Getting Started with QGIS: Your First Map

Last updated on 2026-06-16 | Edit this page

Estimated time: 105 minutes

Overview

Questions

  • How do I load spatial data into QGIS?
  • How can I add different types of vector data — shapefiles, CSV files, and live OSM data — to a map?
  • How do I style and symbolize data to communicate clearly?
  • How do I build and export a finished, publication-ready map layout?

Objectives

  • Load and explore spatial datasets from multiple sources
  • Install and use QGIS plugins to extend functionality
  • Style layers using Single Symbol, Categorized, and Graduated options
  • Build a map layout with all essential map elements
  • Export a publication-ready map as an image or PDF
Key Points
  • QGIS can load vector data from shapefiles, GeoJSON files, geocoded CSV files, and live OpenStreetMap queries.
  • Layer order matters — drag layers so that points and polygons of interest sit above basemap layers.
  • Styling choices (symbol, color, size) should serve the map’s purpose, not just look decorative.
  • A complete map layout includes a title, legend, scale bar, north arrow, and data source credit.
  • Save your project frequently using .qgz — losing work to an unsaved session is the most common beginner mistake.

Introduction

QGIS is a free, open-source Geographic Information System that runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. In this episode we will go from a blank project to a finished, exported map using real spatial data.

We will work through three stages:

  1. Loading data — adding a basemap, shapefiles, and point data
  2. Styling layers — controlling how features look on the map
  3. Creating and exporting a layout — building a finished map with all required elements

Part 1: Loading Data

Step 0: Create a Project Folder

Before opening QGIS, create a folder on your desktop called Session_1a. All data files you download will go here, and your QGIS project file (.qgz) will be saved here too. Keeping data and project files together prevents broken layer links later.

Step 1: Add a Basemap

  1. In the Browser Panel, click on XYZ Tiles.
  2. You will see two options: Global Terrain and OpenStreetMap.
  3. Right-click OpenStreetMap and select Add Layer to Project.
  4. A world map should now appear in the Map Panel.

Step 2: Download and Add a Shapefile

We will use the QGIS sample dataset for this walkthrough. Download the airport data from the QGIS Sample Data repository — specifically, airports.shp from the shapefiles folder.

A shapefile is not a single file. You must download all of the following supporting files alongside the .shp or the layer will not load correctly:

File Purpose
airports.shp Geometry (the point locations)
airports.dbf Attribute table (the data)
airports.prj Coordinate reference system
airports.shx Spatial index
airports.cpg Character encoding

Save all files to your Session_1a folder.

To add the shapefile to your map:

  1. Go to Layer → Add Layer → Add Vector Layer.
  2. Under Source, click the … button and navigate to airports.shp.
  3. Click Add, then close the dialog.
  4. In the Layers Panel, drag the airports layer above the OpenStreetMap layer so the airport points appear on top of the basemap.
Callout

Layer Order Matters

QGIS draws layers from bottom to top. If your data layer is underneath the basemap in the Layers Panel, it will be hidden. Always check that your data sits above any basemap layers.

Step 3: Explore the Attribute Table

The attribute table contains the data values behind every feature on the map. To open it:

  1. Right-click the airports layer in the Layers Panel.
  2. Select Open Attribute Table.
  3. You should see 76 rows — one for each airport in Alaska.

Explore the columns: you will see fields for airport name, elevation, and other attributes that can be used to style the map in the next section.

Callout

Save Often

Go to Project → Save (or Ctrl+S / Cmd+S) regularly. QGIS does not autosave. Losing progress to an unsaved session is the single most common beginner mistake.

Part 2: Styling Your Map

Step 1: Open Layer Properties

Right-click the airports layer → Properties → navigate to the Symbology tab.

Step 2: Choose a Symbol Style

QGIS offers three main styling modes:

Style Use when… Example
Single Symbol All features should look the same All airports shown as identical blue dots
Categorized Features belong to named groups Airports colored by type (international, regional, private)
Graduated Features vary along a numeric scale Airport symbols sized by elevation

For the airports layer, try Single Symbol first to get comfortable with the controls. You can adjust the marker shape, size, color, and transparency from this panel.

