diff --git a/client/src/App.tsx b/client/src/App.tsx
index 0a53fa46..941492c2 100644
--- a/client/src/App.tsx
+++ b/client/src/App.tsx
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ function RootRedirect() {
 }
 
 export default function App() {
-  const { loadUser, isAuthenticated, demoMode, setDemoMode, setDevMode, setIsPrerelease, setAppVersion, setHasMapsKey, setServerTimezone, setAppRequireMfa, setTripRemindersEnabled } = useAuthStore()
+  const { loadUser, isAuthenticated, demoMode, setDemoMode, setDevMode, setIsPrerelease, setAppVersion, setHasMapsKey, setServerTimezone, setAppRequireMfa, setTripRemindersEnabled, setPlacesPhotosEnabled, setPlacesAutocompleteEnabled, setPlacesDetailsEnabled } = useAuthStore()
   const { loadSettings } = useSettingsStore()
   const { loadAddons } = useAddonStore()
 
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ export default function App() {
         loadUser()
       }
     }
-    authApi.getAppConfig().then(async (config: { demo_mode?: boolean; dev_mode?: boolean; is_prerelease?: boolean; has_maps_key?: boolean; version?: string; timezone?: string; require_mfa?: boolean; trip_reminders_enabled?: boolean; permissions?: Record<string, PermissionLevel> }) => {
+    authApi.getAppConfig().then(async (config: { demo_mode?: boolean; dev_mode?: boolean; is_prerelease?: boolean; has_maps_key?: boolean; version?: string; timezone?: string; require_mfa?: boolean; trip_reminders_enabled?: boolean; places_photos_enabled?: boolean; places_autocomplete_enabled?: boolean; places_details_enabled?: boolean; permissions?: Record<string, PermissionLevel> }) => {
       if (config?.demo_mode) setDemoMode(true)
       if (config?.dev_mode) setDevMode(true)
       if (config?.is_prerelease !== undefined) setIsPrerelease(config.is_prerelease)
@@ -125,6 +125,9 @@ export default function App() {
       if (config?.timezone) setServerTimezone(config.timezone)
       if (config?.require_mfa !== undefined) setAppRequireMfa(!!config.require_mfa)
       if (config?.trip_reminders_enabled !== undefined) setTripRemindersEnabled(config.trip_reminders_enabled)
+      if (config?.places_photos_enabled !== undefined) setPlacesPhotosEnabled(config.places_photos_enabled)
+      if (config?.places_autocomplete_enabled !== undefined) setPlacesAutocompleteEnabled(config.places_autocomplete_enabled)
+      if (config?.places_details_enabled !== undefined) setPlacesDetailsEnabled(config.places_details_enabled)
       if (config?.permissions) usePermissionsStore.getState().setPermissions(config.permissions)
 
       if (config?.version) {
diff --git a/client/src/api/client.ts b/client/src/api/client.ts
index 8ac67d13..179e02ff 100644
--- a/client/src/api/client.ts
+++ b/client/src/api/client.ts
@@ -272,6 +272,12 @@ export const adminApi = {
   checkVersion: () => apiClient.get('/admin/version-check').then(r => r.data),
   getBagTracking: () => apiClient.get('/admin/bag-tracking').then(r => r.data),
   updateBagTracking: (enabled: boolean) => apiClient.put('/admin/bag-tracking', { enabled }).then(r => r.data),
+  getPlacesPhotos: () => apiClient.get('/admin/places-photos').then(r => r.data),
+  updatePlacesPhotos: (enabled: boolean) => apiClient.put('/admin/places-photos', { enabled }).then(r => r.data),
+  getPlacesAutocomplete: () => apiClient.get('/admin/places-autocomplete').then(r => r.data),
+  updatePlacesAutocomplete: (enabled: boolean) => apiClient.put('/admin/places-autocomplete', { enabled }).then(r => r.data),
+  getPlacesDetails: () => apiClient.get('/admin/places-details').then(r => r.data),
+  updatePlacesDetails: (enabled: boolean) => apiClient.put('/admin/places-details', { enabled }).then(r => r.data),
   getCollabFeatures: () => apiClient.get('/admin/collab-features').then(r => r.data),
   updateCollabFeatures: (features: Record<string, boolean>) => apiClient.put('/admin/collab-features', features).then(r => r.data),
   packingTemplates: () => apiClient.get('/admin/packing-templates').then(r => r.data),
diff --git a/client/src/components/Map/MapView.tsx b/client/src/components/Map/MapView.tsx
index 32d1ec44..1bcc499f 100644
--- a/client/src/components/Map/MapView.tsx
+++ b/client/src/components/Map/MapView.tsx
@@ -66,9 +66,9 @@ function createPlaceIcon(place, orderNumbers, isSelected) {
     ">${label}</span>`
   }
 
-  // Base64 data URL thumbnails — no external image fetch during zoom
-  // Only use base64 data URLs for markers — external URLs cause zoom lag
-  if (place.image_url && place.image_url.startsWith('data:')) {
+  // Prefer base64 data URLs (no zoom lag); also accept same-origin proxy URLs as a fallback
+  // while the thumb is still being generated in the background
+  if (place.image_url && (place.image_url.startsWith('data:') || place.image_url.startsWith('/api/maps/place-photo/'))) {
     const imgIcon = L.divIcon({
       className: '',
       html: `<div style="
@@ -275,6 +275,7 @@ function RouteLabel({ midpoint, walkingText, drivingText }: RouteLabelProps) {
 
 // Module-level photo cache shared with PlaceAvatar
 import { getCached, isLoading, fetchPhoto, onThumbReady, getAllThumbs } from '../../services/photoService'
+import { useAuthStore } from '../../store/authStore'
 
 // Live location tracker — blue dot with pulse animation (like Apple/Google Maps)
 function LocationTracker() {
@@ -398,20 +399,19 @@ export const MapView = memo(function MapView({
 
   // photoUrls: only base64 thumbs for smooth map zoom
   const [photoUrls, setPhotoUrls] = useState<Record<string, string>>(getAllThumbs)
+  const placesPhotosEnabled = useAuthStore(s => s.placesPhotosEnabled)
 
   // Fetch photos via shared service — subscribe to thumb (base64) availability
   const placeIds = useMemo(() => places.map(p => p.id).join(','), [places])
   useEffect(() => {
-    if (!places || places.length === 0) return
+    if (!places || places.length === 0 || !placesPhotosEnabled) return
     const cleanups: (() => void)[] = []
 
     const setThumb = (cacheKey: string, thumb: string) => {
-      iconCache.clear()
       setPhotoUrls(prev => prev[cacheKey] === thumb ? prev : { ...prev, [cacheKey]: thumb })
     }
 
     for (const place of places) {
-      if (place.image_url && place.image_url.startsWith('data:')) continue
       const cacheKey = place.google_place_id || place.osm_id || `${place.lat},${place.lng}`
       if (!cacheKey) continue
 
@@ -424,9 +424,9 @@ export const MapView = memo(function MapView({
       // Subscribe for when thumb becomes available
       cleanups.push(onThumbReady(cacheKey, thumb => setThumb(cacheKey, thumb)))
 
-      // Always fetch through API — returns fresh URL + converts to base64
       if (!cached && !isLoading(cacheKey)) {
-        const photoId = place.google_place_id || place.osm_id
+        // Use the persisted proxy URL as photoId so photoService generates a base64 thumb from it
+        const photoId = place.image_url || place.google_place_id || place.osm_id
         if (photoId || (place.lat && place.lng)) {
           fetchPhoto(cacheKey, photoId || `coords:${place.lat}:${place.lng}`, place.lat, place.lng, place.name)
         }
@@ -434,7 +434,7 @@ export const MapView = memo(function MapView({
     }
 
     return () => cleanups.forEach(fn => fn())
-  }, [placeIds])
+  }, [placeIds, placesPhotosEnabled])
 
   const clusterIconCreateFunction = useCallback((cluster) => {
     const count = cluster.getChildCount()
@@ -451,7 +451,7 @@ export const MapView = memo(function MapView({
   const markers = useMemo(() => places.map((place) => {
     const isSelected = place.id === selectedPlaceId
     const pck = place.google_place_id || place.osm_id || `${place.lat},${place.lng}`
-    const resolvedPhoto = (pck && photoUrls[pck]) || (place.image_url?.startsWith('data:') ? place.image_url : null) || null
+    const resolvedPhoto = (pck && photoUrls[pck]) || place.image_url || null
     const orderNumbers = dayOrderMap[place.id] ?? null
     const icon = createPlaceIcon({ ...place, image_url: resolvedPhoto }, orderNumbers, isSelected)
 
diff --git a/client/src/components/shared/PlaceAvatar.tsx b/client/src/components/shared/PlaceAvatar.tsx
index 43d8a4fd..a98fa31d 100644
--- a/client/src/components/shared/PlaceAvatar.tsx
+++ b/client/src/components/shared/PlaceAvatar.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import React, { useState, useEffect, useRef } from 'react'
 import { getCategoryIcon } from './categoryIcons'
 import { getCached, isLoading, fetchPhoto, onThumbReady } from '../../services/photoService'
+import { useAuthStore } from '../../store/authStore'
 import type { Place } from '../../types'
 
 interface Category {
@@ -18,10 +19,12 @@ export default React.memo(function PlaceAvatar({ place, size = 32, category }: P
   const [photoSrc, setPhotoSrc] = useState<string | null>(place.image_url || null)
   const [visible, setVisible] = useState(false)
   const ref = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null)
+  const placesPhotosEnabled = useAuthStore(s => s.placesPhotosEnabled)
 
   // Observe visibility — fetch photo only when avatar enters viewport
   useEffect(() => {
     if (place.image_url) { setVisible(true); return }
+    if (!placesPhotosEnabled) return
     const el = ref.current
     if (!el) return
     // Check if already cached — show immediately without waiting for intersection
@@ -37,6 +40,7 @@ export default React.memo(function PlaceAvatar({ place, size = 32, category }: P
   useEffect(() => {
     if (!visible) return
     if (place.image_url) { setPhotoSrc(place.image_url); return }
+    if (!placesPhotosEnabled) return
     const photoId = place.google_place_id || place.osm_id
     if (!photoId && !(place.lat && place.lng)) { setPhotoSrc(null); return }
 
diff --git a/client/src/i18n/translations/ar.ts b/client/src/i18n/translations/ar.ts
index e4a7ef49..218536cc 100644
--- a/client/src/i18n/translations/ar.ts
+++ b/client/src/i18n/translations/ar.ts
@@ -588,6 +588,12 @@ const ar: Record<string, string | { name: string; category: string }[]> = {
   'admin.fileTypesSaved': 'تم حفظ إعدادات أنواع الملفات',
 
   // Packing Templates & Bag Tracking
+  'admin.placesPhotos.title': 'صور الأماكن',
+  'admin.placesPhotos.subtitle': 'جلب الصور من Google Places API. عطّلها للحفاظ على حصة API. صور Wikimedia غير متأثرة.',
+  'admin.placesAutocomplete.title': 'الإكمال التلقائي للأماكن',
+  'admin.placesAutocomplete.subtitle': 'استخدام Google Places API لاقتراحات البحث. عطّلها للحفاظ على حصة API.',
+  'admin.placesDetails.title': 'تفاصيل الأماكن',
+  'admin.placesDetails.subtitle': 'جلب معلومات تفصيلية عن الأماكن (الساعات، التقييم، الموقع) من Google Places API. عطّلها للحفاظ على حصة API.',
   'admin.bagTracking.title': 'تتبع الأمتعة',
   'admin.bagTracking.subtitle': 'تفعيل الوزن وتعيين الأمتعة للعناصر',
   'admin.collab.chat.title': 'الدردشة',
diff --git a/client/src/i18n/translations/br.ts b/client/src/i18n/translations/br.ts
index 8c4d0c4f..9264943f 100644
--- a/client/src/i18n/translations/br.ts
+++ b/client/src/i18n/translations/br.ts
@@ -546,6 +546,12 @@ const br: Record<string, string | { name: string; category: string }[]> = {
   'admin.fileTypesSaved': 'Configurações de tipos de arquivo salvas',
 
