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
The Dark History of Geneva
4.53Player rating
A DIFFERENT WAY TO SEE THE CITY
Play at your pace · usually 150 min 3.3 km Geneva App-guided
Play in
EnglishFrenchGerman
The experience
About this quest
Dive into Geneva’s darkest times during a quest that will take you from the Old Town neighborhood to the Lake of Geneva shore, while discovering unfamous events of the past.
Solve challenges in order to explore picturesque neighborhoods and lesser-known alleys. Your mission will also take you to the Parc des Bastions, the now lively Place du Molard and other places linked to a dark history.
Solve challenges in order to explore picturesque neighborhoods and lesser-known alleys. Your mission will also take you to the Parc des Bastions, the now lively Place du Molard and other places linked to a dark history.
Are you ready to face Geneva’s dark past?
Is this for you?
Who it's for
History lovers and couples drawn to darker stories walk 3.3 km from the Temple de Saint-Gervais to the lakeside Empress Sisi Monument, solving puzzles at an old prison, a wartime air-raid shelter and the Reformation Wall. Allow 2.5 to 3 hours, and families are welcome too. If you want a live guide telling ghost stories, or your children are unsettled by prisons and an assassination, pick something lighter.
What makes this quest special
Highlights
Discover how Geneva was almost taken during the terrible fight of the Escalade.
See where the Empress “Sisi”, Elisabeth of Austria, was stabbed to death.
Learn more about the Reformation and the role John Calvin played in Geneva.
From people who played this quest
Good times. In their words.
4.53 / 5
297 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
Geneva
A · Start
Rue des Terreaux-du-Temple 12, 1201 Genève, Switzerland
B · Finish
Quai du Mont-Blanc 10, 1201 Genève, Switzerland
Start and finish only. Discover the stops as you play.
Along the way
Landmarks & Hidden Gems Included
The people behind the adventure
Created by Frédéric Wasmer.
A route that brings places and playful storytelling together.
Made by Frédéric Wasmer
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
- Best during the day
- Best for couples
- Recommended activity for families
A little clarity before you go
Frequently asked questions
Is this a ghost tour of Geneva?
Not exactly. It is a self-guided walk through real dark episodes of Geneva's past rather than a haunted house or ghost story tour. Stops include the old Saint-Antoine prison, an air-raid shelter, the Reformation Wall and the monument to Empress Sisi, and the app tells each place's story and sets a puzzle there.
What is the Reformation Wall in Geneva, and is it on the route?
The Reformation Wall is the popular name for the International Monument to the Reformation. It is the fourth stop on this walk, after Place de Neuve and before the old Saint-Antoine prison. The app tells its story as part of Geneva's darker history and sets a puzzle based on what you see there.
Where does the quest start and finish?
It starts at the Temple de Saint-Gervais and finishes at the Empress Sisi Monument on the lakeshore, so it does not return to the start. In between you pass Place du Bourg-de-Four, the Cathédrale Saint-Pierre, Place du Molard, Quai des Bergues and the Brunswick Monument, among other stops.
How long does it take, and can we pause?
Most players take about 2.5 to 3 hours, walking and puzzles included, over a distance of 3.3 km. You can start whenever you like, with no time slot to book, and pause at any point to rest or eat, then continue later from where you stopped.
Can we play as a group, and is it suitable for children?
Yes. One ticket covers the whole group playing together on the route. It is recommended for families, but the stories deal with prisons, wartime shelters and an assassination, so it suits children who are comfortable with darker history and can manage a 3.3 km walk. It is best played during the day.
Is The Dark History of Geneva self-guided?
Yes. The Questo app guides you without a tour guide or fixed departure.
Where does it start and finish?
It starts at Temple de Saint-Gervais, Rue des Terreaux-du-Temple 12, 1201 Genève, Switzerland and finishes at Empress Sisi Monument, Quai du Mont-Blanc 10, 1201 Genève, Switzerland. 3.3 km; 12 puzzles.
How many accesses are needed?
Access is sold per device and player.
Keep exploring
Every quest. One year.
Explore the annual passGive them a story
A day out, gifted.
Explore Questo giftsKeep exploring Geneva
More adventures in Geneva
HISTORY AND CULTURE IN GENEVA
A history-led way to explore Geneva
The Dark History of Geneva is for visitors who want more context than a casual walk, but more freedom than a scheduled guided tour. The quest uses a route through Geneva to connect clues, places and stories.
The route starts at Temple de Saint-Gervais and finishes at Empress Sisi Monument over 3.3 km, with 12 challenge locations. Typical duration: 150 min; 3.3 km walking route; 12 challenge locations
Choose this for active, private discovery at your pace. Choose a guided historical tour or museum when expert live interpretation or curated exhibits matter more. Playable languages: English, French, German.
