diff --git a/app/components/place-photos-carousel.gjs b/app/components/photo-carousel.gjs
similarity index 60%
rename from app/components/place-photos-carousel.gjs
rename to app/components/photo-carousel.gjs
index 4c115bc..c4ffa07 100644
--- a/app/components/place-photos-carousel.gjs
+++ b/app/components/photo-carousel.gjs
@@ -1,16 +1,19 @@
 import Component from '@glimmer/component';
 import { tracked } from '@glimmer/tracking';
 import { action } from '@ember/object';
+import { fn } from '@ember/helper';
+import { and, eq } from 'ember-truth-helpers';
 import Blurhash from './blurhash';
 import Icon from './icon';
 import fadeInImage from '../modifiers/fade-in-image';
 import { on } from '@ember/modifier';
 import { modifier } from 'ember-modifier';
 
-export default class PlacePhotosCarousel extends Component {
+export default class PhotoCarousel extends Component {
   @tracked canScrollLeft = false;
   @tracked canScrollRight = false;
 
+  internalEventId = null;
   carouselElement = null;
 
   get photos() {
@@ -18,6 +21,7 @@ export default class PlacePhotosCarousel extends Component {
   }
 
   get showChevrons() {
+    // Only show chevrons if there's more than one photo
     return this.photos.length > 1;
   }
 
@@ -29,6 +33,10 @@ export default class PlacePhotosCarousel extends Component {
     return !this.canScrollRight;
   }
 
+  get variantClass() {
+    return this.args.variant || 'inline';
+  }
+
   lastResetKey = null;
 
   resetScrollPosition = modifier((element, [resetKey]) => {
@@ -41,16 +49,42 @@ export default class PlacePhotosCarousel extends Component {
 
   scrollToNewPhoto = modifier((element, [eventId]) => {
     if (eventId && eventId !== this.lastEventId) {
+      const isInitial = !this.lastEventId;
       this.lastEventId = eventId;
-      // Allow DOM to update first since the photo was *just* added to the store
-      setTimeout(() => {
+
+      // Prevent feedback loop if this carousel initiated the change
+      if (this.internalEventId === eventId) {
+        return;
+      }
+
+      const scrollAction = () => {
         const targetSlide = element.querySelector(
           `[data-event-id="${eventId}"]`
         );
         if (targetSlide) {
-          element.scrollLeft = targetSlide.offsetLeft;
+          if (isInitial) {
+            const originalScrollBehavior = element.style.scrollBehavior;
+            element.style.scrollBehavior = 'auto';
+            element.scrollLeft = targetSlide.offsetLeft;
+
+            // Restore smooth scroll after the jump
+            setTimeout(() => {
+              element.style.scrollBehavior = originalScrollBehavior;
+            }, 50);
+          } else {
+            // Use native CSS smooth scrolling for subsequent clicks
+            element.scrollLeft = targetSlide.offsetLeft;
+          }
         }
-      }, 100);
+      };
+
+      if (isInitial) {
+        // Execute immediately for the first render to prevent flash
+        scrollAction();
+      } else {
+        // Allow DOM to update first for subsequent clicks
+        setTimeout(scrollAction, 100);
+      }
     }
   });
 
@@ -68,10 +102,39 @@ export default class PlacePhotosCarousel extends Component {
       resizeObserver.observe(element);
     }
 
+    let intersectionObserver;
+    if (this.args.onVisiblePhotoChange && window.IntersectionObserver) {
+      // Set up intersection observer to track which photo is currently "most" visible
+      intersectionObserver = new IntersectionObserver(
+        (entries) => {
+          for (let entry of entries) {
+            if (entry.isIntersecting && entry.intersectionRatio >= 0.5) {
+              const eventId = entry.target.dataset.eventId;
+              this.internalEventId = eventId;
+              const photo = this.photos.find((p) => p.eventId === eventId);
+              if (photo) {
+                this.args.onVisiblePhotoChange(photo);
+              }
+            }
+          }
+        },
+        {
+          root: element,
+          threshold: 0.5,
+        }
+      );
+
+      const slides = element.querySelectorAll('.carousel-slide');
+      slides.forEach((slide) => intersectionObserver.observe(slide));
+    }
+
     return () => {
       if (resizeObserver) {
         resizeObserver.unobserve(element);
       }
+      if (intersectionObserver) {
+        intersectionObserver.disconnect();
+      }
     };
   });
 
@@ -103,23 +166,35 @@ export default class PlacePhotosCarousel extends Component {
     });
   }
 