   // Packing Templates & Bag Tracking
+  'admin.placesPhotos.title': 'Fotos de Locais',
+  'admin.placesPhotos.subtitle': 'Busca fotos da Google Places API. Desative para economizar cota da API. Fotos do Wikimedia não são afetadas.',
+  'admin.placesAutocomplete.title': 'Autocompletar de Locais',
+  'admin.placesAutocomplete.subtitle': 'Usa a Google Places API para sugestões de pesquisa. Desative para economizar cota da API.',
+  'admin.placesDetails.title': 'Detalhes do Local',
+  'admin.placesDetails.subtitle': 'Busca informações detalhadas do local (horários, avaliação, site) da Google Places API. Desative para economizar cota da API.',
   'admin.bagTracking.title': 'Rastreamento de malas',
   'admin.bagTracking.subtitle': 'Ativar peso e atribuição de mala para itens da lista',
   'admin.collab.chat.title': 'Chat',
diff --git a/client/src/i18n/translations/cs.ts b/client/src/i18n/translations/cs.ts
index a7185359..7aca6d21 100644
--- a/client/src/i18n/translations/cs.ts
+++ b/client/src/i18n/translations/cs.ts
@@ -546,6 +546,12 @@ const cs: Record<string, string | { name: string; category: string }[]> = {
   'admin.fileTypesSaved': 'Nastavení souborů uloženo',
 
   // Šablony balení (Packing Templates)
+  'admin.placesPhotos.title': 'Fotografie míst',
+  'admin.placesPhotos.subtitle': 'Načítání fotografií z Google Places API. Zakázáním ušetříte kvótu API. Fotografie z Wikimedia nejsou ovlivněny.',
+  'admin.placesAutocomplete.title': 'Automatické doplňování míst',
+  'admin.placesAutocomplete.subtitle': 'Použití Google Places API pro návrhy vyhledávání. Zakázáním ušetříte kvótu API.',
+  'admin.placesDetails.title': 'Podrobnosti o místě',
+  'admin.placesDetails.subtitle': 'Načítání podrobných informací o místě (hodiny, hodnocení, web) z Google Places API. Zakázáním ušetříte kvótu API.',
   'admin.bagTracking.title': 'Sledování zavazadel',
   'admin.bagTracking.subtitle': 'Povolit váhu a přiřazení k zavazadlům u položek balení',
   'admin.collab.chat.title': 'Chat',
diff --git a/client/src/i18n/translations/de.ts b/client/src/i18n/translations/de.ts
index 2d8f39a6..c0e65fde 100644
--- a/client/src/i18n/translations/de.ts
+++ b/client/src/i18n/translations/de.ts
@@ -549,6 +549,12 @@ const de: Record<string, string | { name: string; category: string }[]> = {
   'admin.fileTypesFormat': 'Kommagetrennte Endungen (z.B. jpg,png,pdf,doc). Verwende * um alle Typen zu erlauben.',
   'admin.fileTypesSaved': 'Dateityp-Einstellungen gespeichert',
 
+  'admin.placesPhotos.title': 'Ortsfotos',
+  'admin.placesPhotos.subtitle': 'Fotos von der Google Places API laden. Deaktivieren, um API-Kontingent zu sparen. Wikimedia-Fotos sind davon nicht betroffen.',
+  'admin.placesAutocomplete.title': 'Orts-Autovervollständigung',
+  'admin.placesAutocomplete.subtitle': 'Google Places API für Suchvorschläge nutzen. Deaktivieren, um API-Kontingent zu sparen.',
+  'admin.placesDetails.title': 'Ortsdetails',
+  'admin.placesDetails.subtitle': 'Detaillierte Ortsinformationen (Öffnungszeiten, Bewertung, Website) von der Google Places API laden. Deaktivieren, um API-Kontingent zu sparen.',
   // Packing Templates & Bag Tracking
   'admin.bagTracking.title': 'Gepäck-Tracking',
   'admin.bagTracking.subtitle': 'Gewicht und Gepäckstück-Zuordnung für Packlisteneinträge aktivieren',
diff --git a/client/src/i18n/translations/en.ts b/client/src/i18n/translations/en.ts
index d5b0b1d8..fcf3eedf 100644
--- a/client/src/i18n/translations/en.ts
+++ b/client/src/i18n/translations/en.ts
@@ -609,6 +609,12 @@ const en: Record<string, string | { name: string; category: string }[]> = {
   'admin.fileTypesFormat': 'Comma-separated extensions (e.g. jpg,png,pdf,doc). Use * to allow all types.',
   'admin.fileTypesSaved': 'File type settings saved',
 
+  'admin.placesPhotos.title': 'Place Photos',
+  'admin.placesPhotos.subtitle': 'Fetch photos from the Google Places API. Disable to save API quota. Wikimedia photos are unaffected.',
+  'admin.placesAutocomplete.title': 'Place Autocomplete',
+  'admin.placesAutocomplete.subtitle': 'Use the Google Places API for search suggestions. Disable to save API quota.',
+  'admin.placesDetails.title': 'Place Details',
+  'admin.placesDetails.subtitle': 'Fetch detailed place information (hours, rating, website) from the Google Places API. Disable to save API quota.',
   // Packing Templates & Bag Tracking
   'admin.bagTracking.title': 'Bag Tracking',
   'admin.bagTracking.subtitle': 'Enable weight and bag assignment for packing items',
diff --git a/client/src/i18n/translations/es.ts b/client/src/i18n/translations/es.ts
index 13b5854f..84dd3c9d 100644
--- a/client/src/i18n/translations/es.ts
+++ b/client/src/i18n/translations/es.ts
@@ -541,6 +541,12 @@ const es: Record<string, string> = {
   'admin.fileTypesFormat': 'Extensiones separadas por comas (p. ej. jpg,png,pdf,doc). Usa * para permitir todos los tipos.',
   'admin.fileTypesSaved': 'Ajustes de tipos de archivo guardados',
 
+  'admin.placesPhotos.title': 'Fotos de Lugares',
+  'admin.placesPhotos.subtitle': 'Obtiene fotos de la Google Places API. Desactiva para ahorrar cuota de API. Las fotos de Wikimedia no se ven afectadas.',
+  'admin.placesAutocomplete.title': 'Autocompletado de Lugares',
+  'admin.placesAutocomplete.subtitle': 'Usa la Google Places API para sugerencias de búsqueda. Desactiva para ahorrar cuota de API.',
+  'admin.placesDetails.title': 'Detalles del Lugar',
+  'admin.placesDetails.subtitle': 'Obtiene información detallada del lugar (horarios, valoración, web) de la Google Places API. Desactiva para ahorrar cuota de API.',
   'admin.bagTracking.title': 'Seguimiento de equipaje',
   'admin.bagTracking.subtitle': 'Activar peso y asignación de equipaje para artículos de la lista',
   'admin.collab.chat.title': 'Chat',
diff --git a/client/src/i18n/translations/fr.ts b/client/src/i18n/translations/fr.ts
index 2a1d6fcc..436bd107 100644
--- a/client/src/i18n/translations/fr.ts
+++ b/client/src/i18n/translations/fr.ts
@@ -545,6 +545,12 @@ const fr: Record<string, string> = {
   'admin.fileTypesFormat': 'Extensions séparées par des virgules (ex. jpg,png,pdf,doc). Utilisez * pour autoriser tous les types.',
   'admin.fileTypesSaved': 'Paramètres des types de fichiers enregistrés',
 
+  'admin.placesPhotos.title': 'Photos de lieux',
+  'admin.placesPhotos.subtitle': "Récupère les photos depuis l'API Google Places. Désactivez pour économiser le quota API. Les photos Wikimedia ne sont pas affectées.",
+  'admin.placesAutocomplete.title': 'Autocomplétion des lieux',
+  'admin.placesAutocomplete.subtitle': "Utilise l'API Google Places pour les suggestions de recherche. Désactivez pour économiser le quota API.",
+  'admin.placesDetails.title': 'Détails du lieu',
+  'admin.placesDetails.subtitle': "Récupère les informations détaillées du lieu (horaires, note, site web) depuis l'API Google Places. Désactivez pour économiser le quota API.",
   'admin.bagTracking.title': 'Suivi des bagages',
   'admin.bagTracking.subtitle': 'Activer le poids et l\'attribution de bagages pour les articles',
   'admin.collab.chat.title': 'Chat',
diff --git a/client/src/i18n/translations/hu.ts b/client/src/i18n/translations/hu.ts
index 462186f0..e3b19545 100644
--- a/client/src/i18n/translations/hu.ts
+++ b/client/src/i18n/translations/hu.ts
@@ -546,6 +546,12 @@ const hu: Record<string, string | { name: string; category: string }[]> = {
   'admin.fileTypesSaved': 'Fájltípus-beállítások mentve',
 
   // Csomagolási sablonok és poggyászkövetés
+  'admin.placesPhotos.title': 'Helyfotók',
+  'admin.placesPhotos.subtitle': 'Fotók lekérése a Google Places API-ból. Tiltsa le az API-kvóta megtakarításához. A Wikimedia-fotók nem érintettek.',
+  'admin.placesAutocomplete.title': 'Hely automatikus kiegészítése',
+  'admin.placesAutocomplete.subtitle': 'A Google Places API használata keresési javaslatokhoz. Tiltsa le az API-kvóta megtakarításához.',
+  'admin.placesDetails.title': 'Hely részletei',
+  'admin.placesDetails.subtitle': 'Részletes helyinformációk lekérése (nyitvatartás, értékelés, weboldal) a Google Places API-ból. Tiltsa le az API-kvóta megtakarításához.',
   'admin.bagTracking.title': 'Poggyászkövetés',
   'admin.bagTracking.subtitle': 'Súly- és táskahozzárendelés engedélyezése csomagolási tételeknél',
   'admin.collab.chat.title': 'Chat',
diff --git a/client/src/i18n/translations/id.ts b/client/src/i18n/translations/id.ts
index 5e7a0f1e..bdba0cf8 100644
--- a/client/src/i18n/translations/id.ts
+++ b/client/src/i18n/translations/id.ts
@@ -610,6 +610,12 @@ const id: Record<string, string | { name: string; category: string }[]> = {
   'admin.fileTypesSaved': 'Pengaturan jenis file disimpan',
 
   // Packing Templates & Bag Tracking
+  'admin.placesPhotos.title': 'Foto Tempat',
+  'admin.placesPhotos.subtitle': 'Mengambil foto dari Google Places API. Nonaktifkan untuk menghemat kuota API. Foto Wikimedia tidak terpengaruh.',
+  'admin.placesAutocomplete.title': 'Pelengkapan Otomatis Tempat',
+  'admin.placesAutocomplete.subtitle': 'Menggunakan Google Places API untuk saran pencarian. Nonaktifkan untuk menghemat kuota API.',
+  'admin.placesDetails.title': 'Detail Tempat',
+  'admin.placesDetails.subtitle': 'Mengambil informasi detail tempat (jam, penilaian, situs web) dari Google Places API. Nonaktifkan untuk menghemat kuota API.',
   'admin.bagTracking.title': 'Pelacak Tas',
   'admin.bagTracking.subtitle': 'Aktifkan berat dan penugasan tas untuk item packing',
   'admin.collab.chat.title': 'Chat',
diff --git a/client/src/i18n/translations/it.ts b/client/src/i18n/translations/it.ts
index 58ecfea6..178305e5 100644
--- a/client/src/i18n/translations/it.ts
+++ b/client/src/i18n/translations/it.ts
@@ -545,6 +545,12 @@ const it: Record<string, string | { name: string; category: string }[]> = {
   'admin.fileTypesFormat': 'Estensioni separate da virgola (es. jpg,png,pdf,doc). Usa * per consentire tutti i tipi.',
   'admin.fileTypesSaved': 'Impostazioni dei tipi di file salvate',
     // Packing Templates & Bag Tracking
+  'admin.placesPhotos.title': 'Foto dei luoghi',
+  'admin.placesPhotos.subtitle': "Recupera le foto dall'API Google Places. Disabilita per risparmiare la quota API. Le foto di Wikimedia non sono interessate.",
+  'admin.placesAutocomplete.title': 'Completamento automatico dei luoghi',
+  'admin.placesAutocomplete.subtitle': "Utilizza l'API Google Places per i suggerimenti di ricerca. Disabilita per risparmiare la quota API.",
+  'admin.placesDetails.title': 'Dettagli del luogo',
+  'admin.placesDetails.subtitle': "Recupera informazioni dettagliate sul luogo (orari, valutazione, sito web) dall'API Google Places. Disabilita per risparmiare la quota API.",
   'admin.bagTracking.title': 'Tracciamento valigia',
   'admin.bagTracking.subtitle': 'Abilita il peso e l\'assegnazione della valigia per gli elementi della lista valigia',
   'admin.collab.chat.title': 'Chat',
diff --git a/client/src/i18n/translations/nl.ts b/client/src/i18n/translations/nl.ts
index cc9d97cd..17a7165c 100644
--- a/client/src/i18n/translations/nl.ts
+++ b/client/src/i18n/translations/nl.ts
@@ -546,6 +546,12 @@ const nl: Record<string, string> = {
   'admin.fileTypesFormat': 'Kommagescheiden extensies (bijv. jpg,png,pdf,doc). Gebruik * om alle typen toe te staan.',
   'admin.fileTypesSaved': 'Bestandstype-instellingen opgeslagen',
 
