Emmen scavenger hunt: Explore the city at your own pace

Play your way through Emmen and discover the city on your own terms

The Qula Emmen City Trail is a self-guided scavenger hunt for groups of 2–6 people that runs on your smartphone, available 24/7 with no fixed start time or time limit. You receive app instructions after booking, then navigate Emmen using GPS to answer riddles and complete assignments at the city's nicest spots. The trail takes around 3 hours, though you can pause, stop or return whenever you want, and it's offered in seven languages.

The experience

How does it work? After you book, an email arrives with login details for the Qula app: compatible with Android or iPhone. You head to the starting point whenever suits your schedule, open the app, and begin. The game guides you through Emmen using GPS, leading you to squares, streets and monuments where you answer questions and solve search assignments about each location. There's no guide talking at you and no fixed pace. You move through the city at whatever speed makes sense for your group.

The trail works best as a team challenge. Your group competes to set a high score by completing assignments correctly, which turns the walk into something more like a game than a tour. You'll pick up facts about Emmen as you go (the app feeds you information tied to each stop), but the real draw is the puzzle-solving and the freedom to start, pause or stop whenever you need a break. If someone in your group gets tired, you simply pause and come back to it later. The app holds your progress.

Since there's no reservation required and the trail runs around the clock, you can start on a rainy Tuesday morning or a Saturday afternoon: whatever fits your trip. The whole thing is designed to be affordable for families and groups of friends, and it works for large parties as long as you split into teams of no more than six per phone.

What’s included

• Access to the Qula Emmen City Trail app for your group.
• GPS-guided navigation through Emmen's nicest spots.
• riddles and search assignments tied to landmarks and locations.
• scoring system to track your team's progress.
• availability in seven languages.
• the ability to pause, resume or restart the trail anytime.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

GroupPrivate

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Qula

Is this one for you?Choose this hunt if you want to explore Emmen without a guide's commentary or a fixed schedule. You move at your own pace, stop when you want, and come back to it later if the day gets long. It works especially well for families or groups of friends who like a puzzle element and want to discover the city on their own terms.

Traveler reviews

4.25★★★★★★★★★★

12 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can I start the scavenger hunt whenever I want, or are there set times?

The Qula Emmen City Trail has no fixed start times or reservations. You choose your own day and time, and the trail is available 24/7. Once you receive your app login after booking, you can begin anytime that suits your group.

What happens if my group gets tired partway through?

You can pause the trail whenever you need to and pick it up again later. There's no time limit, so you can take breaks, explore at your own speed, or spread the hunt across multiple visits to the city.

Do I need my own smartphone to play?

Yes, you'll need a smartphone with the Qula app installed (Android or iPhone compatible) and a data connection to use GPS and access the game. The app itself is free. The booking covers your group's access to the Emmen trail.

What languages is the trail available in?

The Qula Emmen City Trail is offered in English, German, French, Dutch, Spanish, Italian and more. You select your language when you log in to the app.

How many people can play together on one trail?

The trail is designed for groups of 2–6 people per booking. Larger groups can split into multiple teams, each with their own app login, and compete against each other.