Pettah: The Stories Between The Shops
4.9847 Reviews58 people have played this questPettah is loud, crowded and gloriously chaotic. Listen at each stop. Washrooms and vegetarian meals are available at Sri Suryas on Sea Street (10-minute walk or short tuk tuk ride from the final stop).
How many are playing?
Unlock · €4.99Live in Colombo? The Annual Pass is how locals play · €79.99/yr. See the Annual Pass →
Places you will visit
11
It will take you
56-86 mins
You will walk
2630 steps
Total distance
2 km
What you'll actually do
Download the Questo app and unlock the quest. Walk to Khan Clock Tower whenever you like · no guide, no group, no time slot.
Solve 11 puzzles hidden in the streets around you. Each one you crack unlocks the next location.
Finish at The Beans Coffee Factory and see where you land on the Colombo leaderboard.
Highlights
Discover stories at a candy-striped mosque, dodge Nattami carts, explore a 200-year-old temple and a council chamber frozen in 1906. End at a coffee factory on an ancient street. Listen to the audio stories at every stop.Washrooms and vegetarian meals are available at Sri Suryas on Sea Street (10-min walk or short tuk tuk ride away).
Ratings and Reviews
47 ratings
Crystal
Nirosha Francis
Rehana Cuttilan
Rehana Cuttilan
Amalka
A note from Ahila Thillainathan
“I began discovering Colombo's stories during walks with my mother in her last years. I discovered hidden gems in plain sight, in our own neighbourhood. I've been exploring and uncovering them across different neighbourhoods of this fascinating city ever since. Welcome to Colombo Untold.”
Beat the best: Top Colombo explorers
Good to know before you play
- Hidden History
- Difficulty level: Easy 🟢😊
- Audio Stories
- The last part of the game might not be available after 4PM.
- Best in the morning to avoid the heat and see lively market, local shrines and temples.
- Ensure your phone is fully charged or bring along your trusty power bank
- Not suitable for young children or elderly people, due to the heat
- Wear a hat and sunscreen, have enough water
- Best in the morning to avoid the heat
Compare Questo vs. Guided Walking Tours
Flexibility
Regular Guided Tours
Fixed schedules & no pausing
Questo
Start, pause, and resume anytime
Privacy
Regular Guided Tours
Crowds of up to 30 strangers
Questo
Private experience for your group only
Pricing
Regular Guided Tours
$30–$60 (€23–€50) per person
Questo
Transparent pricing shown before checkout
Availability
Regular Guided Tours
Requires advance booking
Questo
Instant access 24/7/365
Experience
Regular Guided Tours
Passive listening to a guide
Questo
Active gamification; you solve the mystery
| Feature | Regular Guided Tours | Questo |
|---|---|---|
| Flexibility | Fixed schedules & no pausing | Start, pause, and resume anytime |
| Privacy | Crowds of up to 30 strangers | Private experience for your group only |
| Pricing | $30–$60 (€23–€50) per person | Transparent pricing shown before checkout |
| Availability | Requires advance booking | Instant access 24/7/365 |
| Experience | Passive listening to a guide | Active gamification; you solve the mystery |
Joined by 1,000,000+ explorers worldwide
Guided tour pricing: Comprehensive Economic Analysis of Guided Tour Pricing, EU and US markets, 2026. Standard 2–3 hour group walking tours.
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ABOUT THIS EXPERIENCE
What to expect from Pettah: The Stories Between The Shops
Colombo's most chaotic neighbourhood has been hiding its stories for 12 centuries beneath the shouts of merchants and rumble of hand-pulled carts. Find a bell that outlived three empires, a forgotten British milestone and a Civil War veteran who changed Ceylon forever. Pettah is loud, crowded and gloriously chaotic. Listen at each stop. Washrooms and vegetarian meals are available at Sri Suryas on Sea Street (10-minute walk or short tuk tuk ride from the final stop).
Discover stories at a candy-striped mosque, dodge Nattami carts, explore a 200-year-old temple and a council chamber frozen in 1906. End at a coffee factory on an ancient street. Listen to the audio stories at every stop. Washrooms and vegetarian meals are available at Sri Suryas on Sea Street (10-min walk or short tuk tuk ride away).
Start: Khan Clock Tower. Finish: The Beans Coffee Factory. 11 challenges included.
