The 4 Best Treasure Hunts & Exploration Games in Edinburgh

1.Fun, Flexible Treasure Hunt Around Edinburgh with Cryptic Clues & Hidden Gems

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 49 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $20Our pick

Captain Bess guides your private group by phone through Edinburgh’s Old Town, using maps, clues, hints, and short stories. Over about two and a half hours, you’ll visit the Castle, Royal Mile, Greyfriars, Grassmarket, and more, with no app, printing, or fixed start time required.

“This scavenger hunt was such a fun introduction to the city! I played with my husband and we had such a blast. I especially loved the little history lessons after each clue was found. Such a wonderful idea and look forward to playing more of these in other cities.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.The Pirate’s Riddle: An Outdoor Treasure Hunt

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 41 reviews · 2 hours 45 minutes (approx.)

Gather up to seven people for a phone-light treasure hunt around Calton Hill. You’ll receive a pirate kit, map, and physical clues, then solve puzzles tied to Captain Kidd and local seafaring history. A Game Master helps by phone when needed, and the route returns to the start.

“Somehow we got lost in the system and no one turned up to do our tour. They did refund us and gave us the opportunity to do a different event for free which we were not able to do. They were very pleasant to deal with but it was disappointing.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Ghosts of Edinburgh: Bloody Past Exploration Game and Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 25 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $7Best value

You guide yourself through Edinburgh with a phone-based puzzle game linking eerie sites from The Mound to Old Town. Solve clues, pause when needed, and play offline without entering paid attractions. Expect about an hour of walking, history, legends, and occasional tricky challenges.

“App was rubbish Took ages to load in to account By the time it happened it was soo late at night Waste of money”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Edinburgh City of Wizards Exploration Game and Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3 reviews · from $8

Follow Eladora through Edinburgh on a self-guided Harry Potter-themed game. Use your phone to solve clues at City Chambers, Riddle’s Close, Grassmarket, Greyfriars Bobby, and the Old Medical School. Plan for about 50 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes, with no attraction tickets required.

“The adventure was fun, the only negative comment would be that I purchased four tickets to be able to put on four different phones, and with the link we were sent, we were only able to put it on one phone.”

Check availability →Read our full review