+  'admin.placesPhotos.title': "Plaatsfoto's",
+  'admin.placesPhotos.subtitle': "Haalt foto's op via de Google Places API. Schakel uit om API-quota te besparen. Wikimedia-foto's worden niet beïnvloed.",
+  'admin.placesAutocomplete.title': 'Plaatsautocomplete',
+  'admin.placesAutocomplete.subtitle': 'Gebruikt de Google Places API voor zoeksuggesties. Schakel uit om API-quota te besparen.',
+  'admin.placesDetails.title': 'Plaatsdetails',
+  'admin.placesDetails.subtitle': 'Haalt gedetailleerde plaatsinformatie (openingstijden, beoordeling, website) op via de Google Places API. Schakel uit om API-quota te besparen.',
   'admin.bagTracking.title': 'Bagagetracking',
   'admin.bagTracking.subtitle': 'Gewicht en bagagetoewijzing inschakelen voor paklijstitems',
   'admin.collab.chat.title': 'Chat',
diff --git a/client/src/i18n/translations/pl.ts b/client/src/i18n/translations/pl.ts
index 427a2134..080d5cb3 100644
--- a/client/src/i18n/translations/pl.ts
+++ b/client/src/i18n/translations/pl.ts
@@ -518,6 +518,12 @@ const pl: Record<string, string | { name: string; category: string }[]> = {
   'admin.fileTypesSaved': 'Ustawienia typów plików zostały zapisane',
 
   // Packing Templates & Bag Tracking
+  'admin.placesPhotos.title': 'Zdjęcia miejsc',
+  'admin.placesPhotos.subtitle': 'Pobiera zdjęcia z Google Places API. Wyłącz, aby zaoszczędzić limit API. Zdjęcia z Wikimedia nie są objęte.',
+  'admin.placesAutocomplete.title': 'Autouzupełnianie miejsc',
+  'admin.placesAutocomplete.subtitle': 'Używa Google Places API do sugestii wyszukiwania. Wyłącz, aby zaoszczędzić limit API.',
+  'admin.placesDetails.title': 'Szczegóły miejsca',
+  'admin.placesDetails.subtitle': 'Pobiera szczegółowe informacje o miejscu (godziny, ocena, strona) z Google Places API. Wyłącz, aby zaoszczędzić limit API.',
   'admin.bagTracking.title': 'Kontrola bagażu',
   'admin.bagTracking.subtitle': 'Włącz wagę i przypisywanie do toreb dla przedmiotów do pakowania',
   'admin.collab.chat.title': 'Czat',
diff --git a/client/src/i18n/translations/ru.ts b/client/src/i18n/translations/ru.ts
index 0bf70d93..9961de3d 100644
--- a/client/src/i18n/translations/ru.ts
+++ b/client/src/i18n/translations/ru.ts
@@ -546,6 +546,12 @@ const ru: Record<string, string> = {
   'admin.fileTypesFormat': 'Расширения через запятую (напр. jpg,png,pdf,doc). Используйте * для разрешения всех типов.',
   'admin.fileTypesSaved': 'Настройки типов файлов сохранены',
 
+  'admin.placesPhotos.title': 'Фотографии мест',
+  'admin.placesPhotos.subtitle': 'Загрузка фотографий из Google Places API. Отключите для экономии квоты API. Фотографии Wikimedia не затронуты.',
+  'admin.placesAutocomplete.title': 'Автодополнение мест',
+  'admin.placesAutocomplete.subtitle': 'Использование Google Places API для поисковых подсказок. Отключите для экономии квоты API.',
+  'admin.placesDetails.title': 'Сведения о месте',
+  'admin.placesDetails.subtitle': 'Загрузка подробной информации о месте (часы работы, рейтинг, веб-сайт) из Google Places API. Отключите для экономии квоты API.',
   'admin.bagTracking.title': 'Отслеживание багажа',
   'admin.bagTracking.subtitle': 'Включить вес и привязку к багажу для вещей',
   'admin.collab.chat.title': 'Чат',
diff --git a/client/src/i18n/translations/zh.ts b/client/src/i18n/translations/zh.ts
index 60aacb85..98d5b4db 100644
--- a/client/src/i18n/translations/zh.ts
+++ b/client/src/i18n/translations/zh.ts
@@ -546,6 +546,12 @@ const zh: Record<string, string> = {
   'admin.fileTypesFormat': '以逗号分隔的扩展名（如 jpg,png,pdf,doc）。使用 * 允许所有类型。',
   'admin.fileTypesSaved': '文件类型设置已保存',
 
+  'admin.placesPhotos.title': '地点照片',
+  'admin.placesPhotos.subtitle': '从 Google Places API 获取照片。禁用可节省 API 配额。Wikimedia 照片不受影响。',
+  'admin.placesAutocomplete.title': '地点自动补全',
+  'admin.placesAutocomplete.subtitle': '使用 Google Places API 提供搜索建议。禁用可节省 API 配额。',
+  'admin.placesDetails.title': '地点详情',
+  'admin.placesDetails.subtitle': '从 Google Places API 获取地点详细信息（营业时间、评分、网站）。禁用可节省 API 配额。',
   'admin.bagTracking.title': '行李追踪',
   'admin.bagTracking.subtitle': '为打包物品启用重量和行李分配',
   'admin.collab.chat.title': '聊天',
diff --git a/client/src/i18n/translations/zhTw.ts b/client/src/i18n/translations/zhTw.ts
index 50a0f6b1..9d83ae40 100644
--- a/client/src/i18n/translations/zhTw.ts
+++ b/client/src/i18n/translations/zhTw.ts
@@ -606,6 +606,12 @@ const zhTw: Record<string, string> = {
   'admin.fileTypesFormat': '以逗號分隔的副檔名（如 jpg,png,pdf,doc）。使用 * 允許所有型別。',
   'admin.fileTypesSaved': '檔案型別設定已儲存',
 
+  'admin.placesPhotos.title': '地點照片',
+  'admin.placesPhotos.subtitle': '從 Google Places API 獲取照片。停用可節省 API 配額。Wikimedia 照片不受影響。',
+  'admin.placesAutocomplete.title': '地點自動補全',
+  'admin.placesAutocomplete.subtitle': '使用 Google Places API 提供搜尋建議。停用可節省 API 配額。',
+  'admin.placesDetails.title': '地點詳情',
+  'admin.placesDetails.subtitle': '從 Google Places API 獲取地點詳細資訊（營業時間、評分、網站）。停用可節省 API 配額。',
   'admin.bagTracking.title': '行李追蹤',
   'admin.bagTracking.subtitle': '為打包物品啟用重量和行李分配',
   'admin.collab.chat.title': '聊天',
diff --git a/client/src/pages/AdminPage.tsx b/client/src/pages/AdminPage.tsx
index d758082a..9b976734 100644
--- a/client/src/pages/AdminPage.tsx
+++ b/client/src/pages/AdminPage.tsx
@@ -194,6 +194,18 @@ export default function AdminPage(): React.ReactElement {
   const [bagTrackingEnabled, setBagTrackingEnabled] = useState<boolean>(false)
   useEffect(() => { adminApi.getBagTracking().then(d => setBagTrackingEnabled(d.enabled)).catch(() => {}) }, [])
 
+  // Places photos
+  const [placesPhotosEnabled, setPlacesPhotosEnabledState] = useState<boolean>(true)
+  useEffect(() => { adminApi.getPlacesPhotos().then(d => setPlacesPhotosEnabledState(d.enabled)).catch(() => {}) }, [])
+
+  // Places autocomplete
+  const [placesAutocompleteEnabled, setPlacesAutocompleteEnabledState] = useState<boolean>(true)
+  useEffect(() => { adminApi.getPlacesAutocomplete().then(d => setPlacesAutocompleteEnabledState(d.enabled)).catch(() => {}) }, [])
+
+  // Places details
+  const [placesDetailsEnabled, setPlacesDetailsEnabledState] = useState<boolean>(true)
+  useEffect(() => { adminApi.getPlacesDetails().then(d => setPlacesDetailsEnabledState(d.enabled)).catch(() => {}) }, [])
+
   // Collab features
   const [collabFeatures, setCollabFeatures] = useState<{ chat: boolean; notes: boolean; polls: boolean; whatsnext: boolean }>({ chat: true, notes: true, polls: true, whatsnext: true })
   useEffect(() => { adminApi.getCollabFeatures().then(d => setCollabFeatures(d)).catch(() => {}) }, [])
@@ -242,7 +254,7 @@ export default function AdminPage(): React.ReactElement {
   const [updateInfo, setUpdateInfo] = useState<UpdateInfo | null>(null)
   const [showUpdateModal, setShowUpdateModal] = useState<boolean>(false)
 
-  const { user: currentUser, updateApiKeys, setAppRequireMfa, setTripRemindersEnabled, logout } = useAuthStore()
+  const { user: currentUser, updateApiKeys, setAppRequireMfa, setTripRemindersEnabled, setPlacesPhotosEnabled, setPlacesAutocompleteEnabled, setPlacesDetailsEnabled, logout } = useAuthStore()
   const navigate = useNavigate()
   const toast = useToast()
 
@@ -1023,6 +1035,66 @@ export default function AdminPage(): React.ReactElement {
                     )}
                   </div>
 
