Explore downtown Los Angeles on a self-guided, app-based scavenger hunt that starts at Union Station. Follow 21 challenges across Olvera Street, Little Tokyo, and City Hall at your own pace—perfect for groups who like puzzles and local history.
Explore downtown Los Angeles on a self-guided, app-based scavenger hunt that starts at Union Station. Follow 21 challenges across Olvera Street, Little Tokyo, and City Hall at your own pace—perfect for groups who like puzzles and local history.
You start at the wide plaza outside Union Station, the sun bouncing off terra-cotta roofs while the city seems to dare you to look closer. The game drops you onto sidewalks that thread past El Pueblo’s market stalls, slips through arched courtyards, and threads into Little Tokyo’s side streets. Clues nudge groups toward plaques, murals, and doors that often get overlooked by hurried commuters.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Scavenger Hunt Walking Tours · Los Angeles, California
You start at the wide plaza outside Union Station, the sun bouncing off terra-cotta roofs while the city seems to dare you to look closer. The game drops you onto sidewalks that thread past El Pueblo’s market stalls, slips through arched courtyards, and threads into Little Tokyo’s side streets. Clues nudge groups toward plaques, murals, and doors that often get overlooked by hurried commuters.
Downtown Los Angeles wears its history plainly: Olvera Street marks the city’s 1781 Spanish colonial origins, Union Station anchors an era of rail-driven growth from the 1930s, and City Hall’s concrete tower still looms as a civic landmark. Geologically the route sits on the flat Los Angeles Basin—streets are level, with views of old brick and mid-century steel rather than dramatic elevation change. Culturally the neighborhood is a layered archive of Mexican-American markets, Japanese-American neighborhoods, and early 20th-century commercial architecture.
Practical guidance: the route covers roughly two miles over paved sidewalks and plaza surfaces—expect 1½ hours if you follow all 21 challenges. The hunt is app-based and self-paced, so bring a charged smartphone, a compact battery pack, and comfortable walking shoes. Public transit drops you at Union Station; timed entries are unnecessary since the experience starts whenever you redeem your ticket. Watch crosswalks during busy periods and be prepared to pause for market crowds. Bring water in warm months and a light jacket in cooler evenings. The scavenger hunt is equal parts city history and street-level puzzle: look up, read plaques, and enjoy how the city’s details start to answer the questions for you.
easy.
1.5 hours.
Suitable for most fitness levels; requires the ability to walk ~2 miles and stand for short periods.
Redeem on scavengerhuntwalkingtours.com by adding the Los Angeles Union Station hunt to your cart and entering your Viator ticket number as a coupon to complete checkout; then start anytime.
No—this is a self-guided, app-based scavenger hunt with 21 challenges; there is no in-person guide and you go at your own pace.
Yes—surfaces along the route are generally wheelchair- and stroller-accessible; however, check individual market areas for crowds or temporary stalls.
Designed for groups of 2–6 people and suitable for a wide range of ages; clues are family-friendly but some reading and problem-solving skills are helpful.
Union Station opened in 1939 and became a transportation and cultural hub that helped shape modern Los Angeles; nearby Olvera Street preserves the city’s Spanish-Mexican origins.
Be mindful of litter around historic sites and market stalls; support small vendors and follow posted rules to protect fragile architectural features and community spaces.
Scavenger Hunt Walking Tours operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.




You start at the wide plaza outside Union Station, the sun bouncing off terra-cotta roofs while the city seems to dare you to look closer. The game drops you onto sidewalks that thread past El Pueblo’s market stalls, slips through arched courtyards, and threads into Little Tokyo’s side streets. Clues nudge groups toward plaques, murals, and doors that often get overlooked by hurried commuters.
You start at the wide plaza outside Union Station, the sun bouncing off terra-cotta roofs while the city seems to dare you to look closer. The game drops you onto sidewalks that thread past El Pueblo’s market stalls, slips through arched courtyards, and threads into Little Tokyo’s side streets. Clues nudge groups toward plaques, murals, and doors that often get overlooked by hurried commuters.
Downtown Los Angeles wears its history plainly: Olvera Street marks the city’s 1781 Spanish colonial origins, Union Station anchors an era of rail-driven growth from the 1930s, and City Hall’s concrete tower still looms as a civic landmark. Geologically the route sits on the flat Los Angeles Basin—streets are level, with views of old brick and mid-century steel rather than dramatic elevation change. Culturally the neighborhood is a layered archive of Mexican-American markets, Japanese-American neighborhoods, and early 20th-century commercial architecture.
Practical guidance: the route covers roughly two miles over paved sidewalks and plaza surfaces—expect 1½ hours if you follow all 21 challenges. The hunt is app-based and self-paced, so bring a charged smartphone, a compact battery pack, and comfortable walking shoes. Public transit drops you at Union Station; timed entries are unnecessary since the experience starts whenever you redeem your ticket. Watch crosswalks during busy periods and be prepared to pause for market crowds. Bring water in warm months and a light jacket in cooler evenings. The scavenger hunt is equal parts city history and street-level puzzle: look up, read plaques, and enjoy how the city’s details start to answer the questions for you.