Free printable Christmas treasure hunt with 30 rhyming clues and riddles.
Mix and match the indoor clues for a fun Christmas gift hunt at home. Blanks also available.
The holiday treasure hunts are always popular. It’s hard to believe I started doing holiday printables way back in 2015. (That one was a St. Patrick’s Day Treasure Hunt, in case you were curious.)
With Christmas coming up- and hopefully time off from work or school for most of us- it’s a great time to try out a treasure hunt. There are 30 mix-and-match printable rhyming Christmas treasure hunt clues below. The locations are for an indoor hunt. But there are also blank clue cards if you want to extend the hunt outdoors or add your own clues/riddles.
Please note this is a Christmas treasure hunt, not a Christmas scavenger hunt. (The terms being used interchangeably is a bit of a pet peeve of mine.) A treasure hunt- as the name implies- involves following clues to a treasure at the end. A scavenger hunt involves simply finding things. This treasure hunt works for kids, teens, and adults. Younger kids might need help reading the cards and solving the riddles.
For the treasure at the end of the hunt, you can use Christmas candy, a sweet treat, a toy, or even make this a Christmas gift treasure hunt.
If you’re looking for a sweet treat for the end, I have a few Christmas recipes that you might find interesting: White Chocolate Peppermint Pretzels, Reindeer Chow, or Christmas Pretzel Kisses.
If you’re getting ready for Christmas, you have to check out the printable Christmas Binder.
It has EVERYTHING you need for a fabulous holiday. It’s 160+ pages and includes:
• Planner section- calendars, party planner, Christmas planner
• 15+ different games & activities
• Decor (banners, wall art, food & drink wrappers, cupcake toppers, and more)
• Christmas cards, tags, & gift certificates
• Christmas recipes
& more
Christmas Treasure Hunt Clues
First clue:
This year, Santa’s elves got creative!
Follow the clues and have fun,
A Merry Christmas has begun!
Let’s go to a talking zone.
You’ll find your first clue under the ________.
(phone)
Want to hear your favorite story?
Take a peek,
Take a look,
Go find your _.
(book)
If for ice cream,
you’re in the mood,
Go to where
we keep the frozen food.
(freezer)
Elves & reindeer
are filled with glee.
The next clue is hidden
under the _.
(Christmas tree)
Eat your dinner,
get a sweet treat.
Find the next clue
where you eat.
(on/under table)
Where you brush your teeth
and wash your face,
Take a moment and think.
Find your next clue
at the bathroom _.
(bathroom sink)
It’s time to stay inside
because it’s so cold,
Look for how
the TV is controlled.
(TV remote)
After wearing our
clothes all day,
Where do we wash
their dirt away?
(clothes wasther)
If you’re hungry
just a smidge.
Go find a cool treat
in the _.
(fridge)
Santa’s elves can be
kind of funny.
You’ll find your next clue
where you keep your money.
(piggy bank/purse/wallet)
Look down low
and look up high,
The clue is where
your clothes get dry.
(clothes dryer)
The red-nosed reindeer
has tons of fans.
Go to where we keep
the pots and __.
(pans)
This treasure hunt is
turning into a caper.
Go to where we keep
the toilet __.
(paper)
Greenery and bows might be found
on this decoration that is round.
Your next clue is hiding underneath
a Christmas __.
(Christmas wreath)
Jingle Bells is a favorite Christmas tune.
Find your next clue where we keep the knives, forks, and __.
(spoons)
You’ll find your next clue
if you’re fortunate.
Look on the Christmas tree
and find it on an __.
(Christmas ornament)
It might be one of your favorite
colorful Christmas sights.
Your next clue is
on the Christmas __.
(Christmas lights)
At Christmas they’re hung with care,
And soon little treats appear.
Where should you look
for your next clue this year?
(Christmas stocking)
A swirled treat you can enjoy.
They’re red and white in the main.
Go find a candy _.
(candy cane)
You’ve made it this far.
You’ve been swift.
Find the next clue
by a Christmas _.
(Christmas gift)
Santa checked his list twice
and made a note.
The elves hid the next clue
inside a __.
(coat pocket)
Bells and wreaths
and lights and more.
Find your next Christmas clue
by the front __.
(door)
Christmas lights are bright.
Christmas candy is sweet.
Too cold? Too hot?
Go to where we adjust the heat.
(thermostat control)
For movies and shows,
it’s the perfect spot.
Find your next clue
where we sit a lot.
(couch or favorite chair)
You are going through this treasure hunt at a good pace,
Your next clue is hidden
at the fire __.
