# Search Google Maps

> Businesses and places matching a Google Maps search, with address, phone, website, rating, hours and coordinates.

- **Request:** `GET https://api.lurkapi.com/v1/google/maps/search`
- **Auth:** `x-api-key` header ([get a free key](https://lurkapi.com/login?next=/dashboard))
- **Cost:** 1 credit per call. Validation errors, `401`/`402`/`429` rejections and `5xx` failures are free; `not_found` is charged ([how charging works](https://lurkapi.com/docs.md#credits)).
- **MCP tool:** `google_maps_search` on `https://api.lurkapi.com/mcp`
- **Freshness:** responses are cached for up to 12 hours
- **Try it live:** https://lurkapi.com/docs/google/maps-search#try (no signup)
- **Platform:** [Google](https://lurkapi.com/docs/google.md) (google.com)
- **Web page:** https://lurkapi.com/docs/google/maps-search

## When to use this

Use it to find businesses by type and area ("dentists in Miami") for lead lists, local SEO or market maps. Each place carries its contact details, so most callers never need place details.

Pass what you'd type into Maps as `query`, and the area as `location` (free text, e.g. `Austin, TX`) or as `lat` + `lng`. One of them is required.

**Pagination.** 20 places per page in Google's order, up to 10 pages. Pass `next_page` as `page` for more; it's null on the last page. Later pages can repeat a few places from earlier ones.

A query that names one place (`empire state building`) returns just that place.

## Parameters

All parameters go in the query string.

| Name | Type | Required | Default | Allowed values | Description | Example |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `query` | string | yes |  |  | What you'd type into Google Maps, e.g. `coffee shop` or `plumbers near me`. | `coffee shop` |
| `location` | string | no |  |  | Where to search, as free text: a city, area or address, e.g. `Austin, TX`. | `Austin, TX` |
| `lat` | number | no |  |  | Latitude to center the search on, with `lng`, e.g. `30.2672`. |  |
| `lng` | number | no |  |  | Longitude to center the search on, with `lat`, e.g. `-97.7431`. |  |
| `zoom` | integer | no | `14` |  | How far in the map is zoomed around `lat`/`lng`, as on Maps: 10 ≈ a city, 14 ≈ a neighborhood (default), 17 ≈ a few streets. |  |
| `page` | integer | no | `1` |  | Page of results, 1–10; 20 places each. Use `next_page` from the previous answer. |  |
| `language` | string | no | `en` |  | Language of names, categories, hours and review text, e.g. `en`, `de`, `pt-BR`. Default `en`. |  |

## Example request

Replace `YOUR_API_KEY` with your key, or set `LURKAPI_KEY` for the code. [Get a free key](https://lurkapi.com/login?next=/dashboard).

curl:

```bash
curl "https://api.lurkapi.com/v1/google/maps/search?query=coffee+shop&location=Austin%2C+TX" \
  -H "x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY"
```

JavaScript:

```js
const params = new URLSearchParams({
  query: "coffee shop",
  location: "Austin, TX",
});
const res = await fetch(`https://api.lurkapi.com/v1/google/maps/search?${params}`, {
  headers: { "x-api-key": process.env.LURKAPI_KEY },
});
const data = await res.json();
if (!data.success) throw new Error(`${data.code}: ${data.error}`);
console.log(data.places);
```

Python:

```python
import os
import requests

res = requests.get(
    "https://api.lurkapi.com/v1/google/maps/search",
    params={
        "query": "coffee shop",
        "location": "Austin, TX",
    },
    headers={"x-api-key": os.environ["LURKAPI_KEY"]},
    timeout=60,
)
data = res.json()
if not data["success"]:
    raise RuntimeError(f"{data['code']}: {data['error']}")
print(data["places"])
```

## Example response

A real response from this endpoint, captured from the live API and trimmed to a couple of items. Strings over 96 characters (mostly signed media URLs) are cut short and end in `…`.

