The Ultimate Guide to Urban Exploration: Top Cities to Visit

Moms call it dangerous, Instagram calls it urbex, and the police call it trespassing. I just call it exploring.

In this article, I will do my best to teach you how to explore urban areas in my opinion the right way.

I have been photographing the decay for a long time because I am fascinated by the stories that abandoned buildings can tell. I’d like to share this as a resource to help people who are just starting out get a head start on this one-of-a-kind and fulfilling hobby.

Use the table of contents below to locate the information you need if you are looking for an answer to a specific question. Post your questions in the comments section below if you still have them, and I will do my best to answer them. Metropolitan Investigation is tied in with investigating what is by and large not seen, disregarded, or beyond reach to a great many people. Shipwrecks, historic landmarks, and heritage sites are examples of places you can visit that are open to the public.

On the other hand, there are just as many places you can’t go, like abandoned hospitals, storm drains, and city rooftops. I would be lying if I said that I don’t get excited when I’m in places I shouldn’t be, but everyone explores for their own reasons.

Getting caught while exploring a city can result in a variety of penalties, from tickets for trespassing to arrest for breaking and entering. The way you enter, what you bring with you, and how you present yourself if you are caught can all make a big difference.

Check out my guide on how to obtain permission to visit abandoned locations if you love the idea of urban exploration but are afraid to start because it is illegal.

Urbex is definitely not a safe hobby because it carries a lot of risks. Depending on where you decide to go exploring, there are a variety of risks. Since many people have died while exploring, good explorers must be knowledgeable, prepared, and self-reliant.

Flash flooding, falling through structures, tetanus, leeches, ticks, suffocation, robbery, radiation poisoning, asbestos, chemical inhalation—I could go on and on about the dangers.

Therefore, the risks you face are determined by where you want to explore. Despite the fact that risks can never be completely eliminated, they can be reduced with the right preparation and the right tools. What you carry with you to investigate an unwanted sulfur mine is definitely unique in relation to what you’d pack to visit a neglected clinic.

I have a whole section dedicated to the gear I use and recommend. I include various kinds of masks that shield you from various dangers, clothing, first aid supplies, and other useful tools that can safeguard you or get you out of trouble in the safety gear section.

At the point when it rains, no channels. Before entering a drain system, check the weather multiple times. If there is a possibility of rain, reschedule.

Inform someone of your location. Assuming the worst in the event that you and your companion become caught or can’t call for help, somebody will know where you are. This is inconceivably significant while investigating caves or deserted mines. Leaving GPS coordinates with a trusted individual could save a life.

Don’t go out on your own. Awful things can happen even to the most experienced pilgrims. Depending on where you are, having at least one more person with you could make all the difference. Having an additional individual with you can assist with fending off an assailant, call for help, treat a physical issue, or getaway a locked fabricating.

Do not flee the police. Simply stop if a police officer spots you. As it stands, there are far too many miscommunications with the police, particularly in the United States. Police have also erred when they thought tripods were long guns. Running could in a real sense cost you your life. 

We have determined that bringing the appropriate safety gear is essential to being prepared; however, what about the additional gear for urban exploration? You should only bring the essentials with you and not much else. Overpacking can make you feel heavier, making it harder to get around buildings or leave an area quickly if you need to.

Again, it really comes down to how long you plan to be gone and exactly where you will be. However, for general explorations, the following are a few items I almost always have with me or on me. The gear page contains reviews for the majority of these items.

Nobody ought to be able to tell you were ever there when you leave a place. As a result, other photographers and explorers can share your experience.

It doesn’t matter if the location is in disrepair; it is neither our property nor our right to vandalize it. Deal with the spot like your home, however always remember you’re simply a guest.

Also, ultimately, keep weak areas hidden.

Each location is unique. An abandoned church from the 1800s is very different from an abandoned parking garage. Keep it to yourself if a place feels like a time capsule, is full of antiques, or has a lot of history.

Posting the locations online or including the coordinates in your photos may be tempting, but doing so can result in vandalism or complete destruction of the locations.

The first rule in this section cannot be guaranteed to be respected by a stranger online. Only other explorers you know, like, and trust should visit these locations.