(fireplace)
Santa lives at the North Pole,
if you’re on the naughty list,
you might get coal
Your next clue is hiding
in a cereal __.
(bowl)
Santa’s trip around the world
always makes the news.
Go look—not in your boots—
but in your __.
(shoes)
Are you excited as
Christmas draws nearer?
Go check out your reflection
at the __.
(mirror)
It looks like you’re
on the right path.
Go to where you get clean.
Look near the _.
(in/near bathtub)
Last clue:
This was great, such a pleasure,
Enjoy your Christmas treasure!
After all those clues, a nap sounds right.
When you turn off the lights,
Where do you rest your head at night?
(pillow)
Setting Up The Hunt
I have not numbered the clues. This is intentional. The Christmas treasure hunt clues are mix-and-match. So you can make the treasure hunt as short or as long as you want. (There are also blank cards to make your own clues.)
• Choose your clues before you start setting up the hunt. Pick locations that work best for your home.
• Plan the route before you start putting out the cards. (Trust me, I learned this one from experience when I set up my first hunt for my 4-year-old…haha).
• Make sure each clue leads to the location where you’ve hidden the next clue. The first clue is handed to the players, and the last clue leads to the final treasure.
• Think about your home’s layout. If you want people running up and down to extend the hunt- alternate rooms far away from each other. If you have more than one floor, consider grouping clues together (upstairs clues right after one another; the same for downstairs).
• Keep the set-up sneaky. Having the clues in order and your route planned allows you to hide/place the clues and final treasure without announcing to everyone what you’re doing.
• Choose safe, accessible spots, especially for kids. Kids should be able to retrieve each clue themselves without climbing, opening appliances, or reaching somewhere they shouldn’t.
• Your final treasure can be anything you want. Make this a Christmas present hunt; or have candy or sweet treats at the end.
Instructions for Printing
• Print options: regular paper works, but you can also use card stock for sturdier cards. If this is a one-time hunt, regular paper will hold up fine.
• All of the files are in pdf below. There is a separate file for each page (so you don’t have to download them all if you just want one page or the blanks). There will be an image of each page (each page has 6 clues) and the file next/below it.
Just hit the “download” button (or pink word “download,” depending upon browser) for each page that you want.
The first and last clue are on the top of Page 1. So unless you want to write your own, that is a good page to print.
There is also a page of blanks to write your own clues.
• The default size of these is full-page for 6 clue cards.
Free Printable Christmas Treasure Hunt
There are 30 mix-and-match rhyming treasure hunt clues below. 6 per page times 5 pages. The first and last clue are on the top of page 1. (If you’re looking for the page of blank clues, keep scrolling.)
Page 1- the first and last cards (starting the hunt and ending the hunt) are on the top of this page.
-Hand the first card to the person to start the hunt.
-The last card will lead them to where the final treasure is- under/on their pillow. If this doesn’t work for your final location, there are blank clue cards below to write your own.
Page 2 of Christmas treasure hunt clues. There are 6 clues on this page.
Blank Christmas Treasure Hunt Clue Card
Blank clue cards.
You can create your own hunt by writing your own clues or riddles.
The blank clue cards have a couple of uses:
1) You can include places/things unique to your house- Grandma’s cookie jar, a favorite stuffy or book, a loved hiding spot, etc.
2) You can have a treasure hunt outside of your house. You could have an outdoor hunt, a classroom hunt, a hunt at the park, or during a family gathering somewhere.
Do you have any ideas?
I hope you have fun setting up your Christmas treasure hunt! Pick the clues that work for your home, add your own if needed, and don’t forget to have a fun Christmas surprise waiting at the end.
Do you have any ideas for printables for the holidays? I’m always looking for new ideas. Comment below letting me know.
Could you do me a quick favor? Please share with your friends! The share buttons are on the top of the post.
Wow, this Christmas treasure hunt sounds like a blast! I love the idea of incorporating special Christmas items like reindeer, wreaths, and garlands into the clues—it adds a festive touch. The mix-and-match feature is brilliant, allowing flexibility for different households and traditions. The inclusion of 30 clues and a blank page for customization is thoughtful and caters to various preferences. It’s evident you put a lot of effort into creating this printable. The distinction between a treasure hunt and a scavenger hunt is a nice touch, clearing up any confusion. Overall, it seems like a fantastic resource for holiday fun with kids. Great job!
This was well thought out, thank you so much for this especially including blank ones! I’m struggling on putting my own as a pdf file, how can I type my own riddles into the blank templates? Pls & ty xxx
They’re designed to be written on. There aren’t editable (on computer). Glad you enjoyed the hunt!