Augusta Emerita
The Rome of Spain never forgot its glory
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
Founded in 25 BC for veterans of the Cantabrian Wars, Augusta Emerita became the capital of Roman Lusitania. Its theatre, amphitheatre and temple are among the best preserved in the entire Empire.
When Rome ruled the peninsula
Mérida is not an archaeological site — it is a living city built on the bones of an imperial capital. Residents shop steps from a Temple of Diana, children play before a 15,000-seat amphitheatre, and the Roman bridge still carries daily traffic after two thousand years of service.
« "Augusta Emerita, a colony founded by Augustus for the veteran soldiers of the Fifth and Tenth legions." »— — Cassius Dio, Roman History, 3rd century
The little Rome of the West — forgotten capital of an empire
In 25 BC, Emperor Augustus founded Augusta Emerita to settle veterans of the V Alaudae and X Gemina legions, heroes of the Cantabrian Wars. The city was immediately elevated to capital of the province of Lusitania — a territory covering present-day Portugal and western Spain. Equipped with a theatre, amphitheatre, circus and baths, it became the most important city in the western Empire.
For four centuries, Augusta Emerita flourished. The Roman theatre, inaugurated between 16 and 15 BC, seated 6,000 spectators before a stage wall adorned with Corinthian columns and imperial statues. The adjacent amphitheatre, built in 8 BC, hosted gladiatorial combats for 15,000. The Temple of Diana, the only Roman temple preserved in the city centre, testifies to the fervour of the imperial cult.
Even after the fall of Rome, Mérida remained a capital — this time of the Visigothic kingdom, then an important episcopal see. It was only with the Muslim conquest in the 8th century that the city lost its status. But its monuments, too massive to destroy, survived the centuries. Today, Mérida's archaeological ensemble is the most complete in Spain and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993.
A game, a guided tour and a heritage guide — all in one
You're not just buying an escape game. You're carrying a living guide — historical anecdotes, forgotten legends, key monuments, hidden architecture — unfolding as you go.
At each stop, places ordinary guides miss — secret façades, sculpted crests, alleys steeped in history.
Every riddle is rooted in a real historical fact or local legend. You leave with dozens of stories to tell.
Learn to read buildings — flamboyant Gothic, Baroque, Art Deco — like a real art historian, while having fun.
Walk through the city like a novel's character — every alley becomes a stage, every square a theatre.
A voice walks with you at every step, tells the story of each place, reads clues, adds a cinematic feel.
Keep access to the guide & game for 1 year. Come back any time, share it with friends.
« You will not leave this city the way you entered it. »
How does it work?
Explore the city on foot solving puzzles based on real historical facts. No locked room — the city is your playground.
No app to download. Play directly from your browser. Guided step by step, at your own pace.
One purchase per phone is enough. Play with family, friends or as a couple — everyone participates.
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears and speaks to you in your language. Golden letters magically write themselves on the wall to reveal the puzzle answer.
Stuck? Progressive personalised hints. The character repeats the puzzle on demand — at your own pace.
French, English, German, Spanish, Italian + 27 other languages auto-translated by AI.
The Route
5 stages through the city
The gameplay: AR, camera, hidden clues
At each stop, open your phone camera: an augmented reality character appears on the façade and speaks your language. Hunt the clue — it materializes as golden letters on the real wall or floats in front of you. When you find it, the phone vibrates, an AR chest opens and reveals your answer fragment. 8 stops, 8 clues to find with the camera, 1 final code.
The stops on your route are a surprise. You'll discover them one by one, guided by your phone, starting from the meeting point.
How does it work with a group?
One phone = one team. Pick the number at checkout (1 to 10).
Solo, or a group sharing the screen. One team, one code.
Family, couple, or 2-3 teams competing. Each phone has its own code and its own score.
Friends, bachelor/bachelorette, small office outing — each their own code, each plays at their own pace. Tiered pricing then €6 flat per phone from the 6th.
- ✓All codes are independent — play at the same time OR separately, each team advances at its own pace.
