diff --git a/src/c3nav/mapdata/models/locations.py b/src/c3nav/mapdata/models/locations.py
index d06be651..987deb88 100644
--- a/src/c3nav/mapdata/models/locations.py
+++ b/src/c3nav/mapdata/models/locations.py
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@ class LocationSlug(SerializableMixin, models.Model):
 
     def _serialize(self, **kwargs):
         result = super()._serialize(**kwargs)
+        result["locationtype"] = self.__class__.__name__.lower()
         result['slug'] = self.get_slug()
         return result
 
diff --git a/src/c3nav/mapdata/newapi/map.py b/src/c3nav/mapdata/newapi/map.py
index 9dc51347..a9d32ad7 100644
--- a/src/c3nav/mapdata/newapi/map.py
+++ b/src/c3nav/mapdata/newapi/map.py
@@ -1,8 +1,15 @@
+from django.core.cache import cache
+from ninja import Query
 from ninja import Router as APIRouter
+from ninja import Schema
+from pydantic import Field as APIField
 
 from c3nav.api.newauth import auth_responses
 from c3nav.mapdata.models import Source
+from c3nav.mapdata.models.access import AccessPermission
+from c3nav.mapdata.schemas.models import AnyLocationSchema
 from c3nav.mapdata.schemas.responses import BoundsSchema
+from c3nav.mapdata.utils.locations import searchable_locations_for_request, visible_locations_for_request
 
 map_api_router = APIRouter(tags=["map"])
 
@@ -13,3 +20,43 @@ def bounds(request):
     return {
         "bounds": Source.max_bounds(),
     }
+
+
+class LocationEndpointParameters(Schema):
+    searchable: bool = APIField(
+        False,
+        title='only list searchable locations',
+        description='if set, only searchable locations will be listed'
+    )
+
+
+def can_access_geometry(request):
+    return True  # todo: implementFd
+
+
+@map_api_router.get('/locations/', response={200: list[AnyLocationSchema], **auth_responses},
+                    summary="Get map boundaries")
+def location_list(request, params: Query[LocationEndpointParameters]):
+    # todo: cache, visibility, etc…
+    searchable = params.searchable
+    detailed = True  # todo: configurable?
+    geometry = True  # todo: configurable
+
+    cache_key = 'mapdata:api:location:list:%d:%s:%d' % (
+        searchable + detailed*2 + geometry*4,
+        AccessPermission.cache_key_for_request(request),
+        request.user_permissions.can_access_base_mapdata
+    )
+    result = cache.get(cache_key, None)
+    if result is None:
+        if searchable:
+            locations = searchable_locations_for_request(request)
+        else:
+            locations = visible_locations_for_request(request).values()
+
+        result = tuple(obj.serialize(detailed=detailed, search=searchable,
+                                     geometry=geometry and can_access_geometry(request),
+                                     simple_geometry=True)
+                       for obj in locations)
+        cache.set(cache_key, result, 300)
+    return result
diff --git a/src/c3nav/mapdata/schemas/model_base.py b/src/c3nav/mapdata/schemas/model_base.py
index 9b216ddb..c2d94be0 100644
--- a/src/c3nav/mapdata/schemas/model_base.py
+++ b/src/c3nav/mapdata/schemas/model_base.py
@@ -15,7 +15,8 @@ class SerializableSchema(Schema):
     @classmethod
     def _run_root_validator(cls, values: Any, handler: ModelWrapValidatorHandler[Schema], info: ValidationInfo) -> Any:
         """ overwriting this, we need to call serialize to get the correct data """
-        values = values.serialize()
+        if not isinstance(values, dict):
+            values = values.serialize()
         return handler(values)
 
 
@@ -155,3 +156,24 @@ class WithSpaceSchema(SerializableSchema):
         title="space",
         description="space id this object belongs to.",
     )
+
+
+class SimpleGeometryBoundsSchema(Schema):
+    bounds: tuple[tuple[float, float], tuple[float, float]] = APIField(
+        description="location bounding box from (x, y) to (x, y)",
+        example=((-10, -20), (20, 30)),
+    )
+
+
+class SimpleGeometryBoundsAndPointSchema(SimpleGeometryBoundsSchema):
+    point: tuple[PositiveInt, float, float] = APIField(
+        title="point representation of the location",
+        description="made from the level ID, X and Y in this order",
+    )
+
+
+class SimpleGeometryLocationsSchema(Schema):
+    locations: list[PositiveInt] = APIField(  # todo: this should be a set… but json serialization?
+        description="IDs of all locations that belong to this grouo",
+        example=(1, 2, 3),
+    )
diff --git a/src/c3nav/mapdata/schemas/models.py b/src/c3nav/mapdata/schemas/models.py
index 078d7e04..e6b3999b 100644
--- a/src/c3nav/mapdata/schemas/models.py
+++ b/src/c3nav/mapdata/schemas/models.py
@@ -1,10 +1,15 @@
-from typing import Optional
+from typing import Annotated, Literal, Optional, Union
 
+from pydantic import Discriminator
 from pydantic import Field as APIField
-from pydantic import NonNegativeFloat, PositiveFloat, PositiveInt
+from pydantic import GetJsonSchemaHandler, NonNegativeFloat, PositiveFloat, PositiveInt
+from pydantic.json_schema import JsonSchemaValue
+from pydantic_core import CoreSchema
 
 from c3nav.api.utils import NonEmptyStr
 from c3nav.mapdata.schemas.model_base import (DjangoModelSchema, LabelSettingsSchema, LocationSchema,
+                                              LocationSlugSchema, SimpleGeometryBoundsAndPointSchema,
+                                              SimpleGeometryBoundsSchema, SimpleGeometryLocationsSchema,
                                               SpecificLocationSchema, TitledSchema, WithAccessRestrictionSchema,
                                               WithLevelSchema, WithLineStringGeometrySchema, WithPointGeometrySchema,
                                               WithPolygonGeometrySchema, WithSpaceSchema)
@@ -308,3 +313,57 @@ class AccessRestrictionGroupSchema(WithAccessRestrictionSchema, DjangoModelSchem
     For simplicity's sake, access restrictions can belong to groups, and you can grant permissions for the entire group.
     """
     pass
+
+
+class TypedLevelSchema(LevelSchema):
+    """
+    A level for the location API.
+    See Level schema for details.
+    """
+    locationtype: Literal["level"]
+
+
+class TypedSpaceSchema(SimpleGeometryBoundsAndPointSchema, SpaceSchema):
+    """
+    A space with some additional information for the location API.
+    See Space schema for details.
+    """
+    locationtype: Literal["space"]
+
+
+class TypedAreaSchema(SimpleGeometryBoundsAndPointSchema, AreaSchema):
+    """
+    An area with some additional information for the location API.
+    See Area schema for details.
+    """
+    locationtype: Literal["area"]
+
+
+class TypedPOISchema(SimpleGeometryBoundsSchema, POISchema):
+    """
+    A point of interest with some additional information for the location API.
+    See POI schema for details.
+    """
+    locationtype: Literal["poi"]
+
+
+class TypedLocationGroupSchema(SimpleGeometryLocationsSchema, LocationGroupSchema):
+    """
+    A locagroun group with some additional information for the location API.
+    See LocationGroup schema for details.
+    """
+    locationtype: Literal["locationgroup"]
+
+
+AnyLocationSchema = Annotated[
+    Union[
+        TypedLevelSchema,
+        TypedSpaceSchema,
+        TypedAreaSchema,
+        TypedPOISchema,
+        TypedLocationGroupSchema,
+    ],
+    Discriminator("locationtype"),
+]
+
+