Team nameMeet at (place and time)Organizer's phone
Stay in pairs or larger groups, on public sidewalks, paths and squares.
Cross streets only at marked crossings, with the signal.
Go into no shop, cafe or office and through no ticket gate. Every find is scored from public ground.
Approach nobody and photograph nobody outside the team. Finds that involve people are ticked, not photographed.
Buy nothing, take nothing and climb nothing.
Be back by the meeting time. A late team loses 2 points a minute.
A horse trough, hitching post or carriage step from the age of horses3 points. Look at the curb outside the oldest buildings. An iron ring set in a wall counts.3 pts
A building front with four or more columns: count them1 point. Write the number. Flat half-columns pressed against the wall count too.1 pt
A clock face that writes four as IIII2 points. Clock faces very often use IIII for four while keeping IX for nine, though the habit is far from universal. A face with IV does not score.2 pts
A time capsule marker that gives its opening date3 points. Write the year it is due to be opened and work out how old each of you will be.3 pts
A skybridge joining two buildings above a street2 points. Enclosed or open, as long as people can walk through it above the traffic.2 pts
A fire escape zigzagging down the outside of a building1 point. Iron stairs and landings bolted to the wall. Count the landings from the ground.1 pt
A sign naming a sister city or twin town3 points. A sister city or twin town is an agreement between two places to promote cultural and commercial ties. Write the partner's name.3 pts
A year written in Roman numerals2 points. M is 1000, D 500, C 100, L 50, X 10, V 5 and I 1, so MCMXII is 1912. Write the year in digits to score.2 pts
An alley or passage that has its own name sign1 point. Photograph the sign from the street end. Nobody has to walk down it.1 pt
A survey mark: a small metal disk, or a cut line with an arrow under it3 points. A benchmark is a point of known height: a metal disk set in stone or concrete, or an older chiseled line with a broad arrow below. Look low on walls and steps.3 pts
These city scavenger hunt ideas are 126 finds to score on foot from public ground, in five parts of town: main street, parks and squares, the station, the waterfront and the market. Nothing is bought and no business is entered.
Match the list to your town
The page opens on Main street and city hall, 30 finds most downtowns can answer. The Area menu holds Parks and squares, Station and transit, Waterfront, and Market and food stalls, 24 finds each. Market finds need a market day. Lock what your town has and Swap the rest. Print adds a team name line, a meeting line and six safety rules.
Points and rare finds
Finds score 1, 2 or 3 points. The 3-point finds are rare, such as a figure of Justice or a bridge that opens for boats. For a small town, open More options and choose Up to 2 points.
Tips
For an around town scavenger hunt list for adults, deal 20 finds for 90 minutes, more than one team can finish.
War memorials and memorials to sailors are on the list to be read. Tell teams before they leave: no posing there.
Notes print with the sheet. Press Hide all notes first if teams should work out the Roman numerals themselves.
Questions and answers
How do you set up a city scavenger hunt?
Pick a boundary of about ten blocks, a meeting place and a finish time. Send teams of two to four with one printed sheet each. Teams tick finds, photograph the ones that say so, and the highest points total wins.
What are good scavenger hunt ideas for adults around town?
Finds that reward looking up: a year in Roman numerals, a column top with scrolls, a stone creature on a roofline, a figure of Justice. Each note gives the judging rule or a checked fact, so scoring arguments end on the sidewalk.
Do teams have to go inside anywhere?
No. Every find is scored from a sidewalk, a square, a park path, an open market or a public station hall. No find needs a shop, a cafe, a ticket or a purchase, and the printed rules say so.
Is the story about horse statue hooves true?
No. The idea that a rearing horse means the rider died in battle, and one raised hoof means wounds, is an urban legend: no consistent link has been found. The find still scores 2 points, and teams write the rider's name.
Bingo Card Generator for Words or NumbersDeal up to 60 different bingo cards from your own words or the numbers 1 to 75, print them, then call the game from the same phone.
A barber pole1 point. From the time when barbers also performed surgery and pulled teeth: the pole stands for the staff a patient gripped during bloodletting.
A building front with four or more columns: count them1 point. Write the number. Flat half-columns pressed against the wall count too.
A building with more than ten floors: count the floors1 point. Count the rows of windows from across the street. Two counters must agree.
A carved stone creature high on a building3 points. A true gargoyle is a waterspout that throws rain clear of the wall. A carving that carries no water is a grotesque. Either one scores.
A clock face that writes four as IIII2 points. Clock faces very often use IIII for four while keeping IX for nine, though the habit is far from universal. A face with IV does not score.
A clock standing on its own post on the sidewalk2 points. A clock on a wall or a tower does not score. It may show any time.
