Secrets of
Milan

Self-Guided Secrets of Milan Exploration Game

Rediscover Milan’s Spirit of Genius! Wander through grand piazzas and hidden courtyards as you help Alessandro Manzoni reclaim the inspiration that shaped his timeless masterpiece, uncovering the city’s secrets where art, passion, and history intertwine.

About Secrets of Milan

The City Game Milan is a self-guided city game that takes place in the city center of Milan. This GPS-based game invites players to explore the city using their smartphones while solving puzzles, riddles and photo challenges along the way. As you navigate through the city streets, you’ll uncover hidden details and learn about Milan’s history, culture and character. The exploration game is designed for all types of participants, whether you’re visiting Milan for the first time or have lived there for years. It offers a flexible and engaging experience for solo players, couples, families and groups of friends.

1.5-2 hours of play time

3-4 km walking distance

Start at Milan, Duomo of Milan

Start, pause & continue whenever you want

Play on your smartphone, no downloads needed

1-4 people per smartphone

What you’ll experience during the game

The Secrets of Milan City Game blends discovery with storytelling, leading you through both grand landmarks and tucked-away corners of the city. As you explore, you’ll pass the soaring Duomo of Milan and the elegant glass arcades of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, while also encountering lesser-known sites like the tranquil Carla Lonzi Garden. The journey weaves through history, architecture and urban life, with stops such as the Castello Sforzesco and the thought-provoking L.O.V.E. sculpture highlighting Milan’s layered identity. Along the way, the city unfolds as both backdrop and character in the unfolding story.

While navigating Milan, you’ll take on riddles, puzzles and creative photo tasks that gradually reveal clues and earn points. Each challenge contributes to solving the overarching mystery, with hints available if you need a nudge in the right direction. The City Game can be paused at any moment, letting you explore at your own pace and resume when ready. Those with a competitive streak can also aim to top the leaderboard by solving the game with accuracy and speed.

Who is it for?

This City Game is designed for anyone who wants to discover Milan in a playful and meaningful way. It’s ideal for:

  • Solo explorers looking for a flexible adventure
  • Couples who want to experience the city in a fun and surprising way
  • Families with curious kids who enjoy puzzles and challenges
  • Friends wanting a lighthearted activity full of laughter
  • Groups and teams searching for a unique, self-guided teambuilding experience

Whether you’re a local seeing Milan with fresh eyes or a visitor exploring the city for the first time, this GPS-based game offers a memorable way to connect, play and explore together.

What’s included?

Included

  • Self-guided Exploration Game
    Play independently on your own smartphone.
  • Game link & instructions
    Simple steps to start the activity.
  • GPS-based route with puzzles & challenges
    Riddles, questions and photo tasks.
  • Fun facts & stories about Milan
    Learn about iconic and hidden spots.

Excluded

  • Smartphone or other devices (bring your own to play)
    You only need one phone per team.
  • In-person guide (digital guide in-game only)
    Everything is fully self-guided inside the game.

Good to know

  • Flexible start, pause & continue
  • 1-year access from purchase date
  • 1–4 people per smartphone
  • Difficulty: Easy-moderate
  • Recommended age: 8+
  • Internet & GPS required
  • Available languages: Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and 30+ more!
  • Start location: Milan, Duomo of Milan

How to play

After booking, you’ll receive an email with a direct play link to start your adventure. Head to the Duomo of Milan, the city’s majestic cathedral, and begin your quest whenever you’re ready. The game is easy to start, fully self-guided, and can be paused or continued at any time.

Book your Secrets of Milan experience now

Per group

€ 25,95

Book your Secrets of Milan experience now

A 2-hour self-guided City Explore Game through Milan: explore highlights, solve puzzles and play at your own pace.

  • 1.5 – 2 hours
  • 3 – 4 km
  • Milan, Duomo of Milan
  • Languages: Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and 30+ more!

Per group

€ 25,95

  • Cancel anytime for full refund
  • Instant confirmation
  • Accessible for 1 year from the purchase date
  • Payments are secure & encrypted
Bancontact logo
Slice 1 Created with Sketch.

The story of Secrets of Milan

Milan whispers in marble and mist, but for Alessandro Manzoni, once the voice of a nation, those whispers have fallen silent. His great novel, The Betrothed, brought him fame, yet drained him dry. Now, centuries later, he wanders the city he loved and lost, desperate to find what once stirred his pen. Not glory. Not applause. Inspiration.

