Pokémon GO City Safari: Vancouver — your complete guide to routes, stamps, tickets, and pro tips

Pokémon GO City Safari: Vancouver is turning the city into a giant playable map on September 27–28, 2025 (10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. local time). Whether you’re a visiting Trainer or a local setting your Buddy to “adventure mode,” this is your all-in-one planning guide—what to expect in each zone, how to optimize the new GO Stamp Rally, where to rest and trade, how tickets work, kid-friendly notes, bad-weather backups, and a suggested loop that hits all five zones without sprinting.

Quick facts at a glance

• Dates & hours: Sept 27–28, 2025, 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. local time (both days)

• Play area: Anywhere in the city; five themed Eevee Explorers zones:

  1. Gastown

  2. Downtown Vancouver

  3. Granville Island

  4. Stanley Park & West End

  5. Coal Harbour

• Stamp Rally (new): Collect up to 8 stamps citywide to earn one encounter with Eevee wearing an explorer hat per stamp (with a chance to be Shiny).

• Trainer Lounge: Jack Poole Plaza (1055 Canada Pl) both days — socialize, trade, and take breathers (while supplies last; weather permitting).

• Tickets: One-day CA$14; optional second-day add-on CA$11. Must be physically in Vancouver to access event gameplay.

• Families: Child accounts can attend with a parent/guardian; both need tickets tied to the guardian email on file.

• Rain or shine: Event runs in most weather; dress accordingly.

What is Pokémon GO City Safari: Vancouver?

Think of City Safari as a citywide safari zone: themed PokéStops and Gyms pop up across five landmark-rich districts. Unlike a park-locked GO Fest, you can start anywhere in Vancouver, roam at your pace, and collect stamps by spinning participating City Safari PokéStops. Each stamp grants an encounter with Eevee in an explorer hat—adorable, collectible, and a Shiny hunt you can pace yourself across the day.

On top of the in-game fun, the event is very community-centric: local groups coordinate meetups and walking trains; you’ll find photo ops, trades, surprise giveaways, and that relaxing Trainer Lounge right on the waterfront.

How the GO Stamp Rally works (and how to max it)

This is the first time the GO Stamp Rally leaves Japan for North America—and Vancouver gets the debut. Here’s how to clear it cleanly:

1. Enter the citywide gameplay area during your ticketed day/hours.

2. Approach any City Safari–marked PokéStop to receive your stamp sheet in-game.

3. Spin participating PokéStops to add a stamp (the graphic changes based on how long you press, and it shows the Stop name and date—fun for memory keeping).

4. You can collect up to 8 stamps.

5. Each stamp awards an Eevee wearing an explorer hat encounter (Shiny possible).

6. Keep roaming; you’re not locked to a single zone.

Pro tips:

• Stagger your stamps across zones to sample the city rather than burning all eight at the first cluster you see.

• If you’re chasing Shiny hat Eevee, bank Ultra Balls and a Golden Razz or two—Eevee’s catch circle can be deceptively slippery.

• Stamp rally replaces older Timed Research, but rewards are equivalent; you’re not missing out by doing the rally instead.

The five Eevee Explorers zones — what to expect & how to plan

1) Gastown

Vibe: Cobblestone streets, heritage brick, the Steam Clock (prime photo op).Why play here: Dense PokéStop clusters along Water St. & adjacent lanes; great for early stamps and quick trades.Tip: If you start at Waterfront Station, you can roll Gastown, then slide along the waterfront into Coal Harbour without a transit hop.

2) Downtown Vancouver

Vibe: Skyscrapers, shopping corridors, fast foot traffic.Why play here: Sheer density. Lots of Gyms for opportunistic raids, frequent lures.Tip: Drop incense and let the foot traffic do the spawn work while you head toward the waterfront. Plan a midday snack in a mall food court to charge devices and regroup.

3) Granville Island

Vibe: Market halls, art studios, marina views.Why play here: Picturesque spins, slower pace, great lunch stop.Getting there: It’s not on SkyTrain; you can walk the bridges, bus in, or hop a False Creek ferry/Aquabus from downtown—a fun IRL “teleport” between zones.

4) Stanley Park & West End

Vibe: Forested trails, seawall, beaches, totem poles—Vancouver’s gem.Why play here: Gorgeous long-form loop for egg hatching, snapshot tasks, and a peaceful grind.Tip: Battery check before tackling the seawall; this is where people realize how much GPS + camera + AR drain can be.

5) Coal Harbour

Vibe: Harbourfront promenades, floatplanes, mountain backdrop.Why play here: A perfect sunset wind-down with Jack Poole Plaza (Trainer Lounge) next door for trading and resting.Tip: Time your final stamps here to finish at the Lounge and meet other Trainers.

Suggested one-day loop (8 hours, comfortable pace)

• 10:00–11:30 — Gastown → Downtown: Grab your first 3 stamps, warm up with quick raids or trades.

• 11:30–12:45 — Granville Island: Ferry hop for fun; grab 2 more stamps while you eat.

• 12:45–3:00 — Stanley Park & West End: Seawall stroll, snapshots, 2 stamps here; pace yourself.

• 3:00–5:00 — Coal Harbour: Make Jack Poole Plaza home base; final stamp + trade, relax, socialize.