+                  {/* Place Photos Toggle */}
+                  <div className="flex items-center justify-between py-3 border-t border-slate-100">
+                    <div>
+                      <p className="text-sm font-medium text-slate-700">{t('admin.placesPhotos.title')}</p>
+                      <p className="text-xs text-slate-400 mt-0.5">{t('admin.placesPhotos.subtitle')}</p>
+                    </div>
+                    <button
+                      onClick={async () => {
+                        const next = !placesPhotosEnabled
+                        setPlacesPhotosEnabledState(next)
+                        setPlacesPhotosEnabled(next)
+                        try { await adminApi.updatePlacesPhotos(next) } catch { setPlacesPhotosEnabledState(!next); setPlacesPhotosEnabled(!next) }
+                      }}
+                      className="relative inline-flex h-6 w-11 items-center rounded-full transition-colors"
+                      style={{ background: placesPhotosEnabled ? 'var(--text-primary)' : 'var(--border-primary)' }}
+                    >
+                      <span className="absolute left-0.5 h-5 w-5 rounded-full bg-white transition-transform duration-200" style={{ transform: placesPhotosEnabled ? 'translateX(20px)' : 'translateX(0)' }} />
+                    </button>
+                  </div>
+
+                  {/* Place Autocomplete Toggle */}
+                  <div className="flex items-center justify-between py-3 border-t border-slate-100">
+                    <div>
+                      <p className="text-sm font-medium text-slate-700">{t('admin.placesAutocomplete.title')}</p>
+                      <p className="text-xs text-slate-400 mt-0.5">{t('admin.placesAutocomplete.subtitle')}</p>
+                    </div>
+                    <button
+                      onClick={async () => {
+                        const next = !placesAutocompleteEnabled
+                        setPlacesAutocompleteEnabledState(next)
+                        setPlacesAutocompleteEnabled(next)
+                        try { await adminApi.updatePlacesAutocomplete(next) } catch { setPlacesAutocompleteEnabledState(!next); setPlacesAutocompleteEnabled(!next) }
+                      }}
+                      className="relative inline-flex h-6 w-11 items-center rounded-full transition-colors"
+                      style={{ background: placesAutocompleteEnabled ? 'var(--text-primary)' : 'var(--border-primary)' }}
+                    >
+                      <span className="absolute left-0.5 h-5 w-5 rounded-full bg-white transition-transform duration-200" style={{ transform: placesAutocompleteEnabled ? 'translateX(20px)' : 'translateX(0)' }} />
+                    </button>
+                  </div>
+
+                  {/* Place Details Toggle */}
+                  <div className="flex items-center justify-between py-3 border-t border-slate-100">
+                    <div>
+                      <p className="text-sm font-medium text-slate-700">{t('admin.placesDetails.title')}</p>
+                      <p className="text-xs text-slate-400 mt-0.5">{t('admin.placesDetails.subtitle')}</p>
+                    </div>
+                    <button
+                      onClick={async () => {
+                        const next = !placesDetailsEnabled
+                        setPlacesDetailsEnabledState(next)
+                        setPlacesDetailsEnabled(next)
+                        try { await adminApi.updatePlacesDetails(next) } catch { setPlacesDetailsEnabledState(!next); setPlacesDetailsEnabled(!next) }
+                      }}
+                      className="relative inline-flex h-6 w-11 items-center rounded-full transition-colors"
+                      style={{ background: placesDetailsEnabled ? 'var(--text-primary)' : 'var(--border-primary)' }}
+                    >
+                      <span className="absolute left-0.5 h-5 w-5 rounded-full bg-white transition-transform duration-200" style={{ transform: placesDetailsEnabled ? 'translateX(20px)' : 'translateX(0)' }} />
+                    </button>
+                  </div>
+
                   {/* Open-Meteo Weather Info */}
                   <div className="rounded-lg border border-emerald-200 bg-emerald-50 dark:bg-emerald-950/30 dark:border-emerald-800 overflow-hidden">
                     <div className="px-4 py-3 flex items-center justify-between">
diff --git a/client/src/pages/TripPlannerPage.tsx b/client/src/pages/TripPlannerPage.tsx
index 5c24201d..020be261 100644
--- a/client/src/pages/TripPlannerPage.tsx
+++ b/client/src/pages/TripPlannerPage.tsx
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import { useTranslation } from '../i18n'
 import { addonsApi, accommodationsApi, authApi, tripsApi, assignmentsApi, mapsApi } from '../api/client'
 import { accommodationRepo } from '../repo/accommodationRepo'
 import { offlineDb } from '../db/offlineDb'
+import { useAuthStore } from '../store/authStore'
 import ConfirmDialog from '../components/shared/ConfirmDialog'
 import { useResizablePanels } from '../hooks/useResizablePanels'
 import { useTripWebSocket } from '../hooks/useTripWebSocket'
@@ -75,6 +76,7 @@ export default function TripPlannerPage(): React.ReactElement | null {
   const toast = useToast()
   const { t, language } = useTranslation()
   const { settings } = useSettingsStore()
+  const placesPhotosEnabled = useAuthStore(s => s.placesPhotosEnabled)
   const trip = useTripStore(s => s.trip)
   const days = useTripStore(s => s.days)
   const places = useTripStore(s => s.places)
@@ -178,7 +180,7 @@ export default function TripPlannerPage(): React.ReactElement | null {
 
   // Start photo fetches during splash screen so images are ready when map mounts
   useEffect(() => {
-    if (isLoading || !places || places.length === 0) return
+    if (isLoading || !places || places.length === 0 || !placesPhotosEnabled) return
     for (const p of places) {
       if (p.image_url) continue
       const cacheKey = p.google_place_id || p.osm_id || `${p.lat},${p.lng}`
@@ -900,7 +902,7 @@ export default function TripPlannerPage(): React.ReactElement | null {
                   </div>
                   <div style={{ flex: 1, overflow: 'auto' }}>
                     {mobileSidebarOpen === 'left'
-                      ? <DayPlanSidebar tripId={tripId} trip={trip} days={days} places={places} categories={categories} assignments={assignments} selectedDayId={selectedDayId} selectedPlaceId={selectedPlaceId} selectedAssignmentId={selectedAssignmentId} onSelectDay={(id) => { handleSelectDay(id); setMobileSidebarOpen(null) }} onPlaceClick={(placeId, assignmentId) => { handlePlaceClick(placeId, assignmentId); setMobileSidebarOpen(null) }} onReorder={handleReorder} onUpdateDayTitle={handleUpdateDayTitle} onAssignToDay={handleAssignToDay} onRouteCalculated={(r) => { if (r) { setRoute(r.coordinates); setRouteInfo({ distance: r.distanceText, duration: r.durationText }) } }} reservations={reservations} onAddReservation={(dayId) => { setEditingReservation(null); tripActions.setSelectedDay(dayId); setShowReservationModal(true); setMobileSidebarOpen(null) }} onAddPlace={() => { setEditingPlace(null); setShowPlaceForm(true); setMobileSidebarOpen(null) }} onDayDetail={(day) => { setShowDayDetail(day); setSelectedPlaceId(null); setSelectedAssignmentId(null); setMobileSidebarOpen(null) }} accommodations={tripAccommodations} onNavigateToFiles={() => { setMobileSidebarOpen(null); handleTabChange('dateien') }} onExpandedDaysChange={setExpandedDayIds} pushUndo={pushUndo} canUndo={canUndo} lastActionLabel={lastActionLabel} onUndo={handleUndo} />
+                      ? <DayPlanSidebar tripId={tripId} trip={trip} days={days} places={places} categories={categories} assignments={assignments} selectedDayId={selectedDayId} selectedPlaceId={selectedPlaceId} selectedAssignmentId={selectedAssignmentId} onSelectDay={(id) => { handleSelectDay(id); setMobileSidebarOpen(null) }} onPlaceClick={(placeId, assignmentId) => { handlePlaceClick(placeId, assignmentId); setMobileSidebarOpen(null) }} onReorder={handleReorder} onUpdateDayTitle={handleUpdateDayTitle} onAssignToDay={handleAssignToDay} onRouteCalculated={(r) => { if (r) { setRoute(r.coordinates); setRouteInfo({ distance: r.distanceText, duration: r.durationText }) } }} reservations={reservations} onAddReservation={(dayId) => { setEditingReservation(null); tripActions.setSelectedDay(dayId); setShowReservationModal(true); setMobileSidebarOpen(null) }} onAddPlace={() => { setEditingPlace(null); setShowPlaceForm(true); setMobileSidebarOpen(null) }} onDayDetail={(day) => { setShowDayDetail(day); setSelectedPlaceId(null); selectAssignment(null); setMobileSidebarOpen(null) }} accommodations={tripAccommodations} onNavigateToFiles={() => { setMobileSidebarOpen(null); handleTabChange('dateien') }} onExpandedDaysChange={setExpandedDayIds} pushUndo={pushUndo} canUndo={canUndo} lastActionLabel={lastActionLabel} onUndo={handleUndo} />
                       : <PlacesSidebar tripId={tripId} places={places} categories={categories} assignments={assignments} selectedDayId={selectedDayId} selectedPlaceId={selectedPlaceId} onPlaceClick={(placeId) => { handlePlaceClick(placeId); setMobileSidebarOpen(null) }} onAddPlace={() => { setEditingPlace(null); setShowPlaceForm(true); setMobileSidebarOpen(null) }} onAssignToDay={handleAssignToDay} onEditPlace={(place) => { setEditingPlace(place); setEditingAssignmentId(null); setShowPlaceForm(true); setMobileSidebarOpen(null) }} onDeletePlace={(placeId) => handleDeletePlace(placeId)} days={days} isMobile onCategoryFilterChange={setMapCategoryFilter} onPlacesFilterChange={setMapPlacesFilter} pushUndo={pushUndo} />
                     }
                   </div>
diff --git a/client/src/services/photoService.ts b/client/src/services/photoService.ts
index d5fc3682..c80c7fa4 100644
--- a/client/src/services/photoService.ts
+++ b/client/src/services/photoService.ts
@@ -85,6 +85,19 @@ export function fetchPhoto(
     return
   }
 
+  // If photoId is already our stable proxy URL, use it directly — no API round-trip needed
+  if (photoId && photoId.startsWith('/api/maps/place-photo/')) {
+    const entry: PhotoEntry = { photoUrl: photoId, thumbDataUrl: null }
+    cache.set(cacheKey, entry)
+    callback?.(entry)
+    notify(cacheKey, entry)
+    // Generate base64 thumb in background
+    urlToBase64(photoId).then(thumb => {
+      if (thumb) { entry.thumbDataUrl = thumb; notifyThumb(cacheKey, thumb) }
+    })
+    return
+  }
+
   inFlight.add(cacheKey)
   mapsApi.placePhoto(photoId, lat, lng, name)
     .then(async (data: { photoUrl?: string }) => {
diff --git a/client/src/store/authStore.ts b/client/src/store/authStore.ts
index 74fe01e1..8d8c342d 100644
--- a/client/src/store/authStore.ts
+++ b/client/src/store/authStore.ts
@@ -33,6 +33,9 @@ interface AuthState {
   /** Server policy: all users must enable MFA */
   appRequireMfa: boolean
   tripRemindersEnabled: boolean
+  placesPhotosEnabled: boolean
+  placesAutocompleteEnabled: boolean
+  placesDetailsEnabled: boolean
 
   login: (email: string, password: string) => Promise<LoginResult>
   completeMfaLogin: (mfaToken: string, code: string) => Promise<AuthResponse>
@@ -53,6 +56,9 @@ interface AuthState {
   setServerTimezone: (tz: string) => void
   setAppRequireMfa: (val: boolean) => void
   setTripRemindersEnabled: (val: boolean) => void
+  setPlacesPhotosEnabled: (val: boolean) => void
+  setPlacesAutocompleteEnabled: (val: boolean) => void
+  setPlacesDetailsEnabled: (val: boolean) => void
   demoLogin: () => Promise<AuthResponse>
 }
 
@@ -74,6 +80,9 @@ export const useAuthStore = create<AuthState>()(
   serverTimezone: Intl.DateTimeFormat().resolvedOptions().timeZone,
   appRequireMfa: false,
   tripRemindersEnabled: false,
+  placesPhotosEnabled: true,
+  placesAutocompleteEnabled: true,
+  placesDetailsEnabled: true,
 
   login: async (email: string, password: string) => {
     authSequence++
@@ -257,6 +266,9 @@ export const useAuthStore = create<AuthState>()(
   setServerTimezone: (tz: string) => set({ serverTimezone: tz }),
   setAppRequireMfa: (val: boolean) => set({ appRequireMfa: val }),
   setTripRemindersEnabled: (val: boolean) => set({ tripRemindersEnabled: val }),
+  setPlacesPhotosEnabled: (val: boolean) => set({ placesPhotosEnabled: val }),
+  setPlacesAutocompleteEnabled: (val: boolean) => set({ placesAutocompleteEnabled: val }),
+  setPlacesDetailsEnabled: (val: boolean) => set({ placesDetailsEnabled: val }),
 
   demoLogin: async () => {
     authSequence++
diff --git a/server/src/db/migrations.ts b/server/src/db/migrations.ts
index e79decef..d4786fa4 100644
--- a/server/src/db/migrations.ts
+++ b/server/src/db/migrations.ts
@@ -1634,6 +1634,45 @@ function runMigrations(db: Database.Database): void {
       try { db.exec('ALTER TABLE trip_album_links ADD COLUMN passphrase TEXT DEFAULT NULL'); } catch (err: any) { if (!err.message?.includes('duplicate column name')) throw err; }
       try { db.exec('ALTER TABLE trek_photos ADD COLUMN passphrase TEXT DEFAULT NULL'); } catch (err: any) { if (!err.message?.includes('duplicate column name')) throw err; }
     },
+    // Migration 105: Persistent Google place photo disk cache registry
+    () => {
+      db.exec(`
+        CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS google_place_photo_meta (
+          place_id   TEXT    PRIMARY KEY,
+          attribution TEXT,
+          fetched_at INTEGER NOT NULL,
+          error_at   INTEGER
+        )
+      `);
+    },
+    // Migration 106: Persistent Place Details row cache
+    () => {
+      db.exec(`
+        CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS place_details_cache (
+          place_id   TEXT    NOT NULL,
+          lang       TEXT    NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
+          expanded   INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
+          payload_json TEXT  NOT NULL,
+          fetched_at INTEGER NOT NULL,
+          PRIMARY KEY (place_id, lang, expanded)
+        )
+      `);
+    },
+    // Migration 107: Backfill expired signed Google photo URLs to stable proxy URLs
+    { raw: () => {
+      db.exec(`
+        UPDATE places
+        SET image_url = '/api/maps/place-photo/' || google_place_id || '/bytes',
+            updated_at = CURRENT_TIMESTAMP
+        WHERE google_place_id IS NOT NULL
+          AND image_url IS NOT NULL
+          AND image_url != ''
+          AND (
+            (image_url LIKE '%googleusercontent.com%' AND image_url LIKE '%/places/%/photos/%')
+            OR (image_url LIKE '%places.googleapis.com%' AND image_url LIKE '%/places/%/photos/%')
+          )
+      `);
+    }},
   ];
 
   if (currentVersion < migrations.length) {
diff --git a/server/src/routes/admin.ts b/server/src/routes/admin.ts
index ab873e52..1c9c2aca 100644
--- a/server/src/routes/admin.ts
+++ b/server/src/routes/admin.ts
@@ -201,6 +201,63 @@ router.put('/bag-tracking', (req: Request, res: Response) => {
   res.json(result);
 });
 