Together, you’ll trace his footsteps through cathedrals and quiet chapels, across plazas and into the past. Along the way, you’ll uncover secrets Milan has kept hidden, stories of love, loss, and the silent strength of ordinary people. Find the final spark, and help a great writer believe again.

You came to explore. You stayed to save the story.

Book now

Alessandro Manzoni

Your start location

After booking, you’ll receive an email with your play link and simple start instructions. On the day you want to play, just head to the start location at Milan, Duomo of Milan, open the link on your smartphone and begin the game. From there, you simply follow the GPS route, complete the challenges and explore at your own pace.

Milan, Duomo of Milan

Get directions

How the Secrets of Exploration City Game works

Discover how the self-guided exploration game leads you through the city, step by step.

Start whenever you want

Begin the game the moment you arrive at the starting location, with no fixed departure time.

Follow the GPS route

Navigate through the city using the built in map that guides you from checkpoint to checkpoint.

Solve puzzles and riddles

Crack codes, answer clever questions and use your surroundings to complete challenges.

Complete creative photo challenges

Capture fun moments, recreate poses or search for hidden details as part of interactive missions.

Discover local stories and fun facts

Each location reveals surprising insights about the area’s history, culture and hidden secrets.

Earn points at every location

Score points by completing assignments at each point. Compete with other teams and climb the leaderboard.

Unlock badges and achievements

Earn digital badges as you reach milestones during the game. Every achievement adds to your team’s progress.

Play at your own pace

Take breaks whenever you like and continue the adventure when you are ready.

Book now

How the Secrets of Exploration City Game works

Discover how the self-guided exploration game leads you through the city, step by step.

  • Start whenever you want

    Begin the game the moment you arrive at the starting location, with no fixed departure time.

  • Follow the GPS route

    Navigate through the city using the built in map that guides you from checkpoint to checkpoint.

  • Solve puzzles and examine evidence

    Crack codes, answer clever questions and use your surroundings to complete challenges.

  • Complete creative photo challenges

    Capture fun moments, recreate poses or search for hidden details as part of interactive missions.

  • Discover local stories and fun facts

    Each location reveals surprising insights about the area’s history, culture and hidden secrets.

  • Earn points at every location

    Score points by completing assignments at each point. Compete with other teams and climb the leaderboard.

  • Unlock badges and achievements

    Earn digital badges as you reach milestones during the game. Every achievement adds to your team’s progress.

  • Play at your own pace

    Take breaks whenever you like and continue the adventure when you are ready.

Book now

What others think of our City Games

All reviews Write a review

Do you have questions? We have answers!

Check out our frequently asked questions and find out everything you want to know. Is your question not among them? Feel free to contact us.

View all fequently asked questions Get support

Secrets of Milan takes around 1.5 to 2 hours to complete. There is no strict time limit, so you can explore Milan at your own pace and pause the game whenever you like.

Most teams complete the game within this time frame, but you’re free to take longer if you want to stop for a drink, explore a location more deeply, or enjoy the city along the way!

The game starts at Milan, Duomo of Milan. After booking, the start location is clearly communicated in the instruction email and becomes visible in the game.

The entire game takes place outdoors. You don’t need to enter any buildings or visit locations with opening hours. Simply arrive at the start location, open the game on your smartphone, and you can begin exploring right away!

There is no limit to the total number of players for Secrets of Haarlem!

The game is played in teams of 1 to 4 people per smartphone.
If you’re playing with more than 4 people, simply book multiple teams, so everyone can play at the same time using their own devices and use the same play link.

For larger groups or corporate events, a fully hosted version of this City Game is also available, including on-site guidance, tablets and live support.

Planning a larger group or corporate event?
Explore the hosted City Game experience for groups

No, you don’t need to reserve a time slot for Secrets of Milan! After purchase, you can start the game anytime you want, on any day, within the 1-year access period.

This flexibility makes Secrets of Milan ideal if you’re visiting the city without a fixed schedule, want to check the weather first, or prefer to start spontaneously once you arrive in the city!

Yes, Secrets of Milan is suitable for families with children aged 8 and up!

The game is designed as a shared experience, where puzzles, riddles and challenges can be solved together, making it accessible for both kids and adults.

