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Many of us dream of living a life of travel and adventure. In this day and age, you (probably) won’t discover any new lands, but there are plenty of abandoned places that are ripe for exploration.

The massively popular r/urbanexploration online group is home to urban explorers from all around the world who take photos during their outings. We’ve collected some of the most impressive pics, as shared by members of this community. Check them out below, and don’t forget to upvote your faves.

A quick note of warning, Pandas. Urban exploration can be extremely dangerous if you’re not adequately prepared. Don’t go exploring random buildings before doing your research, getting to know your local laws, and buying the right clothing and equipment. 

#1

Abandoned Church In The Woods

Abandoned Church In The Woods

reddit.com Report

Urban exploration, also known as Urbex or UE, is exactly what it sounds like. It involves exploring abandoned or restricted urban environments.

The main draw of this hobby is the thrill of discovery. It can be really exciting to explore and document unusual, (often) deteriorating man-made environments with your pals by your side. 

#5

Abandoned Schoolhouse In Southern Idaho With Blossoming Lilac That Has Long Outlived The Building

Abandoned Schoolhouse In Southern Idaho With Blossoming Lilac That Has Long Outlived The Building

dancing_all_knight Report

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TheNewJenBrady
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've taken a photo of this same building! Or one that looked very similar. It was a house though, had some old furniture in the area behind the concrete foundation on the right there and a huge pile of bat dung on the ground by the front door. Southern Idaho near the border with Utah. It was the only place still standing from an old town. Lots of other foundations hidden in the sagebrush behind the house.

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#6

Abandoned Hospital, The Oculus

Abandoned Hospital, The Oculus

Dethscare Report

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Darius S. (he/him) cis/grey
Community Member
6 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

is that a Star of David in window center? Do those chandeliers look more templey than hospital lobbyy? EDIT: it is a hospital dining hall in upstate ny.

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There are lots of surprises to be found, even in our local areas. Some buildings might be sitting abandoned right under our very noses. But in our busy day-to-day lives, we might simply walk past them, not giving them so much as a second glance.

Urbex enthusiasts don’t just explore buildings as we traditionally think of them, though. They also delve deep into various man-made tunnels, enter massive facilities, and even venture out on rooftops.

#7

This Is One Of The Most Beautiful Bathrooms In An Abandoned Chateau

This Is One Of The Most Beautiful Bathrooms In An Abandoned Chateau

abandonedplaygrounds Report

#8

I Had To Bribe A Guy To Access An Incredible Abandoned Water Park In Vietnam

I Had To Bribe A Guy To Access An Incredible Abandoned Water Park In Vietnam

DannyMThompson Report

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#9

Nature Taking Over A Pool In An Abandoned Mansion

Nature Taking Over A Pool In An Abandoned Mansion

Thereaper29 Report

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Tamra
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow, look at the beautiful tile work, and I'll bet those were two little fountains on top of the tiles in the foreground. I'll bet this was stunning.

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At the time of writing, the r/urbanexploration subreddit has 2 million members, and they are very active online. They constantly post photos from their latest adventures.

Honestly, some of them are so jaw-droppingly beautiful (and creepy) that it makes us want to follow in their footsteps. But rushing in head-first can be a huge mistake. You might end up getting hurt—or worse.

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#10

Frozen Staircases Of Abandoned Soviet Residential Buildings In A Ghost Town Beyond The Arctic Circle

Frozen Staircases Of Abandoned Soviet Residential Buildings In A Ghost Town Beyond The Arctic Circle

syndicat1128 Report

#11

Abandoned House In The Republic Of Karelia, Russia

Abandoned House In The Republic Of Karelia, Russia

reddit.com Report

While every urban explorer’s personal code and philosophy might differ, many Urbex fans tend to agree on a few main things.

For one, it’s generally encouraged to do your best not to affect the environment that you’re in. That means not taking any ‘souvenirs,’ not breaking anything, and not leaving behind any tags or trash. Instead, you can document your journey by taking photos or videos, so you leave the place practically undisturbed for the adventurers who visit after you.

