How to Show a Square Grid with a List of Places in an Area in Google Maps

When searching for restaurants, hotels, or tourist attractions, the default sidebar list in Google Maps can sometimes feel restrictive. Many users prefer a square grid layout that provides larger thumbnails and a more visual "gallery" feel of the area. While Google Maps dynamically changes its interface based on your search intent, there are specific ways to trigger and use this grid view effectively.

Here is how you can view a square grid of places on the Google Maps web application and mobile app.

1. Triggering the "Gallery" Grid View

Google Maps typically defaults to a grid-style layout when you search for broad categories that are visually oriented, such as "Photography spots" or "Interior design stores." To force this view:

• Perform a search for a category (e.g., "Best cafes in London").
• Look for the "View as List" or "View as Grid" button at the bottom of the screen (on mobile) or the top of the search results (on web).
• If you are on the desktop web application, clicking into a specific "Collection" or "Top Rated" list curated by Google will often switch the sidebar from a narrow list to a wide, square-thumbnail grid.

2. Using Google "My Maps" for Grid Organization

If you are planning a trip and want to see your saved places in a more organized, grid-like fashion:

1. Go to My Maps (google.com/mymaps).
2. Create a new map and add your pins.
3. In the legend sidebar, you can group places by "Style."
4. While My Maps doesn't have a native "Gallery" button, viewing your saved places through the Google Maps "Saved" tab on mobile often presents them in a square-grid photo gallery format.

3. For Developers: Displaying a Grid of Places via API

If you are building a web application and want to show a square grid of places from a specific area using the Google Maps Platform, you must use the Places API in conjunction with a CSS Grid or Flexbox layout.

• The Fetch: Use google.maps.places.PlacesService with the nearbySearch or textSearch method.
• The Data: Extract the photos[] array and name from the JSON response.
• The Layout: Map the results to an HTML <div> container with display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fill, minmax(200px, 1fr));.
• The Result: This creates a responsive square grid of places that mirrors the professional look of travel booking sites.

4. Why Does the Layout Keep Changing?

Google Maps uses Intent-Based UI. If you search for "Gas Stations," Google shows a list because price and distance are the priority. If you search for "National Parks," Google is more likely to show a grid because visual appeal is the priority. To influence this, try adding descriptive adjectives to your search, such as "Beautiful" or "Scenic," which often triggers the visual grid layouts.

Conclusion

Whether you are a traveler looking for a more visual way to browse or a developer looking to implement a square grid of places, understanding Google’s layout logic is key. By utilizing curated lists, My Maps, or the Places API, you can move away from the standard linear list and see the world in a more organized, high-resolution grid format.