A column top carved with scrolls or leaves2 points. Two scrolls make it Ionic. Rows of acanthus leaves make it Corinthian. A plain round top is Doric and does not score.
A construction crane on the skyline1 point. Count every crane you can see from one spot and write the number.
A crossing signal that counts down the seconds1 point. Write the number it starts from. Watch one full count from the curb before you cross.
A figure of Justice holding scales or a sword3 points. Her attributes are scales, a sword and sometimes a blindfold, and many sculptures leave the blindfold out. Note whether yours wears one.
A fire escape zigzagging down the outside of a building1 point. Iron stairs and landings bolted to the wall. Count the landings from the ground.
A horse trough, hitching post or carriage step from the age of horses3 points. Look at the curb outside the oldest buildings. An iron ring set in a wall counts.
A revolving door, seen from the sidewalk1 point. Patented in the United States in 1888 as a 'storm-door structure' that keeps out wind, snow, rain and dust. Score it from outside.
A shop sign that is an object and not words: a key, a boot, a pair of glasses2 points. It must hang or stand outside and show the trade without a single letter.
A sign naming a sister city or twin town3 points. A sister city or twin town is an agreement between two places to promote cultural and commercial ties. Write the partner's name.
A signpost or map for walkers that gives minutes on foot2 points. Write one place and its minutes. A road sign for drivers does not score.
A skybridge joining two buildings above a street2 points. Enclosed or open, as long as people can walk through it above the traffic.
A statue of a rider on a horse2 points. Write the rider's name. The story that raised hooves tell how the rider died is an urban legend: no consistent link has been found.
A street named for a trade or a building, such as Mill, Market, Church or Station1 point. Photograph the sign, then look for the mill, market or church it was named for.
A survey mark: a small metal disk, or a cut line with an arrow under it3 points. A benchmark is a point of known height: a metal disk set in stone or concrete, or an older chiseled line with a broad arrow below. Look low on walls and steps.
A theater or cinema marquee hanging over the sidewalk1 point. Write the first word on it. A flat poster on a wall does not score.
A tiled or mosaic doorstep that spells a shop's name3 points. Look down in old shop doorways. The name in the tiles need not match the shop there now.
A time capsule marker that gives its opening date3 points. Write the year it is due to be opened and work out how old each of you will be.
A tree growing through an iron grate in the sidewalk1 point. The grate must be metal and level with the paving. A bare square of soil does not score.
Show all 126 finds (102 more)
Main street and city hall, continued
A wedge-shaped building where two streets meet at a sharp angle2 points. Photograph the narrow end. The sharper the point, the better the photo.
A year written in Roman numerals2 points. M is 1000, D 500, C 100, L 50, X 10, V 5 and I 1, so MCMXII is 1912. Write the year in digits to score.
An alley or passage that has its own name sign1 point. Photograph the sign from the street end. Nobody has to walk down it.
An old building reflected in the glass of a new one2 points. One photo must show the reflection clearly enough to recognize the old building.
The building where the town or city council meets1 point. A sign that names it is the proof. Score it from the sidewalk.
Small glass squares or circles set into the sidewalk3 points. Vault lights are walk-on skylights for a basement under the sidewalk. Most that survive are over a century old, and sunlight can turn the glass purple.
Parks and squares 24
A bandstand or gazebo: count the sides of its roof1 point. A bandstand is a circular, semicircular or many-sided structure set in a park for bands to play in. Write the number of sides, or 'round'.
A bird standing on a statue's head2 points. A live bird on a carved head, caught in one photo. Shoulders and hats do not score.
A chess or game table fixed to the ground2 points. The board must be built into the tabletop. It scores with or without players.
A compass or a map set into the pavement3 points. Stand on it and point north together for the photo.
A duck, goose or swan asleep with its head tucked back2 points. Photograph it from the path. If it lifts its head, you were too close.
A flower bed planted as a pattern, a word, a crest or a clock2 points. Carpet bedding uses low plants in contrasting colors, and it is often used for lettering, coats of arms and floral clocks.
A lamp post that carries more than one lamp1 point. Count the lamps on the post. Two or more to score.
A monument shaped like a tall stone needle2 points. An obelisk is a tapered, four-sided stone monument with a pyramid-shaped top. Write what it remembers.
A park rules sign: count the rules1 point. Write the number. Each crossed-out picture counts as one rule.
A pergola or tunnel of climbing plants to walk under2 points. The plants must grow over your head. Bare winter stems still score.
A public piano or an outdoor table tennis table3 points. Left out for anyone to use. One short turn each is allowed if it is free.
