Secrets of · Scavenger hunt
Secrets of Ferrara Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour
2 hours · 1–4 players per team · no app€19.95 per teamBook
Sherlock Holmes · Murder mystery
Ferrara Self-Guided Detective Murder Mystery Game
- 2 hours
- 1–4 players per team
- In the free Loquiz app on your phone
- Start any time within 12 months
- Free cancellation until you start
A self-guided detective murder mystery through the historic centre of Ferrara, from the Castello Estense to Palazzo Roverella.
A murder in Ferrara, one victim called Balthasar, and a suspect list that only gets shorter if you go and look.
It is a murder mystery game in outdoor form. You walk Ferrara, the story comes to meet you, and every location holds a puzzle, a code or a photo task that crosses another name off the suspect list. Self-guided from the first step: you pick the day, you pick the hour, you set the pace.
You will be standing at Chiesa di San Domenico, Castello Estense and Corso Martiri della Libertà, among other places.
The Route Through Ferrara
Cattedrale di San Giorgio and Palazzo Roverella belong to the same case. You cover 3 to 4 km in all, and there is nothing stopping you sitting down halfway.
Playing the Detective Game in Ferrara
The story arrives as you move. Every location holds something to work out, and the digital characters you meet each know one piece of what happened to Balthasar. Reckon on 1.5 to 2 hours and 3 to 4 km, but there is no clock: break for lunch and pick it up afterwards. The habit is the one the Sherlock Holmes stories are built on: notice the thing nobody else bothered to look at, then say out loud what it means.
Who Plays This in Ferrara
With friends. Four people, one phone, one case. Somebody will back the wrong suspect early and refuse to let it go, and that is the part everyone remembers.
With your team. Two teams on one case turns it competitive, which is the whole point. No booking a room, no briefing, no waiting for stragglers: a team outing in Ferrara that starts when the last person shows up.
With kids. The puzzles work from about eight years old. Younger ones walk along and help, older ones take over the phone, and the whole thing survives being interrupted by ice cream.
Questions People Ask First
How does the murder mystery game work?
It runs in the Loquiz app on your own phone. Open it at the starting point in Ferrara, and from there the case comes to you: someone to question at each location, something to solve before they talk, and a name to hand in at the end.
How long does it take?
Set aside an afternoon. The case itself takes 1.5 to 2 hours across 3 to 4 km, but nothing counts down and nothing shuts, so the breaks are free.
How many people can play on one ticket?
One €19.95 ticket covers four players on a single phone. Past four, take a second ticket: two teams chasing the same killer beats six people squinting at one screen.
Do we need to book a time?
Just a date. The hour is yours to choose, because nobody is standing anywhere in Ferrara expecting you - no meeting point, no guide, no group.
Is it suitable for children?
Eight and up handle it well. Nothing along the way is beyond them, and more often than you would expect it is the youngest player who notices the detail that decides the case.
What happens if it rains?
Nothing forces you to keep walking. Duck into a cafe, let it pass and carry on when you feel like it - there is no time limit on any part of this.
Is this a detective game or a walking tour of Ferrara?
It is a detective game first. But you see Ferrara properly while you play it, and people tend to remember a street they searched better than one they were shown.
What else is there to do in Ferrara?
There are other city games in Ferrara built on the same idea and a different story, and Italy has plenty more where this came from.
Also in the city: Secrets of Ferrara · city games across Italy
- Chiesa di San Domenico
- Castello Estense
- Corso Martiri della Libertà
- Cattedrale di San Giorgio
- Palazzo Roverella
How it works
- BookTicket and invoice arrive by email.
- Go to the startThe start point is in your email. Any day within 12 months.
- PlayOpen the link on one phone per team and press start.
What players in other cities say
- ★★★★★
Had great fun playing secrets of Haarlem!
Martin M.March 2026 · via google - ★★★★★
Game in Amsterdam was fun!
Enzo L.March 2026 · via google - ★★★★★
Had So much fun playing while exploring the city
Philip C.March 2026 · via google - ★★★★★
I had a fantastic experience with CityGame! The concept is creative, engaging, and a great way to explore a city in a completely new way. The games are well-designed, combining puzzles, storytelling, and adventure so you’re constantly discovering something interesting around every corner. What I especially love is how CityGame turns a normal walk through the city into an interactive experience. It’s perfect for friends, families, or team outings, and it makes sightseeing much more exciting than the usual tours. Everything was easy to use, the challenges were fun and clever, and it really encouraged us to look closer at the city and its hidden details. Highly recommended if you’re looking for a unique and memorable way to explore!
Jessica S.March 2026 · via google - ★★★★★
This is an interesting way to conduct a self-guided Amsterdam city tour. It used the GPS on your phone to guide you to stops on a route. There are mini quizzes once you arrive at the stops on the path. The quizzes draw your attention to features in front of you or to a brief history of the place. In many cases, we visited a spot that would not have been obvious as a regular passer by. The tour as a whole was interesting to us as newcomers, but I would have liked more information on many locations we visited - a few links outside of the app for each place would have been helpful. Beyond that, the interface was a bit clunky and sometimes awkward to navigate. We definitely don't regret trying this out and feel like we got our money's worth on the experience.
JaibhijaiJune 2024 · via google - ★★★★★
This was a fun game! It had a few challenges which was good and surprises. It got me to go around and explore Queenstown, New Zealand. I got to places in Queenstown, New Zealand I hadn’t been to before while on holiday here. Thank you for that and it gave a feel what it would be like to be the actual Sherlock Holmes!
Dylan J.February 2024 · via google
How we check reviews
Reviews marked verified come from players who booked and played this game; they are invited by e-mail after the game. We publish every verified review, positive or negative; we only remove spam, abuse or personal data. Reviews with a source (Google, Viator …) were copied from that site.
Leaderboard
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