Quebec City Scavenger Hunt and City Highlights Walking Tour

Turn sightseeing into a game.

This self-guided Quebec City walk gives you a playful way to see major sights without keeping pace with a guide or a tour group. I like the freedom to start, pause, and resume whenever you wish, and I like how the questions and photo challenges give children and teens a real job to do. The main drawback is practical: you need mobile data on your phone, and bad weather can make the experience feel rushed.

You pay $15.90 per person for access to the Explorial app, with no fixed tour time beyond the advertised average of one to two hours. I would treat it as a light introduction to Old Quebec rather than a full historical tour. It covers several important places, but it does not include every major sight, such as the Citadel or the Plains of Abraham.

Key points at a glance

• A game-led walk through Old Quebec: Follow app clues to the Samuel-De Champlain Monument, Petit-Champlain, Place Royale, and colorful city murals.
• Flexible timing: Start any time within the broad operating hours, pause for food or photos, and return to the route later.
• Good for families: Questions, navigation, and creative photo tasks help keep children and teens involved.
• Bring mobile data: The app needs an active phone connection, so check each player’s setup before you begin.
• Private group experience: Only your group takes part, with no guide and no strangers added to your team.
• Moderate value: At $15.90 per person, it costs less than many guided walks, but you are paying for an interactive format rather than live commentary.

How the Explorial format works

After booking, you receive an access code for the Explorial app. Download the app, travel to the Samuel-De Champlain Monument at Escalier Frontenac, and begin the game from there.

The app combines a map, clues, questions, and photo tasks. First, you use hints to locate a sight. Once there, the app asks questions about what you see. Answers are often found on signs, images, or features around the site, so you are not expected to arrive with a history degree.

That design matters. A standard walking tour asks you to listen, while this one asks you to look. You may notice a sign, mural detail, statue, or architectural feature that you would otherwise pass without a second glance.

I like the fact that the whole group can participate at its own level. One person can handle the map, another can search for answers, and someone else can take the photos. The app awards points for correct answers and creative snapshots, giving children a reason to stay engaged.

The experience is private, so your group does not need to match another party’s speed. You can stop for a snack in Petit-Champlain, take a break at a scenic spot, or pause the game when the weather turns wet.

Starting at the Samuel-De Champlain Monument

The route begins at the Monument Samuel-De Champlain, near Escalier Frontenac. This is a useful starting point because it puts you in the heart of Old Quebec, close to the upper and lower parts of the historic district.

The opening tasks help you get used to the app. You will need to read the clue, use the map, and decide where to walk next. If you have children in the group, let them take charge of the navigation. This turns the first part into a small team mission instead of an adult-led march.

The monument also gives the tour a clear sense of place. Champlain founded Quebec in 1608, and the city’s streets, squares, and waterfront connections grew from this early settlement. The activity is not designed as a long lecture about Champlain, but the location gives you a useful starting point for understanding why Old Quebec is arranged as it is.

One tip: make sure every participant who needs to play has access to mobile data before arriving. One family paid for two tickets but found that one player could not take part because his phone had no data. That is an easy problem to avoid, but it is worth checking before you leave your hotel.

The unusual Parc de la Chute-Montmorency stop

The route includes Parc de la Chute-Montmorency as one of its listed stops. This point deserves a little caution because the tour itself is described as a Quebec City walking experience, while Montmorency Falls is outside the central Old Quebec sightseeing core.

The supplied details do not explain how this stop is handled in the app or whether it refers to a specific feature connected with the route. I would check the app instructions after purchase and confirm the exact route before setting off, especially if you have limited time in Quebec City.

That uncertainty does not cancel the value of the experience, but it affects planning. If the app route remains within central Quebec City, the stop may refer to a named point or clue rather than a full trip to the falls. If you are hoping to visit the actual waterfall, do not assume this activity replaces a separate visit.

Petit-Champlain and its creative challenges

Quartier Petit-Champlain is one of the most appealing parts of the walk. Its narrow streets and compact setting make it well suited to a clue-based game, since you can move between points without a long stretch of ordinary pavement.

Here, the activity is likely to feel more visual than academic. You may be asked to find a feature, read a sign, or frame a creative photo. The photo tasks are a strong part of the experience for families and friends because they turn the group into the entertainment.

The famous Fresque du Petit-Champlain is another stop. This large mural tells stories through painted figures and scenes, making it a natural place for questions about what you can see. Instead of simply photographing the mural and moving on, you have a reason to study its details.

I would allow extra time here if you enjoy taking pictures. The stated average length is one to two hours, but the activity is not limited by a strict time window. You can pause the game and return later, which gives you more freedom than a scheduled walking group.

Place Royale and the lower-town atmosphere

Place Royale adds a different feel to the route. It is one of the key public spaces in Old Quebec and connects naturally with the streets around Petit-Champlain.

The app’s questions should encourage you to look closely at the square rather than only pass through it. Signs, images, and visible details become part of the answer hunt. This is a simple idea, but it changes your attention. You begin scanning the area with purpose.

This stop also gives the tour a useful rhythm. The walk is not only a list of famous names. You move through streets, squares, and murals, with the game linking them together. For a first look at the city, that can help you form a basic map in your head.

Still, you should not expect a guide to explain every building or event in detail. If you want a strong history lesson, a live walking tour may serve you better. The Explorial format gives you short pieces of information while keeping the focus on movement and play.

The Fresque des Québécois and the final stretch

La Fresque des Québécois is another major mural stop. Like the Fresque du Petit-Champlain, it gives the app a visual subject for questions and photo tasks.

Murals work especially well in a scavenger hunt because they contain many figures and small details. You may find yourself comparing faces, scenes, or symbols while trying to solve the app’s prompt. That is more active than being told to look at a mural for two minutes.