- ✓Leaderboard between your teams + global game leaderboard — each score appears in the public ranking.
- ✓More than 10 phones or need a personalized quest? Discover custom tours.
Ready to live this adventure?
Get my code · 12€No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒 Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
Practical info
Why this route?
Imperial monuments
Explore the theatre, amphitheatre, temple and bridge — the best preserved on the peninsula.
Augustus' veterans
Play as the retired legionaries who built a new Rome at the edge of the known world.
Roman urbanism
Trace the original colony plan — cardo, decumanus and forum — beneath the modern streets.
Ancient spectacles
Relive the tragedies of the theatre and the fights of the amphitheatre — entertainment Roman-style.
What Rome built, time dared not undo.
Walk in the legionaries' footsteps. Discover their capital.
9 features nobody else has
OddballTrip combines gamified play, augmented reality and AI. All our competitors deliver 1 or 2 of these angles. We deliver all 5.
AR treasure chest
A golden chest floats in front of the monument. Tap → opening animation → reveals a secret message.
AR narrator character
Point your phone at the façade: a knight, witch, monk, sailor, detective or ghost appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language with their dedicated ElevenLabs voice (each character has their own unique voice) — your living guide.
Magic golden letters
At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's the puzzle answer. An unforgettable visual effect.
Written + audio narration
Every puzzle available as text AND voice-over: read at your own pace or listen eyes-free while walking. Great in groups and for accessibility.
360° radar + vibration
A mini-radar shows the target even behind you, and the phone vibrates when you aim in the right direction.
Heritage storytelling
Every puzzle weaves in real historical facts (architecture, era, anecdotes). You learn by playing — like a gamified audioguide.
Progressive AI hints
3 levels of AI-generated help: vibe → where to look → answer format. You're never stuck.
AR selfie memento
At the end of the game, capture a selfie with OddballTrip banner + mascot, shareable on Instagram, TikTok.
Zero app to install
PWA technology: open the link, it plays in your browser. Same quality as an app, no App Store hassle.
Frequently asked questions
Q01What's the difference with a regular indoor escape room?
Outdoor escape game format: no physical locks, no actor, no fixed time slot. You start when you want, progress through Mérida · Roman historic centre with your phone, and the city itself is the set. More immersive on local history, more flexible in pace.
Q02Can we take a break mid-trail?
Of course. Stop at a café, have lunch, resume later: your progress is saved. Many players bake a meal break into the trail, especially with families.
Q03Do we need to be several people to enjoy it?
No, solo works very well. The outdoor escape game format in self-guided mode leaves room for introspection: read the story at your pace, hunt clues like a detective. 2-6 players is more social, solo is more contemplative.
Q04Best season to explore Mérida · Roman historic centre like this?
Spring and autumn are the best seasons: mild temperatures, fewer tourists, gorgeous light. Summer is also great but go for early morning before 11 or late afternoon. Winter is perfectly playable, especially in southern cities — Mérida · Roman historic centre often feels more authentic then.
Avis des aventuriers
Soyez le premier à partager votre expérience.
Did you play augusta emerita? Check the email you received after your game to leave a verified review.
Your turn to play
Explore the capital of Roman Lusitania, where theatre, amphitheatre and temple sit alongside modern life. An outdoor escape game at the heart of one of the most complete Roman ensembles in the world.
1 purchase = 1 phone. Play several on the same device.
No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
🪙+15 TripCoins granted with your booking
Other escape games in Mérida · Roman historic centre
See all games in Mérida · Roman historic centre→More ideas for self-guided walking tours, scavenger hunts & city quests in the same city
Other escape games in Espagne
View Espagne→More destinations, tours & urban treasure hunts across the country
Explore other cities in Espagne
Cáceres
UNESCO medieval city and noble families
Trujillo
Cradle of Conquistadors, a medieval city in Extremadura.
Toledo
Three cultures, a thousand secrets
Salamanca
The golden city and its university secrets
Ávila
Medieval walls and Saint Teresa
Segovia
The devil's aqueduct and Isabella's crown