Christmas
Scavenger Hunt

A Christmas scavenger hunt turns any holiday gathering into an adventure. Whether you're planning an indoor scavenger hunt for Christmas morning, a neighbourhood lights walk after dark, or a competitive adult scavenger hunt for a party, the format is endlessly adaptable. All you need is a list of items to find, a time limit, and willing participants.

Below you'll find 20 themed Christmas scavenger hunt ideas organised by setting and age group, 20 Christmas riddles with hidden answers you can use as clues, and three printable checklists ready for your next hunt. Use the quick-jump links above to find exactly what you need.

Organising a Christmas scavenger hunt is simpler than it sounds. Start by choosing a setting - indoors works for smaller groups and younger children, while an outdoor or neighbourhood hunt adds excitement for older kids and adults. Write your item list (15–20 items is the sweet spot), set a time limit of 30–45 minutes, and split players into teams of 2–4. Have teams photograph each found item as proof, and award bonus points for creative or difficult finds.

For riddle-based hunts, print each riddle on a card and hide the answer cards at specific locations. The first riddle leads to the second, creating a chain that ends at a final treasure or prize. This format works particularly well for children's scavenger hunts, where the sense of discovery at each step keeps excitement high. Keep a master list so you remember where everything is hidden - there's nothing worse than losing your own clue cards.

The best scavenger hunt ideas match the environment. Indoor hunts shine at Christmas parties and family gatherings - use photo challenges, hidden objects among decorations, or kitchen-themed searches. Outdoor hunts work brilliantly as a Christmas light scavenger hunt after dark, a nature walk with festive items to spot, or a neighbourhood exploration with clue stops along the route.

For adult scavenger hunts, add layers of difficulty: time-limited challenges, social interaction tasks (like getting a stranger to sing a carol), or competitive elements that require strategy. Kids' hunts should focus on discovery and reward - hide physical treasures, use colour-coded systems for the youngest players, and always have a small prize waiting at the end.

Christmas riddles add a puzzle-solving dimension to any scavenger hunt. Instead of simply listing items to find, give players riddle cards that describe each item in a creative way. "I have needles but I don't sew" is far more exciting than "Find the Christmas tree." For younger children, pair riddles with picture clues. For adults, make riddles more cryptic and hide them in unexpected locations.

The 20 riddles on this page cover the most common Christmas items and can be printed, cut out, and hidden around your house, garden, or neighbourhood. Each riddle includes a placement hint to help you hide the answer card in a thematic spot. Mix and match riddles with direct item searches for a hunt that keeps players guessing - and check out our full Christmas games collection for more activity ideas.