Younger players can actively join by spotting details, answering questions and completing photo challenges, while adults guide the team through the more challenging parts. This makes Secrets of Milan a fun and engaging activity for mixed-age groups exploring the city together.

Secrets of Milan is available in 30+ languages, allowing players from all over the world to enjoy the game in their own language while exploring the city.

The game supports many widely spoken languages such as English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Dutch, among others.

This makes Secrets of Milan an accessible and enjoyable experience for international visitors, expats and mixed-language groups.

All available languages:

  • Arabic
  • Bulgarian
  • Chinese
  • Chinese (Hong Kong)
  • Croatian
  • Czech
  • Danish
  • Dutch
  • English
  • Finnish
  • French
  • German
  • Greek
  • Hebrew
  • Hungarian
  • Icelandic
  • Indonesian
  • Italian
  • Japanese
  • Korean
  • Lithuanian
  • Norwegian
  • Polish
  • Portuguese
  • Portuguese (Brazil)
  • Russian
  • Serbian
  • Slovak
  • Slovenian
  • Spanish
  • Spanish (Latin America)
  • Swedish
  • Thai
  • Turkish
  • Vietnamese

(Language availability may vary slightly per update)

To play Secrets of Milan, you only need a charged smartphone with internet access and GPS enabled. The game is fully digital, self-guided and played outdoors while exploring Milan.

We recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes, as you’ll stroll through streets and squares, and bringing a fully charged phone or power bank so you can enjoy the entire experience without interruptions.

Other than that, just bring your curiosity and sense of adventure and discover Milan at your own pace!

Your favourite City Games, professionally hosted by our team

Enjoy the same City Games as our self-guided version, but with full on-site support from our professional hosts. We take care of the briefing, tablets, coordination and technical support, so your group can focus entirely on the fun and competition.

What’s included:

  • Same City Game, fully hosted
    You play the exact same experience as our self-guided version, now with our hosts guiding your group.
  • Live ranking & prize ceremony
    For larger groups, our hosts reveal the final scores and announce the winning team with a fun award moment.
  • Hosted start & finish
    We welcome your group, explain the game clearly and end with an exciting wrap-up.
  • Real-time support during the game
    Our team assists with devices, app issues and coordination throughout the experience.
  • Tablets included (optional)
    Available for groups who prefer using our devices instead of their own.

Trusted by teams worldwide, from small groups to large corporate events.

Plan your group event

Other destinations to explore

  • Denpasar

    Denpasar is the capital city of Bali, Indonesia, located on the southern part of the island. Known for its blend of traditional Balinese culture and modern urban life, the city features landmarks such as the Bajra Sandhi Monument and the Pura Jagatnatha temple. Its vibrant markets, historical temples, and role as Bali’s administrative and cultural center set it apart from the island’s beach resorts.

    City Game Denpasar

  • Thessaloniki

    Thessaloniki, located in northern Greece, is known for its rich Byzantine heritage and vibrant cultural scene. As a historic crossroads of civilizations, the city features landmarks like the White Tower and the Rotunda, alongside lively neighborhoods and a renowned food culture influenced by its Ottoman and Balkan past. Its position on the Thermaic Gulf adds to its distinct coastal character.

    City Game Thessaloniki

  • Bonn

    Bonn is a city in western Germany, located along the Rhine River in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Known as the former capital of West Germany, Bonn is recognized for its political history, elegant 18th-century architecture, and as the birthplace of composer Ludwig van Beethoven. Today, it blends cultural heritage with its role as a center for international cooperation and education.

    City Game Bonn
All locations

See more on Instagram

Travel inspiration, puzzles, hidden gems & City Game moments, straight from our community

Follow us on Instagram

Last viewed City Games

  • Secrets of Strasbourg

    Experience Strasbourg’s Enchanting Enigma! Delve into a city where romance whispers through half-timbered homes and tales of yesteryears hum from the timeworn cathedral, Strasbourg is a splendid weave of fairy-tale charm and vibrant Alsatian culture, bringing a dash of magic at every corner.

    1.5-2 hours

    1-4

    € 25,95
    View City Game
Explore all City Games

Ready for an unforgettable adventure?

Explore Milan in a unique and interactive way with our Secrets of Milan City Game. Play today and create lasting memories!