08/28/2016
If you have Pokémon fever, then we can help you catch a Pikachu on vacation
Everybody is going Pokémon crazy this year and travellers are proving to be no exception. If you’re going on holiday in 2016, then hunting monsters is the best way to make new friends.
You may have stories of backpackers running over Rialto Bridge to hunt a Pikachu, or chasing rats in a crazy Dutch hostel. From Venice to Amsterdam, there is no escaping Pokémon om your travels.
Love or hate it, you can’t ignore it, so here’s our guide on where to play Pokémon Go on vacation!
What is Pokémon Go?
Pokémon Go is an app-based game that uses your GPS to detect where you are and allows you to hunt interactive creatures. The smartphone app takes place in a world full of exotic monsters — they can look like dragons, dinosaurs, snakes, birds, eggs, trees, and even rats.
As you travel to new cities, different types of Pokémon will appear depending on where you're staying and what time it is. Pokémon is the perfect travel companion as it encourages you to move around to hunt monsters on the go.
Landmarks are king
Landmarks are essential in Pokémon Go. Smaller places are called ‘Pokéstops’ and visiting them gives you important items. As a traveller you’ll be exploring lots of tourist sites so you'll never be short of Poké Balls!
Big landmarks are called gyms. Your goal here is to claim a gym for your preferred team – red, blue, or yellow. As a traveller on the move, you might see five in one day, meaning your smartphone will need to be constantly charged to keep up with your Pokémon obssesion!
Top five cities to play Pokémon
#1 Venice
Venice is a unique city with no conventional roads, so Pokémon players will have to skip over 400 bridges to find monsters. Check out St Mark’s Square or Rialto Bridge for the biggest collection of dragons and dinosaurs. Some hostels may even have a few snakes up their sleeve too ;-)
#2 Amsterdam
Amsterdam is a brilliant city to explore as a Pokémon hunter. Running across the city’s beautiful canals you will find the best ‘Pokestops’.
In Amsterdam you’re more likely to find Pokemons living in canals or the Amstel river. Top spots include Liesdeplein and the Amsterdam Bijlmer arena across from the Heinekan Music Hall.
#3 Barcelona
Barcelona has gone crazy for Pokémon since the app was free to download in July. Travellers arriving in Catalonia will find Pokestops all over the city, including Gaudi’s cathedral, La Ramblas and the Olympic beach. Download the app on your travels and go hunting in Park Guell and find Legendaries alongside fellow travellers and daytrippers.
#4 Lisbon
Pokémon Go is taking the world by storm and Portugal’s elegant capital is no exception. Marquês de Pombal is full of monster hunters and you’ll find plenty of Pokéstops here if you look hard enough. On the opposite side of the city, Oriente Station has become an excellent spot for Pokémon fans too.
#5 Brussels
Are you ready to roam Brussels to catch your favourite monster? The Belgium capital has become a popular hunting ground of trainers of Pikachu and Charmander. With your smartphone in your hand you're never going to be short of monster fun in Belgium.
If you want to enjoy the best of Pokémon Go on your travels, then why not complement it with a hostel stay? Find out where you can stay here and save more on your holidays with our hottest Summer Deals.
