Team vs team
Use your own phones and join a team. Any teammate’s answer advances everyone. Beat the other teams on the leaderboard.
City exploration game
Historic Charleston: Charming Downtown
4.72Player rating
A DIFFERENT WAY TO SEE THE CITY
Play at your pace · usually 126 min 1.9 km Charleston App-guided
Play in
English
The experience
About this quest
Two brothers walk into Charleston. The churches are beautiful, the cobblestones are ancient, and something is very wrong.
Follow Will and Tom Broughton through one of America's most storied port cities: past graveyards and grand houses, pirate history and fire-scarred buildings, the oldest liquor store in America and the gates of a legendary blacksmith.
Every block has a story. Some of them are still playing out.
Is this for you?
Who it's for
First-time visitors, couples and small groups of friends get downtown Charleston's history as a story: churches, Rainbow Row, pirate tales and the Old Exchange dungeon, with a puzzle at each of 15 stops over about 90 minutes. Anyone hoping to quiz a live guide on architecture, or wanting to stay indoors, should pick something else, since this is 1.9 km of street walking.
What makes this quest special
Highlights
- Explore Rainbow Row and uncover the story behind its colours - Find out why St.
Philip's is the only church in Charleston with both a graveyard and a cemetery - Learn about Philip Simmons, one of the greatest blacksmiths the world has ever seen - Trace the footsteps of Anne Bonny, one of history's most notorious pirates
From people who played this quest
Good times. In their words.
4.72 / 5
325 player ratings
Selected player reviews. Original words and ratings.
Most relevant starts with detailed five-star reviews. All ratings remain available.
From your phone to the streets
A walk that turns into an adventure.
- 1
Open the app. You’re on your way.
Choose your pass, then open your quest in the Questo app. It guides you from the starting point.
- 2
Get outside. Follow your curiosity.
Discover real places and their stories on foot. Stop for a coffee or a photo, then pick up where you left off.
- 3
Crack a clue. Share a little victory.
Look around for answers, solve puzzles and enjoy the “we got it!” moments.
CHOOSE YOUR PASS
How many are playing?
Get this questNo booking slot · play any dayFull refund until you start playing
BRING YOUR WHOLE GROUP
One city. Rival teams. Great stories together.
A school trip, a team day or friends out together. Turn your next outing into a little friendly competition.
Everyone for themselves
One player per phone. Solve clues on your own and race for the top spot on the final leaderboard.
Can a team share one phone?
Yes. Play together on one phone per team, or use your own phones and join the same team in the app. We recommend your own phones so everyone can take part.
Your walk, at a glance
Charleston
A · Start
142 Church St, Charleston, SC 29401, USA
B · Finish
71 Broad St, Charleston, SC 29401, United States
Start and finish only. Discover the stops as you play.
Along the way
Landmarks & Hidden Gems Included
The people behind the adventure
Created by Jonathan Green.
A route that brings places and playful storytelling together.
Made by Jonathan GreenWHAT MAKES A QUEST DIFFERENT
Your adventure, with a playful twist.
1 / 4
Experience
- This quest
- Discover places through stories and clues in the app
- Guided walking tour
- Hear stories and ask a guide questions
2 / 4
Pace
- This quest
- Pause for a photo, a café or a longer look
- Guided walking tour
- Usually follows the guide’s schedule
3 / 4
Company
- This quest
- Explore with your own people or on your own
- Guided walking tour
- Private and shared group tours are available
4 / 4
Guidance
- This quest
- Directions and challenges in the Questo app
- Guided walking tour
- Live interpretation from a guide
Features and terms vary by experience. Check the details before booking.
A little clarity before you go
Frequently asked questions
Is there a game I can play while exploring downtown Charleston?
Yes. This is a self-guided story game played on your phone. You follow brothers Will and Tom Broughton through 15 stops, from graveyards and grand houses to pirate history and fire-scarred buildings. At each place the app tells its story and sets a puzzle based on what is in front of you.
Where does the walk start and finish?
It starts at St. Philip's Church and finishes at Saint Michael's Church, so it does not return to the start. Along the way you pass the Dock Street Theatre, the Pink House, the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon, Rainbow Row and the Nathaniel Russell House, among other stops.
How long does it take?
Most players take around 90 minutes, including the walking and the puzzles. The route covers about 1.9 km through downtown. You can pause at any point and continue later, so there is no need to finish in one go.
Can we play as a group, and do we need to book a time?
Yes, one ticket covers the whole group playing together. There is no fixed tour time and no group to join: you start whenever you like from St. Philip's Church and move at your own pace.
Is it outdoors?
Yes, the quest is a walk through the streets of downtown Charleston, with the stories and puzzles delivered on your phone at each place. Plan for being outside between stops. If the weather turns, you can pause and pick up where you left off later.
What kind of walk is this?
It’s like strolling through a living postcard of Charleston. You walk through beautiful streets, past houses, churches, and graveyards, hearing stories about pirates, presidents, traders, and regular people who shaped the city.
Who would love doing this?
Great for couples who want a romantic afternoon, folks into architecture and history, tourists who want more than just photos, and friends who enjoy chatting as they explore new places together.
Which highlights will we see?
Rainbow Row and its pretty pastel houses
Graveyards, old churches full of stories
Learn about Anne Bonny, famous pirate
Discover what makes Charleston’s houses and streets so unique
Keep exploring
Every quest. One year.
Explore the annual passGive them a story
A day out, gifted.
Explore Questo giftsKeep exploring Charleston
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Charleston history
Architecture shaped by preservation and difficult history
Charleston’s historic streets preserve buildings from several centuries, but their beauty cannot be separated from Indigenous displacement, slavery, war and the work of generations of residents. The city became an early leader in formal architectural preservation during the 20th century. This quest uses the surviving cityscape as a route into that complex history rather than presenting it only as decorative scenery. Playable languages: English.