+// ── Places Photos ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+router.get('/places-photos', (_req: Request, res: Response) => {
+  res.json(svc.getPlacesPhotos());
+});
+
+router.put('/places-photos', (req: Request, res: Response) => {
+  if (typeof req.body.enabled !== 'boolean') return res.status(400).json({ error: 'enabled must be a boolean' });
+  const result = svc.updatePlacesPhotos(req.body.enabled);
+  const authReq = req as AuthRequest;
+  writeAudit({
+    userId: authReq.user.id,
+    action: 'admin.places_photos',
+    ip: getClientIp(req),
+    details: { enabled: result.enabled },
+  });
+  res.json(result);
+});
+
+// ── Places Autocomplete ──────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+router.get('/places-autocomplete', (_req: Request, res: Response) => {
+  res.json(svc.getPlacesAutocomplete());
+});
+
+router.put('/places-autocomplete', (req: Request, res: Response) => {
+  if (typeof req.body.enabled !== 'boolean') return res.status(400).json({ error: 'enabled must be a boolean' });
+  const result = svc.updatePlacesAutocomplete(req.body.enabled);
+  const authReq = req as AuthRequest;
+  writeAudit({
+    userId: authReq.user.id,
+    action: 'admin.places_autocomplete',
+    ip: getClientIp(req),
+    details: { enabled: result.enabled },
+  });
+  res.json(result);
+});
+
+// ── Places Details ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+router.get('/places-details', (_req: Request, res: Response) => {
+  res.json(svc.getPlacesDetails());
+});
+
+router.put('/places-details', (req: Request, res: Response) => {
+  if (typeof req.body.enabled !== 'boolean') return res.status(400).json({ error: 'enabled must be a boolean' });
+  const result = svc.updatePlacesDetails(req.body.enabled);
+  const authReq = req as AuthRequest;
+  writeAudit({
+    userId: authReq.user.id,
+    action: 'admin.places_details',
+    ip: getClientIp(req),
+    details: { enabled: result.enabled },
+  });
+  res.json(result);
+});
+
 // ── Collab Features ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 router.get('/collab-features', (_req: Request, res: Response) => {
diff --git a/server/src/routes/maps.ts b/server/src/routes/maps.ts
index 57867095..427d4500 100644
--- a/server/src/routes/maps.ts
+++ b/server/src/routes/maps.ts
@@ -4,11 +4,14 @@ import { AuthRequest } from '../types';
 import {
   searchPlaces,
   getPlaceDetails,
+  getPlaceDetailsExpanded,
   getPlacePhoto,
   reverseGeocode,
   resolveGoogleMapsUrl,
   autocompletePlaces,
 } from '../services/mapsService';
+import { db } from '../db/database';
+import { serveFilePath } from '../services/placePhotoCache';
 
 const router = express.Router();
 
@@ -32,6 +35,9 @@ router.post('/search', authenticate, async (req: Request, res: Response) => {
 
 // POST /autocomplete
 router.post('/autocomplete', authenticate, async (req: Request, res: Response) => {
+  const autocompleteEnabledRow = db.prepare("SELECT value FROM app_settings WHERE key = 'places_autocomplete_enabled'").get() as { value: string } | undefined;
+  if (autocompleteEnabledRow?.value === 'false') return res.status(200).json({ suggestions: [], source: 'disabled' });
+
   const authReq = req as AuthRequest;
   const { input, lang, locationBias } = req.body;
 
@@ -70,11 +76,18 @@ router.post('/autocomplete', authenticate, async (req: Request, res: Response) =
 
 // GET /details/:placeId
 router.get('/details/:placeId', authenticate, async (req: Request, res: Response) => {
+  const detailsEnabledRow = db.prepare("SELECT value FROM app_settings WHERE key = 'places_details_enabled'").get() as { value: string } | undefined;
+  if (detailsEnabledRow?.value === 'false') return res.status(200).json({ place: null, disabled: true });
+
   const authReq = req as AuthRequest;
   const { placeId } = req.params;
+  const expand = req.query.expand as string | undefined;
 
   try {
-    const result = await getPlaceDetails(authReq.user.id, placeId, req.query.lang as string);
+    const refresh = req.query.refresh === '1';
+    const result = expand
+      ? await getPlaceDetailsExpanded(authReq.user.id, placeId, req.query.lang as string, refresh)
+      : await getPlaceDetails(authReq.user.id, placeId, req.query.lang as string);
     res.json(result);
   } catch (err: unknown) {
     const status = (err as { status?: number }).status || 500;
@@ -88,6 +101,12 @@ router.get('/details/:placeId', authenticate, async (req: Request, res: Response
 router.get('/place-photo/:placeId', authenticate, async (req: Request, res: Response) => {
   const authReq = req as AuthRequest;
   const { placeId } = req.params;
+
+  // Kill-switch only applies to Google Places API fetches — Wikimedia (coords: prefix) is always allowed
+  if (!placeId.startsWith('coords:')) {
+    const photosEnabledRow = db.prepare("SELECT value FROM app_settings WHERE key = 'places_photos_enabled'").get() as { value: string } | undefined;
+    if (photosEnabledRow?.value === 'false') return res.status(200).json({ photoUrl: null });
+  }
   const lat = parseFloat(req.query.lat as string);
   const lng = parseFloat(req.query.lng as string);
 
@@ -102,6 +121,15 @@ router.get('/place-photo/:placeId', authenticate, async (req: Request, res: Resp
   }
 });
 
+// GET /place-photo/:placeId/bytes — serve cached photo bytes from disk
+router.get('/place-photo/:placeId/bytes', authenticate, (req: Request, res: Response) => {
+  const { placeId } = req.params;
+  const fp = serveFilePath(placeId);
+  if (!fp) return res.status(404).json({ error: 'Photo not cached' });
+  res.set('Cache-Control', 'public, max-age=2592000, immutable');
+  res.sendFile(fp);
+});
+
 // GET /reverse
 router.get('/reverse', authenticate, async (req: Request, res: Response) => {
   const { lat, lng, lang } = req.query as { lat: string; lng: string; lang?: string };
diff --git a/server/src/services/adminService.ts b/server/src/services/adminService.ts
index 81674b54..66a2d349 100644
--- a/server/src/services/adminService.ts
+++ b/server/src/services/adminService.ts
@@ -459,6 +459,42 @@ export function updateBagTracking(enabled: boolean) {
   return { enabled: !!enabled };
 }
 
+// ── Places Photos ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+export function getPlacesPhotos() {
+  const row = db.prepare("SELECT value FROM app_settings WHERE key = 'places_photos_enabled'").get() as { value: string } | undefined;
+  return { enabled: row?.value !== 'false' };
+}
+
+export function updatePlacesPhotos(enabled: boolean) {
+  db.prepare("INSERT OR REPLACE INTO app_settings (key, value) VALUES ('places_photos_enabled', ?)").run(enabled ? 'true' : 'false');
+  return { enabled: !!enabled };
+}
+
+// ── Places Autocomplete ────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+export function getPlacesAutocomplete() {
+  const row = db.prepare("SELECT value FROM app_settings WHERE key = 'places_autocomplete_enabled'").get() as { value: string } | undefined;
+  return { enabled: row?.value !== 'false' };
+}
+
+export function updatePlacesAutocomplete(enabled: boolean) {
+  db.prepare("INSERT OR REPLACE INTO app_settings (key, value) VALUES ('places_autocomplete_enabled', ?)").run(enabled ? 'true' : 'false');
+  return { enabled: !!enabled };
+}
+
+// ── Places Details ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+export function getPlacesDetails() {
+  const row = db.prepare("SELECT value FROM app_settings WHERE key = 'places_details_enabled'").get() as { value: string } | undefined;
+  return { enabled: row?.value !== 'false' };
+}
+
+export function updatePlacesDetails(enabled: boolean) {
+  db.prepare("INSERT OR REPLACE INTO app_settings (key, value) VALUES ('places_details_enabled', ?)").run(enabled ? 'true' : 'false');
+  return { enabled: !!enabled };
+}
+
 // ── Collab Features ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 const COLLAB_FEATURE_KEYS = ['collab_chat_enabled', 'collab_notes_enabled', 'collab_polls_enabled', 'collab_whatsnext_enabled'] as const;
diff --git a/server/src/services/authService.ts b/server/src/services/authService.ts
index 33660c58..b091bf58 100644
--- a/server/src/services/authService.ts
+++ b/server/src/services/authService.ts
@@ -229,6 +229,12 @@ export function getAppConfig(authenticatedUser: { id: number } | null) {
   const activeChannels = notifChannelsRaw === 'none' ? [] : notifChannelsRaw.split(',').map((c: string) => c.trim()).filter(Boolean);
   const hasWebhookEnabled = activeChannels.includes('webhook');
   const tripRemindersEnabled = tripReminderSetting !== 'false';
+  const placesPhotosSetting = (db.prepare("SELECT value FROM app_settings WHERE key = 'places_photos_enabled'").get() as { value: string } | undefined)?.value;
+  const placesPhotosEnabled = placesPhotosSetting !== 'false';
+  const placesAutocompleteSetting = (db.prepare("SELECT value FROM app_settings WHERE key = 'places_autocomplete_enabled'").get() as { value: string } | undefined)?.value;
+  const placesAutocompleteEnabled = placesAutocompleteSetting !== 'false';
+  const placesDetailsSetting = (db.prepare("SELECT value FROM app_settings WHERE key = 'places_details_enabled'").get() as { value: string } | undefined)?.value;
+  const placesDetailsEnabled = placesDetailsSetting !== 'false';
   const setupComplete = userCount > 0 && !(db.prepare("SELECT id FROM users WHERE role = 'admin' AND must_change_password = 1 LIMIT 1").get());
 
   return {
@@ -258,6 +264,9 @@ export function getAppConfig(authenticatedUser: { id: number } | null) {
     notification_channels: activeChannels,
     available_channels: { email: hasSmtpHost, webhook: hasWebhookEnabled, inapp: true },
     trip_reminders_enabled: tripRemindersEnabled,
+    places_photos_enabled: placesPhotosEnabled,
+    places_autocomplete_enabled: placesAutocompleteEnabled,
+    places_details_enabled: placesDetailsEnabled,
     permissions: authenticatedUser ? getAllPermissions() : undefined,
     dev_mode: process.env.NODE_ENV === 'development',
   };
diff --git a/server/src/services/mapsService.ts b/server/src/services/mapsService.ts
index ca886cea..30827857 100644
--- a/server/src/services/mapsService.ts
+++ b/server/src/services/mapsService.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,19 @@ import { db } from '../db/database';
 import { decrypt_api_key } from './apiKeyCrypto';
 import { checkSsrf } from '../utils/ssrfGuard';
 
