Breakfast Expert
Verified check-ins at different breakfast places.
Level thresholdsCounts: places
- Bronze5
- Silver15
- Gold40
- Legend100
The place’s category on Puanca counts; going back to the same place adds no progress.
Badge guide
Puanca badges
Badges come from your location-verified visits and from contributions others find useful. They never look at how many reviews you write or whether they are positive or negative.
- 19 badges
- 6 families
- 4 levels
- 2 hidden badges
- Breakfast Expert
- Check-in
- Neighbourhood Wanderer
- Founding Explorer
How do badges work?
Every badge rests on the same few rules. The badges screen in the app is calculated with them too.
Only verified visits
A check-in is verified when it is made within 150 m of the place with location turned on. Check-ins without location or from far away don’t count towards badges.
Each place counts once
For expertise, exploration and seasonal badges, going back to the same place doesn’t add progress; different places, neighbourhoods and cuisines do. The total check-in badge counts every verified check-in.
Your past counts too
Levels are calculated from your past visits. When a new badge is added, earlier visits count as well; the badge shows as earned on the day you reached the threshold.
Usefulness, not volume
Badges never reward the number of reviews or their tone. Contribution badges look at others’ “Helpful” votes and your published photos; your own votes don’t count.
Never sold, never handed out
Badges carry no discounts, gifts or perks. Businesses can’t give badges, and badges can’t be bought.
You decide who sees them
Others only see the badges you earned from your public visits and reviews. Check-ins you share with Friends or Only me still count towards your own progress.
Four levels, from Bronze to Legend
Most badges have four levels, each with its own threshold. The metal of the frame shows the level you reached.
One-time and seasonal badges have a single step; once earned they wear a gold frame.
- Bronze5 places
- Silver15 places
- Gold40 places
- Legend100 places
All badges
All 19 badges, each with its rule and thresholds.
Expertise
6 badgesLevel up as you discover different places in one cuisine.
Coffee Lover
Verified check-ins at different coffee places.
Level thresholdsCounts: places
- Bronze5
- Silver15
- Gold40
- Legend100
The place’s category on Puanca counts; going back to the same place adds no progress.
Seafood Master
Verified check-ins at different fish restaurants.
Level thresholdsCounts: places
- Bronze5
- Silver15
- Gold40
- Legend100
The place’s category on Puanca counts; going back to the same place adds no progress.
Grill Master
Verified check-ins at different kebab and grill places.
Level thresholdsCounts: places
- Bronze5
- Silver15
- Gold40
- Legend100
The place’s category on Puanca counts; going back to the same place adds no progress.
Meyhane Regular
Verified check-ins at different meyhanes.
Level thresholdsCounts: places
- Bronze5
- Silver15
- Gold40
- Legend100
The place’s category on Puanca counts; going back to the same place adds no progress.
Dessert Hunter
Verified check-ins at different dessert shops and patisseries.
Level thresholdsCounts: places
- Bronze5
- Silver15
- Gold40
- Legend100
The place’s category on Puanca counts; going back to the same place adds no progress.
Milestones
1 badgeYour total verified check-ins.
Check-in
Verified check-ins in total.
Level thresholdsCounts: check-ins
- Bronze50
- Silver200
- Gold500
- Legend1,000
Every verified check-in counts, repeat visits to the same place included.
Exploration
3 badgesDifferent corners of the city and newly opened places.
Neighbourhood Wanderer
Verified check-ins in different neighbourhoods.
Level thresholdsCounts: neighbourhoods
- Bronze5
- Silver15
- Gold30
- Legend60
Different places in the same neighbourhood count once.
New Flavours
Verified check-ins across different cuisine categories.
Level thresholdsCounts: categories
- Bronze4
- Silver8
- Gold12
- Legend16
The place’s cuisine category counts; each category once.
First Explorer
Be one of the first 10 verified visitors of a newly opened place.
Level thresholdsCounts: places
- Bronze1
- Silver5
- Gold15
- Legend40
A place counts as newly opened when it had fewer than 50 Google ratings when it was added to Puanca.
Social
2 badgesVisits made together with friends, confirmed by both.
Social Butterfly
Check-ins together with friends, confirmed by both.
Level thresholdsCounts: check-ins together
- Bronze10
- Silver30
- Gold75
- Legend200
Tag a friend you follow each other with in your check-in; it counts once they approve the tag.
Meet-up Master
Meet-ups planned on Puanca that actually happened.
Level thresholdsCounts: meet-ups
- Bronze3
- Silver10
- Gold25
- Legend60
Plan a meet-up on Puanca or join one. It counts when you and another member of the plan both make a verified check-in at the place between 3 hours before and 3 hours after its time.
Contribution
2 badgesContributions others find useful — not the number of reviews.
Helpful Pen
Your reviews found “Helpful” by others.
