By Hannah · former primary-school teaching assistant & mum of two · 9 October 2026
Quick answer
A free Christmas scavenger hunt for kids: house hunt list, winter walk list and 12 rhyming Christmas clues with answers. Perfect for Christmas Eve or the Eve box.
Key takeaways
- A Christmas scavenger hunt can be a simple tick list (baubles, tinsel, a robin) or a clue trail that leads to a present, the stockings or the Christmas Eve box.
- Below: a house hunt list, a winter walk list and 12 rhyming Christmas clues with answers — all in a free printable.
- Christmas Eve afternoon and Christmas morning after the stockings are the best slots. Plan 15–30 minutes for a list, a bit longer for a clue trail.
- Tape clues on the outside of things and keep them away from candles, the oven and light plugs.
Short on time? Our printable Christmas Treasure Hunt has the story, the stations and the map ready to go.
In this guide Christmas scavenger hunt ideas · House hunt list · 12 Christmas clues · Winter walk hunt · In the Christmas Eve box · By age · FAQs
Christmas Scavenger Hunt Ideas
- Christmas Eve house hunt: a tick list of festive things around the house while you get the tea on.
- Present hunt: a clue trail that ends at one big present — far more fun than spotting it under the tree.
- Stocking hunt: hide the stockings and leave the first clue on the bedroom door.
- Winter walk hunt: Christmas lights, a wreath, a robin and frost on a leaf.
- Elf hunt: hide a toy elf in a new spot every day of December and give a riddle as the morning clue.
- Christmas Day treasure hunt for the whole family: teams of grown-ups and children, riddles for everyone.
Hannah’s tested tip: Every Christmas Eve, ours get a tick list while I peel the sprouts. The rule is: last thing on the list is “find your pyjamas” — which are wrapped and hidden. It’s the only night of the year they race to get ready for bed.
Christmas House Scavenger Hunt List
Sixteen things to spot around the house. Print the list from the free PDF below, or read it out for younger children:
- A bauble
- Tinsel
- A Christmas card with snow on it
- A robin
- A candy cane or a sweet in a wrapper
- Something red and something green
- A star
- A present with a bow
- A stocking
- A reindeer
- Something that jingles
- A Christmas jumper
- A snowman
- Wrapping paper
- A mince pie
- Something that smells like Christmas
Free printable: 2 tick lists + 12 Christmas clue cards with answers.
Download the free Christmas scavenger hunt (PDF)
Download the free Christmas scavenger hunt (PDF)
12 Christmas Scavenger Hunt Clues (with Answers)
For a trail, hide each clue at the answer to the one before it. Pick the ones that fit your house — and skip the stocking clue if Father Christmas fills them at the end of the bed.
- “I twinkle and shine on the branches so green — look under my lights for the next thing you’ve seen.” — Answer: The Christmas tree
- “Hung by the fireplace (or the end of your bed), I wait to be filled — look inside me instead!” — Answer: The stocking
- “I’m round and I’m shiny and hang on the tree — count all my colours, then look next to me.” — Answer: A bauble
- “Cards from your friends stand up in a row — peek behind the tallest, that’s where you go.” — Answer: The Christmas cards
- “I keep the trifle and the turkey cold — look on my door for a clue, I’m told!” — Answer: The fridge door
- “Mince pies and a carrot are left out for two — a man in red and his reindeer crew.” — Answer: The plate for Father Christmas
- “Hot chocolate and marshmallows taste best in me — find the cupboard where I live, then look and see!” — Answer: The mug cupboard
- “Wrapping and ribbons and sticky tape too — where are the presents wrapped? That’s your clue!” — Answer: The wrapping-paper drawer
- “I’m knitted and woolly with a reindeer or tree — you wear me at Christmas, so where can I be?” — Answer: The Christmas jumper
- “I hang on the door, I’m round and I’m green — the prettiest welcome that you’ve ever seen.” — Answer: The wreath
- “Snowmen and Santas and Jesus in hay — I’ve a little door for every December day.” — Answer: The advent calendar
- “You pull me with a friend and I go off with a BANG — I’m waiting on the dinner table with a paper hat inside!” — Answer: The Christmas crackers
Need more? Our Christmas treasure hunt for kids guide has a full Christmas morning trail, and the indoor scavenger hunt clues work all year round.
