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Pokémon Go: Best places in Singapore to catch Pokémon

In the Time Out Singapore Pokémon Go challenge, nine staffers were sent to popular hotspots around town to see who’s the best Pokémon Master of us all – here’s what happened

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Time Out Singapore editors
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We came, we saw, we caught ’em all. Nine members of Team Time Out Singapore competed to find out who’s the best Pokémon Master of all – we each checked out a popular Pokémon-catching location for over 2 hours to capture as many of these critters as possible. Here are the results, from last to first.

Bukit Batok Nature Park
  • Things to do
  • Bukit Batok

Michelle Ng says… Strap on your best pair of walking shoes because you’re in for a hike at this nature park. I caught the most number of Pokémon at the entrance, where the PokéStops are concentrated. But if you want rarer ones like Sandshrew, you’ve got to walk around the park. There weren’t any lures when I was there – maybe no one wants to stay put for 30 minutes to get bitten by mosquitoes – but a weak-ish Pinsir was reigning the lone gym within the nature park, so it’s probably your best bet at ‘owning’ a gym.

Types of Pokémon: Sandshrew, Ekans were the rarer ones I caught, along with the usual Krabby, Magikarp and Paras

Approx number of PokéStops: There were just under ten PokéStops here, half of which can be found near the entrance

Number of Pokémon caught in 2 hours: 15. I think I caught more mosquito bites than Pokémon

Singapore Botanic Gardens
  • Attractions
  • Parks and gardens
  • Tanglin

Iliyas Ong says… There are hundreds of sparkly, flowery, pink and blue things on my app that I believe are called ‘lures’ or ‘PokéStops’. Apparently most people drop lures at either entrance of the park (Cluny or Tanglin) so they don’t have to actually walk around. I did, though, and found lots of insects, bats and dinosaur-looking dudes, and, near the water bodies, ducks, jellyfish and a goldfish that just flaps around.

Types of Pokémon: Machop, Dragonair, Clefairy, Psyduck, Tentacruel, Magikarp, Zubat, Voltorb, Ekans, Bulbasaur, Staryu, Horsea, Pinsir, Nidoran, Gastly, Goldeen, Tangela, Paras

Approx number of PokéStops: Definitely more than 100. They’re all over the park

Number of Pokémon caught in 2 hours: 24. Is that good?

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Marina Bay
  • Things to do
  • Marina Bay

Jessica Lai says… Check out the stunning Singapore skyline while you fill up your Pokédex – I spotted mostly Slowpokes, Psyducks and Dratinis gracing the waters here. A walk along the bay (from the Esplanade to the Merlion to Fullerton Bay) is a treasure trove of PokéStops – there’s one every few metres and I caught 26 Pokémon in just a few hours.

Types of Pokémon: Dratini, Magikarp, Slowpoke, Psyduck, Zubat, Poliwag, Staryu

Approx number of PokéStops: There are over 12 PokéStops along the Marina Bay Sands waterfront, such as the floating Louis Vuitton store and One Fullerton

Number of Pokémon caught in 2 hours: 26

Singapore River
  • Clubs
  • Raffles Place

Rebecca Liew says… I started outside the Fullerton Hotel taxi stand, crossed the Cavanagh Bridge to the Asian Civilisations Museum, and then journeyed across the length of the Singapore River. It started off on an unexciting note – a Psyduck or Magikarp would surface every couple of metres – but I struck gold near The Central at Clarke Quay. In front of Shui Gastrolounge were pockets of Pokémon trainers hovering around the three PokéStops (that had lures). I caught six Pokémon within 7 minutes – including a Tentacruel! – and didn't have to worry about replenishing my Poké Ball supply.

Types of Pokémon: Tentacruel, Meowth, Psyduck, Ekans, Oddish, Horsea, Nidoran, Slowpoke, Zubat, Staryu, Seaking

Approx number of PokéStops: 21

Number of Pokémon caught in 2 hours: 28

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Changi Airport
  • Travel
  • Changi 

Sofiana Ramli says… Forget flying. Our airport can add Pokémon Go-ing to its list of things to do, apart from shopping and studying (and, err, actually flying). I was surprised at the variety of Pokémon that I found here, including rare ones like Abra, Rhyhorn, Scyther and Squirtle. Check in at Terminal 1’s Relay bookstore where you’ll find plenty, or if you’re playing at Terminal 3: head to Counter One in the departure hall. If you’re wondering how to get to a PokéStop that’s located inside the transit area, don’t sweat it. I headed to the observation deck and was able to get close enough – no plane ticket needed.

