Side Quests / Google Local Guide
Google Local Guide
A volunteer contributor on Google Maps since the Local Guides program launched — sharing photos, reviews, and answers so people can decide where to go. Currently Level 8, with tens of millions of cumulative photo views on contributed images (tracked by independent Local Guides ranking sites).
Kaş, Turkey — via Pexels
What it is
Google Local Guides is a global community that improves Google Maps — writing reviews, uploading photos, answering questions, and verifying place details. It overlaps naturally with photography: many of the same shots end up on both stock platforms and Maps.
Since moving to Porto, contributions skew toward restaurants, viewpoints, and street scenes in Portugal; earlier material covers Belarus and travel across Europe.
Contribution mix
- Place photos & panoramas
- Reviews & ratings
- Answers to visitor questions
- Place edits & fact checks
Public profile
Profile and stats are visible on Google Maps when signed in. Third-party trackers such as Local Guides Ranking aggregate public metrics (level, photo views, points) for contributors worldwide.