1. A computer-implemented method for grouping and ranking points of interest (POIs), the method comprising the following operations performed by at least one processor: determining a route distance based on information for a route requested by a user; comparing the route distance with a distance threshold; generating a list of POIs when the route distance is less than the distance threshold, the list of POIs identifying POIs that are located along the route; grouping the POIs into one or more buckets based on location; and ranking the buckets based on density of the POIs included in each bucket.