+// ── Google API call counter ───────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+let googleApiCallCount = 0;
+
+export function getGoogleApiCallCount(): number { return googleApiCallCount; }
+export function resetGoogleApiCallCount(): void { googleApiCallCount = 0; }
+
+function googleFetch(endpoint: string, label: string, init?: RequestInit): Promise<Response> {
+  googleApiCallCount++;
+  console.debug(`[Google API] #${googleApiCallCount} ${label} → ${endpoint}`);
+  return fetch(endpoint, init);
+}
+
 // ── Interfaces ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 interface NominatimResult {
@@ -55,26 +68,8 @@ interface GooglePlaceDetails extends GooglePlaceResult {
 
 const UA = 'TREK Travel Planner (https://github.com/mauriceboe/TREK)';
 
-// ── Photo cache ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-
-const photoCache = new Map<string, { photoUrl: string; attribution: string | null; fetchedAt: number; error?: boolean }>();
-const PHOTO_TTL = 12 * 60 * 60 * 1000; // 12 hours
-const ERROR_TTL = 5 * 60 * 1000; // 5 min for errors
-const CACHE_MAX_ENTRIES = 1000;
-const CACHE_PRUNE_TARGET = 500;
-const CACHE_CLEANUP_INTERVAL = 5 * 60 * 1000; // 5 minutes
-
-setInterval(() => {
-  const now = Date.now();
-  for (const [key, entry] of photoCache) {
-    if (now - entry.fetchedAt > PHOTO_TTL) photoCache.delete(key);
-  }
-  if (photoCache.size > CACHE_MAX_ENTRIES) {
-    const entries = [...photoCache.entries()].sort((a, b) => a[1].fetchedAt - b[1].fetchedAt);
-    const toDelete = entries.slice(0, entries.length - CACHE_PRUNE_TARGET);
-    toDelete.forEach(([key]) => photoCache.delete(key));
-  }
-}, CACHE_CLEANUP_INTERVAL);
+// ── Photo cache (disk-backed) ────────────────────────────────────────────────
+import * as placePhotoCache from './placePhotoCache';
 
 // ── API key retrieval ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
@@ -311,7 +306,7 @@ export async function searchPlaces(userId: number, query: string, lang?: string)
     return { places, source: 'openstreetmap' };
   }
 
-  const response = await fetch('https://places.googleapis.com/v1/places:searchText', {
+  const response = await googleFetch('https://places.googleapis.com/v1/places:searchText', 'searchText', {
     method: 'POST',
     headers: {
       'Content-Type': 'application/json',
@@ -371,7 +366,7 @@ export async function autocompletePlaces(
     };
   }
 
-  const response = await fetch('https://places.googleapis.com/v1/places:autocomplete', {
+  const response = await googleFetch('https://places.googleapis.com/v1/places:autocomplete', 'autocomplete', {
     method: 'POST',
     headers: {
       'Content-Type': 'application/json',
@@ -451,12 +446,79 @@ export async function getPlaceDetails(userId: number, placeId: string, lang?: st
   }
 
   // Google details
+  const langKey = lang || 'de';
   const apiKey = getMapsKey(userId);
   if (!apiKey) {
     throw Object.assign(new Error('Google Maps API key not configured'), { status: 400 });
   }
 
-  const response = await fetch(`https://places.googleapis.com/v1/places/${placeId}?languageCode=${lang || 'de'}`, {
+  // Check DB cache first (lean mask, expanded=0) — 7-day TTL
+  const DETAILS_TTL = 7 * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000;
+  const cached = db.prepare(
+    'SELECT payload_json, fetched_at FROM place_details_cache WHERE place_id = ? AND lang = ? AND expanded = 0'
+  ).get(placeId, langKey) as { payload_json: string; fetched_at: number } | undefined;
+  if (cached && Date.now() - cached.fetched_at < DETAILS_TTL) return { place: JSON.parse(cached.payload_json) };
+
+  const response = await googleFetch(`https://places.googleapis.com/v1/places/${placeId}?languageCode=${langKey}`, `getPlaceDetails(${placeId})`, {
+    method: 'GET',
+    headers: {
+      'X-Goog-Api-Key': apiKey,
+      'X-Goog-FieldMask': 'id,displayName,formattedAddress,location,rating,userRatingCount,websiteUri,nationalPhoneNumber,regularOpeningHours,googleMapsUri',
+    },
+  });
+
+  const data = await response.json() as GooglePlaceDetails & { error?: { message?: string } };
+
+  if (!response.ok) {
+    const err = new Error(data.error?.message || 'Google Places API error') as Error & { status: number };
+    err.status = response.status;
+    throw err;
+  }
+
+  const place = {
+    google_place_id: data.id,
+    name: data.displayName?.text || '',
+    address: data.formattedAddress || '',
+    lat: data.location?.latitude || null,
+    lng: data.location?.longitude || null,
+    rating: data.rating || null,
+    rating_count: data.userRatingCount || null,
+    website: data.websiteUri || null,
+    phone: data.nationalPhoneNumber || null,
+    opening_hours: data.regularOpeningHours?.weekdayDescriptions || null,
+    open_now: data.regularOpeningHours?.openNow ?? null,
+    google_maps_url: data.googleMapsUri || null,
+    summary: null,
+    reviews: [],
+    source: 'google' as const,
+    cached_at: Date.now(),
+  };
+
+  try {
+    db.prepare(
+      'INSERT OR REPLACE INTO place_details_cache (place_id, lang, expanded, payload_json, fetched_at) VALUES (?, ?, 0, ?, ?)'
+    ).run(placeId, langKey, JSON.stringify(place), Date.now());
+  } catch (dbErr) {
+    console.error('Failed to cache place details:', dbErr);
+  }
+
+  return { place };
+}
+
+export async function getPlaceDetailsExpanded(userId: number, placeId: string, lang?: string, refresh = false): Promise<{ place: Record<string, unknown> }> {
+  const langKey = lang || 'de';
+  const apiKey = getMapsKey(userId);
+  if (!apiKey) throw Object.assign(new Error('Google Maps API key not configured'), { status: 400 });
+
+  // Check DB cache for expanded result
+  if (!refresh) {
+    const cached = db.prepare(
+      'SELECT payload_json FROM place_details_cache WHERE place_id = ? AND lang = ? AND expanded = 1'
+    ).get(placeId, langKey) as { payload_json: string } | undefined;
+    if (cached) return { place: JSON.parse(cached.payload_json) };
+  }
+
+  const response = await googleFetch(`https://places.googleapis.com/v1/places/${placeId}?languageCode=${langKey}`, `getPlaceDetailsExpanded(${placeId})`, {
     method: 'GET',
     headers: {
       'X-Goog-Api-Key': apiKey,
@@ -494,12 +556,21 @@ export async function getPlaceDetails(userId: number, placeId: string, lang?: st
       photo: r.authorAttribution?.photoUri || null,
     })),
     source: 'google' as const,
+    cached_at: Date.now(),
   };
 
+  try {
+    db.prepare(
+      'INSERT OR REPLACE INTO place_details_cache (place_id, lang, expanded, payload_json, fetched_at) VALUES (?, ?, 1, ?, ?)'
+    ).run(placeId, langKey, JSON.stringify(place), Date.now());
+  } catch (dbErr) {
+    console.error('Failed to cache expanded place details:', dbErr);
+  }
+
   return { place };
 }
 
-// ── Place photo (Google or Wikimedia, with caching + DB persistence) ─────────
+// ── Place photo (Google or Wikimedia, disk-cached) ────────────────────────────
 
 export async function getPlacePhoto(
   userId: number,
@@ -508,84 +579,110 @@ export async function getPlacePhoto(
   lng: number,
   name?: string,
 ): Promise<{ photoUrl: string; attribution: string | null }> {
-  // Check cache first
-  const cached = photoCache.get(placeId);
-  if (cached) {
-    const ttl = cached.error ? ERROR_TTL : PHOTO_TTL;
-    if (Date.now() - cached.fetchedAt < ttl) {
-      if (cached.error) throw Object.assign(new Error('(Cache) No photo available'), { status: 404 });
-      return { photoUrl: cached.photoUrl, attribution: cached.attribution };
+  // Disk cache hit — serve immediately, no Google call
+  const diskHit = placePhotoCache.get(placeId);
+  if (diskHit) return { photoUrl: diskHit.photoUrl, attribution: diskHit.attribution };
+
+  // Recent error — don't hammer the API
+  if (placePhotoCache.getErrored(placeId)) {
+    throw Object.assign(new Error('(Cache) No photo available'), { status: 404 });
+  }
+
+  // Deduplicate concurrent requests for the same placeId
+  const existing = placePhotoCache.getInFlight(placeId);
+  if (existing) {
+    const result = await existing;
+    if (!result) throw Object.assign(new Error('(Cache) No photo available'), { status: 404 });
+    return { photoUrl: `/api/maps/place-photo/${encodeURIComponent(placeId)}/bytes`, attribution: result.attribution };
+  }
+
+  const fetchPromise = (async (): Promise<{ filePath: string; attribution: string | null } | null> => {
+    const apiKey = getMapsKey(userId);
+    const isCoordLookup = placeId.startsWith('coords:');
+
+    // No Google key or coordinate-only lookup → try Wikimedia (URL-based, not byte-cached)
+    if (!apiKey || isCoordLookup) {
+      if (!isNaN(lat) && !isNaN(lng)) {
+        try {
+          const wiki = await fetchWikimediaPhoto(lat, lng, name);
+          if (wiki) {
+            // Wikimedia photos: fetch bytes and cache to disk
+            const ssrf = await checkSsrf(wiki.photoUrl, true);
+            if (!ssrf.allowed) throw Object.assign(new Error('Photo URL blocked'), { status: 403 });
+            const imgRes = await fetch(wiki.photoUrl);
+            if (imgRes.ok) {
+              const bytes = Buffer.from(await imgRes.arrayBuffer());
+              const cached = await placePhotoCache.put(placeId, bytes, wiki.attribution);
+              return { filePath: cached.filePath, attribution: cached.attribution };
+            }
+          }
+        } catch { /* fall through */ }
+      }
+      placePhotoCache.markError(placeId);
+      return null;
     }
-    photoCache.delete(placeId);
-  }
 
-  const apiKey = getMapsKey(userId);
-  const isCoordLookup = placeId.startsWith('coords:');
+    // Google Photos — fetch details to get photo name
+    const detailsRes = await googleFetch(`https://places.googleapis.com/v1/places/${placeId}`, `getPlacePhoto/details(${placeId})`, {
+      headers: {
+        'X-Goog-Api-Key': apiKey,
+        'X-Goog-FieldMask': 'photos',
+      },
+    });
+    const details = await detailsRes.json() as GooglePlaceDetails & { error?: { message?: string } };
 
-  // No Google key or coordinate-only lookup -> try Wikimedia
-  if (!apiKey || isCoordLookup) {
-    if (!isNaN(lat) && !isNaN(lng)) {
-      try {
-        const wiki = await fetchWikimediaPhoto(lat, lng, name);
-        if (wiki) {
-          photoCache.set(placeId, { ...wiki, fetchedAt: Date.now() });
-          return wiki;
-        } else {
-          photoCache.set(placeId, { photoUrl: '', attribution: null, fetchedAt: Date.now(), error: true });
-        }
-      } catch { /* fall through */ }
+    if (!detailsRes.ok) {
+      console.error('Google Places photo details error:', details.error?.message || detailsRes.status);
+      placePhotoCache.markError(placeId);
+      return null;
     }
-    throw Object.assign(new Error('(Wikimedia) No photo available'), { status: 404 });
-  }
 
-  // Google Photos
-  const detailsRes = await fetch(`https://places.googleapis.com/v1/places/${placeId}`, {
-    headers: {
-      'X-Goog-Api-Key': apiKey,
-      'X-Goog-FieldMask': 'photos',
-    },
-  });
-  const details = await detailsRes.json() as GooglePlaceDetails & { error?: { message?: string } };
+    if (!details.photos?.length) {
+      placePhotoCache.markError(placeId);
+      return null;
+    }
 
-  if (!detailsRes.ok) {
-    console.error('Google Places photo details error:', details.error?.message || detailsRes.status);
-    photoCache.set(placeId, { photoUrl: '', attribution: null, fetchedAt: Date.now(), error: true });
-    throw Object.assign(new Error('(Google Places) Photo could not be retrieved'), { status: 404 });
-  }
+    const photo = details.photos[0];
+    const photoName = photo.name;
+    const attribution = photo.authorAttributions?.[0]?.displayName || null;
 