Level thresholdsCounts: helpful votes
- Bronze25
- Silver100
- Gold500
- Legend2,000
“Helpful” votes others give your published reviews count; your own votes don’t.
Photographer
Published photos of places.
Level thresholdsCounts: photos
- Bronze10
- Silver50
- Gold200
- Legend500
Photos in your published reviews count; if the review or photo is removed, it no longer counts.
Special & seasonal
5 badgesUnlocks during certain periods or special moments.
Founding Explorer
You joined in Puanca’s first year.
Single stepLast day to join: 30 September 2027
Everyone who joins in Puanca’s first year, up to 30 September 2027, earns it.
Summer Terrace 2026
10 different terrace/garden places between 1 June and 31 August 2026.
Single step10 places
Season:1 June 2026 – 31 August 2026Season ended
Places with a terrace or garden count; dates follow Istanbul time.
Winter Table 2026
10 different soup houses/lokantas between 1 December 2026 and 28 February 2027.
Single step10 places
Season:1 December 2026 – 28 February 2027Starts soon
Soup houses and lokantas in the Home Cooking category count; dates follow Istanbul time.
Hidden badge
Its rule stays secret until you earn it.
Hint: a breakfast before sunrise…
Hidden badge
Its rule stays secret until you earn it.
Hint: three neighbourhoods in one day…
Where do badges show up?
The badges you earn appear with you on your profile; only you see your progress.
- Breakfast Expert
- Check-in
- Neighbourhood Wanderer
The badge shelf on your profile
Your profile shows up to 4 badges: the ones in your showcase first, then your highest levels.
Profile showcase
Pick up to 3 of your badges with “Add to showcase” to feature them at the top of your profile.
The badges screen
Tap the badges on your profile to see every badge, your progress and your next goals. Each badge you earned shows what share of explorers reached that level, and you can share its card with a link.
New badge moments
When a check-in or review earns you a new badge or level, you see it right away and get a note in Activity.
Explorer points and levels
Badges and levels are separate: your level only goes up with Explorer points, and badges don’t award points. Both grow from the same verified visits.
How to earn Explorer points
- Verified check-inOnce every 24 hours per place+20 pts
- Verified reviewIf you made a verified check-in there in the last 24 hours+20 pts
- Photos in a reviewOnce per review, for as long as the photos stay up+30 pts
- A place’s first verified reviewOnly one person earns it per place+50 pts
Points for a removed review or check-in are taken back too.
Levels
| Level | Title | Starts at |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Curious | From 0 points |
| Level 2 | Curious | From 250 points |
| Level 3 | Curious | From 500 points |
| Level 4 | Explorer | From 1,000 points |
| Level 5 | Explorer | From 2,000 points |
| Level 6 | Gourmet Explorer | From 3,500 points |
| Level 7 | Master Explorer | From 5,000 points |
| Level 8 | Master Explorer | From 7,500 points |
| Level 9 | Legendary Explorer | From 10,000 points |
| Level 10 | Legendary Explorer | From 15,000 points |
Frequently asked questions
Why didn’t my check-in count towards a badge?
Only verified check-ins count. A check-in isn’t verified when location is off, when you are more than 150 m from the place or when your location isn’t precise enough. Visits also don’t count as verified on accounts without a verified e-mail address, on brand-new accounts, or when many check-ins are made in a short time.
Does going back to the same place earn badges?
For expertise, exploration and seasonal badges each place counts once. The total check-in badge and check-ins made together with friends count every verified visit.
Do my earlier visits count?
Yes. Badges are calculated from your history; when a new badge is added, your earlier verified visits count too.
Can I lose a badge?
Badges are recalculated from your records. If you delete a review or photo, or content is removed for breaking the rules, the progress it brought goes too; drop below a threshold and that level is taken back.
Can others see my badges?
Others only see the badges and levels you earned from your public visits and reviews. Only you see your progress and next goals.
How do I find hidden badges?
A hidden badge’s rule stays secret until you earn it; the badges screen only shows a hint. Once you earn it, its name and rule are revealed.
How do seasonal badges work?
Only verified check-ins made within the season’s dates, in Istanbul time, count. Before the season the badge shows as “Coming soon”; once it ends it can no longer be earned, and if you earned it, it stays on your profile.
How do I get the Founding Explorer badge?
Everyone who opens an account in Puanca’s first year, up to 30 September 2027, earns the Founding Explorer badge.
Do badges come with rewards?
No. Badges bring no discounts, gifts or perks; businesses can’t give badges and badges can’t be bought. They only show your real visits and contributions on Puanca.
When are badges updated?
Right after you check in or post a review. Changes such as others’ votes or new mutual follows show up within a few hours at most.
Do badges raise my level?
No. Your level only goes up with Explorer points, which come from verified check-ins, verified reviews and review photos. Badges don’t award points.
Your first badge is one check-in away
Go to a place you love and check in with location on; every verified visit counts towards your badges.