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
Chicago Lincoln Square: The Alchemist’s Spell Quest
4.63Player rating
A DIFFERENT WAY TO SEE THE CITY
Play at your pace · usually 125 min 3.2 km Chicago App-guided
Play in
English
The experience
About this quest
Roam the lively heart of Lincoln Square with its cafés, delis, and other fun and fascinating stores; stand beside the Berlin Wall. Take in ghastly history, gorgeous murals, and 300-year-old oak trees; and, at your journey's end, find yourself rewarded by the sight of an architectural gem.
Is this for you?
Who it's for
This 3.2 km loop starts and ends at Merz Apothecary, passing the Old Town School of Folk Music, the Berlin Wall Monument and Gene's Sausage Shop. Locals and repeat visitors who want a leisurely puzzle walk of about two hours through Lincoln Square's murals and German heritage shops will enjoy it. Pick another quest if you hoped to go inside: every stop is seen from the street.
What makes this quest special
Highlights
- Buy Old World remedies from an apothecary established in the 1800s.- Discover the site of a scandalous 1920s murder.- Cross the river on which gangster Al Capone ran liquor during Prohibition.- Pass the park where the Harlem Globetrotters practiced.- Visit the famous Old Town School of Folk Music.
From people who played this quest
Good times. In their words.
4.63 / 5
41 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
Chicago
A · Start
4716 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60625, USA
B · Finish
4611 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60625, 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 Laura Allen-Simpson.
A route that brings places and playful storytelling together.
Made by Laura Allen-Simpson
WHAT 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.
Good to know before you play
- Don’t enter the places, not part of the experience
A little clarity before you go
Frequently asked questions
Where does the Lincoln Square walking quest start and finish?
It starts at Merz Apothecary and loops back to it at the end. Along the way you pass Krause Music Store, the Davis Theater, the Old Town School of Folk Music, Welles Park, Queen of Angels church, the Berlin Wall Monument and the Lincoln Square Mural.
How long does it take and how far is the walk?
Plan on about two hours to cover roughly 3.2 km at a relaxed pace, including time for the stories and puzzles at each stop. You can pause whenever you like, stop for a coffee or a deli snack, and continue later.
Do we need to go inside any of the shops or buildings?
No. Entering the places is not part of the experience, so every story and puzzle is solved from the street. The whole route is outdoors, which means it is worth checking the weather and dressing for it before you set off.
Do we have to book a time, and can our group play together?
There is no fixed time slot and no guide to meet, so you start whenever suits you. One ticket covers your whole group, and you play together on your phones as the app leads you from stop to stop.
Is the Berlin Wall really on the route?
Yes. The Berlin Wall Monument is one of the stops, and you get to stand right beside it. It sits on the same loop as Gene's Sausage Shop and Delicatessen, the Lombard Lamp and 300-year-old oak trees.
Is Chicago Lincoln Square: The Alchemist’s Spell Quest self-guided?
Yes. The Questo app guides you between locations without a tour guide or fixed departure. Start when it suits you and pause if needed.
Where does Chicago Lincoln Square: The Alchemist’s Spell Quest start and finish?
It starts at Merz Apothecary, 4716 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60625, USA and finishes at Krause Music Store, 4611 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60625, United States. The route is approximately 3.2 km and includes 14 location-based puzzles.
How many accesses does our group need?
This classic quest sells access per device and player. Each person who wants to solve clues on their own phone needs their own access.
Keep exploring
Every quest. One year.
Explore the annual passGive them a story
A day out, gifted.
Explore Questo giftsKeep exploring Chicago
More adventures in Chicago
ART AND ARCHITECTURE IN CHICAGO
See Chicago through lincoln Square
Chicago Lincoln Square: The Alchemist’s Spell Quest turns Chicago into a self-guided story walk for travelers who want history and local culture. Its story centers on Lincoln Square.
Players move from Merz Apothecary to Krause Music Store on a 3.2 km route that contains 14 challenge locations. The page specifically identifies Davis Theater, Chicago, Waters Garden and Berlin Wall Monument along the experience. Practical fit: 3.2 km route; Typical duration: 125 minutes; 14 location-based challenges; Playable in English.
This suits independent visitors who want to solve as they explore; a guided walk is the better fit for live interpretation and conversation with an expert. Playable languages: English.
