How to Export Notion Places to Google Earth

To export Notion to Google Earth: connect your Notion database to NotionToMaps, click the KML download button, then open the file in Google Earth. Your places appear as pins on the 3D globe with all your Notion properties preserved in the description popups.

Google Earth transforms flat location data into immersive 3D experiences. By exporting your Notion places to Google Earth, you can visualize travel itineraries against real terrain, analyze property locations with satellite imagery, or create stunning presentations that fly viewers through your data. This guide walks you through the entire process using the KML format.

Why Export Notion to Google Earth

Google Earth offers capabilities that Notion's built-in maps simply can't match. The 3D terrain visualization lets you see elevation, mountains, and valleys—crucial context when planning hikes or understanding property topography. Historical imagery reveals how locations have changed over time, which proves invaluable for research and development projects. Built-in measurement tools calculate distances and areas with precision.

Beyond analysis, Google Earth excels at presentation. You can add custom icons, colors, and rich descriptions to your placemarks. The presentation mode creates guided tours that fly viewers through your locations, perfect for client presentations or sharing travel plans. And unlike web-based maps, you can save everything for offline access when internet isn't available.

Whether you're scouting hiking trails, presenting real estate developments, or planning a cross-country road trip, Google Earth brings your Notion data to life in ways a flat map never could. For outdoor adventures, you might also want to export to GPX for Garmin devices.

Preparing Your Export

Before exporting, take a moment to ensure your Notion database is ready. Every location you want to export needs a valid Place property with coordinates—entries without proper location data won't appear in Google Earth. Consider adding descriptions to other columns in your database, as this text will appear in Google Earth popups when you click on placemarks. It's also worth scanning for any entries with missing or incorrect locations and cleaning those up first.

The Export Process

Start by visiting Notion to Maps and clicking "Connect Notion" to authorize access to your workspace. During authorization, select the specific databases you want to share with the service. Once connected, choose your database from the Notion to Maps dashboard and click the KML download button. Save the file to your computer, and you're ready for Google Earth.

Importing into Google Earth Pro on desktop is simple: open the application, go to File, then Open, and select your downloaded KML file. Your places will appear in the Places panel on the left side of the screen. For Google Earth on the web, visit earth.google.com, click the Projects icon in the left sidebar, select New Project, then Import KML file, and upload your export. Either way, your Notion places now appear as pins on the 3D globe.

Understanding the KML Format

KML, or Keyhole Markup Language, is an XML-based format that Google Earth uses natively. Understanding its structure helps when you want to customize your exports or troubleshoot issues. Here's what a typical Notion to Maps export looks like:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<kml xmlns="http://www.opengis.net/kml/2.2">
  <Document>
    <name>My Travel Destinations</name>
    <description>Places from my Notion database</description>
    
    <Placemark>
      <name>Eiffel Tower</name>
      <description><![CDATA[
        Must visit at sunset for best photos.
        Budget: €25 for summit access
      ]]></description>
      <Point>
        <coordinates>2.2945,48.8584,0</coordinates>
      </Point>
    </Placemark>
    
    <Placemark>
      <name>Louvre Museum</name>
      <description><![CDATA[
        Book tickets online to skip the line.
        Plan for 3-4 hours minimum.
      ]]></description>
      <Point>
        <coordinates>2.3376,48.8606,0</coordinates>
      </Point>
    </Placemark>
    
  </Document>
</kml>

Each Placemark element represents one row from your Notion database. The coordinates tag contains longitude, latitude, and altitude in that order—altitude is usually zero for ground-level locations. If you need a developer-friendly format instead, consider exporting to GeoJSON.

Organizing Your Data in Google Earth

Once your data is imported, Google Earth offers powerful organization tools. You can create folders to group related placemarks by right-clicking your imported KML in the Places panel and selecting Add, then Folder. Drag placemarks into logical groups like "Day 1," "Day 2," or "Restaurants" to keep complex projects manageable.

