Invader Hunt Street Art Tour

Paris’s Space Invaders turn a city walk into a hunt: you spot the small tiled figures, collect them in a free app, and learn to notice the street art around them. I like that the game gives you a reason to look up and down the streets, and that an artist guide adds context beyond the score.

I also like the mix of real artworks and pieces that exist only in virtual space. The main drawback is the pace: the challenge is to collect as many Invaders as possible in a limited time, so you may have less room to linger than on a slower art walk. The tour runs rain or shine, too.

The quick take

• A street-art scavenger hunt: Use a free app to collect Space Invaders as you walk.
• A historic Paris setting: The meeting point is by the Stravinsky Fountain, near the Beaubourg area.
• Art beyond the game: The guide introduces street artists and works that may exist only in virtual space.
• An artist leads the walk: The guide is a specialist in the subject. A name associated with a recent tour is @Thom_Thom_2000.
• A family-friendly option: The route can be adjusted for families with children, but minors cannot attend unaccompanied.
• A firm start time: Arrive at least five minutes early. Late arrivals may miss the tour without a refund or reschedule.

A game that changes how you look at Paris

The Space Invader hunt is the hook, but the better reason to book is what it does to your attention. Instead of walking past building fronts on the way to the next monument, you start scanning walls, corners, and other surfaces for small artworks. That shift in focus can make even a short walk feel like a fresh way to see a familiar city.

You’ll need to install the free application before the walk so you can collect the Invaders you find. The tour’s stated challenge is to collect as many as possible in the shortest time. That adds a playful competitive edge, though it also means the experience may suit you best if you enjoy a little urgency rather than a slow, stop-and-sketch art outing.

The game is only one part of the walk. Your guide also introduces popular street artists and different kinds of works, including pieces that exist only in virtual space. That contrast gives the tour a useful question to play with: what counts as street art when you can see a work on a screen but not on a wall?

Starting by the Stravinsky Fountain

Meet at the stairs in front of Crêperie Beaubourg, at 2 Rue Brisemiche, next to the Stravinsky Fountain. Châtelet and Hôtel de Ville are the closest metro stations. The location makes the start easy to plan around, but do not mistake the meeting point for a general arrival area. The tour starts on time.

Arrive at least five minutes before the scheduled start to check in. The organizer may set off at the stated time, and late arrivals could have trouble catching up. There is no refund or rescheduling if you miss the walk, so build in a little extra time for the metro and finding the exact stairs.

Before setting out, make sure the free app is installed. The tour depends on collecting Invaders as you go, so sorting that out in advance leaves more time for the street and less time for phone troubleshooting. The information provided does not specify a particular app name, so follow the organizer’s instructions when preparing.

Hunting for Invaders, not just landmarks

Once the walk begins, expect to look closely at the streets around you. The Invaders are the collecting game’s focus, but the artist guide helps widen the frame to include other works and the artists behind them. You are not simply racing from one tile figure to the next; the guide’s role is to give the hunt a local art context.

The route is described as a visit to a historic Paris neighborhood, starting close to Beaubourg. No fixed list of stops or exact route is provided, so the specific artworks you see may depend on the walk and what is present along the way. That flexibility can be a strength: street art is encountered in place, not arranged as a museum display. It also means you should not book expecting a guaranteed checklist of named works.

Look out for the contrast between physical pieces and art that exists only in virtual space. This is one of the tour’s more unusual angles, and it gives the guide a chance to explain how street art can reach beyond what is painted or fixed to a wall. The tour description does not name particular artists or works, so the guide’s explanations are likely to shape much of the detail you take away.

How the guide shapes the experience

The artist guide is included, and the guide’s specialist knowledge is central to the walk. A guide identified as @Thom_Thom_2000 is associated with a recent tour, but you should not assume that the same person will lead every date. If you are booking with a particular guide in mind, check who is scheduled before you reserve.

The strongest feedback about the experience centers on the guide: one visitor praised @Thom_Thom_2000, and another described an excellent guide who introduced Parisian street art as well as helping the group collect Invaders. That points to the tour’s main value beyond the app. You get someone to connect the game to the wider art scene, rather than just a list of coordinates.

