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
Saving the Empress: Schönbrunn Walking Tour & Escape Game
4.86Player rating
A DIFFERENT WAY TO SEE THE CITY
Play at your pace · usually 62 min 3.6 km Vienna App-guided
Play in
EnglishGerman
The experience
About this quest
Sisi, the Empress of Austria, is missing. Was she kidnapped or did she slip away from court? Only her diary remains and Emperor Franz asks for help. Are you the one person who can read the secrets in her pages and help Franz find out the truth?
Crack a trail of unique riddles and puzzles that use real details on site. Solve a chain of clues by decoding diary pages, following sound based riddles, spotting hidden clues, and cracking image puzzles. Every step unlocks a new page of the diary and a fresh clue tucked into an iconic place.
You will wander through the gardens of Schönbrunn, pass the palace and the great garden, and stand at the famous Gloriette with one of the most iconic views of Vienna.
Crack a trail of unique riddles and puzzles that use real details on site. Solve a chain of clues by decoding diary pages, following sound based riddles, spotting hidden clues, and cracking image puzzles. Every step unlocks a new page of the diary and a fresh clue tucked into an iconic place.
You will wander through the gardens of Schönbrunn, pass the palace and the great garden, and stand at the famous Gloriette with one of the most iconic views of Vienna.
Is this for you?
Who it's for
Sisi fans, families and couples visiting Schönbrunn get just under two hours in the gardens beyond the palace rooms, reading the missing empress's diary through sound riddles, image puzzles and clues spotted at the Gloriette, Neptunbrunnen, Rosarium and more. Skip it if you would rather have a live guide answering questions about the Habsburgs, or if 3.6 km outdoors in summer heat is too much for your group.
What makes this quest special
Highlights
Visit iconic Schönbrunn sights, from the palace and Neptune Fountain to the Gloriette
Learn stories about Sisi and Franz, including surprising details from their daily life
Enjoy one of Vienna’s best views at the Gloriette and discover quiet corners most visitors miss
Share the experience with friends or family, perfect for teamwork, date days, and unforgettable photos
From people who played this quest
Good times. In their words.
4.86 / 5
21 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
Schönbrunner Schloßstraße 47, 1130 Wien, Austria
B · Finish
Schönbrunn Palace Park, 1130 Wien, Austria
Start and finish only. Discover the stops as you play.
The people behind the adventure
Created by Magic_Quests.
A route that brings places and playful storytelling together.
Made by Magic_Quests
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
- Ensure your phone is fully charged or bring along your trusty power bank
- Wear a hat and sunscreen, have enough water
- Best in the morning to avoid the heat
- Family friendly
- Fun to do as a couple
A little clarity before you go
Frequently asked questions
What is the Empress escape game at Schönbrunn?
It is a story-led puzzle walk on your phone. Empress Sisi has vanished, only her diary remains, and Emperor Franz asks you to find the truth. You decode diary pages, follow sound-based riddles, spot clues and crack image puzzles that use real details in the palace gardens.
Where does the walk start and finish?
It starts at Schloss Schönbrunn and finishes at the Palmenhaus, so it does not return to the start. On the way you pass the Römische Ruine, Obeliskbrunnen, Kleine Gloriette, Gloriette, Neptunbrunnen, Westlicher Najadenbrunnen and the Rosarium.
How long does it take and how far is it?
Most players take just under two hours, walking and puzzles included, over about 3.6 km. It is all outdoors, so mornings are best to avoid the heat. Bring a hat, sunscreen and water, and make sure your phone is fully charged or carry a power bank.
Is it good for kids?
Yes, it is listed as family friendly. It suits children who enjoy riddles and spotting details, can follow a story told through diary pages, and can comfortably walk 3.6 km over nearly two hours. Younger children will likely need adults to help with the decoding puzzles.
Can we play as a group, and do we need to book a time?
One ticket covers the whole group playing together on one phone. There is no time slot to book and no guide to meet: start whenever you arrive at the palace, and you can pause and continue later if you want a break in the gardens.
Is Saving the Empress: Schönbrunn Walking Tour & Escape Game self-guided?
Yes. The Questo app guides you between locations without a tour guide or fixed departure. You can start when it suits you and pause if needed.
Where does Saving the Empress: Schönbrunn Walking Tour & Escape Game start and finish?
It starts at Schloss Schönbrunn, Schönbrunner Schloßstraße 47, 1130 Wien, Austria and finishes at Palmenhaus, Schönbrunn Palace Park, 1130 Wien, Austria. The route is approximately 3.6 km and includes 10 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.
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Empress Elisabeth context
The woman behind the romantic “Sisi” image
Empress Elisabeth of Austria lived within the Habsburg court but resisted many of its expectations, traveled extensively and became intensely mythologized after her assassination in 1898. Schönbrunn Palace was an imperial residence, not simply the setting of a fairy-tale marriage. This quest uses a fictional rescue mission while distinguishing Elisabeth’s documented life from the later Sisi legend. Playable languages: English, German.
