Overpass API — Free OpenStreetMap Query Language API (No Key)

TL;DR

The Overpass API is a specialized read-only API for querying raw OpenStreetMap data using its own query language (Overpass QL). Unlike Nominatim (which is for geocoding), Overpass lets you ask complex geographic questions: "Find all Italian restaurants within 1km of this point" or "Get all bus stops along this road." It supports bounding box, polygon, radius, and recursive queries. The API returns data in JSON, XML, or OSM formats.

Quick start: https://overpass-api.de/api/interpreter?data=[out:json];node(51.50,-0.1,51.52,-0.09);out;

No API key needed — just make a request!

How to Use This API

1. Simple Bounding Box Query

Get all nodes in a small area near central London (bbox: lat_min,lon_min,lat_max,lon_max):

https://overpass-api.de/api/interpreter?data=[out:json];node(51.50,-0.1,51.52,-0.09);out;

2. Find Cafes by Tag

https://overpass-api.de/api/interpreter?data=[out:json];node["amenity"="cafe"](51.50,-0.1,51.52,-0.09);out;

3. JavaScript — Find Nearby Hospitals

const query = `[out:json];
  node["amenity"="hospital"](40.71,-74.01,40.73,-73.99);
  out;`;
fetch('https://overpass-api.de/api/interpreter?data=' + encodeURIComponent(query))
  .then(r => r.json())
  .then(d => {
    d.elements.forEach(e => {
      console.log(e.tags.name, '—', e.lat, e.lon);
    });
  });

4. Python — Parks in a City

import requests, urllib.parse

query = """
[out:json];
area["name"="Berlin"]->.a;
node(area.a)["leisure"="park"];
out center;
"""
resp = requests.get('https://overpass-api.de/api/interpreter',
    params={'data': query})
parks = resp.json()
for p in parks['elements'][:5]:
    print(p['tags'].get('name', 'Unnamed park'))

Try it:

https://overpass-api.de/api/interpreter?data=[out:json];node(51.50,-0.1,51.52,-0.09);out;

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API Details

API URL: https://overpass-api.de/api/interpreter
Documentation: wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Overpass_API
Category: Utility
Authentication: Not Required
Geographic Coverage: Global — full OSM dataset

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Overpass QL?: Overpass Query Language is OSM's domain-specific query language. It uses statements like node, way, relation with filter conditions in brackets and geographic constraints in parentheses.
How is it different from Nominatim?: Nominatim is for address-to-coordinate geocoding. Overpass is for raw OSM data queries — finding features by tags, type, and location within specified geographic boundaries.
What format is the response?: Responses default to OSM XML. Add [out:json] at the start of your query for JSON output. GeoJSON is available with [out:geojson].
How do I avoid overly large queries?: Always use geographic constraints (bounding boxes or radius) and limit output with out 50; (limits to 50 elements). Large unbounded queries may be rejected.
What are the rate limits?: The public Overpass API instance at overpass-api.de has per-IP rate limits and a maximum query runtime of about 180 seconds. Heavy users should run their own instance.
Can I query by tag value?: Yes, OSM's tagging system is central to Overpass. Examples: ["amenity"="restaurant"], ["highway"="primary"], ["building"] (any building).

What You Can Build

Custom map with filtered points of interest (cafes, ATMs, pharmacies)
Accessibility mapper showing wheelchair-friendly locations
Traffic analysis with road type and speed limit data
Hiking trail network extractor for outdoor apps
Public transport stop and route data aggregator