A method and apparatus for displaying a search item in a portable terminal is disclosed. When an item (for example, a particular place, a route to a destination place, particular content, etc.), for which the user requests to search, is searched and displayed, the location information regarding the search item can be displayed, in steps, from a wide range (i.e., upper information) to a narrow range (i.e., lower information), thereby the user can intuitively and easily recognize the location of the search item.