+  @action
+  handlePhotoClick(photo) {
+    if (this.args.onPhotoClick) {
+      this.args.onPhotoClick(photo);
+    }
+  }
+
   <template>
     {{#if this.photos.length}}
-      <div class="place-photos-carousel-wrapper">
+      <div class="photo-carousel {{this.variantClass}}">
         <div
-          class="place-photos-carousel-track"
+          class="photo-carousel-track"
           {{this.setupCarousel}}
           {{this.resetScrollPosition @resetKey}}
           {{this.scrollToNewPhoto @scrollToEventId}}
           {{on "scroll" this.updateScrollState}}
         >
           {{#each this.photos as |photo|}}
-            {{! template-lint-disable no-inline-styles }}
+            {{! template-lint-disable no-inline-styles no-invalid-interactive }}
             <div
               class="carousel-slide
-                {{if photo.isLandscape 'landscape' 'portrait'}}"
+                {{if photo.isLandscape 'landscape' 'portrait'}}
+                {{if
+                  (and @scrollToEventId (eq photo.eventId @scrollToEventId))
+                  'active'
+                }}"
               style={{photo.style}}
               data-event-id={{photo.eventId}}
+              {{on "click" (fn this.handlePhotoClick photo)}}
             >
               {{#if photo.blurhash}}
                 <Blurhash
@@ -169,7 +244,11 @@ export default class PlacePhotosCarousel extends Component {
             disabled={{this.cannotScrollLeft}}
             aria-label="Previous photo"
           >
-            <Icon @name="chevron-left" @color="currentColor" />
+            <Icon
+              @name="chevron-left"
+              @color="currentColor"
+              @size={{if (eq @variant "gallery-main") 24 16}}
+            />
           </button>
 
           <button
@@ -180,7 +259,11 @@ export default class PlacePhotosCarousel extends Component {
             disabled={{this.cannotScrollRight}}
             aria-label="Next photo"
           >
-            <Icon @name="chevron-right" @color="currentColor" />
+            <Icon
+              @name="chevron-right"
+              @color="currentColor"
+              @size={{if (eq @variant "gallery-main") 24 16}}
+            />
           </button>
         {{/if}}
       </div>
diff --git a/app/components/photo-gallery.gjs b/app/components/photo-gallery.gjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1cb1909
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/components/photo-gallery.gjs
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+import Component from '@glimmer/component';
+import { tracked } from '@glimmer/tracking';
+import { action } from '@ember/object';
+import { on } from '@ember/modifier';
+import Icon from './icon';
+import PhotoCarousel from './photo-carousel';
+
+export default class PhotoGallery extends Component {
+  @tracked currentPhoto = this.args.selectedPhoto || this.args.photos?.[0];
+
+  @action
+  handleClose() {
+    if (this.args.onClose) {
+      this.args.onClose();
+    }
+  }
+
+  @action
+  handleBackgroundClick(e) {
+    // Don't close if clicking on thumbnails, nav buttons, or the close button itself
+    if (
+      e.target.closest('.thumbnail-strip-container') ||
+      e.target.closest('.carousel-nav-btn') ||
+      e.target.closest('.close-btn')
+    ) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    this.handleClose();
+  }
+
+  @action
+  selectPhoto(photo) {
+    this.currentPhoto = photo;
+  }
+
+  @action
+  handleVisiblePhotoChange(photo) {
+    if (this.currentPhoto !== photo) {
+      this.currentPhoto = photo;
+    }
+  }
+
+  <template>
+    <div
+      class="photo-gallery-overlay"
+      role="dialog"
+      tabindex="-1"
+      {{on "click" this.handleBackgroundClick}}
+    >
+      {{! template-lint-disable no-invalid-interactive }}
+      <div class="photo-gallery-content">
+        <button
+          type="button"
+          class="close-btn btn-text"
+          {{on "click" this.handleClose}}
+          aria-label="Close gallery"
+          title="Close"
+        >
+          <Icon @name="x" @size={{24}} @color="white" />
+        </button>
+
+        <div class="main-photo-container">
+          <PhotoCarousel
+            @variant="gallery-main"
+            @photos={{@photos}}
+            @scrollToEventId={{this.currentPhoto.eventId}}
+            @onVisiblePhotoChange={{this.handleVisiblePhotoChange}}
+            @name={{@placeName}}
+          />
+        </div>
+
+        <div class="thumbnail-strip-container">
+          <PhotoCarousel
+            @variant="gallery-thumbnails"
+            @photos={{@photos}}
+            @scrollToEventId={{this.currentPhoto.eventId}}
+            @onPhotoClick={{this.selectPhoto}}
+            @name={{@placeName}}
+          />
+        </div>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  </template>
+}
diff --git a/app/components/place-details.gjs b/app/components/place-details.gjs
index 3dd602d..e1d8157 100644
--- a/app/components/place-details.gjs
+++ b/app/components/place-details.gjs
@@ -13,7 +13,8 @@ import PlaceListsManager from './place-lists-manager';
 import PlacePhotoUpload from './place-photo-upload';
 import NostrConnect from './nostr-connect';
 import Modal from './modal';
-import PlacePhotosCarousel from './place-photos-carousel';
+import PhotoCarousel from './photo-carousel';
+import PhotoGallery from './photo-gallery';
 
