A Christmas city game for company team building in Krakow

You can kick off a Christmas team building event in Krakow with a shared mission on the Main Market Square and round it off with dinner. Christmas Adventures, EscapeCity’s Christmas city game, leads teams with iPads around the Old Town in its December setting, with a warm drink waiting at the finish. If the weather or the make-up of your team doesn’t suit going out, the same operator has Christmas versions for the office, a hotel or online. Before you choose, agree whether the goal is getting to know new people, a walk together, or some light fun before sitting down to dinner.

Not every company needs competition. A game gives people something to talk about and a chance to act in small teams, but your plan has to take the weather and your team’s needs into account.

A breakdown at Santa’s factory

In the Christmas game, the heating at Santa’s factory stops working and the elves are freezing. Teams search the Old Town for hidden ingredients and recreate the recipe for a warming potion to save Christmas.

The story gives the tasks a shared direction. Teams don’t wander around aimlessly: each discovery brings them closer to completing the mission. Some of the puzzles are about Christmas traditions in the Małopolska region, for example why Krakow nativity scenes (szopki) made it onto the UNESCO list. The festive theme is a chance for some humour, without asking anyone to put on a performance.

Key facts about the game

According to the operator’s website, as read in September 2026:

• Start: the Main Market Square, meeting the Game Masters by Plac Mariacki (St Mary’s Square). The operator waits up to 15 minutes, and latecomers join their teams along the route.
• Route: about 2.5 km around the Market Square and nearby Old Town streets, guided by an app with a map.
• Equipment: an iPad in a rugged case with augmented reality, plus a bag of props for each team.
• Difficulty: 6/10 on the operator’s scale, described as a game for everyone.
• Group size: up to 60 people at once. The operator splits a larger team into several parallel city games.
• Duration: a full version and a shorter version. The operator’s pages give different lengths for the two, so confirm the exact time when you book.
• Language: the game, the staff and the Game Master’s help are available in English too.
• Finish: returning the equipment, announcing the results and a drink for every participant: mulled wine with or without alcohol, or hot tea.

Teamwork on the move

In the city you don’t just solve puzzles, you also have to find your way and pass information along. Make sure the iPad doesn’t stay in one person’s hands the whole time. You can agree how to split into teams with the Game Master instead of leaving it to chance.

Teams can see each other’s scores live, and a hint from the app costs points. But don’t judge your colleagues by the result. Knowing the city, walking pace and experience with similar games all affect how people take part. Team building should leave room for the quieter people too.

Winter logistics

Give the operator the number of participants, the language, your preferred day and start time, and any mobility needs. The route goes through the streets of the Old Town, so people who can’t walk a few kilometres in winter conditions should know about it in advance.

The operator says its equipment and materials are snowproof. But if your team doesn’t want to play in a snowstorm or a downpour, and you’ve paid in advance, you can switch to plan B up to 24 hours before the game: the Christmas game Bad Santa AR in a conference room, with the same equipment and number of teams. Your company provides the room, and the operator can help you find one. In your note to participants, mention warm shoes, a hat and gloves.

In December the Market Square is taken over by the Christmas market, and it’s busier than usual. The city publishes the market dates for each year on krakow.pl (in Polish). If you want to play among the festive stalls, pick your date after checking the calendar.

Other Christmas formats for your team

EscapeCity’s Christmas offer also includes indoor options:

• a mobile escape room with black chests and combination locks, brought to your office or hotel, for 12 to 50 people at once,
• Bad Santa AR, a Christmas escape room on iPads in your company’s or a hotel’s room, for 12 to 60 people,
• an online escape room for distributed teams, from 5 people, 65 minutes.

The online version works well when part of your team works remotely and won’t be coming to Krakow. The game on the Market Square makes sense when you want to go out together and enjoy the winter atmosphere of the city.

Dinner as the next part of the event

Choose a restaurant close to where the game ends, leaving time to walk there and warm up. If some people aren’t taking part in the game, give them a separate, clear time to meet.

At the table you can go back over the funniest ideas and the moments you cracked something together. There’s no need to organise another compulsory round of tasks. The game is there to get people talking, not to fill the whole evening down to the minute.