-  if (!details.photos?.length) {
-    photoCache.set(placeId, { photoUrl: '', attribution: null, fetchedAt: Date.now(), error: true });
-    throw Object.assign(new Error('(Google Places) No photo available'), { status: 404 });
-  }
+    // Fetch actual image bytes
+    const mediaRes = await googleFetch(
+      `https://places.googleapis.com/v1/${photoName}/media?maxHeightPx=400`,
+      `getPlacePhoto/media(${placeId})`,
+      { headers: { 'X-Goog-Api-Key': apiKey } }
+    );
 
-  const photo = details.photos[0];
-  const photoName = photo.name;
-  const attribution = photo.authorAttributions?.[0]?.displayName || null;
+    if (!mediaRes.ok) {
+      placePhotoCache.markError(placeId);
+      return null;
+    }
 
-  const mediaRes = await fetch(
-    `https://places.googleapis.com/v1/${photoName}/media?maxHeightPx=400&skipHttpRedirect=true`,
-    { headers: { 'X-Goog-Api-Key': apiKey } }
-  );
-  const mediaData = await mediaRes.json() as { photoUri?: string };
-  const photoUrl = mediaData.photoUri;
+    const bytes = Buffer.from(await mediaRes.arrayBuffer());
+    if (!bytes.length) {
+      placePhotoCache.markError(placeId);
+      return null;
+    }
 
-  if (!photoUrl) {
-    photoCache.set(placeId, { photoUrl: '', attribution, fetchedAt: Date.now(), error: true });
-    throw Object.assign(new Error('(Google Places) Photo URL not available'), { status: 404 });
-  }
+    const cached = await placePhotoCache.put(placeId, bytes, attribution);
 
-  photoCache.set(placeId, { photoUrl, attribution, fetchedAt: Date.now() });
+    // Persist stable proxy URL to database
+    try {
+      db.prepare(
+        'UPDATE places SET image_url = ?, updated_at = CURRENT_TIMESTAMP WHERE google_place_id = ? AND (image_url IS NULL OR image_url = \'\')'
+      ).run(cached.photoUrl, placeId);
+    } catch (dbErr) {
+      console.error('Failed to persist photo URL to database:', dbErr);
+    }
 
-  // Persist photo URL to database
-  try {
-    db.prepare(
-      'UPDATE places SET image_url = ?, updated_at = CURRENT_TIMESTAMP WHERE google_place_id = ? AND (image_url IS NULL OR image_url = ?)'
-    ).run(photoUrl, placeId, '');
-  } catch (dbErr) {
-    console.error('Failed to persist photo URL to database:', dbErr);
-  }
+    return { filePath: cached.filePath, attribution };
+  })();
 
-  return { photoUrl, attribution };
+  placePhotoCache.setInFlight(placeId, fetchPromise);
+
+  const result = await fetchPromise;
+  if (!result) throw Object.assign(new Error('No photo available'), { status: 404 });
+  return { photoUrl: `/api/maps/place-photo/${encodeURIComponent(placeId)}/bytes`, attribution: result.attribution };
 }
 
 // ── Reverse geocoding ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
diff --git a/server/src/services/placePhotoCache.ts b/server/src/services/placePhotoCache.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..06995e57
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/src/services/placePhotoCache.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,95 @@
+import path from 'node:path';
+import fs from 'node:fs';
+import fsPromises from 'node:fs/promises';
+import crypto from 'node:crypto';
+import { db } from '../db/database';
+
+const GOOGLE_PHOTO_DIR = path.join(__dirname, '../../uploads/photos/google');
+const ERROR_TTL = 5 * 60 * 1000;
+
+// In-flight dedup — prevents stampedes when multiple requests hit the same uncached placeId simultaneously
+const inFlight = new Map<string, Promise<{ filePath: string; attribution: string | null } | null>>();
+
+function ensureDir(): void {
+  if (!fs.existsSync(GOOGLE_PHOTO_DIR)) {
+    fs.mkdirSync(GOOGLE_PHOTO_DIR, { recursive: true });
+  }
+}
+
+function filePath(placeId: string): string {
+  // Hash to avoid filename collisions — coords:lat:lng pseudo-IDs contain characters that
+  // collapse identically under sanitization (e.g. ':' and '.' both → '_')
+  const hash = crypto.createHash('sha1').update(placeId).digest('hex');
+  return path.join(GOOGLE_PHOTO_DIR, `${hash}.jpg`);
+}
+
+function proxyUrl(placeId: string): string {
+  return `/api/maps/place-photo/${encodeURIComponent(placeId)}/bytes`;
+}
+
+interface CachedPhoto {
+  photoUrl: string;
+  filePath: string;
+  attribution: string | null;
+}
+
+export function get(placeId: string): CachedPhoto | null {
+  const row = db.prepare(
+    'SELECT attribution FROM google_place_photo_meta WHERE place_id = ? AND error_at IS NULL'
+  ).get(placeId) as { attribution: string | null } | undefined;
+
+  if (!row) return null;
+
+  const fp = filePath(placeId);
+  if (!fs.existsSync(fp)) {
+    // File missing (e.g. volume wiped) — clear row so it refetches
+    db.prepare('DELETE FROM google_place_photo_meta WHERE place_id = ?').run(placeId);
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  return { photoUrl: proxyUrl(placeId), filePath: fp, attribution: row.attribution };
+}
+
+export function getErrored(placeId: string): boolean {
+  const row = db.prepare(
+    'SELECT error_at FROM google_place_photo_meta WHERE place_id = ? AND error_at IS NOT NULL'
+  ).get(placeId) as { error_at: number } | undefined;
+
+  if (!row) return false;
+  return Date.now() - row.error_at < ERROR_TTL;
+}
+
+export function markError(placeId: string): void {
+  db.prepare(
+    'INSERT OR REPLACE INTO google_place_photo_meta (place_id, attribution, fetched_at, error_at) VALUES (?, NULL, ?, ?)'
+  ).run(placeId, Date.now(), Date.now());
+}
+
+export async function put(placeId: string, bytes: Buffer, attribution: string | null): Promise<CachedPhoto> {
+  ensureDir();
+  const fp = filePath(placeId);
+  const tmp = fp + '.tmp';
+
+  await fsPromises.writeFile(tmp, bytes);
+  await fsPromises.rename(tmp, fp);
+
+  db.prepare(
+    'INSERT OR REPLACE INTO google_place_photo_meta (place_id, attribution, fetched_at, error_at) VALUES (?, ?, ?, NULL)'
+  ).run(placeId, attribution, Date.now());
+
+  return { photoUrl: proxyUrl(placeId), filePath: fp, attribution };
+}
+
+export function getInFlight(placeId: string): Promise<{ filePath: string; attribution: string | null } | null> | undefined {
+  return inFlight.get(placeId);
+}
+
+export function setInFlight(placeId: string, promise: Promise<{ filePath: string; attribution: string | null } | null>): void {
+  inFlight.set(placeId, promise);
+  promise.finally(() => inFlight.delete(placeId));
+}
+
+export function serveFilePath(placeId: string): string | null {
+  const fp = filePath(placeId);
+  return fs.existsSync(fp) ? fp : null;
+}
diff --git a/server/tests/unit/services/mapsService.test.ts b/server/tests/unit/services/mapsService.test.ts
index 4399651a..29f8e225 100644
--- a/server/tests/unit/services/mapsService.test.ts
+++ b/server/tests/unit/services/mapsService.test.ts
@@ -8,10 +8,19 @@
  */
 import { describe, it, expect, vi, afterEach, beforeEach } from 'vitest';
 
-const { mockDbGet, mockDbRun, mockCheckSsrf } = vi.hoisted(() => ({
+const { mockDbGet, mockDbRun, mockCheckSsrf, mockCacheGet, mockCacheGetErrored, mockCachePut, mockCacheGetInFlight, mockCacheSetInFlight } = vi.hoisted(() => ({
   mockDbGet: vi.fn(() => undefined as any),
   mockDbRun: vi.fn(),
   mockCheckSsrf: vi.fn(async () => ({ allowed: true })),
+  mockCacheGet: vi.fn(() => null as any),
+  mockCacheGetErrored: vi.fn(() => false),
+  mockCachePut: vi.fn(async (placeId: string, _bytes: Buffer, attribution: string | null) => ({
+    photoUrl: `/api/maps/place-photo/${encodeURIComponent(placeId)}/bytes`,
+    filePath: `/tmp/${placeId}.jpg`,
+    attribution,
+  })),
+  mockCacheGetInFlight: vi.fn(() => undefined),
+  mockCacheSetInFlight: vi.fn(),
 }));
 
 vi.mock('../../../src/db/database', () => ({
@@ -33,6 +42,16 @@ vi.mock('../../../src/config', () => ({
   ENCRYPTION_KEY: '0'.repeat(64),
 }));
 
+vi.mock('../../../src/services/placePhotoCache', () => ({
+  get: (placeId: string) => mockCacheGet(placeId),
+  getErrored: (placeId: string) => mockCacheGetErrored(placeId),
+  put: (placeId: string, bytes: Buffer, attribution: string | null) => mockCachePut(placeId, bytes, attribution),
+  markError: vi.fn(),
+  getInFlight: (placeId: string) => mockCacheGetInFlight(placeId),
+  setInFlight: (placeId: string, p: Promise<any>) => mockCacheSetInFlight(placeId, p),
+  serveFilePath: vi.fn(() => null),
+}));
+
 import {
   parseOpeningHours,
   buildOsmDetails,
@@ -46,6 +65,19 @@ afterEach(() => {
   mockDbRun.mockReset();
   mockCheckSsrf.mockReset();
   mockCheckSsrf.mockResolvedValue({ allowed: true });
+  mockCacheGet.mockReset();
+  mockCacheGet.mockReturnValue(null);
+  mockCacheGetErrored.mockReset();
+  mockCacheGetErrored.mockReturnValue(false);
+  mockCachePut.mockReset();
+  mockCachePut.mockImplementation(async (placeId: string, _bytes: Buffer, attribution: string | null) => ({
+    photoUrl: `/api/maps/place-photo/${encodeURIComponent(placeId)}/bytes`,
+    filePath: `/tmp/${placeId}.jpg`,
+    attribution,
+  }));
+  mockCacheGetInFlight.mockReset();
+  mockCacheGetInFlight.mockReturnValue(undefined);
+  mockCacheSetInFlight.mockReset();
 });
 
 // ── parseOpeningHours ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -995,11 +1027,9 @@ describe('getPlaceDetails (fetch stubbed)', () => {
     expect(place.rating_count).toBe(200000);
     expect(place.open_now).toBe(true);
     expect(place.source).toBe('google');
-    expect(place.reviews).toHaveLength(1);
-    expect(place.reviews[0].author).toBe('John');
-    expect(place.reviews[0].rating).toBe(5);
-    expect(place.reviews[0].text).toBe('Amazing!');
-    expect(place.reviews[0].photo).toBe('https://photo.url');
+    // Lean mask — reviews/summary not fetched in getPlaceDetails; use getPlaceDetailsExpanded for those
+    expect(place.reviews).toHaveLength(0);
+    expect(place.summary).toBeNull();
   });
 
   it('MAPS-041c: throws with status when Google API returns non-ok response', async () => {
@@ -1016,8 +1046,10 @@ describe('getPlaceDetails (fetch stubbed)', () => {
     });
   });
 
-  it('MAPS-041d: maps reviews with optional fields absent to null', async () => {
+  it('MAPS-041d: getPlaceDetailsExpanded maps reviews with optional fields absent to null', async () => {
     mockDbGet.mockReturnValueOnce({ maps_api_key: 'gkey' });
+    // expanded=1 cache miss → return undefined
+    mockDbGet.mockReturnValueOnce(undefined);
     vi.stubGlobal('fetch', vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({
       ok: true,
       json: async () => ({
@@ -1028,8 +1060,8 @@ describe('getPlaceDetails (fetch stubbed)', () => {
         ],
       }),
     }));
-    const { getPlaceDetails } = await import('../../../src/services/mapsService');
-    const result = await getPlaceDetails(1, 'ChIJ456');
+    const { getPlaceDetailsExpanded } = await import('../../../src/services/mapsService');
+    const result = await getPlaceDetailsExpanded(1, 'ChIJ456');
     const review = (result.place as any).reviews[0];
     expect(review.author).toBeNull();
     expect(review.rating).toBeNull();
@@ -1104,8 +1136,10 @@ describe('getPlaceDetails (fetch stubbed)', () => {
     expect((result.place as any).open_now).toBe(false);
   });
 