 import { tracked } from '@glimmer/tracking';
 import { action } from '@ember/object';
@@ -24,15 +25,10 @@ export default class PlaceDetails extends Component {
   @service nostrData;
   @tracked isEditing = false;
   @tracked showLists = false;
-  @tracked isPhotoUploadModalOpen = false;
-  @tracked isNostrConnectModalOpen = false;
-  @tracked newlyUploadedPhotoId = null;
   @tracked isPhotoUploadActive = false;
-
-  @action
-  handleUploadStateChange(isActive) {
-    this.isPhotoUploadActive = isActive;
-  }
+  @tracked isConnectingNostr = false;
+  @tracked isGalleryOpen = false;
+  @tracked selectedGalleryPhoto = null;
 
   @action
   openPhotoUploadModal(e) {
@@ -362,6 +358,18 @@ export default class PlaceDetails extends Component {
     return !!this.place.description;
   }
 
+  @action
+  openGallery(photo) {
+    this.selectedGalleryPhoto = photo;
+    this.isGalleryOpen = true;
+  }
+
+  @action
+  closeGallery() {
+    this.isGalleryOpen = false;
+    this.selectedGalleryPhoto = null;
+  }
+
   <template>
     <div class="place-details">
       {{#if this.isEditing}}
@@ -371,11 +379,13 @@ export default class PlaceDetails extends Component {
           @onCancel={{this.cancelEditing}}
         />
       {{else}}
-        <PlacePhotosCarousel
+        <PhotoCarousel
+          @variant="inline"
           @photos={{this.photos}}
           @name={{this.name}}
           @resetKey={{this.place.osmId}}
           @scrollToEventId={{this.newlyUploadedPhotoId}}
+          @onPhotoClick={{this.openGallery}}
         />
         <h3>{{this.name}}</h3>
         <p class="place-type">
@@ -609,5 +619,14 @@ export default class PlaceDetails extends Component {
         <NostrConnect @onConnect={{this.onNostrConnected}} />
       </Modal>
     {{/if}}
+
+    {{#if this.isGalleryOpen}}
+      <PhotoGallery
+        @photos={{this.photos}}
+        @selectedPhoto={{this.selectedGalleryPhoto}}
+        @placeName={{this.name}}
+        @onClose={{this.closeGallery}}
+      />
+    {{/if}}
   </template>
 }
diff --git a/app/modifiers/fade-in-image.js b/app/modifiers/fade-in-image.js
index 119b415..4c18f59 100644
--- a/app/modifiers/fade-in-image.js
+++ b/app/modifiers/fade-in-image.js
@@ -9,11 +9,28 @@ export default modifier((element, [url]) => {
 
   let observer;
 
+  const hideBlurhash = () => {
+    const parent = element.parentElement;
+    const slide =
+      parent && parent.tagName === 'PICTURE' ? parent.parentElement : parent;
+
+    // Only hide the blurhash if we're in the gallery-main view.
+    // In the inline view, we want to keep the blurhash visible behind portrait photos
+    // to fill the 16:9 container gracefully.
+    if (slide && slide.closest('.photo-carousel.gallery-main')) {
+      const blur = slide.querySelector('.place-header-photo-blur');
+      if (blur) {
+        blur.style.opacity = '0';
+      }
+    }
+  };
+
   const handleLoad = () => {
     // Only apply the fade-in animation if it wasn't already loaded instantly
     if (!element.classList.contains('loaded-instant')) {
       element.classList.add('loaded');
     }
+    hideBlurhash();
   };
 
   element.addEventListener('load', handleLoad);
@@ -33,6 +50,7 @@ export default modifier((element, [url]) => {
         if (img.complete) {
           // Already in browser cache, skip the animation
           element.classList.add('loaded-instant');
+          hideBlurhash();
         }
 
