Edinburgh’s Old and New Towns.
4.50 £ - 9.50 £See details and book →
Outdoor escape game 4.3 (4)
For puzzle lovers, friends and team building: crack an independent puzzle hidden at every attraction from the castle to Calton Hill, with up to three hints.
4.50 £ - 9.50 £See details and book →
Self-guided audio tour 5.0 (2)
For a relaxed walk without puzzles: listen to stories of writers, poets and kings at each stop while you explore Edinburgh at your own pace.
3.50 £ - 7.50 £See details and book →
The Edinburgh scavenger hunt starts at the Scott Monument on Princes Street and passes the Royal Scottish Academy before climbing to the Castle Esplanade in front of Edinburgh Castle. From The Hub you head down to the Grassmarket and Greyfriars, then back up to St Giles’ Cathedral, along the Canongate and over to the Burns Monument, finishing on Calton Hill.
The route covers about 4.1 km, roughly 56 minutes of walking, with a few climbs. You can start anywhere or change the order in the app. No entry tickets are needed: every riddle uses the outside of the buildings.
Edinburgh’s medieval Old Town and Georgian New Town together form a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The castle sits on an ancient volcanic rock, the Royal Mile runs down from it past St Giles’ Cathedral, and below lies the Grassmarket. Greyfriars is known for the story of Bobby, the loyal terrier, and Calton Hill rewards the climb with wide views over the city.
A game makes you look closely at closes, statues and inscriptions you would otherwise miss, and the stories explain what you just saw. Everyone plays on their own phone, there is no schedule, and you can stop for a coffee when it rains.
The Edinburgh scavenger hunt takes about 3 hours, including about 56 minutes (4.1 km) of actual walking; the rest is solving riddles and listening to stories. You can pause at any time and continue later or on another day.
It starts at the Scott Monument on Princes Street and finishes on Calton Hill at the east end of the New Town. In the app you can choose a different starting stop or change the order.
No, you need neither a guide nor a time slot. After booking you receive a reference by email; download the World City Trail app, enter it and start whenever you like.
Yes, the Edinburgh scavenger hunt works well for families. The riddles need observation and logic, not prior knowledge, so children can join in with an accompanying adult. The hilly route is not suitable for wheelchairs and is difficult with strollers.
You can play the Edinburgh scavenger hunt in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish or Dutch. Audio narration is also available for the stories.
Yes. Buy one ticket per player and form teams of up to 5 people; larger groups split into several teams. For team building, the outdoor escape game with its independent puzzles is a great fit.
Book the Edinburgh scavenger hunt now and spend three hours solving riddles from the castle to Calton Hill, starting whenever you are ready.
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