The QGIS Symbology panel showing marker style, size, and color options for the airports layer.
The QGIS Symbology panel showing marker style, size, and color options for the airports layer.

Tip: Set the Magnifier at the bottom of the Map Panel to 75% if the map feels too large for your screen.

Tip: To rename a layer (which also controls how it appears in the legend), right-click the layer → Properties → Source → Layer Name. Give it a clear, human-readable name before building your layout.

Step 3: Apply a Graduated Style (Optional — for numeric data)

Graduated symbology is useful when your data has a meaningful numeric field. The QGIS sample data includes an elevation CSV (elevp) in the csv folder of the same repository. Download it and try:

  1. Load the CSV as a delimited text layer (see Part 3, Step 2 below for the full method).
  2. Open its Symbology → select Graduated.
  3. Choose the elevation field as the value column.
  4. Select a sequential color ramp (light to dark).
  5. Adjust the number of classes and click Apply.

This is the same graduated approach you would use for a choropleth map of Census data or any other continuous numeric variable.

Part 3: Adding Different Data Types

Real-world GIS projects rarely use a single data source. This section covers the three most common ways to bring vector data into QGIS.

Method 1: Add a Downloaded Shapefile

This is the method covered in Part 1 Step 2 above. Use it for any shapefile you have downloaded to disk:

  1. Layer → Add Layer → Add Vector Layer
  2. Browse to the .shp file
  3. Click Add

Alternatively, locate the folder containing your shapefiles in your file explorer and drag the .shp file directly onto the Layers Panel.

Method 2: Add a Geocoded CSV File (Point Data from Coordinates)

If you have a spreadsheet containing latitude and longitude columns, QGIS can treat it as a point layer. We will use a UFO sightings dataset for this example — download it from the shared Session 1a Google folder (UFOreports_USonly_WorkshopLayer.csv) and save it to your Session_1a folder.

  1. Click the Open Data Source Manager button in the toolbar (or Layer → Data Source Manager).
  2. Select Delimited Text in the left panel.
  3. In the File Name field, navigate to UFOreports_USonly_WorkshopLayer.csv.
  4. Confirm that File Format is set to CSV.
  5. Verify that the X field and Y field are set to the longitude and latitude columns respectively.
  6. Click Add, then close the dialog.

This creates a temporary point layer. If you want to keep it permanently, right-click the layer → Export → Save Features As… and save it as a shapefile or GeoPackage.

Method 3: Add Live Data via the QuickOSM Plugin

OpenStreetMap contains a vast, continuously updated collection of mapped features — roads, buildings, parks, universities, restaurants, and much more. The QuickOSM plugin lets you query this data directly from within QGIS without downloading anything manually.

Install the plugin first:

  1. Go to Plugins → Manage and Install Plugins…
  2. Search for QuickOSM and click Install Plugin.
  3. While you have the plugin manager open, also install NextGIS QuickMapServices — this gives you access to a much wider range of basemap options beyond OpenStreetMap.

Run a query:

  1. Go to Vector → QuickOSM → Quick Query.
  2. In the Preset field, type university and select facilities/education/universities.
  3. In the In field, type West Lafayette, IN.
  4. Click Run Query. A polygon layer for Purdue University’s campus should appear on your map.
  5. Right-click the new layer → Properties → Symbology to adjust its color and transparency.

Try a second query: repeat the process with shops/food in the Preset field and the same location. This returns footprints for food stores around Purdue’s campus.

Callout

OSM Feature Tags

OpenStreetMap uses a structured tagging system to classify features. To explore what categories are available (roads, healthcare facilities, landuse types, and more), see the OSM Map Features Wiki.

Part 4: Creating a Map Layout

The Print Layout is QGIS’s dedicated tool for building finished, export-ready maps. It is separate from the main map canvas — the main canvas is for exploration, the Print Layout is for publication.

Step 1: Open a New Layout

  1. Go to Project → New Print Layout (or click the New Print Layout icon in the toolbar).
  2. Give the layout a name and click OK.
  3. A new window will open with a blank white canvas representing your page.