         // If this image is inside a <picture> tag, we also need to swap <source> tags
diff --git a/app/styles/app.css b/app/styles/app.css
index 0be48a5..7e4dde2 100644
--- a/app/styles/app.css
+++ b/app/styles/app.css
@@ -890,12 +890,15 @@ abbr[title] {
   padding-bottom: 2rem;
 }
 
-.place-photos-carousel-wrapper {
+.photo-carousel {
   position: relative;
+}
+
+.photo-carousel.inline {
   margin: -1rem -1rem 1rem;
 }
 
-.place-photos-carousel-track {
+.photo-carousel-track {
   display: flex;
   overflow-x: auto;
   scroll-behavior: smooth;
@@ -904,11 +907,12 @@ abbr[title] {
   background-color: var(--hover-bg);
 }
 
-.place-photos-carousel-track::-webkit-scrollbar {
+.photo-carousel-track::-webkit-scrollbar {
   display: none; /* Safari and Chrome */
 }
 
 .carousel-slide {
+  cursor: pointer;
   position: relative;
   flex: 0 0 100%;
   scroll-snap-align: start;
@@ -984,7 +988,7 @@ abbr[title] {
   padding: 0;
 }
 
-.place-photos-carousel-wrapper:hover .carousel-nav-btn:not(.disabled) {
+.photo-carousel:hover .carousel-nav-btn:not(.disabled) {
   opacity: 1;
 }
 
@@ -1006,40 +1010,40 @@ abbr[title] {
 }
 
 @media (width <= 768px) {
-  .place-photos-carousel-track {
+  .photo-carousel.inline .photo-carousel-track {
     scroll-snap-type: none;
     gap: 2px;
     background-color: #fff;
   }
 
-  .carousel-slide {
+  .photo-carousel.inline .carousel-slide {
     flex: 0 0 auto;
     height: 100px;
     width: auto;
     scroll-snap-align: none;
   }
 
-  .carousel-slide.landscape {
+  .photo-carousel.inline .carousel-slide.landscape {
     aspect-ratio: var(--slide-ratio, 16 / 9);
   }
 
-  .carousel-slide.portrait {
+  .photo-carousel.inline .carousel-slide.portrait {
     aspect-ratio: 1 / 1;
   }
 
-  .carousel-placeholder {
+  .photo-carousel.inline .carousel-placeholder {
     display: block;
     background-color: var(--hover-bg);
     flex: 1 1 0%;
     min-width: 0;
   }
 
-  .place-header-photo.landscape,
-  .place-header-photo.portrait {
+  .photo-carousel.inline .place-header-photo.landscape,
+  .photo-carousel.inline .place-header-photo.portrait {
     object-fit: cover;
   }
 
