FAQs

Where do you get the images you show?

All of the sights we show and link to on this site are from Google Maps at http://maps.google.com/ or Google Earth at http://earth.google.com. The images are the property of Google.

To get familiar with the Google Maps service, please take their tour of the service. They also have their own Frequently Asked Questions page.

Google Earth can be downloaded for free and there is a product tour to help you get acquainted with Google Earth.

Googlesightseeing.com is not affiliated with Google in any way. If you have any questions or suggestions about the Google Maps or Earth services, please contact Google directly.

How can I use Google Maps to send you cool places I've found?

To see the web address of the map you're viewing, click the 'Link to this page' text as shown in our image. The page will reload, and the address bar of your browser will now show a URL which you can copy and paste.

How to link to a map

Once you've got the web address of the page you've found, you can paste it into the suggestion form on our site and once you've submitted the form, it will automagically be added to our suggestions pile for review and possibly posting on the site.

Please remember to search the site before you send us a suggested sight, as we are inundated with duplicate suggestions. Thanks 🙂

How can I use Google Earth to send you cool places I've found?

The easiest method is to paste the latitude and longitude from Google Earth into the Google Maps search box and then follow the instructions above. This way you can be sure you're pointing us in the right direction.

Why hasn't my suggested sight been posted?

Usually this is because the thing we got sent has already been posted. Again, please do search the site before you submit a location 🙂 Although sometimes we may decide that we just don't like the thing you sent us, please don't take offence, and do try again with a more interesting place! However, we do have a very large pile of suggestions, so your location may well get posted in due course. Please be patient!

Generally low-resolution stuff isn't as interesting as hi-res, but this doesn't mean to say that a very interesting low-res location wouldn't get posted.

Also, we'll be much more likely to post something if you include some information about the place you're sending us, and even more likely to do so if you include some personal insight into the location!

You posted my suggested sight literally months after I submitted it! I want a refund!

To maintain a interesting mix of the post categories we do not process suggestions in a "queue". Sometimes your sight might go on the same day, sometimes it might take months. Either way we are very grateful for your contribution.

Why didn't you reply to my suggested sight?

We get a lot of suggested places, so a personal reply to each is unfeasible. If you'd like to talk to us about something, please use our contact form instead.

Why did my comment get deleted?

We reserve the right to edit and/or delete comments. There's lots of other sites better suited to lengthy discussion on detailed subjects, we're only sightseeing after all.

How can I thank you for providing such a cool site?

Let us know! We love to hear from people with gushing praise, suggestions and yes, even criticism.

Can you find a photo of my house?

No. You should use Google Maps or Google Earth to find your own house. We only post places which many people might be interested in.

Can you add clearer images for my hometown?

No. We have no control over which locations on Google Earth or Google Maps are high-resolution. Please contact Google instead.

Will you link to my blog/cat/geocities fan site?

Possibly! Send us your website via the contact form and we'll have a look.

Who are you guys?

This site is run by Alex Turnbull and James Turnbull, two brothers who are both professional web developers.

Where are you from?

Google Sightseeing HQ is located in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.

Are these images really from satellites?

Yes and no. Although the majority of the images are from satellite a lot of the really detailed imagery (for example, particularly above the major metropolitan areas) are actually aerial photographs taken from planes.

Do you need help sorting through suggested sights?

Thank you, but no, not at the moment. If this situation changes we'll let you know 🙂

Why did you start Googlesightseeing.com?

Basically we enjoyed using Google Earth so much that we wanted to share the things we found.

Did you guys really think of this first?

Yes.

Welcome to Google Sightseeing!

Google Sightseeing takes you on a tour of the world as seen from satellite or street views using Google Maps. Our team of authors present weird and wonderful sights as suggested by readers.

Like this site? We published a photo book of the best entries, you should buy a copy.