Winter Walk Scavenger Hunt
Boxing Day walk, a wander to see the lights, or a frosty morning in the park — this list keeps little legs going:
- A house with Christmas lights
- A wreath on a door
- A Christmas tree in a window
- A robin
- Frost on a leaf
- Your breath like a cloud
- Holly with red berries
- A snowman (or a snowy patch)
- Someone in a Christmas hat
- A star
- A pine cone
- Ice on a puddle
- An inflatable Father Christmas
- A dog in a coat
- Smoke from a chimney
- Something that sparkles
Pop a Scavenger Hunt in the Christmas Eve Box
A Christmas Eve box usually holds new pyjamas, a film, hot chocolate and a book. Add a printed scavenger hunt and it becomes an evening activity, not just a box of things. Put the first clue in the box and let the trail lead to the pyjamas, or slip in the house hunt list and a pencil. For something bigger, a printable Christmas treasure hunt in the box keeps them busy for an hour on Christmas Eve afternoon — and you can print it again next year.
Christmas Treasure HuntVisit the elves’ village and outwit grumpy goblin Mumpf to save Christmas. Ages 4–9.View the hunt · £12.99 →
Winter Treasure HuntRescue spring from the Frost King across 8 icy stations. Ages 4–9.View the hunt · £12.99 →Winter in the Forest Treasure HuntHelp Felix the Fox rescue a little swallow in the snow. Ages 4–9.View the hunt · £12.99 →
Christmas Scavenger Hunts by Age
| Age | Best format | How long |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 | Picture or read-aloud list: bauble, star, reindeer, present | 10–15 min |
| 6–8 | The house hunt list or 6–8 rhyming clues to a present | 15–30 min |
| 9–12 | A clue trail with a code for the last clue, or a family team challenge | 30–60 min |
| Teens and grown-ups | A family Christmas Day challenge with riddles and photo tasks | 45–60 min |
Common mistakes (and easy fixes)
- Clues near candles or the oven: Fix: outside of things only, never near flames, hobs or light plugs.
- Spoiling the presents: Clever children read every label on the way. Fix: hide clues away from the present pile.
- Too long on Christmas morning: Excitement is high, patience is low. Fix: 4–6 clues on the day, longer hunts on Christmas Eve.
- One child does it all: Fix: colour-code a trail per child, or let them take turns reading.
Frequently asked questions
What do you put on a Christmas scavenger hunt list?
Festive things around the house — a bauble, tinsel, a robin, a star, a stocking, a reindeer, a Christmas card with snow, something that jingles — plus a few tricky ones like something that smells like Christmas.
When is the best time for a Christmas scavenger hunt?
Christmas Eve afternoon while dinner is cooking, or Christmas morning after the stockings and before the big dinner prep. A winter walk hunt is perfect for Boxing Day.
How do you make a Christmas scavenger hunt with clues?
Choose six to ten hiding spots, hide each clue at the answer to the previous clue, and put a present, the stockings or the Christmas Eve pyjamas at the end. Hand over the first clue to start.
Can adults do a Christmas scavenger hunt?
Yes — mix the teams so grown-ups and children play together, use riddles and photo challenges, and add a code for the final clue. Teenagers enjoy a printable escape room or murder mystery over the holidays too.
Can I put a scavenger hunt in a Christmas Eve box?
Yes. Put the first clue or the printed list in the box and let the trail lead to the pyjamas or a small present. It turns the box into an evening activity.
Is the Christmas scavenger hunt printable free?
Yes. The two tick lists and 12 clue cards on this page are free for personal and classroom use.
More festive fun: Christmas treasure hunts · Christmas party games for kids · scavenger hunt ideas for kids.
Written and play-tested by Hannah — a Yorkshire mum of two and former primary-school teaching assistant. Last reviewed October 2026.
About the author
Hannah is the mum behind Riddlelicious — a former primary-school teaching assistant who tests every printable hunt on her own two before it reaches the shop.
