How Does the City Rally Work? – The Complete Step-by-Step

You're wondering how the Munich City Rally actually works? Great question. Unlike traditional guided tours or complicated apps, the process is surprisingly straightforward – yet thoughtfully designed.

Here's what you need to know: 8 stations, 4 identical steps per station, 1 continuous story. That's it. Let me walk you through it in detail.

The Core Concept in 30 Seconds

• 8 Stations at fascinating locations throughout the old town (Frauenkirche, Marienplatz, Hofgarten and more)
• Per Station: Navigate → Solve a puzzle → Listen to the audio guide → Explore the location
• 1 Story: The Path of the Lion Ring – a thoughtful narrative that ties everything together
• Duration: About 3-4 hours total, roughly 3 km of walking
• Plays in your browser – no app required, no download needed

You purchase one access for €24.99. That covers up to 6 people in your team. After purchase, you receive a link via email. Click it and you'll be starting within minutes at your first location in the old town.

The Four Steps: How Does Each Station Work?

Every one of the eight stations follows the same pattern. This makes it predictable and rhythmic – you always know what to expect.

Step 1: Navigation – Where Do I Find This Place?

The app shows you clearly where the next station is:

• A map view with the exact location
• A clear description: "You're looking for the church with the two onion domes" (for example)
• Practical hints: Which street, what to look for
• Google Maps integration for direct navigation, if needed

You make your way on foot. Most stations are close to each other – the old town is compact and walkable. While you walk, you can chat, observe the city, and settle in.

Step 2: The Puzzle – What Do You Need to Observe?

Now it gets interactive. At each station, you'll encounter a puzzle – the so-called Location Seal. It's based on something you can see: a statue, an inscription, a coat of arms, a symbol.

The puzzles are clever, but solvable:

• Frauenkirche: What proves the architect was smarter than the devil? → "Devil"
• Marienplatz: Which creature protects the city without a sword? → "Basilisk"
• Viktualienmarkt: How many brewery crests decorate the maypole? → "six"
• Hofbräuhaus: What saved Munich in 1632 from war? → "Beer"

Each puzzle forces you to really look. You become part of the city, not just a tourist passing through. Together with your team, you'll puzzle it out – and that's exactly the fun part.

If a puzzle gets too tricky, hints are available. Nobody should get stuck.

Once you know the answer, you enter it into the app. Got it right? On to step 3.

Step 3: The Audio Guide – The Story Behind It

After solving the puzzle, you can listen to a professionally narrated audio guide – 3-5 minutes per station. This is the story that weaves everything together.

Dr. Leonhard Stern, an archivist, tells you about this location:

• Historical depth: Who built this? When? Why does it matter?
• Wittelsbach context: How does this place fit into 850 years of Munich's history?
• The big story: The Path of the Lion Ring – a chest with eight rings, a city itself as the key
• What this location teaches you: Each station represents a principle – wisdom, protection, community, cleverness, origin, identity, responsibility, continuity

The audio quality is outstanding. It's not a robotic Wikipedia reading. It's storytelling crafted for people who are standing right at this location and want to feel the story.

You control the pace – play, pause, rewind. There's no pressure to listen in real-time.

Step 4: Explore & Local Tips – What Else Is Here?

After the audio, you have time to really experience the place. The app now gives you practical tips:

• Café recommendations: "The best view of the church from Café XY"
• Photo spots: "Perfect for photos: stand here and look north"
• Additional sights: "St. Anna Church is only a 2-minute walk away – absolutely worth seeing"
• Time for real breaks: Grab a coffee, take photos, enjoy the moment

This step typically takes 10-15 minutes per station. There's no time pressure. If you particularly like a place, stay longer.

Per station, you need about 20-30 minutes for all four steps. Add the walking between stations, and you're looking at roughly 30-45 minutes per station.

The Continuous Story: The Path of the Lion Ring

What sets the City Rally apart from a typical scavenger hunt is the story that connects all eight stations.

The Setting

An old, heavy chest was discovered at the Alte Hof – a Wittelsbach family heirloom. It's sealed with eight concentric rings of bronze and iron. The Wittelsbach coat of arms – a lion – is engraved on the lid.

The legendary keepers of this chest left behind a plan: The keys aren't bound to locks. They're bound to Munich itself. The rings only open when you find the Location Seals – hidden words and symbols in the city, at the landmark buildings.

Your guide is Dr. Leonhard Stern, an archivist who discovered the chest. He sits in the archive, directing you from there. You are his "eyes in the city."

