Silves Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt

5.0 (2 reviews) Albufeira, Portugal
Duration2h
Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before
Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesNorwegian, German, Hindi, Swedish, Finnish, Russian, Korean, Portuguese, Chinese, Greek, Cantonese, English, Italian, French, Hungarian, Spanish, Czech, Ukrainian, Japanese, Chinese, Polish, Danish, Romanian, Dutch, Turkish
Private tourOnly your group will participate

Overview

Silves was once the Moorish capital of the Algarve — the castle walls still remember it.

This app-led scavenger hunt takes you through Silves on foot, following phone-based riddles that lead from one historic landmark to the next. No guide, no fixed start time.

• Follow clues to the Pelourinho de Silves, the Igreja da Misericórdia de Silves, and the red sandstone Castelo de Silves — each one layered with centuries of Moorish and Portuguese history
• Fully self-paced with no time limit — take a break at a cafe along the cobbled streets whenever you like
• Fun for families, couples, and friend groups; photo challenges guarantee some lively debate

Available in 24 languages including English, French, German, Spanish, Italian — see the full list when booking and choose yours when you start the game in the app.
Around 2 hours - any group size.

Silves has been surprising visitors since the Moors built their capital here — the trail gives you a reason to look properly.

What's included

  • Free download of the Explorial App from your appstore (iOS or Android smartphone required)
  • Points and scoring system: Compete between players of your group and beat the cities high score.
  • Live Location: navigate within the map with marked locations. Always know where you are.
  • Learn about the cities stories, history, and local legends
  • Total flexibility: no waiting, start anytime, walk at own pace and do as many breaks as you want.
  • Self-guided walking tour with interactive riddles, trivia challenges and photo tasks.
  • Live-Guide: 100% self-guided; no one will meet you or join your group. Start anytime you want.
  • Entrance fees are not required for this game. All puzzles relate to the public areas of the sights
  • This is not an audio guide but an sightseeing, gaming and learning experience

What to expect

Start at the Silves Tourist Office near the river — it's easy to find and the trail begins the moment you open the Explorial app. Enter your 6-digit game code that you received by text and Viator chat message, select your language, and tap Start.

The route climbs through Silves' whitewashed lanes toward its Moorish heart. The Pelourinho de Silves — the medieval pillory in the main square — is an early stop, with a riddle that asks you to look at the stonework closely. The Igreja da Misericórdia de Silves, with its ornate Manueline doorway, features in an observation task that rewards anyone who slows down to study the facade. The trail finishes near the Castelo de Silves, the red sandstone castle dominating the town's skyline, where a photo challenge puts the group to work in front of the ancient walls.

Groups tend to split between those racing the clock and those soaking up the views — both approaches work.

The app reveals final scores and a ranking once the last clue is solved. Few towns in the Algarve have this much history in this little space.

  1. Castelo de Silves

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

Book your Explorial tour today. Start whenever you want.

*** After booking, you’ll receive your game code via text message and a Viator message.

*** Download the Explorial app for free.

*** Head to the meeting point and enter the game code provided (6 digits) to start the tour.

End point

Book your Explorial tour today. Start whenever you want.

*** After booking, you’ll receive your game code via text message and a Viator message.

*** Download the Explorial app for free.

*** Head to the meeting point and enter the game code provided (6 digits) to start the tour.

Additional information

  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Max 15 people per booking. For larger groups, make multiple bookings.
  • After booking you receive a text message and a Viator message with your game code. Download the Explorial app from your appstore. Open the app, enter your 6 digit game code
  • Weather & Health Guarantee: If bad weather or illness prevents you from starting the tour, you can simply reschedule it for another day. You can also rebook to a different city or request a refund
  • Smartphone required: Bring your own fully charged smartphone with an active mobile data connection to the start of the tour. Please disable any VPN and avoid city Wi-Fi, as these will cause the app to malfunction or disconnect.
  • Recommended attire: It’s best to wear weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable walking shoes — approx. 2 hours of light walking

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Reviews

5.0 (2)
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  • Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts
  • Instant confirmation
  • You'll choose your date and travelers and pay on viator.com. Prices vary by date, group size and option.
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