Step 2: Add the Map Frame

  1. In the toolbar on the left side of the Layout window, click Add Item → Add Map.
  2. Draw a rectangle on the canvas by clicking and dragging. The current map view from your main canvas will appear inside the rectangle.
  3. Use the Item Properties panel on the right to lock the scale or adjust the extent if needed.

Step 3: Add All Required Map Elements

A complete, publication-ready map must include the following elements. Use the Add Item menu in the toolbar to insert each one:

The QGIS Print Layout window showing a map and option to add title, legend, scale bar, and north arrow.
The QGIS Print Layout window showing a map and option to add title, legend, scale bar, and north arrow.
Element How to add Notes
Title Add Item → Add Label Draw a text box at the top of the canvas; enter a descriptive title
Legend Add Item → Add Legend QGIS auto-populates from layer names — this is why renaming layers matters
Scale Bar Add Item → Add Scale Bar Choose units appropriate for your map extent
North Arrow Add Item → Add North Arrow Only strictly necessary if north is not obviously up
Data credit / metadata Add Item → Add Label Add at the bottom: your name, data sources, and date

Step 4: Export the Layout

Once you are satisfied with the layout:

  1. Go to Layout → Export as Image (for PNG/JPEG) or Layout → Export as PDF.
  2. Accept the default settings and click OK.
  3. Return to the main QGIS window and save your project: Project → Save (.qgz).

Below is an example of a finished map created using this workflow — Alaska airports displayed as point symbols over an OpenStreetMap basemap:

A finished map showing 76 airports in Alaska as point symbols, with a title, legend, scale bar, north arrow, and data credit.
A finished map showing 76 airports in Alaska as point symbols, with a title, legend, scale bar, north arrow, and data credit.

Common Beginner Mistakes

Mistake How to avoid it
Forgetting to save the project Use Ctrl+S / Cmd+S frequently; save before every major step
Data layer hidden beneath the basemap Check layer order in the Layers Panel; drag data layers above basemaps
Shapefile won’t load Ensure all five supporting files (.dbf, .prj, .shx, .cpg) are in the same folder as the .shp
Legend shows code names instead of readable labels Rename layers before building the layout via Properties → Source → Layer Name
Map exports blank Make sure the layout’s map frame is linked to the correct map canvas
Overcomplicating symbology Start with Single Symbol; add complexity only when it communicates something specific

Hands-On Exercise

Discussion

Build a Multi-Layer Map of West Lafayette

In this exercise you will combine all three data-loading methods to build a multi-layer map.

Setup: Create a new QGIS project saved to your Session_1a folder.

Step 1 — Download shapefiles from Natural Earth

Go to naturalearthdata.com and read the homepage briefly to understand the data’s purpose, scale, and reliability. Then navigate to Downloads → Medium Scale Data and download the following:

From Cultural:

  • Admin-0 Country boundaries (polygon)
  • Admin-1 States and Provinces (polygon)
  • Populated Places (point)

From Physical:

  • Rivers, Lake Centerlines (line)

Save all files to your Session_1a folder and add them to your QGIS project.

Step 2 — Add UFO sighting data from a CSV

Download UFOreports_USonly_WorkshopLayer.csv from the shared Session 1a Google folder. Use Layer → Data Source Manager → Delimited Text to add it as a point layer, setting the X and Y fields to the longitude and latitude columns.

Step 3 — Add live OSM data

Use the QuickOSM plugin to query two features in West Lafayette, IN:

  • facilities/education/universities (to get Purdue University)
  • shops/food (to get food stores near campus)

Style each layer with a distinct color and adjust transparency as needed.

Step 4 — Build a map layout

Turn off all layers except the Purdue campus polygon and the food stores layer. Open a new Print Layout and build a finished map that includes:

  • A descriptive title
  • A legend with readable layer names
  • A scale bar
  • A north arrow
  • A data credit noting your name, data sources, and today’s date

Step 5 — Export

Export your layout as both a PDF and a PNG image.

Discussion

Reflect on Your First Map

  • What was the most confusing step in the workflow? How did you resolve it?
  • Look at your finished map — what would you change to make it clearer for someone unfamiliar with the area?
  • How does working with live OSM data (QuickOSM) differ from working with a downloaded shapefile? What are the trade-offs of each approach?