What Gets Revealed: The Seven Principles

With each solved puzzle, another ring of the chest opens. And each ring doesn't reveal gold. It reveals a principle – a value that truly made the Wittelsbachs great:

1. Wisdom (Frauenkirche) – Intellect over threat
2. Protection (Marienplatz) – Many ways to shield a city
3. Community (Viktualienmarkt) – Strength comes together
4. Cleverness (Hofbräuhaus) – Negotiation can be salvation
5. Origin (Alter Hof) – Legends shape identity
6. Identity (Odeonsplatz) – Symbols carry history across generations
7. Responsibility (Hofgarten) – Power is duty, not ornament
8. Continuity (Odeonsplatz) – Paths connect eras

The finale reveals the truth: The real gold of the Wittelsbachs wasn't wealth. It was these principles – wisdom, endurance, the understanding that true power means responsibility.

Technical Details: What's Happening Behind the Scenes

You Do NOT Need:

• To download an app
• To register (playable without an account)
• Technical knowledge
• Special hardware

You DO Need:

• A smartphone (Android or iPhone) with mobile internet or WiFi
• Enough battery (about 4 hours – a power bank is helpful)
• Comfortable shoes (the old town has cobblestone streets!)

How It Works in Your Browser:

• You open a link in your browser
• Everything runs responsively on your smartphone – optimized for touch
• Your progress is automatically saved
• Your team can play on multiple devices simultaneously (synchronized)
• GPS is optionally used for navigation

The 72-Hour Window

Once you start the Rally, you have 72 hours to complete it. Sounds tight? It's not:

• You can pause anytime (after station 3, for example)
• You can take breaks for food, coffee, rest
• Your progress is saved – when you restart, you pick up exactly where you paused
• No real time pressure – if you start today, you have until Thursday. For a 3-4 hour tour, that's plenty

The 72-hour window is just a gentle nudge to not put off this adventure forever.

What Makes the City Rally Different From Other Activities?

vs. Traditional Guided Tours (with a Guide)

Aspect	Traditional Tour	City Rally
Cost per person	€15-30	€24.99 for 1-6 people
Group size	10-25 people	Just your team
Duration	Fixed (1.5-2h)	You decide (3-4h or flexible)
Pace	Set by guide	Your pace
Interaction	Passive listening	Active puzzle-solving
Flexible breaks	No	Yes, anytime

City Rally wins in: Flexibility, value, intimacy, engagement

vs. Self-Guided Tours (PDFs, Wikipedia Lists)

Aspect	PDF Tour	City Rally
Story/Narrative	None	Thoughtful storyline
Audio guides	Usually not	Yes, professionally done
Navigation	Often unclear	Precise with maps
Interaction	None	Puzzle-based
Modern technology	No	Yes
Consistency	Variable	High quality

City Rally wins in: Experience, technology, engagement

From Purchase to Finale: The Complete Timeline

Step 0 (Prep):

1. Purchase a pass online for €24.99
2. Receive email with browser link (no download)
3. Organize your team (1-6 people)
4. Pick a date within the next 72 hours

Steps 1-8 (The Rally):

1. Open the browser link
2. Dr. Stern greets you with an audio intro
3. Eight stations in sequence: Navigate → Solve puzzle → Listen to audio → Explore
4. Per station: About 20-30 minutes
5. Between stations: Walking time (10-15 min)

Total: About 3-4 hours of active time

The Finale: After station 8, the entire chest opens. The message is clear: Not wealth, but principles made the Wittelsbachs great. Dr. Stern says goodbye.

You've just rediscovered Munich.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an app? No. A simple browser link is all you need. Everything runs on mobile internet or WiFi.

Can I start whenever? Yes. The 72-hour clock starts when you open the Rally – not immediately after purchase. So you can buy today and start tomorrow (or the day after).

How many people can one pass cover? Up to 6 people can play with one pass. You share the browser link and stay synchronized.

What if it rains? No problem. The puzzles are visible from sheltered spots. The audio works perfectly in the rain too.

Do I need to know about Munich already? Not at all. The Rally is designed so that everyone – whether Munich native or visitor – discovers fascinating details.

Conclusion: A Modern Way to Understand Munich

The City Rally isn't just a tour. It's an adventure where you don't just see Munich – you understand it – through puzzles, history, audio, and shared exploration.

You don't need a guide. No app. No registration. Just your browser, comfortable shoes, and a team that's ready for history and mystery.

Ready to walk the Path of the Lion Ring yourself?

Try it free now – no registration required. Experience the first station at no cost. No risk. Just Munich, a puzzle, and the story of a lion ring waiting for you.