How to Use the Foursquare MCP in Claude

Q: Can I get venue photos using Foursquare in Claude Desktop?

Yes, you can use getplacephotos to retrieve media URLs for any venue. Your agent will display these images directly in your chat history.

Bring real-time location data directly into Claude Desktop with this Foursquare MCP server.

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Connect Foursquare MCP to Claude Desktop

Create your Vinkius account to connect Foursquare to Claude Desktop and route execution through our secure gateway. The platform manages server hosting, runtime updates, and security layers. Configuration requires no manual server provisioning.

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Setup Foursquare with Claude Desktop

Ask AI about this MCP

ChatGPT

Claude

Perplexity

Search and verify venues in Claude Desktop

Use `search_places` and `match_venue_exactly` to find precise location data without leaving your chat window. This gives you instant access to the Foursquare POI graph for your project research. Type your query and let the agent handle the heavy lifting. It converts your natural language requests into structured API calls, ensuring you get accurate venue data every time.

Get rich venue context in Claude Desktop

Call `get_place_details` and `get_place_tips` to pull in detailed property info and user reviews for any location. It is perfect for analyzing local spots or building location-aware apps. Stop switching between browser tabs to look up ratings. This MCP server feeds the information straight into your conversation so you can keep working.

Perform spatial queries in Claude Desktop

Execute `search_within_polygon` or `search_within_radius` to identify spots based on specific geofence coordinates. You can define exact boundaries to filter your search results. This is essential when you need to map out locations for logistics or travel planning. The server processes these spatial parameters and returns the relevant venue list immediately.

Setup guide

Set up Foursquare MCP in Claude Web or Desktop

1

Open Claude Settings

Go to claude.ai, click your profile icon, then navigate to Customize → Connectors.
2

Add Custom Connector

Click the "+" button and select Add custom connector. Paste your Vinkius endpoint URL: https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your token from cloud.vinkius.com. For OAuth-protected servers, expand Advanced settings to add credentials.
3

Start a conversation

Open a new chat. The Foursquare MCP tools are available immediately — no restart needed.

Endpoint URL

https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp

No configuration file needed — paste the URL directly in the Claude web interface.

Available on Free (1 connector), Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise plans.

Prerequisites

Claude Desktop installed (macOS or Windows)
Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token

1

Open Claude Desktop Settings

Click the menu icon at the top-left corner, go to Settings → Developer → Edit Config. This opens claude_desktop_config.json in your default text editor.
2

Paste the Foursquare MCP configuration

Copy the JSON snippet on the right into the mcpServers object. Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your endpoint token from cloud.vinkius.com.
3

Restart Claude Desktop

Close and reopen the application. Claude needs a full restart to load new MCPs — refreshing a conversation is not enough.
4

Verify the connection

Open a new conversation. Click the 🔌 icon at the bottom of the message input. You should see tools listed under foursquare-mcp.

json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "foursquare-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Get your connection token →

Independent Platform Disclaimer: Vinkius is an independent platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, verified by, or otherwise authorized by Foursquare. All third-party trademarks, logos, and brand names are the property of their respective owners. Their use on this website is strictly for informational purposes to identify service compatibility and interoperability.

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Common questions about Foursquare MCP in Claude Desktop

Open your Claude Desktop settings and add the server to your config file. Once connected, just ask your agent to find a place, and it will use the integrated tools to fetch the results.

Yes, you can use `get_place_photos` to retrieve media URLs for any venue. Your agent will display these images directly in your chat history.

It does. Because the server runs as a local subprocess, it provides your agent with live data that you can use to write code or draft documents.

The server only transmits the specific search queries you initiate. It does not store your personal browsing history or location logs.

Security is handled via your endpoint token, which encrypts the connection to the API. No raw credentials are ever exposed to the client interface.

Use it with your favorite AI tools

Connect this server to Cursor, Claude, VS Code, and more.