200 OK (application/json):

```json
{
  "success": true,
  "credits_remaining": 999984,
  "credits_charged": 1,
  "places": [
    {
      "placeId": "ChIJ1S_Bov20RIYRe7MiR8tYawY",
      "cid": "462561016830669691",
      "featureId": "0x8644b4fda2c12fd5:0x66b58cb4722b37b",
      "name": "Jo's Coffee – South Congress",
      "url": "https://www.google.com/maps?cid=462561016830669691",
      "categories": [
        "Coffee shop",
        "Cafe",
        "Takeout Restaurant",
        "Sandwich shop"
      ],
      "address": "1300 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704",
      "street": "1300 S Congress Ave",
      "city": "Austin",
      "state": "Texas",
      "postalCode": "78704",
      "countryCode": "US",
      "neighborhood": "Bouldin Creek",
      "plusCode": null,
      "latitude": 30.2510458,
      "longitude": -97.7493717,
      "phone": "(512) 852-2300",
      "phoneInternational": "+15128522300",
      "website": "https://www.joscoffee.com/south-congress-jos",
      "rating": 4.4,
      "reviewsCount": 2005,
      "hours": [
        {
          "day": "Monday",
          "hours": "7 AM–7 PM"
        },
        {
          "day": "Tuesday",
          "hours": "7 AM–7 PM"
        },
        {
          "day": "Wednesday",
          "hours": "7 AM–7 PM"
        },
        {
          "day": "Thursday",
          "hours": "7 AM–7 PM"
        },
        {
          "day": "Friday",
          "hours": "7 AM–7 PM"
        },
        {
          "day": "Saturday",
          "hours": "7 AM–7 PM"
        },
        {
          "day": "Sunday",
          "hours": "7 AM–7 PM"
        }
      ],
      "timezone": "America/Chicago",
      "description": "La Colombe coffee, specialty beverages & snacks in a down-to-earth, convivial locale.",
      "photo": "https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/grass-cs/AABkmLeA8s7ovG7n-CmQy3bJA92IH…",
      "permanentlyClosed": false,
      "temporarilyClosed": false
    },
    {
      "placeId": "ChIJG-gJw2vKRIYROWi2uwOp8QE",
      "cid": "140078896924485689",
      "featureId": "0x8644ca6bc309e81b:0x1f1a903bbb66839",
      "name": "Epoch Coffee",
      "url": "https://www.google.com/maps?cid=140078896924485689",
      "categories": [
        "Coffee shop"
      ],
      "address": "221 W N Loop Blvd, Austin, TX 78751",
      "street": "221 W N Loop Blvd",
      "city": "Austin",
      "state": "Texas",
      "postalCode": "78751",
      "countryCode": "US",
      "neighborhood": "North Loop",
      "plusCode": null,
      "latitude": 30.318603699999997,
      "longitude": -97.72454019999999,
      "phone": "(512) 454-3762",
      "phoneInternational": "+15124543762",
      "website": "http://www.epochcoffee.com/",
      "rating": 4.5,
      "reviewsCount": 2538,
      "hours": [
        {
          "day": "Monday",
          "hours": "12 AM–11:30 PM"
        },
        {
          "day": "Tuesday",
          "hours": "Open 24 hours"
        },
        {
          "day": "Wednesday",
          "hours": "Open 24 hours"
        },
        {
          "day": "Thursday",
          "hours": "Open 24 hours"
        },
        {
          "day": "Friday",
          "hours": "Open 24 hours"
        },
        {
          "day": "Saturday",
          "hours": "Open 24 hours"
        },
        {
          "day": "Sunday",
          "hours": "Open 24 hours"
        }
      ],
      "timezone": "America/Chicago",
      "description": "Cool, vibrant small-chain cafe featuring nibbles, tea & carefully brewed espresso drinks.",
      "photo": "https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/grass-cs/AABkmLeXAOUdE-8mLrosYeEJM3Iqh…",
      "permanentlyClosed": false,
      "temporarilyClosed": false
    }
  ],
  "page": 1,
  "next_page": 2
}
```

## Response fields

Every field of a successful response. `[]` marks a list: `a[].b` is the `b` of each item in `a`. **nullable** fields can be `null`; **optional** fields can be missing.