• 5:00–6:00 — Flex hour: Loop back for missed raids or finish photography in golden hour.

Doing both days? Flip the order so Day 2 begins where Day 1 ended.

Tickets, eligibility, and family notes

• Pricing: CA$14 (one-day); CA$11 add-on to play the second day.

• Location lock: You must be in Vancouver to unlock event gameplay; non-ticketed players can still enjoy the IRL vibe and public meetups.

• Child accounts: Kids may attend with a parent/guardian; both need tickets. The guardian’s email must match the Niantic Kids or Pokémon Trainer Club records.

• Refunds: Tickets and add-ons are nonrefundable (subject to law and ToS exceptions). Limited quantities, first-come, first-served.

Trainer Lounge: Jack Poole Plaza

Open both event days (weather permitting). Expect:

• Seating & shade (while supplies last)

• Trading & battling hotspots

• Friend code exchanges & community boards

• Photo ops facing the harbour and mountains

It’s a perfect anchor point—start or end your day here, or swing through mid-run to charge and hydrate.

Local communities & meetups

Want a rolling squad? Check these groups hosting citywide trains and raid caravans:

• Vancouver – Metro Van PoGo Events

• Burnaby – Burnaby Pokémon GO

• Richmond – Richmond Pokémon Go Raids

Join their socials ahead of the weekend to find meet points, “starter lobbies,” and evening trade sessions.

Transit & getting around (light-touch pointers)

• SkyTrain puts you near Gastown/Coal Harbour via Waterfront Station; Downtown is walkable from any downtown stop.

• Granville Island shines via False Creek ferries/Aquabus from Yaletown/False Creek—fast, scenic.

• Stanley Park/West End is an easy walk or short bus ride from downtown; the Seawall is a loop—decide clockwise/counterclockwise based on sun and wind.

If you’re short on time, use the seawall only for a segment and cut inland to save steps.

Battery, weather, and comfort checklist

• Power: Two fully charged power banks beats one giant brick. Toggle battery saver in-app; consider AR off during long walks.

• Footwear: The city invites mileage—opt for broken-in sneakers.

• Weather: Vancouver can shift from sunny to drizzly quickly—pack a light rain shell.

• Data: Download offline maps and cache music/podcasts to save mobile data between zones.

• Sun & safety: Sunscreen, hat, and hydration. Vancouver’s coastal sun can sneak up on you.

Trading, raids, and etiquette

• Trades: Bring your wish list, know your Special Trade target, and remember daily limits. Friend up in the Lounge to reduce stardust costs.

• Raids: Don’t hard-commit to a boss route—join local trains; you’ll fill lobbies faster and waste less time waiting.

• Etiquette: Yield on narrow sidewalks, keep bikes clear of walking caravans, and give space around landmark photo ops (Steam Clock, totem poles).

Troubleshooting & support

• Not seeing event spawns/stops? Confirm you’re in Vancouver and that your ticket day/time matches your play session. Restart app/device if needed.

• Gameplay issues: Use in-app support during the event window for the fastest help trail.

• General errors: Most hiccups clear with a full app restart; toggle airplane mode briefly if GPS desyncs.

• Severe weather: The event runs rain or shine, but extreme conditions may pause activities. Keep an eye on official channels.

Safety and accessibility

• Be aware of your surroundings at all times—Vancouver’s waterfront paths mix cyclists, runners, families, and visitors.

• Crosswalks first: The city is walkable; play heads-up at intersections.

• Mobility: Seawall segments and plazas are generally accessible; ferries and waterfront hubs can reduce long treks between zones.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to start at a certain location?No. Pokémon GO City Safari: Vancouver is citywide. Start anywhere, move freely between zones, and collect stamps along the way.

Is the Stamp Rally timed like old research?It replaces previous City Safari Timed Research; rewards are functionally the same, but the stamp flow is more flexible and exploration-driven.

How many stamps do I need?Up to 8. Each stamp grants one Eevee (explorer hat) encounter; shiny is possible.

Can I play without a ticket?You can attend in person and enjoy meetups and vibes, but event-exclusive gameplay requires a ticket during your chosen day/hours.

What if I’m bringing kids?A parent/guardian must attend; purchase tickets for both, and ensure the guardian email matches what’s on file for the child account.

Weather plan?Event runs in typical rain/sun; in extreme weather, activities may pause. Dress in layers and waterproof your kit.

Final route advice: play the postcard game

City Safari is as much about memories as it is about metas. As you roam:

• Snap Buddy selfies in each zone (Steam Clock in Gastown, seawall in Stanley Park, floatplanes at Coal Harbour, market halls on Granville Island, skyline in Downtown).

• Save gift postcards from your favorite stops—your friends will love the landmarks.

• If you’re short on time, aim for one stamp per zone first, then fill the rest near the Trainer Lounge to finish with trades and chill time.

Vancouver’s mix of ocean, mountains, and urban energy makes it a phenomenal City Safari canvas. Pack your power banks, set Eevee as your Buddy, and let Pokémon GO City Safari: Vancouver be the excuse to explore a world-class city—one stamp, one snapshot, and one explorer-hat Eevee at a time.