The final route returns you to the starting point. That makes the activity easier to fit into a day of sightseeing because you are not left at an unfamiliar corner of the city. It also means you can plan a meal or another attraction after the game without needing a long transfer back.

The route does not claim to cover every top sight in Quebec City. A family using it as an introduction may want to add the Citadel, Plains of Abraham, or other attractions separately. One child-focused group specifically wished the route included those places, though they still found the walking distance manageable.

Why families and teens respond well

The strongest case for this experience is its appeal to families with children and young teens. A traditional walking tour can lose younger attention quickly, especially when the guide speaks for long stretches. Here, the children can navigate, search for answers, and compete for points.

One group divided into teams, with two young teens together and each parent playing separately. That setup turns the outing into a friendly contest without requiring a large organized group.

Another family let three children, aged 13, 13, and 10, lead the way. The children stayed involved, and the adults saw places they might otherwise have missed. That is a good sign for parents who want sightseeing to feel less like an obligation.

You can also adjust the mood. Treat the questions seriously if your group enjoys competition, or use them as prompts for a relaxed walk. The game does not require you to rush, and the experience can be paused at any point.

For adults traveling without children, the photo tasks may still be fun with friends. Solo visitors may find the team-based format less rewarding, since some challenges work better when several people suggest answers and pose for pictures.

Price, timing, and practical value

At $15.90 per person, this is a low-cost activity by Quebec City sightseeing standards. The price is easiest to justify if you want a private, flexible outing and would rather not join a scheduled tour.

You are not paying for a guide, transport, meals, or entry to an attraction. You are paying for access to the app and its route-based challenges. That makes the value depend on how much your group enjoys the game format.

For a family of four, the total remains fairly modest compared with many organized activities. The ability to pause for lunch or split the walk across part of a day adds useful flexibility.

The average playing time is one to two hours, although the overall experience is not limited in time. I would schedule at least two hours so you are not forced to skip questions or photo tasks. Add more time if your group likes to stop often.

The activity is offered in English. Confirmation arrives at booking, and the tour is available daily from midnight to 11:30 p.m. Those hours are broad, but daylight will make it easier to read signs and enjoy the murals. The stated operating period runs from April 23, 2022, through December 10, 2026.

The tour is near public transportation, service animals are allowed, and most people can participate. Since the route is on foot and includes city streets, wear comfortable shoes and check the forecast. Rain already caused one group to complete the game quickly, cutting short the relaxed pace the format is meant to provide.

What the experience does well, and where it falls short

The best feature is control. You decide when to begin, how quickly to walk, when to pause, and how much effort to put into the challenges.

The second strength is attention. The questions send you toward signs, murals, and public details that may not receive much notice on a normal stroll. The game adds a small purpose to each stop.

The main weakness is the lack of a live guide. You cannot ask follow-up questions about Quebec City, request a restaurant suggestion, or hear a detailed explanation of local history. The app can teach you some facts, but it cannot respond to your interests.

The phone requirement is another real concern. Every player does not necessarily need a separate ticket or device, but anyone expected to play should have the needed app access and mobile data. Confirm that before booking additional tickets.

The route also appears to focus on the Old Quebec core rather than the city’s full range of sights. That is fine for a short introduction, but you will need other plans for the Citadel, Plains of Abraham, or a dedicated visit to Montmorency Falls.

The experience earns a 4.6 rating from 15 ratings, with 93 percent recommending it. Those figures suggest strong appeal, especially for families and friends, but the small number of ratings means I would still read the format carefully before deciding.

Who should book this Quebec City walk?

I would choose this activity if you are traveling with children or young teens, want a private outing, and prefer a game to a formal lecture.

It also suits friends who enjoy taking photos and competing over points. The route offers enough structure to prevent aimless wandering, while the pause function keeps the day from feeling overplanned.

I would be less likely to recommend it to someone seeking detailed historical interpretation, a personal guide, or a route covering every major Quebec City attraction. I would also think twice if your group has unreliable mobile data or if rain is forecast.

Book it at least a little ahead if your dates are fixed. The average booking lead time is 20 days, and free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded, and late changes are not accepted.

Final verdict: a smart family introduction to Old Quebec

I would book the Quebec City Scavenger Hunt and City Highlights Walking Tour for a family day in Old Quebec, especially with children who need more than a guide’s voice to stay interested.

The best moments come from letting the younger members navigate, search, and solve. You get a gentle introduction to the Samuel-De Champlain Monument, Petit-Champlain, Place Royale, and Quebec’s murals, with enough freedom to stop for food or photos.

Just bring a phone with mobile data, allow at least two hours, and treat the activity as a playful introduction rather than a complete city tour. At $15.90 per person, it is a fair buy for flexible family fun, but history-focused adults may prefer a live guide.

FAQ

How long does the Quebec City scavenger hunt take?

The game takes about one to two hours on average. It is not limited to a strict time period, so you can pause and continue at your own pace.

Where does the tour start?

It starts at the Monument Samuel-De Champlain near Escalier Frontenac in Quebec City. The activity ends back at the meeting point.

Which sights are included?

The route includes the Monument Samuel-De Champlain, Parc de la Chute-Montmorency, Quartier Petit-Champlain, Fresque du Petit-Champlain, Place Royale, and La Fresque des Québécois.

Do I need mobile data to play?

Yes. You use the Explorial app during the activity, so make sure the phone being used for the game has mobile data. A participant was unable to play because his phone did not have data.

Is the tour suitable for children?

Yes. The questions, navigation tasks, and photo challenges are designed to involve the whole family. Children and young teens can help lead the route and solve the tasks.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience’s start time. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not accepted and are not refunded.