| Field | Type | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `success` | `true` | Always true here; errors have `success: false`. |
| `credits_remaining` | `number` | Your balance after this call. On anonymous playground calls: free tries left today. |
| `credits_charged` | `number` | Credits this call cost; 0 on free endpoints. On anonymous playground calls: tries used (1). |
| `places` | `object[]` | Matching places in Google's order. |
| `places[].placeId` | `string`, nullable | Google's place id (`ChIJ…`), the id Google's Places API uses too. Pass it as `place_id` to place details or reviews. |
| `places[].cid` | `string` | The place's cid (customer id), stable for the life of the listing: `maps.google.com/?cid=<cid>`. |
| `places[].featureId` | `string` | Google Maps' own feature id (`0x…:0x…`), as it appears in Maps links. |
| `places[].name` | `string` | The place's name as Google lists it. |
| `places[].url` | `string` | The place on Google Maps. |
| `places[].categories` | `string[]` | Google's categories, main one first, e.g. ["Coffee shop", "Cafe"]. |
| `places[].address` | `string`, nullable | Full street address on one line, e.g. `1300 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704`. |
| `places[].street` | `string`, nullable | Street and number. |
| `places[].city` | `string`, nullable | City or town. |
| `places[].state` | `string`, nullable | State, province or region, when the country uses one. |
| `places[].postalCode` | `string`, nullable | Postal code. |
| `places[].countryCode` | `string`, nullable | 2-letter country code, e.g. US. |
| `places[].neighborhood` | `string`, nullable | Neighborhood or district, when Google names one. |
| `places[].plusCode` | `string`, nullable | The place's global plus code, e.g. `86247722+C7`. Place details only: null in search results with more than one place. |
| `places[].latitude` | `number`, nullable | Latitude of the place's pin. |
| `places[].longitude` | `number`, nullable | Longitude of the place's pin. |
| `places[].phone` | `string`, nullable | Phone number as written locally, e.g. `(512) 852-2300`; null when the listing has none. |
| `places[].phoneInternational` | `string`, nullable | Phone number in E.164 form, e.g. `+15128522300`, ready to dial or match. |
| `places[].website` | `string`, nullable | The business's own website; null when the listing has none. |
| `places[].rating` | `number`, nullable | Average star rating, 1–5; null with no reviews. |
| `places[].reviewsCount` | `number`, nullable | How many reviews Google counts; null with none. |
| `places[].hours` | `object[]`, nullable | Regular weekly hours, starting with the current day; null when the listing has none. Holiday hours can differ. |
| `places[].hours[].day` | `string` | Day of the week, in `language`. |
| `places[].hours[].hours` | `string` | Opening hours that day as Google writes them, e.g. `7 AM–7 PM`, `Open 24 hours` or `Closed`. |
| `places[].timezone` | `string`, nullable | The place's IANA timezone, e.g. America/Chicago. |
| `places[].description` | `string`, nullable | Google's one-line summary of the place; null for most places. |
| `places[].photo` | `string`, nullable | The listing's main photo, 800 px wide (edit `=w800` in the URL for another size). |
| `places[].permanentlyClosed` | `boolean` | true when Google marks the place permanently closed. |
| `places[].temporarilyClosed` | `boolean` | true when Google marks the place temporarily closed. |
| `page` | `number` | This page's number. |
| `next_page` | `number`, nullable | Pass as `page` for the next 20 places; null on the last page. |

## Caching and freshness

Responses are cached for up to 12 hours, so a repeat call within that window can return the same data. It still costs 1 credit.

## Errors

Errors return `{ success: false, error, code, docs }` with the HTTP status below. Validation errors, `401`/`402`/`429` rejections and `5xx` failures are free; `not_found` is charged ([how charging works](https://lurkapi.com/docs.md#credits)). [All error codes](https://lurkapi.com/docs.md#errors).

| Status | Code | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 401 | `missing_api_key` | No API key. Send it in the `x-api-key` header. |
| 401 | `invalid_api_key` | The key is unknown or was revoked. |
| 402 | `insufficient_credits` | Not enough credits for this call. Buy a pack or wait for tomorrow's top-up. |
| 403 | `account_suspended` | This account is suspended. Contact support@lurkapi.com. Never charged. |
| 405 | `method_not_allowed` | Endpoints take GET with query params. |
| 429 | `rate_limited` | Too many calls at once. Wait for the `retry-after` seconds, then retry. |
| 500 | `internal_error` | Something broke on our side. Retry; 5xx errors are free. |
| 502 | `upstream_error` | The platform didn't give a usable answer. Retry; 5xx errors are free. |
| 503 | `upstream_busy` | All our connections to the platform are busy. Retry in a few seconds; 5xx errors are free. |
| 504 | `upstream_timeout` | The platform took over 30 seconds to answer (90 for web pages). Retry; timeouts are free. |

## Use it in Claude

Once LurkAPI is [connected to Claude](https://lurkapi.com/docs.md#claude), this endpoint is the `google_maps_search` tool. Ask in plain English, for example:

Ask Claude:

```text
Use LurkAPI's google_maps_search with query "coffee shop", location "Austin, TX" and summarize what you find.
```

Claude calls `google_maps_search` with arguments like these, and each call costs 1 credit:

Tool arguments:

```json
{
  "query": "coffee shop",
  "location": "Austin, TX"
}
```

Tool results are compact to save tokens: no nulls or empty lists, one URL per image or video, transcripts as plain text unless you pass `timestamps=true`. A result over 45,000 characters comes in parts: its `_note` gives the `offset` for the rest, and later parts are free for 15 minutes. `trim=false` returns the full response.

---

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