Christmas scavenger hunt clues (printable)

A gift is more fun when there's a trail to it. Hide it, then hide the clue cards: each riddle points to the place where the next card waits, and the last one to the gift. One set for kids at home, one for the office party.

Play now

How to play

  1. Pick 5 to 10 cards from one set and decide on their order.
  2. Write the numbers in the “No. __” boxes: 1 on the first clue.
  3. Hand over the start card together with card No. 1; hide every next card in the place the one before it points to.
  4. Hide the gift where the last card points. The answers are under each riddle here and on the last printed page.

The gift at the end of the trail can be the one from your Secret Santa draw: the Santa hides the parcel and hands the first card to the person it is for. Agree on the budget and add a tag: Secret Santa budget: how much to spend? · Printable Secret Santa gift tags

or Ctrl+P / ⌘P

Each set on a page of its own: the start card and 10 cards to cut out along the dashed lines. The answer key is on the last page. A4 or Letter, portrait, 100%.

Clues for kids

  • Start

    Your Secret Santa has hidden a present. Solve the clues in order – each one leads to the next card!

  • No.

    I stand in the corner of the living room wearing lights and shiny balls. On the morning of December 25 the presents wait under my branches.

  • No.

    I'm cold inside and I hum all night. Milk, butter and cheese live here. Open my door and look on a shelf!

  • No.

    Every night you rest your head on me. Lift me up and look underneath!

  • No.

    Your feet go inside me before you go out in the snow. Look inside the left one!

  • No.

    In the evening I'm full of warm water and bubbles. Today I'm dry – peek behind the shower curtain!

  • No.

    Stories, comics and atlases stand on me in a tidy row with their spines out. Look on the bottom row.

  • No.

    You sleep on top of me, and dust bunnies and a lost sock live under me. Crawl down and look!

  • No.

    Jackets, scarves and mittens hang inside me. Open my door and look down by the shoes.

  • No.

    I'm soft and comfy, and the whole family sits on me to watch movies. Dig into my corners!

  • No.

    Teddies, blocks and race cars go inside me when it's time to tidy up. Lift my lid!

Clues for the office

  • Start

    Your Secret Santa has hidden a present. Solve the clues in order – each one leads to the next card!

  • No.

    I'm hungry for blank sheets all day long. Pull out my bottom drawer, where they wait their turn.

  • No.

    I live in a pot, and someone remembers to water me every Monday. Look under my leaves.

  • No.

    Lunch boxes, yogurts and milk with a name on it share my cold shelves. Look behind the butter.

  • No.

    In the meeting room, plans for the new year get drawn on me with markers. Look behind me or in my pen tray.

  • No.

    Jackets and scarves hang on my arms all winter. Look behind the longest one.

  • No.

    Thick folders with labels on their spines stand on me in neat rows. Look behind the one marked Archive.

  • No.

    Visitors say hello to me first, and the courier leaves the parcels with me.

  • No.

    Twelve chairs gather around me every Monday at nine for the weekly catch-up. Look underneath.

  • No.

    Sticky notes, pens and paper clips live in me, and everyone takes what they need.

  • No.

    The lunch menu, posters and the Secret Santa sign-up sheet get pinned to me. Look under the pushpins.

Answer key

Clues for kids

  1. I stand in the corner of… – Under the Christmas tree
  2. I'm cold inside and I hum… – In the fridge
  3. Every night you rest your head… – Under your pillow
  4. Your feet go inside me before… – In your boots
  5. In the evening I'm full of… – In the bathtub
  6. Stories, comics and atlases stand on… – On the bookshelf
  7. You sleep on top of me… – Under your bed
  8. Jackets, scarves and mittens hang inside… – In the coat closet
  9. I'm soft and comfy, and the… – On the sofa
  10. Teddies, blocks and race cars go… – In the toy box

Clues for the office

  1. I'm hungry for blank sheets all… – In the printer tray
  2. I live in a pot, and… – By the office plant
  3. Lunch boxes, yogurts and milk with… – In the kitchen fridge
  4. In the meeting room, plans for… – At the whiteboard
  5. Jackets and scarves hang on my… – On the coat rack
  6. Thick folders with labels on their… – On the binder shelf
  7. Visitors say hello to me first… – At the reception desk
  8. Twelve chairs gather around me every… – Under the big table
  9. Sticky notes, pens and paper clips… – In the supply cupboard
  10. The lunch menu, posters and the… – On the bulletin board

Also useful

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