-  it('MAPS-041g: truncates reviews to first 5 entries', async () => {
+  it('MAPS-041g: getPlaceDetailsExpanded truncates reviews to first 5 entries', async () => {
     mockDbGet.mockReturnValueOnce({ maps_api_key: 'gkey' });
+    // expanded=1 cache miss
+    mockDbGet.mockReturnValueOnce(undefined);
     const manyReviews = Array.from({ length: 8 }, (_, i) => ({
       authorAttribution: { displayName: `User${i}` },
       rating: 4,
@@ -1116,8 +1150,8 @@ describe('getPlaceDetails (fetch stubbed)', () => {
       ok: true,
       json: async () => ({ id: 'ChIJMany', reviews: manyReviews }),
     }));
-    const { getPlaceDetails } = await import('../../../src/services/mapsService');
-    const result = await getPlaceDetails(1, 'ChIJMany');
+    const { getPlaceDetailsExpanded } = await import('../../../src/services/mapsService');
+    const result = await getPlaceDetailsExpanded(1, 'ChIJMany');
     expect((result.place as any).reviews).toHaveLength(5);
   });
 });
@@ -1125,16 +1159,26 @@ describe('getPlaceDetails (fetch stubbed)', () => {
 // ── getPlacePhoto (fetch stubbed) ────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 describe('getPlacePhoto (fetch stubbed)', () => {
-  it('MAPS-042: returns Wikimedia photo for coordinate-based lookup (no API key)', async () => {
-    vi.stubGlobal('fetch', vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({
-      ok: true,
-      json: async () => ({
-        query: { pages: { '1': { thumbnail: { source: 'https://wiki.org/photo.jpg' } } } },
-      }),
-    }));
+  it('MAPS-042: returns proxy URL for coordinate-based lookup via Wikimedia (no API key)', async () => {
+    vi.stubGlobal('fetch', vi.fn()
+      // First call: Wikimedia Commons API
+      .mockResolvedValueOnce({
+        ok: true,
+        json: async () => ({
+          query: { pages: { '1': { thumbnail: { source: 'https://wiki.org/photo.jpg' } } } },
+        }),
+      })
+      // Second call: fetch Wikimedia image bytes
+      .mockResolvedValueOnce({
+        ok: true,
+        arrayBuffer: async () => new ArrayBuffer(100),
+      })
+    );
     const { getPlacePhoto } = await import('../../../src/services/mapsService');
-    const result = await getPlacePhoto(999, 'coords:48.8,2.3', 48.8, 2.3, 'Eiffel Tower');
-    expect(result.photoUrl).toBe('https://wiki.org/photo.jpg');
+    const placeId = 'coords:48.8,2.3';
+    const result = await getPlacePhoto(999, placeId, 48.8, 2.3, 'Eiffel Tower');
+    expect(result.photoUrl).toBe(`/api/maps/place-photo/${encodeURIComponent(placeId)}/bytes`);
+    expect(mockCachePut).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
   });
 
   it('MAPS-043: throws 404 when Wikimedia returns nothing and no API key', async () => {
@@ -1146,37 +1190,28 @@ describe('getPlacePhoto (fetch stubbed)', () => {
     await expect(getPlacePhoto(999, 'coords:0.0,0.0', 0, 0)).rejects.toMatchObject({ status: 404 });
   });
 
-  it('MAPS-043b: returns cached photo when cache entry is fresh and valid', async () => {
-    // First call populates cache; second call should use cache without fetching
-    vi.stubGlobal('fetch', vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({
-      ok: true,
-      json: async () => ({
-        query: { pages: { '1': { thumbnail: { source: 'https://wiki.org/cached.jpg' } } } },
-      }),
-    }));
-    const { getPlacePhoto } = await import('../../../src/services/mapsService');
-    const uniqueId = `coords:cache-test-${Date.now()}`;
-    const first = await getPlacePhoto(999, uniqueId, 48.8, 2.3, 'Cache Test');
+  it('MAPS-043b: returns cached photo when disk cache returns a hit', async () => {
+    const placeId = `coords:cache-test-${Date.now()}`;
+    const cachedUrl = `/api/maps/place-photo/${encodeURIComponent(placeId)}/bytes`;
+    mockCacheGet.mockReturnValue({
+      photoUrl: cachedUrl,
+      filePath: `/tmp/${placeId}.jpg`,
+      attribution: null,
+    });
     const fetchMock = vi.fn();
     vi.stubGlobal('fetch', fetchMock);
-    const second = await getPlacePhoto(999, uniqueId, 48.8, 2.3, 'Cache Test');
-    expect(second.photoUrl).toBe(first.photoUrl);
+    const { getPlacePhoto } = await import('../../../src/services/mapsService');
+    const result = await getPlacePhoto(999, placeId, 48.8, 2.3, 'Cache Test');
+    expect(result.photoUrl).toBe(cachedUrl);
     expect(fetchMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
 
-  it('MAPS-043c: throws 404 from cache when cached entry is an error', async () => {
-    // Seed the cache with an error entry by triggering a no-result Wikimedia call
-    vi.stubGlobal('fetch', vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({
-      ok: true,
-      json: async () => ({ query: { pages: {} } }),
-    }));
-    const { getPlacePhoto } = await import('../../../src/services/mapsService');
-    const errorId = `coords:error-cache-${Date.now()}`;
-    // First call causes error to be cached
-    await expect(getPlacePhoto(999, errorId, 0, 0)).rejects.toMatchObject({ status: 404 });
-    // Second call should throw directly from cache (no fetch)
+  it('MAPS-043c: throws 404 from error cache without making a network request', async () => {
+    mockCacheGetErrored.mockReturnValue(true);
     const fetchMock = vi.fn();
     vi.stubGlobal('fetch', fetchMock);
+    const { getPlacePhoto } = await import('../../../src/services/mapsService');
+    const errorId = `coords:error-cache-${Date.now()}`;
     await expect(getPlacePhoto(999, errorId, 0, 0)).rejects.toMatchObject({ status: 404 });
     expect(fetchMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
@@ -1194,7 +1229,7 @@ describe('getPlacePhoto (fetch stubbed)', () => {
     await expect(getPlacePhoto(999, throwId, 48.8, 2.3, 'Place')).rejects.toMatchObject({ status: 404 });
   });
 
-  it('MAPS-044: returns photo via Google path when API key present and photos exist', async () => {
+  it('MAPS-044: returns proxy URL via Google path when API key present and photos exist', async () => {
     mockDbGet.mockReturnValueOnce({ maps_api_key: 'gkey' });
     const fetchMock = vi.fn()
       // First call: get place details (with photos)
@@ -1204,17 +1239,18 @@ describe('getPlacePhoto (fetch stubbed)', () => {
           photos: [{ name: 'places/ChIJABC/photos/photo1', authorAttributions: [{ displayName: 'Photographer' }] }],
         }),
       })
-      // Second call: get media URL
+      // Second call: fetch image bytes
       .mockResolvedValueOnce({
         ok: true,
-        json: async () => ({ photoUri: 'https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/photo.jpg' }),
+        arrayBuffer: async () => new ArrayBuffer(200),
       });
     vi.stubGlobal('fetch', fetchMock);
     const { getPlacePhoto } = await import('../../../src/services/mapsService');
     const uniqueId = `ChIJABC-${Date.now()}`;
     const result = await getPlacePhoto(1, uniqueId, 48.8, 2.3, 'Place');
-    expect(result.photoUrl).toBe('https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/photo.jpg');
+    expect(result.photoUrl).toBe(`/api/maps/place-photo/${encodeURIComponent(uniqueId)}/bytes`);
     expect(result.attribution).toBe('Photographer');
+    expect(mockCachePut).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
   });
 
   it('MAPS-044b: throws 404 when Google details fetch returns non-ok', async () => {
@@ -1240,7 +1276,7 @@ describe('getPlacePhoto (fetch stubbed)', () => {
     await expect(getPlacePhoto(1, noPhotoId, 48.8, 2.3)).rejects.toMatchObject({ status: 404 });
   });
 
-  it('MAPS-044d: throws 404 when media endpoint returns no photoUri', async () => {
+  it('MAPS-044d: throws 404 when media endpoint returns non-ok status', async () => {
     mockDbGet.mockReturnValueOnce({ maps_api_key: 'gkey' });
     const fetchMock = vi.fn()
       .mockResolvedValueOnce({
@@ -1250,8 +1286,9 @@ describe('getPlacePhoto (fetch stubbed)', () => {
         }),
       })
       .mockResolvedValueOnce({
-        ok: true,
-        json: async () => ({}), // no photoUri
+        ok: false,
+        status: 403,
+        arrayBuffer: async () => new ArrayBuffer(0),
       });
     vi.stubGlobal('fetch', fetchMock);
     const { getPlacePhoto } = await import('../../../src/services/mapsService');
@@ -1259,7 +1296,7 @@ describe('getPlacePhoto (fetch stubbed)', () => {
     await expect(getPlacePhoto(1, noUriId, 48.8, 2.3)).rejects.toMatchObject({ status: 404 });
   });
 
-  it('MAPS-044e: returns photo with null attribution when authorAttributions is empty', async () => {
+  it('MAPS-044e: returns proxy URL with null attribution when authorAttributions is empty', async () => {
     mockDbGet.mockReturnValueOnce({ maps_api_key: 'gkey' });
     const fetchMock = vi.fn()
       .mockResolvedValueOnce({
@@ -1270,28 +1307,34 @@ describe('getPlacePhoto (fetch stubbed)', () => {
       })
       .mockResolvedValueOnce({
         ok: true,
-        json: async () => ({ photoUri: 'https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/noattr.jpg' }),
+        arrayBuffer: async () => new ArrayBuffer(150),
       });
     vi.stubGlobal('fetch', fetchMock);
     const { getPlacePhoto } = await import('../../../src/services/mapsService');
     const noAttrId = `ChIJNoAttr-${Date.now()}`;
     const result = await getPlacePhoto(1, noAttrId, 48.8, 2.3);
-    expect(result.photoUrl).toBe('https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/noattr.jpg');
+    expect(result.photoUrl).toBe(`/api/maps/place-photo/${encodeURIComponent(noAttrId)}/bytes`);
     expect(result.attribution).toBeNull();
   });
 
-  it('MAPS-044f: uses Wikimedia when API key present but placeId is coords: prefix', async () => {
+  it('MAPS-044f: uses Wikimedia and returns proxy URL when API key present but placeId is coords: prefix', async () => {
     mockDbGet.mockReturnValueOnce({ maps_api_key: 'gkey' });
-    vi.stubGlobal('fetch', vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({
-      ok: true,
-      json: async () => ({
-        query: { pages: { '1': { thumbnail: { source: 'https://wiki.org/coords-photo.jpg' } } } },
-      }),
-    }));
+    vi.stubGlobal('fetch', vi.fn()
+      .mockResolvedValueOnce({
+        ok: true,
+        json: async () => ({
+          query: { pages: { '1': { thumbnail: { source: 'https://wiki.org/coords-photo.jpg' } } } },
+        }),
+      })
+      .mockResolvedValueOnce({
+        ok: true,
+        arrayBuffer: async () => new ArrayBuffer(120),
+      })
+    );
     const { getPlacePhoto } = await import('../../../src/services/mapsService');
-    // Use a unique placeId to avoid hitting the in-memory cache from other tests
     const uniqueId = `coords:44f-test-${Date.now()}`;
     const result = await getPlacePhoto(1, uniqueId, 48.8, 2.3, 'Coords Place');
-    expect(result.photoUrl).toBe('https://wiki.org/coords-photo.jpg');
+    expect(result.photoUrl).toBe(`/api/maps/place-photo/${encodeURIComponent(uniqueId)}/bytes`);
+    expect(mockCachePut).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
   });
 });