A sculpture that is not a person or an animal2 points. Agree in one sentence what it looks like, then read its title, if it has one.
A sign that says who the park or square is named after1 point. Write the name and one thing the sign says about them.
A statue of a real, named woman3 points. Write her name. A symbolic figure such as Liberty, Victory or Justice does not score.
A statue with one spot rubbed shiny by passing hands3 points. A nose, a toe or a paw polished brighter than the rest. Photograph the spot.
A street musician playing in a square1 point. Name the instrument and tick the box. No photo and no requests.
A tree planted in memory or honor of someone, with its plaque3 points. Write the year it was planted, if the plaque gives one.
A war memorial1 point. Read it and tick it. Nobody poses with it, sits on it or stands on its steps for a photo.
An avenue: two straight rows of trees with a path between them1 point. Stand at one end and photograph the rows running away from you.
An empty plinth or pedestal with nothing standing on it3 points. If a sign says what used to stand there, write it down.
Coins lying on the bottom of a fountain or pond2 points. Count the coins you can see from the edge. Nothing goes in and nothing comes out.
More than twenty pigeons in one place1 point. Count fast and agree a number. Nobody feeds them or chases them.
Outdoor exercise machines fixed to the ground1 point. A fitness station for adults, not a playground. One turn each is allowed if it is free.
Water jets that shoot straight up out of the pavement1 point. No basin and no rim, only holes in the ground. It scores switched off if you can see the nozzles.
Station and transit 24
A bus showing 'Not in service' or 'Sorry' where its route should be2 points. Any message that is not a route scores. Write the words.
A bus that bends in the middle, or one with two decks2 points. Either kind scores once. Both on one street is still 2 points.
A bus with a three-digit route number1 point. Write the number and where the bus says it is going.
A departure board showing a delay or a cancellation2 points. Write the delayed service and how late it is.
A dock of shared bikes or scooters1 point. Count the empty slots and write the number.
A footbridge or underpass that takes walkers across the tracks1 point. It must be open to people without a ticket. Photograph it from one end.
A live departure board1 point. Write the time and destination of the next departure. Public hall or forecourt only: nobody passes a ticket gate.
A locomotive, carriage or tram kept on display and going nowhere3 points. Write the number painted on it, if there is one.
A railroad crossing sign shaped like an X, with the number of tracks below it2 points. The X is called a crossbuck, and a smaller sign under it gives the number of tracks. Read it from the sidewalk, well back from the rails.
A shop or workshop built into a railway arch3 points. The business must sit under tracks that carry, or once carried, trains.
A sign for a drop-off lane, whatever your town calls it2 points. 'Kiss and ride', 'drop-off' and 'set down only' all score. Write the exact words.
A sign for lost property or left luggage3 points. Either one scores. The sign only: nobody goes in to ask.
A sign pointing to a bus or train for the airport2 points. A picture of an aircraft on a transit sign is enough.
A station clock with two or more faces2 points. Check whether the faces agree with each other and with your phone.
A strip of raised bumps along a platform edge1 point. See it from public ground. Tactile paving was developed in 1965 by Seiichi Miyake, inspired by braille, and first laid on a street in Japan in 1967.
A taxi stand with its sign1 point. Count the taxis waiting. Zero still scores if the sign is there.
A train crossing a bridge over a street while you watch3 points. Tick the box when it passes. A video from the sidewalk is fine proof.
A transit map drawn in four or more colors1 point. Count the colors of the lines and write the number.
An old signal box, goods shed or turntable3 points. Railway leftovers from the age of steam. Photograph from public ground only.
An old station building now used for something else3 points. Look for a platform canopy, a track-side door or a carved railway name as proof.
Spikes or netting put up to keep pigeons off a ledge1 point. Look up under canopies and bridges. A pigeon sitting among the spikes earns a cheer, not extra points.
The station's name in letters fixed to the building1 point. Metal, stone or tile letters score. A printed banner does not.
Three wheeled suitcases rolling at the same moment1 point. Tick the box when three are moving at once. No photo: the owners are strangers.
Tram or streetcar rails set into the street2 points. Spot them from the sidewalk. Rails with no wire overhead may be long out of use, and they still score.
Waterfront 24
A bird standing on a mooring post or a buoy1 point. Any species. It must be on a post or a buoy, not on a railing or the ground.
A boat with its name painted on it1 point. Write the name. The funniest name any team brings back wins a tie.
A bridge that opens for boats, and how it moves3 points. A bascule bridge tilts up on a hinge, a swing bridge turns on a fixed point and a vertical-lift bridge rises between towers. Write which one you found.
A bridge with arches: count the arches1 point. Count from a public path and write the number. One arch still scores.
