Riddles in the caruggi, from San Siro to Columbus' House
The Genoa scavenger hunt is a self-guided city game you play on your phone: you walk from landmark to landmark, solve a riddle at each one by looking closely at what is in front of you, and unlock the stories and legends behind it. From San Siro to Columbus' House the game covers 2.3 km and 10 stops, yet only about 30 minutes of that is walking, so riddles and stories fill most of the roughly 2 hours, and the clock starts whenever you decide.
Highlights include the striped façade of San Lorenzo Cathedral, Palazzo San Giorgio by the Old Port, the Doge's Palace, the fountain of Piazza De Ferrari, the medieval towers of Porta Soprana and Christopher Columbus' House. Genoa's old town is a dense maze of narrow alleys, the caruggi, lined with noble palaces, so the short route packs a lot of history into a compact walk.
- Durationabout 2 hours
- Walkingabout 30 min · 2.3 km
- Stops10
- LanguagesEnglish, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch
What you do on a game through Genoa's old town
Stripes, lions and a painted dragon
Each stop sets a riddle that the place itself answers: the black and white bands and stone lions of San Lorenzo, the large sundial on Palazzo della Meridiana, Saint George and the dragon on Palazzo San Giorgio. Look carefully, think it through, and the next story opens.
Basilisks, prisoners and a weaver's son
Solved riddles unlock the tales behind the stones: the basilisk Saint Syrus is said to have driven from a well, Marco Polo dictating his travels as a prisoner by the Old Port, and the wool weaver whose son Christopher Columbus is believed to have grown up below Porta Soprana. Prefer to keep your eyes on the striped stonework? Turn on the audio narration and each tale is read aloud.
2.3 km of alleys, slopes and squares
Only about 30 minutes of the game is walking, but the caruggi climb and dip, from the old town up towards Via Garibaldi, down to the port and back up to Piazza De Ferrari. Google Maps leads you through the maze from stop to stop, so the narrow lanes never leave you lost.
A focaccia break whenever you like
Nobody keeps time, so stop for a slice of focaccia or a coffee near the port and pick the game up again later or on another day. The app also points out places for local food and shops along the way.
See the route and attractions →
How it works
- Book online Choose 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.
Who plays the Genoa scavenger hunt
Cruise passengers and short stays
With about 2 hours and a compact 2.3 km route through the old town, the game fits a port call or a first afternoon in Genoa. In one go it shows you the cathedral, the Doge's Palace and two of the Rolli palaces.
Families with curious children
Children like spotting the stone lions at San Lorenzo, the dragon on Palazzo San Giorgio and the two towers of Porta Soprana, built to keep out Emperor Barbarossa. An adult plays in every team, and the short walking time keeps young legs going.
Work teams and friends let loose in the caruggi
Teams of up to 5 players, each on their own phone, can set off a few minutes apart through the same alleys and compare answers at the end. Piazza De Ferrari, with its big bronze fountain, is close to the finish and an easy place to gather.
Good to know
- Bring a charged smartphone with mobile data; a power bank helps.
- No entry tickets needed: everything happens outside the buildings. Going inside is optional and paid separately.
- Family friendly; children must be accompanied by an adult.
- Not suitable for wheelchair users and difficult with strollers.
- Teams of up to 5 work best; bigger groups split into several teams, one ticket per player.
- Every purchase helps support stray cats and dogs in Greece.
France –
Collected on GetYourGuide
Ruslan– Poland –
Collected on GetYourGuide
Good idea for a spending time in Genua, but please think better about quizes, they arę not transparent and really not understandable
Germany –
Collected on GetYourGuide
I’m here on holiday by myself and was looking for a good way to see the city. This was a lot of fun and allowed me to take stops along the way as I wanted!