-  .carousel-nav-btn {
+  .photo-carousel.inline .carousel-nav-btn {
     display: none;
   }
 }
@@ -1866,3 +1870,149 @@ button.create-place {
 .btn-link:hover {
   text-decoration: underline;
 }
+
+/* Photo Gallery */
+.photo-gallery-overlay {
+  position: fixed;
+  inset: 0;
+  background: rgb(0 0 0 / 90%);
+  z-index: 9999;
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+}
+
+.photo-gallery-overlay .photo-gallery-content {
+  width: 100%;
+  height: 100%;
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  position: relative;
+}
+
+.photo-gallery-overlay .close-btn {
+  position: absolute;
+  top: 0.5rem;
+  right: 1rem;
+  width: 48px;
+  height: 48px;
+  z-index: 10;
+  color: white;
+  background: transparent;
+  border-radius: 50%;
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+  transition: background-color 0.2s ease;
+}
+
+@media (width <= 768px) {
+  .photo-gallery-overlay .close-btn {
+    right: 0.5rem;
+  }
+}
+
+.photo-gallery-overlay .main-photo-container {
+  flex: 1;
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+  padding: 2rem;
+  overflow: hidden;
+}
+
+@media (width <= 768px) {
+  .photo-gallery-overlay .main-photo-container {
+    padding: 2rem 0;
+  }
+}
+
+.photo-gallery-overlay .main-photo-container img {
+  max-width: 100%;
+  max-height: 100%;
+  object-fit: contain;
+}
+
+/* Photo Carousel: Gallery Main Variant */
+.photo-carousel.gallery-main {
+  width: 100%;
+  height: 100%;
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+}
+
+.photo-carousel.gallery-main .photo-carousel-track {
+  height: 100%;
+  background: transparent;
+}
+
+.photo-carousel.gallery-main .carousel-slide {
+  height: 100%;
+  flex: 0 0 100%;
+  aspect-ratio: auto;
+  cursor: default;
+}
+
+.photo-carousel.gallery-main .carousel-nav-btn {
+  width: 48px;
+  height: 48px;
+}
+
+.photo-carousel.gallery-main .place-header-photo-blur,
+.photo-carousel.gallery-main .place-header-photo.landscape,
+.photo-carousel.gallery-main .place-header-photo.portrait {
+  object-fit: contain;
+}
+
+@media (width <= 768px) {
+  .photo-carousel.gallery-main .carousel-nav-btn {
+    display: none;
+  }
+}
+
+/* Photo Carousel: Gallery Thumbnails Variant */
+.photo-carousel.gallery-thumbnails {
+  width: 100%;
+  height: 100px;
+  background: rgb(0 0 0 / 50%);
+  padding-bottom: env(safe-area-inset-bottom, 0); /* Support mobile safe area */
+}
+
+.photo-carousel.gallery-thumbnails .photo-carousel-track {
+  height: 100%;
+  background: transparent;
+  gap: 4px;
+  scroll-snap-type: none;
+  padding: 0;
+}
+
+.photo-carousel.gallery-thumbnails .carousel-slide {
+  flex: 0 0 auto;
+  height: 100%;
+  width: auto;
+  scroll-snap-align: none;
+  opacity: 0.6;
+  transition: opacity 0.2s;
+}
+
+.photo-carousel.gallery-thumbnails .carousel-slide.landscape {
+  aspect-ratio: var(--slide-ratio, 16 / 9);
+}
+
+.photo-carousel.gallery-thumbnails .carousel-slide.portrait {
+  aspect-ratio: 1 / 1;
+}
+
+.photo-carousel.gallery-thumbnails .carousel-slide:hover,
+.photo-carousel.gallery-thumbnails .carousel-slide.active {
+  opacity: 1;
+}
+
+.photo-carousel.gallery-thumbnails .place-header-photo.landscape,
+.photo-carousel.gallery-thumbnails .place-header-photo.portrait {
+  object-fit: cover;
+  height: 100%;
+}
+
+.photo-carousel.gallery-thumbnails .carousel-nav-btn {
+  display: none;
+}
diff --git a/tests/integration/components/place-photos-carousel-test.gjs b/tests/integration/components/photo-carousel-test.gjs
similarity index 86%
rename from tests/integration/components/place-photos-carousel-test.gjs
rename to tests/integration/components/photo-carousel-test.gjs
index 167f48e..89e2be4 100644
--- a/tests/integration/components/place-photos-carousel-test.gjs
+++ b/tests/integration/components/photo-carousel-test.gjs
@@ -1,20 +1,20 @@
 import { module, test } from 'qunit';
 import { setupRenderingTest } from 'marco/tests/helpers';
 import { render, click } from '@ember/test-helpers';
-import PlacePhotosCarousel from 'marco/components/place-photos-carousel';
+import PhotoCarousel from 'marco/components/photo-carousel';
 
-module('Integration | Component | place-photos-carousel', function (hooks) {
+module('Integration | Component | photo-carousel', function (hooks) {
   setupRenderingTest(hooks);
 
   test('it renders gracefully with no photos', async function (assert) {
     this.photos = [];
 
     await render(
-      <template><PlacePhotosCarousel @photos={{this.photos}} /></template>
+      <template><PhotoCarousel @photos={{this.photos}} /></template>
     );
 
     assert
-      .dom('.place-photos-carousel-wrapper')
+      .dom('.photo-carousel')
       .doesNotExist('it does not render the wrapper when there are no photos');
   });
 
@@ -32,14 +32,12 @@ module('Integration | Component | place-photos-carousel', function (hooks) {
     await render(
       <template>
         <div class="test-container">
-          <PlacePhotosCarousel @photos={{this.photos}} />
+          <PhotoCarousel @photos={{this.photos}} />
         </div>
       </template>
     );
 
-    assert
-      .dom('.place-photos-carousel-wrapper')
-      .exists('it renders the wrapper');
+    assert.dom('.photo-carousel').exists('it renders the wrapper');
     assert
       .dom('.carousel-slide:not(.carousel-placeholder)')
       .exists({ count: 1 }, 'it renders one real photo slide');
@@ -84,7 +82,7 @@ module('Integration | Component | place-photos-carousel', function (hooks) {
     await render(
       <template>
         <div class="test-container">
-          <PlacePhotosCarousel @photos={{this.photos}} />
+          <PhotoCarousel @photos={{this.photos}} />
         </div>
       </template>
     );