A cormorant holding its wings out3 points. After fishing, cormorants go ashore and are often seen holding their wings out in the sun, which dries the feathers.
A ferry, water taxi or tour boat carrying passengers2 points. It must be moving. Tick the box, or photograph the whole boat from far enough away that no face shows.
A high-water or flood mark with a date3 points. Write the date and measure the mark against the tallest person in the team.
A hoist beam or pulley sticking out high on an old warehouse3 points. Look above the top row of doors or windows on the water side.
A home port painted under a boat's name2 points. Look at the stern. Write the port and guess how far the boat is from home.
A ladder running down a wall into the water1 point. Photograph it from above. Nobody sets foot on it.
A life ring on a post or railing1 point. A lifebuoy is thrown to a person in the water and has a line attached. Look and never touch: it is there to save a life.
A memorial to sailors, fishers, dock workers or a lost ship3 points. Read it and tick it. No posing.
A mooring post or cleat with a rope made fast to it1 point. A mooring bollard is a short, sturdy post on a quay for tying up boats. Old cannons were once set in the ground for the job.
A padlock left on a bridge or railing1 point. Spot one and photograph it. Nobody adds one.
A red or green channel marker2 points. They mark the two sides of a channel. Heading upstream or into harbor, red is on the right in the Americas and Japan, and green is on the right in Europe and Africa.
A rope thicker than your wrist2 points. Hold a wrist beside it for the photo without touching the rope.
A sign that forbids swimming or warns of deep water1 point. Write the exact words of the warning.
A slipway or boat ramp running down into the water2 points. Stay on the dry part: the wet end is slippery.
A water-level gauge: a tall ruler fixed in the water3 points. Read the level at the waterline and write the number with its unit.
A weir, a set of lock gates or a spillway2 points. Any structure that holds water back or lets boats change level. Watch from behind the railing.
An anchor, propeller or buoy set on land as a monument2 points. It must be the real thing, not a picture. Write what the plaque says it came from.
Old rails or cobbles left in the surface of a quay2 points. Rails that run to the water's edge and stop score best. Photograph where they end.
Somebody fishing1 point. Tick the box from a distance. No photo and no questions about the catch.
Which way the water is flowing1 point. Watch a leaf, a ripple or a moored boat, then write the direction. Nothing is thrown in.
Market and food stalls 24
A bicycle, cart or van turned into a shop2 points. It must have wheels and a serving hatch or counter. Write what it sells.
A braid of garlic or a string of dried chilies3 points. It must hang. Loose bulbs in a basket do not score.
A covered market hall with an iron or glass roof3 points. Look up: the roof must rest on iron columns or trusses. A row of tents does not score.
A price written by hand on cardboard1 point. Write the price and what it buys. Printed labels do not score.
A scale that hangs from a hook or has a dial and a needle2 points. A flat digital scale does not score.
A seller calling out a price or an offer2 points. Tick the box and write the words you heard. No recording.
A set of loose metal weights beside a balance scale3 points. Count the weights in the set.
A sign that gives the market's days and hours1 point. Write the days. It tells you when to come back for the finds you missed.
A sign that says what is in season this week2 points. Write one thing on it. 'Fresh' on its own does not score.
A stall number painted or fixed on the ground3 points. Pitch numbers show which trader stands where. Write the highest one you find.
A stall sign that names the farm or town the food came from1 point. Write the place. 'Local' on its own does not score.
A stall that sells only one kind of thing1 point. Only eggs, only honey, only mushrooms. Write what.
A striped awning over a stall1 point. Write the two colors of the stripes.
A trade done while you wait: keys, shoes, knives or watches3 points. Tick the box from the walkway and write the trade. No photo of the person at work.
A vegetable with soil still on it1 point. Carrots, beets, leeks and potatoes are the usual suspects.
A whole fish on ice with its head still on2 points. Write the name on its label.
A whole wheel of cheese that has not been cut2 points. Wedges and halves do not score. Look on the top shelf of the stall.
Crates or boxes stacked higher than your waist1 point. Judge it by eye from the walkway. Nobody leans on the stack.
Cut flowers standing in buckets1 point. Count the buckets on one stall.
Herbs sold growing in pots1 point. Name one by its leaf before reading the label, then check.
Honey or jam in five or more flavors on one stall1 point. Count the flavors on the labels and write the number.
More than one kind of mushroom on one stall2 points. Count the kinds and write the number.
One stall that sells by the dozen and by weight2 points. Write one thing sold each way, such as eggs by the dozen and beans by the pound.
The word MARKET in stone, iron or tile on a building3 points. It must be part of the building, not a banner or a painted board.