Overpass (OpenStreetMap) API

Free Overpass API with no key: query OpenStreetMap for any feature — shops, roads, amenities — by tag and bounding box. Immensely powerful. Tested example.

No API key requiredHTTPSFree tier

Endpoint tested and returned HTTP 200 on 20 Aug 2026

What is the Overpass (OpenStreetMap) API?

The Overpass API is a free, key-free query engine for OpenStreetMap data, letting you extract any mapped feature — shops, restaurants, roads, buildings, amenities — filtered by tags and geographic area.

Overpass turns OpenStreetMap from a map you look at into a database you can query. Want every pharmacy in a city, every bench in a park, or every building with solar panels? Overpass answers that, and no commercial API offers comparable coverage for free.

The cost is its query language, Overpass QL, which is genuinely unlike anything else. It is worth learning if you need OSM data at all, but expect the first few queries to be frustrating — and always constrain by bounding box, since unbounded queries will time out.

Quick facts

Base URL: https://overpass-api.de/api/interpreter
Authentication: No API key required.
Rate limit: Shared public instance with a query timeout and slot system; heavy users should self-host.
Pricing: Free. OSM data is ODbL licensed, requiring attribution and share-alike for derived databases.
CORS: Not enabled — call it from your server
Official docs: Read the docs

How to use the Overpass (OpenStreetMap) API

Every request below was executed against the live API on 20 Aug 2026, and the response shown is the real body it returned — not an illustration.

1. Query OpenStreetMap features in an area

GET https://overpass-api.de/api/interpreter?data=%5Bout%3Ajson%5D%3Bnode%5Bamenity%3Dfuel%5D(31.5%2C74.3%2C31.52%2C74.35)%3Bout%201%3B

curl

curl 'https://overpass-api.de/api/interpreter?data=%5Bout%3Ajson%5D%3Bnode%5Bamenity%3Dfuel%5D(31.5%2C74.3%2C31.52%2C74.35)%3Bout%201%3B'

JavaScript (fetch)

const res = await fetch("https://overpass-api.de/api/interpreter?data=%5Bout%3Ajson%5D%3Bnode%5Bamenity%3Dfuel%5D(31.5%2C74.3%2C31.52%2C74.35)%3Bout%201%3B");
if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`Request failed: ${res.status}`);
const data = await res.json();
console.log(data);

Python (requests)

import requests

res = requests.get("https://overpass-api.de/api/interpreter?data=%5Bout%3Ajson%5D%3Bnode%5Bamenity%3Dfuel%5D(31.5%2C74.3%2C31.52%2C74.35)%3Bout%201%3B", timeout=20)
res.raise_for_status()
print(res.json())

Response — HTTP 200

{
  "version": 0.6,
  "generator": "Overpass API 0.7.62.11 87bfad18",
  "osm3s": {
    "timestamp_osm_base": "2026-08-19T21:09:30Z",
    "copyright": "The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL."
  },
  "elements": [
    {
      "type": "node",
      "id": 272369604,
      "lat": 31.5199163,
      "lon": 74.3253966,
      "tags": {
        "amenity": "fuel"
      }
    }
  ]
}

Parameters

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`data`	string	Required	An Overpass QL query, URL-encoded. `[out:json];node[amenity=fuel](31.5,74.3,31.52,74.35);out 1;`
`[out:json]`	syntax	Optional	Output format directive at the start of the query. `[out:json]`
`[timeout:n]`	syntax	Optional	Query timeout in seconds. `[timeout:25]`
`(bbox)`	syntax	Optional	Bounding box as south,west,north,east. `(31.5,74.3,31.52,74.35)`

Response fields

version / generatornumber|string: Overpass API version information.
osm3s.timestamp_osm_basestring: How current the underlying OSM data is.
elementsarray: Matching OSM features.
elements[].typestring: node, way or relation.
elements[].idinteger: OSM object id.
elements[].lat / lonnumber: Coordinates, on nodes.
elements[].tagsobject: All OSM tags on the feature — name, opening_hours and so on.

What you can build with the Overpass (OpenStreetMap) API

Find all amenities of a type within an area
Extract points of interest for a local guide
Analyse urban infrastructure and accessibility
Build custom maps with filtered OSM features

Common errors and how to fix them

504 or timeout

The query is too broad or has no bounding box.

Fix: Always constrain with a bounding box and set [timeout:25]; unbounded queries hit the global dataset.

429 too many requests

The public instance uses a slot system.

Fix: Wait and retry, or self-host Overpass for sustained use.

Empty elements array

Wrong tag key or value.

Fix: OSM tagging is conventional, not enforced — check the OSM wiki for the correct tag, e.g. amenity=fuel not amenity=petrol.

Overpass (OpenStreetMap) API — frequently asked questions

Is the Overpass API free?

Yes, free with no API key. OSM data is ODbL licensed, so attribution is required and derived databases must be shared alike.

What can I query with it?

Anything mapped in OpenStreetMap — shops, restaurants, roads, buildings, benches, cycle paths, power lines. Coverage is far broader than any commercial POI API offers for free.

Why do my queries time out?

Almost always because there is no bounding box, so the query runs against global data. Always constrain geographically and set an explicit [timeout:25].

Is Overpass QL hard to learn?

It is unlike SQL or any common query language, so expect a learning curve. The OSM wiki has good examples, and Overpass Turbo provides an interactive query builder.

Tools that pair with this API

JSON Formatter

Format, beautify and minify JSON online with 2-space, 4-space or tab indentation. Sort keys alphabetically and catch syntax errors instantly — free and private.

URL Encoder

Percent-encode text for URLs instantly. Switch between encodeURIComponent and encodeURI modes, see live output and copy the result. Free URL encoder.

Alternatives to Overpass (OpenStreetMap) API

If Overpass (OpenStreetMap) does not fit, these transport & vehicle apis cover similar ground. Every one was called before publishing, and each links to its own reference page with a working curl command and the response it returned.

API	What it does	Auth	CORS	Last verified
NHTSA vPIC	Free NHTSA vPIC API with no key: decode any VIN, list vehicle makes and models, and get manufacturer and specification data. Tested curl example.	No key	No	19 Aug 2026
NHTSA Recalls	Free NHTSA recalls API with no key: look up open safety recalls by make, model and year, with remedy details and Park It warnings. Tested curl example.	No key	No	19 Aug 2026
Transport for London	Free Transport for London API: live tube line status, arrivals, journey planning, bike hire and stop points across London. No key for light use. Tested example.	No key	Yes	19 Aug 2026
OpenSky Network	Free OpenSky Network API: live aircraft positions, altitude, velocity and callsigns worldwide from crowd-sourced ADS-B receivers. Tested curl example.	No key	No	19 Aug 2026
ParkenDD	Free car park availability API with no key: live free-space counts for multi-storey car parks across German, Austrian and Swiss cities. Tested example and live response.	No key	Yes	21 Aug 2026
RATP Open Data	Free Paris RATP open data API with no key: annual station ridership, in-station air quality measurements, drinking fountains, defibrillators and toilets. Tested example included.	No key	Yes	21 Aug 2026

All Transport & Vehicle APIs

Overpass (OpenStreetMap) is an independent third-party service and is not affiliated with ByteTools or ByteVancer. Details on this page were verified on 20 Aug 2026; always check the official documentation before relying on this API in production, as terms and limits can change.