Types of Pokémon: Abra, Rhyhorn, Scyther, Cloyster, Eevee, Nidorina, Mankey, Horsea, Diglett, Bulbasaur, Squirtle, Poliwag, Magikarp, Paras, Weedle, Pidgey, Rattata

Approx number of PokéStops: Each terminal has at least 15 PokéStops, five of which had lures. Most of them are located at the departure level and the viewing gallery.

Number of Pokémon caught in 2 hours: 30

Resorts World Sentosa (RWS), Siloso Beach and Palawan Beach
  • Things to do
  • Sentosa

Stephanie Loh says… It’s probably the easiest place in Singapore to find a Pikachu – there are nests planted around the islet. Rock-type Pokémon are also aplenty on the beaches, but if you’re just looking for volume, hang around the fountain outside Universal Studios Singapore (USS).

Types of Pokémon: Caterpie, Dratini, Exeggcute, Geodude, Goldeen, Grimer, Horsea, Krabby, Magikarp, Magnemite, Magneton, Meowth, Oddish, Onix, Pikachu, Pidgey, Pinsir, Poliwag, Psyduck, Rattata, Rhyhorn, Sandshrew, Scyther, Slowpoke, Spearow, Squirtle, Staryu, Tangela, Tentacool, Venomoth, Venonat, Voltorb, Vulpix, Weedle

Approx number of PokéStops: RWS alone has around 70 PokéStops, with 11 just outside the entrance to USS. I’m sure you’ll need to plan a day trip just to cover the rest of Sentosa.

Number of Pokémon caught in 2 hours: 34

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Singapore Zoo
  • Things to do
  • Mandai

Zimin Ho says… Roaming wildlife of both the animal and Pokémon variety are in no short supply here. Expect Spearows, Bulbasaurs, Eevees and, yes, those precious Pikachus greeting you within minutes of firing up the app. Pro tip: hitch a ride on a tram to quickly get to your next PokéStop. Wildlife Reserves Singapore has also jumped on the bandwagon, publishing a detailed map of all the Pokémon you can catch in the Singapore Zoo, River Safari and Night Safari.

Types of Pokémon: Pikachu, Jigglypuff, Poliwhirl, Dratini, Eevee, Kakuna, Bulbasaur, Spearow, Slowpoke

Approx number of PokéStops: 32

Number of Pokémon caught in 2 hours: 52

Orchard Road
  • Shopping
  • Shopping centres
  • Orchard

Tiffany Chow says… Most of the day, Orchard Road is lit up with lures around numerous PokéStops. (I even spotted vendors selling unauthorised Pokémon Go t-shirts outside ION Orchard.) But if you’re as lazy as I am, head to the space outside Coffee Bean at Orchardgateway. With access to four PokéStops that pretty much always have lures, I could catch a Pokémon every few seconds, including rarer ones like Jigglypuff, without having to walk a single step.

Types of Pokémon: Bellsprout, Caterpie, Cubone, Diglett, Dodrio, Doduo, Eevee, Ekans, Exeggcute, Fearow, Goldeen, Grimer, Ivysaur, Jigglypuff, Katuna, Koffing, Krabby, Magikarp, Nidoran, Oddish, Paras, Pidgeotto, Pidgey, Pinsir, Poliwag, Psyduck, Raticate, Rattata, Scyther, Spearow, Squirtle, Staryu, Tangela, Venomoth, Venonat, Vulpix, Weedle, Zubat.

Approx number of PokéStops: There are over 60 PokéStops along Orchard Road, with four to six per building.

Number of Pokémon caught in 2 hours: 64

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Chinese and Japanese Gardens
  • Things to do
  • Jurong East

Cavan Tan says… When I visited on National Day, the park was overrun with trainers and lures. Skip the Chinese Garden (only common Pokémon rear their heads), and head straight to the Japanese one. You’ll find a ‘spawn nest’ of Growlithes, and there’s also a chance to score the super rare Arcanine, too. Even at Level 22, I still managed to add new faces to my Pokédex.

Types of Pokémon: Arcanine, Diglett, Growlithe, Gloom, Dratini, Dragonair, Meowth, Magikarp, Poliwag, Pinsir, Psyduck, Scyther, Slowpoke, Staryu, Venomoth, Vulpix

Approx number of PokéStops: There are more than 40 PokéStops across both gardens, and even more if you venture into Jurong Lake Park

Number of Pokémon caught in 2 hours: 96. Pfft, I can’t believe some of you only caught 15

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