St. Gallen Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt

5.0 (2 reviews) Zurich, Switzerland
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

A wandering Irish monk tripped over a briar here in 612, took it as a sign, and stayed — fourteen centuries later, St. Gallen has a UNESCO abbey and a bright red living-room square to show for it.

This app-led scavenger hunt takes you through St. Gallen on foot, using phone-based riddles to guide you from one landmark to the next. No guide, no fixed start time.

• Stand before the Kathedrale, the twin-towered baroque heart of the UNESCO abbey district
• Lounge on the Roter Platz, the crimson city lounge designed by Pipilotti Rist
• Track down Vadian, the reformer whose statue still watches over his city

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.

By the last riddle, the monk's briar will feel like the best accident in Swiss history.

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

Starting at Gallusplatz in the old town, you'll open the Explorial app, enter the 6-digit game code that you received by text and Viator chat message, and begin where the monk Gallus once settled. The tour is fully self-guided — no guide, no fixed start time, just your group and the city.

The Kathedrale anchors the trail: a twin-towered baroque masterpiece at the centre of the abbey district, whose library holds manuscripts older than most countries — the riddles will test what you notice outside.

At the Roter Platz, the mood flips: an entire square coated in red rubber, complete with sofas and a floating light installation — city planning as art project.

Then comes Vadian, the humanist mayor who brought the Reformation to St. Gallen; his statue and his legacy anchor several clues in the merchant streets around it.

Around 2 hours from monastery to modern art, with plenty of café stops. By the end, St. Gallen's fourteen centuries will feel like one connected story.

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

→ Book 1 ticket for each participant
→ You get one game code per booking by text or Viator message
→ Download the Explorial App from your app store
→ Open the app and enter provided game code (6 digits)
→ All particpants join the game with same game code

End point

→ Book 1 ticket for each participant
→ You get one game code per booking by text or Viator message
→ Download the Explorial App from your app store
→ Open the app and enter provided game code (6 digits)
→ All particpants join the game with same game code

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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7.00 CHF per person
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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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