Customizing icons makes different location types visually distinct. Right-click any placemark, select Properties, and click the icon button next to the name field. Google Earth offers dozens of built-in icons, or you can upload custom ones for branded presentations.

For travel itineraries or hiking routes, you can connect your points with paths. Right-click a folder, select Add, then Path, and click on the map to draw your route. This visualization helps you understand the actual journey between your Notion locations.

When you've organized everything to your satisfaction, save your work by right-clicking the top-level folder and selecting Save Place As. Saving as a KMZ file (the compressed version) makes sharing and backup easy.

Advanced Styling Options

Power users can edit the exported KML file directly to add sophisticated styling. Custom colors distinguish different categories, icon URLs point to branded markers, and line styles define how connecting routes appear. You can even add polygon overlays to highlight areas and regions. The KML specification supports extensive customization for those willing to dive into the XML.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

If your places aren't appearing, first check that coordinates are in the correct order—KML uses longitude before latitude, which is the opposite of how we typically say coordinates aloud. Verify the file isn't empty or corrupted by opening it in a text editor.

Wrong locations usually trace back to the original Notion data. Re-verify your Place properties and ensure Notion selected the correct address when you first entered each location.

If Google Earth Web refuses to import your file, the dataset might be too large. Try splitting your export into smaller chunks, or use Google Earth Pro on desktop, which handles larger files more gracefully.

What You Can Do Next

With your Notion places now living in Google Earth, a world of possibilities opens up. Create virtual tours using the Tour feature to guide viewers through your locations in sequence. Use measurement tools to calculate distances between points for route planning. Export screenshots and recordings for presentations that impress clients and colleagues. Share KMZ files directly with anyone who needs access to your geographic data.

Google Earth turns your Notion database into an interactive geographic experience. Combined with Notion to Maps' straightforward export process, you're just a few clicks away from visualizing your carefully curated data in stunning 3D.

Frequently Asked Questions

What file format does Google Earth use?

Google Earth uses KML (Keyhole Markup Language) as its native file format. KML is an XML-based format that stores geographic data including points, lines, polygons, and rich descriptions. Google Earth also accepts KMZ files, which are simply compressed KML files. When you export from NotionToMaps to KML, the file opens directly in any version of Google Earth without conversion.

Can I view my Notion places in Google Earth Pro?

Yes, Google Earth Pro is the best way to view your Notion places with full functionality. After exporting your Notion database to KML from NotionToMaps, open Google Earth Pro and go to File, then Open, and select your KML file. Google Earth Pro offers additional features over the web version including historical imagery, advanced measurement tools, tour recording, and better handling of large datasets. Google Earth Pro is free to download from Google.

How do I import KML files into Google Earth?

The import process depends on which version you're using. In Google Earth Pro (desktop), go to File, then Open, and select your KML file—your places appear immediately in the Places panel. In Google Earth Web (browser), click the Projects icon in the left sidebar, select New Project, then Import KML file, and upload your export. On Google Earth mobile apps, you can open KML files from email attachments or cloud storage. All versions display your Notion places as clickable pins with descriptions.

What's the difference between Google Earth and Google Maps?

Google Earth focuses on 3D visualization with terrain, satellite imagery, and immersive exploration features like Street View and historical imagery. Google Maps is designed for navigation and local search. For Notion exports, Google Earth excels at presentations, terrain analysis, and exploring locations in context. If you need collaborative features or mobile navigation, consider exporting to Google My Maps instead, which integrates with the Google Maps app on your phone.

Can I share my Google Earth project with others?

Yes, there are several ways to share your Notion places from Google Earth. The simplest method is sharing the KML or KMZ file directly—recipients can open it in their own Google Earth installation. In Google Earth Web, you can save your project and share it via link, allowing others to view without downloading files. For presentations, Google Earth Pro lets you record tours as video files. You can also export screenshots for documents and emails.

Want to export to other formats? Check out our guides on GPX for Garmin devices, GeoJSON for web maps, and CSV for spreadsheets.