The tour is in English. If you enjoy asking questions and hearing a specialist explain what you are seeing, this guided format should add more than a self-led hunt. If you would rather explore at your own speed and stop whenever you like, the group format and timed collecting challenge may feel restrictive.

A 135-minute walk with a brisk edge

The tour lasts 135 minutes, or a little over two hours. That is enough time for a substantial neighborhood walk, but not so long that it takes up a full day. The pace is shaped by the collecting goal, so you may move on once the group has found an Invader rather than staying at every artwork.

That briskness is worth weighing against your own style. If your priority is to collect as many as possible, the time limit adds purpose. If you want to study every piece at length, take photographs, or stop often, you may wish for more independent time before or after the tour.

Families can request an adjusted version of the experience, which makes the game a natural fit for children who enjoy spotting details and keeping score. The organizer does not allow unaccompanied minors, so children must come with an adult. No age range or specific child-focused materials are stated, so ask the provider if you need details about a particular child’s needs.

What $47 buys you

At $47 per person, the tour costs about $21 per hour. The fee includes an artist guide and a 135-minute walk, while the app used to collect Invaders is free. You are paying for the guided art context and the structure of the hunt, not for a paid app or a long list of fixed entry stops.

That can be fair value if the guide helps you understand the artists and the less obvious works you might otherwise pass without noticing. The experience is less compelling as a simple way to collect the game pieces, since the app itself is free and the hunt can be done independently. The deciding question is whether you want a specialist to guide your attention and explain the art as you go.

Gratuity is not included in the price. The available information does not say what amount, if any, is expected, so treat it as a separate choice rather than part of the stated fare.

Rain, access, and other practical details

The walk takes place rain or shine. Dress for the forecast and be ready to spend most of the 135 minutes outdoors. Since the experience involves finding art along a route, poor weather may make the walk less comfortable, but it does not automatically cancel the tour.

The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible. If you have specific access needs, it is sensible to confirm route details with the organizer, since no information is provided about surfaces, inclines, or rest stops.

Drones, intoxication, alcohol and drugs, unaccompanied minors, video recording, audio recording, explosive substances, and nudity are not allowed. The restrictions on recording are worth noting if you usually film a walking tour or record audio notes. You can still enjoy the street art without turning the walk into a video session.

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and a reserve-now, pay-later option is available. Starting times vary, so check availability for your date before planning the rest of your day.

Who should book the Invader Hunt

I’d book this if you like street art, enjoy a small challenge, or want a different way to explore a historic part of Paris. It should work especially well for families who want an activity with a clear goal, as the route can be adapted for children. The mix of physical and virtual works also gives the walk a topic beyond simply spotting tiles.

I’d think twice if you prefer to wander without a group, spend a long time at each artwork, or avoid using your phone during a walk. The collecting game is a key part of the format, and the brisk pace may not suit every art lover.

For a little over two hours, the tour offers more than a scavenger hunt: you get an artist guide, a neighborhood walk, and a reason to notice works that might otherwise escape your eye. Book it for the guided perspective as much as for the Invaders, and arrive early with the app ready.

FAQ

How long does the Invader Hunt Street Art Tour last?

The tour lasts 135 minutes.

What does the tour cost?

The listed price is $47 per person. An artist guide is included, and gratuity is not included.

Where is the meeting point?

Meet at the stairs in front of Crêperie Beaubourg, 2 Rue Brisemiche, 75004 Paris, next to the Stravinsky Fountain.

Which metro stations are closest?

Châtelet and Hôtel de Ville are the closest metro stations.

What language is the tour in?

The live tour guide speaks English.

Do I need to install an app?

Yes. Install the free application used to collect Space Invaders before the walk.

Is the tour suitable for children?

The tour can be adjusted for families with children. Minors cannot attend without an accompanying adult.

Does the tour run in bad weather?

Yes. It takes place rain or shine.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.