From the Mississippi to Congo Square, a riddle at every corner
The New Orleans 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 local legends behind it. From the fountain at Spanish Plaza to Congo Square, the 3.8 km take about 55 minutes on foot, and with 10 riddles, their stories and a few pauses the game fills roughly 3 hours from the moment you open it.
Highlights include Jackson Square, Saint Louis Cathedral, the French Market, Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop, Louis Armstrong Park and Congo Square. The route runs from the Mississippi riverfront through the French Quarter to the jazz heritage of Armstrong Park, so you see the city's French, Spanish and African roots on one walk.
- Durationabout 3 hours
- Walkingabout 55 min · 3.8 km
- Stops10
- LanguagesEnglish, German, French, Italian, Spanish
A riddle game from the riverfront through the French Quarter
Provincial seals, a bronze general, a brick-and-post bar
The clues are in plain sight: the seals of Spain's provinces around the Spanish Plaza fountain, Clark Mills's statue of Andrew Jackson on his rearing horse, the old timber-framed walls of Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop. A careful look and some reasoning do the job, and no one has to know beforehand who won the Battle of New Orleans.
Pirates, a Pope and Sunday drums
Solved riddles unlock the stories: the legend tying Lafitte's to the Lafitte brothers, the visit of Pope John Paul II to Saint Louis Cathedral in 1987, and the Sundays when enslaved Africans gathered on Congo Square to trade, sing and drum. If reading on a hot day feels like work, let the audio narration tell them instead.
3.8 km along the river and into the Quarter
The walking comes to about 55 minutes: up the riverfront past the aquarium and through Woldenberg Park, across Jackson Square, along the French Market and north to Armstrong Park. Google Maps sets out each leg on flat streets, so the only climb is the odd kerb.
Beignets, shade and a break by the river
No timer runs, so stop for coffee near Café du Monde, where the French Market began, find shade on a bench in Woldenberg Park, and pick the game up again later or on another day. If you are staying near Canal Street, Spanish Plaza is only a short walk away.
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 it: first-time visitors, families, conference teams
Your opening afternoon by the Mississippi
In about 3 hours you see the riverfront, the cathedral, a market described as the oldest of its kind in the country and the square where jazz has deep roots, which makes a clear introduction before you head out for dinner or music. Along the way, the riddles point out carvings, plaques and ironwork that hurried visitors tend to miss.
Kids who love fish, statues and drums
Younger players enjoy the Audubon Aquarium building by the river, the horseman in the middle of Jackson Square and the 12-foot statue of Louis Armstrong with his trumpet. An adult plays in each team, and with 3.8 km on the route in a warm climate, water and a snack break make sense.
Conference groups between sessions
Up to 5 people form a team, each person following on their own phone, and colleagues from a convention can split into several teams and start at Spanish Plaza a few minutes apart. Armstrong Park at the end gives everyone open space to regroup.
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.
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