CipherWalkThe Locksmith's Vault
A walking puzzle trail through one Zurich neighborhood, built for a team of 2 to 4. You start at Stauffacher, finish at Fraumünster, and solve the puzzles together along the way.
A locksmith who trusted no bank built a hidden vault somewhere in the old city, then scattered its combination across her favourite streets. Her memoirs are in your hands. Follow her trail and reach the vault first.
Play it in the CipherWalk app
This quest lives in the CipherWalk app. It is CHF 9 per player, and one person unlocks it for the whole team of 2 to 4. Get the app, unlock the quest, and meet up whenever your team is free.
What it's like
11 stops across the neighborhood, with puzzles to solve together as you walk. Every teammate sees different clues on their own phone, so cracking each one means actually talking to each other, not one person carrying the group. You set the pace and can stop for a coffee mid-trail without losing progress. One purchase covers all 2 to 4 of you, and once it is unlocked it is yours, so there is no clock on when you start.
How it works
- 1. One person unlocks the quest for the whole team.
- 2. Meet at Stauffacher in Zurich, each player with a charged phone and internet.
- 3. Open the quest in the CipherWalk app and walk between the stops together. Directions appear as you go, so you never need a separate map.
- 4. Every teammate sees different clues, so you decode each puzzle as a team and reach Fraumünster.
Where it starts and ends
You begin at Stauffacher and finish at Fraumünster, a loop of about 2.0 km across 11 stops that takes most teams around an hour. We point you to the start. The rest of the route reveals itself stop by stop as you play, because finding the next one is half the point.
11 stops · 2.0 km · about 1 hour · starts at Stauffacher
Open Stauffacher in Google MapsBefore you go
You play this on foot in Zurich, so you need to be there to walk it. You play in the CipherWalk app, so each player needs their own charged phone, iPhone or Android, with internet. Go in daylight, since some clues are read off walls and plaques. Light rain is fine, heavier rain is just less pleasant. It is built for teams of 2 to 4, and because every teammate sees different clues, it does not work solo. More than four of you? Split into teams of 2 to 4 and race the same trail.
Questions
When can we play?+
Whenever your team is together. Get the app, unlock the quest, and play in daylight at your own pace.
How much will it cost?+
CHF 9 per player. One person unlocks it for the whole team of 2 to 4, so a team pays CHF 18 to CHF 36 in total.
How many people do we need?+
Two to four. Every teammate sees different clues, so it does not work solo. With five or more, split into teams and race the same trail.
Do we need to download an app?+
Yes. You play in the CipherWalk app on iPhone or Android. Each player needs their own phone with internet.
What if it rains?+
Light rain is fine. In heavier rain, just pick another day.
How long does it take?+
About an hour at a normal walking pace. You set the speed and can pause whenever you like.
Is it hard?+
Medium difficulty. Hard enough to feel like a real puzzle, solvable by a normal group, no special knowledge needed.
Do we have to be in Zurich?+
To play, yes, it is on foot in Zurich. You walk between real stops around the neighborhood.
More questions are answered on our homepage FAQ and at support.
Ready to play?
Grab the app, unlock The Locksmith's Vault, and start whenever your team is together in Zurich.