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
Escape the Great Plague: A Medieval Vienna Mystery
4.6Player rating
A DIFFERENT WAY TO SEE THE CITY
Play at your pace · usually 52 min 2.6 km Vienna App-guided
Play in
EnglishFrenchGermanSpanishItalianDutch
The experience
About this quest
Step into the shadows of 1679 Vienna, a city ravaged by the Great Plague. Streets once filled with music now echo with silence. But one man—Marx Augustin—refuses to let hope die. In this real-world adventure, you’ll follow the trail of Vienna’s legendary balladeer, solving riddles and uncovering secrets hidden among the city’s medieval ruins.
This quest is more than a game. It’s a walk through history, a test of wit, and a journey you’ll want to share with friends or family. Discover forgotten corners of Vienna, connect through clever clues, and rise—like Augustin—as a beacon in the darkness. Are you ready to bring light back to a city in despair? The story begins now.
Is this for you?
Who it's for
Fans of dark medieval history, friends who enjoy escape games and families with older children will enjoy this walk through plague-struck 1679 Vienna, following the balladeer Marx Augustin from Ruprechtsplatz past Griechenbeisl and Stephansdom to the Hofburg. Expect medium-difficulty riddles and close to two hours on foot. A plague story with medium riddles is a poor fit for very young children or anyone wanting a live guide.
What makes this quest special
Highlights
Follow the footsteps of Vienna’s legendary balladeer, Augustin, as he returns to a city in despair.
Explore hidden medieval alleys and historic taverns lost to time.
Uncover secrets from the era of the Great Plague through real-world puzzles.
Feel the past come alive in this immersive mix of storytelling, walking, and mystery-solving.
Share the experience with friends or family—this journey is made for unforgettable memories.
From people who played this quest
Good times. In their words.
4.60 / 5
1,583 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
Vienna
A · Start
Ruprechtsstiege 1, 1010 Wien, Austria
B · Finish
Hofburg, innerer burghof 1, 1010 Wien, Austria
Start and finish only. Discover the stops as you play.
Along the way
Landmarks & Hidden Gems Included
Cafe Frauenhuber
Discover this place
Stock im Eisen
Discover this place
Figlmüller Bäckerstraße
Discover this place
Bäckerstraße
Discover this place
Basilikenhaus
Discover this place
Griechenbeisl
Discover this place
Ruprechtsplatz
Discover this place
Hofburg Palace
Discover this place
Stephansdom
Discover this place
Albertina Museum
Discover this place
The people behind the adventure
Created by Job Zomerplaag.
A route that brings places and playful storytelling together.
Made by Job Zomerplaag
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
- Kid friendly
- Hidden History
- Difficulty level: Medium 🟡🤔
A little clarity before you go
Frequently asked questions
Is this a plague-themed escape game in Vienna?
In a way. Instead of a locked room, you walk through the old centre of Vienna as it was in 1679, during the Great Plague. You solve riddles set in the places in front of you while following the legendary balladeer Marx Augustin. The puzzles are medium difficulty.
Does the quest tell the story of the Great Plague of Vienna?
Yes. The story is set in 1679, when the plague left once musical streets silent. You follow Marx Augustin, the city's legendary balladeer who refused to let hope die, through medieval corners such as the Basilikenhaus, Stock im Eisen and Stephansdom.
Where does the quest start and finish?
It starts at Ruprechtsplatz and finishes at Hofburg Palace, so it does not return to the start. On the way you pass Griechenbeisl, the Basilikenhaus, Bäckerstraße, Figlmüller Bäckerstraße, Stephansdom, Stock im Eisen, Café Frauenhuber and the Albertina museum, covering about 2.6 km.
How long does it take, and can we pause?
Most players take close to two hours, walking and puzzles included. There is no time slot to book, so you can start whenever you like, and you can pause the game and pick it up again later.
Is it suitable for kids, and can we play as a group?
It is tagged kid friendly, but the riddles are medium difficulty and the story centres on a plague, so it suits older children best. A group playing together needs only one ticket, and there is no guide or other group to join.
What’s the setup of this adventure?
It’s 1679 Vienna, reeling from the plague. The legendary balladeer Marx Augustin returns to find his city in despair. Your job? Follow his footsteps, solve historic clues, and bring hope back to the streets.
Who will enjoy this most?
Perfect for couples who like moody evening walks, groups of friends wanting something dramatic, history nerds, and tourists eager to see Vienna’s hidden medieval corners.
What landmarks will we see during this route?
You’ll pass spots like Café Frauenhuber, Stock im Eisen, Bäckerstraße, Ruprechtsplatz, Stephansdom, Hofburg Palace, and more tucked-away alleys. Hidden corners + big names.
Keep exploring
Every quest. One year.
Explore the annual passGive them a story
A day out, gifted.
Explore Questo giftsKeep exploring Vienna
More adventures in Vienna
Vienna plague context
The 1679 epidemic behind a later city legend
Vienna suffered a major plague epidemic in 1679, part of the recurring early-modern outbreaks that prompted quarantine, religious responses and public-health measures. The Pestsäule on the Graben commemorates the epidemic and the Habsburg vow connected with it. This quest’s escape story is fictional, while the disease, fear and memorial landscape are historical. Playable languages: German, Spanish, French, English, Italian, Dutch.
