Start with a rough plan
If you have a destination and a few places in mind, you can start putting them on a map. A rough plan is enough at this stage. You can fill in the details later.
We will use a short city break as an example. Mark your accommodation first, then choose places nearby. Keep notes of anything that needs a separate check, such as tickets or visiting hours.
Create a group for the trip
Name the group after your destination and dates, for example “Berlin, October 2026”. Put the places for this plan in that group. If you return next year, you can tell the new trip apart from the old one.
Add accommodation and your main stops
Start with the accommodation address. If you are still choosing, mark a possible location and note that it is not booked. Add your arrival point too, such as the station.
Next, save the places you most want to see. Check the address of a Google result before adding its marker. You can add other ideas once you know how much time remains.
Label your stops
Assign categories so you can distinguish places on the map. You could use a color for visits with a fixed time. Add that time to the place note.
Keep labels consistent within the group. For a short trip, use a small set that you can recognize without looking up a legend.
Choose the order of your visits
Zoom in around your accommodation and pick stops for the first walk. Connect their markers in the order you intend to visit them. If one stretch takes you far from the other stops, consider moving it to another day.
Allow for a meal break and travel. A line between pins cannot tell you how long you will spend inside a museum.
Look around your accommodation
Switch to satellite view if you want a closer look at buildings or the surroundings. For accommodation by the water, check beach access separately. A short distance on the image may not mean a short walk.
Open the plan on your phone
If you plan on a computer, check the map on your phone before you leave. Open the same group on your account. See whether names and labels are readable on the smaller screen, and adjust the app theme if needed.
Leave room for plans to change
Keep arrival day light on a weekend trip. If the journey is delayed, it is easier to drop an extra walk than a prepaid visit. On the last day, allow time to collect luggage and return to the station.
Some pins may remain unvisited. After returning, separate them from the places you went to. They can wait for your next stay.