Turn Lisbon Into a Game

Lisbon is Portugal's hilltop capital, and Questo turns it into a self-guided outdoor escape game you play from your phone. You follow a storyline through the real streets, solve clues at each stop, and uncover the city at whatever pace suits you, with no guide and no set departure time.

The quests cover a wide range of moods. Some are murder mysteries set in the alleys of Alfama, others trail the secrets and hidden symbols left behind by old secret societies, and a few are map hunts and photo walks that send you chasing history through Belem and the old town. Along the way you pass the places Lisbon is known for, from Rossio Square and the iron Santa Justa Lift to the grand riverfront Praca do Comercio, the ruined Carmo Convent, and the arch at the top of Rua Augusta.

What makes Lisbon worth exploring on foot is how much sits between the famous sights. The city is built across seven hills, so almost every climb ends at a miradouro, a public viewpoint where locals gather at sunset with a drink in hand. Two small Lisbon habits are worth picking up while you walk: a quick shot of ginjinha, the local sour-cherry liqueur poured at tiny kiosks, and a warm pastel de nata custard tart eaten standing at the counter.

It works for couples, families with kids, groups of friends, and solo travelers, since you set the speed and stop whenever you like. Pick a story, step outside, and start exploring Lisbon your own way.