#13

Walking Through A Train Tunnel To Reach An Abandoned Mining Town

Walking Through A Train Tunnel To Reach An Abandoned Mining Town

HeGoneUp_InTheUrr Report

#14

Abandoned Church In Italy Overtaken By Plants

Abandoned Church In Italy Overtaken By Plants

romanrobroek Report

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Corvus
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Fig plants at the front... which is kinda ironic, since the Bible mentions Jesus cursing a fig tree. So this is like some form of payback. "Curse me, will ya?" :P

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#15

A House Devoured By A Hundred-Year-Old Banyan Tree

A House Devoured By A Hundred-Year-Old Banyan Tree

Juju1990 Report

Ideally, you’ll have researched the place you’ll be exploring beforehand. You should try to familiarize yourself with the layout of the area and its history. You also want to make sure that you know your local laws about entering abandoned and restricted properties.

You might get into some serious trouble if you’re breaking and entering into private or public property without getting permission first. Scout out the place first to see if it’s genuinely abandoned and unguarded.

#16

Amazing Talent

Amazing Talent

straydog1964 Report

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Darius S. (he/him) cis/grey
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like the images of it taken from different perspectives,, slices of green here and there. https://www.isupportstreetart.com/octopus-by-truly-design/

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#17

Abandoned Houses With Beautiful Sunset

Abandoned Houses With Beautiful Sunset

shesmagic_ Report

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B
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sandy Hook NJ. It's old Coast guard housing, the base is still there but the houses were abandoned years ago They were selling them for next to nothing but you have a certain amount of time to fix them up

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You ought to make sure that you wear the right clothes to stay safe. That means grabbing a solid pair of shoes (ideally, tough boots), good gloves, a mask to keep the dust out of your lungs, a thick jacket and pants, and probably something to cover your head. If you can, get one of those helmets that construction workers have. You really don’t want your day ruined by bits of the building falling on top of you.

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Whenever you can, try not to explore alone. That way, if someone gets hurt or in trouble, the rest of the group can lend them a hand or, if need be, call for help. Make sure to let your family, friends, or roommates know where you’re going and when you should be back. That way, they’ll have your back and know to send help if you get stuck, lost, or stranded.

#19

A Mental Health Hospital In Scotland

A Mental Health Hospital In Scotland

Emptyspacesuk Report

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Jrog
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lennox Castle (Glasgow, UK). Built by David Hamilton between 1837 and 1841 for Lord John Lennox Kincaid, whose family owned it until 1927. It later housed the Lennox Castle Hospital, a school for people with learning difficulties. The place was known for abysmal living conditions, overcrowding, mistreatment of patients, and was abandoned in 2002. It burned in a fire in 2008, leading to the collapse of the wooden ceiling, floor slabs and extensive damage to the wall masonry

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#21

I Dragged My Friend Along To An Adventure In The Tokyo Stormwater System. He Was Impressed

I Dragged My Friend Along To An Adventure In The Tokyo Stormwater System. He Was Impressed

ringinator Report

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Nonna_SoF
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cool, but not forgotten. Also before entering any drainage area make sure you know the catchment area and check the weather upstream. Some systems can get flash flooding from storms that seem far away.

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Meanwhile, bring a fully charged phone with you, as well as a power bank, a flashlight, spare batteries, and maybe some water and a snack just in case it’s going to be a longer outing. You might also want to bring a medkit, radio, some sort of multitool, and pepper spray (if it’s legal), too. Just in case. 

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#22

This Throne Made Of Human Remains In The Forbidden Catacombs Of Paris

This Throne Made Of Human Remains In The Forbidden Catacombs Of Paris

brokenbonessociety Report

#24

Old Train Abandoned Deep In The Mountains

Old Train Abandoned Deep In The Mountains

TheAjalin Report

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Jrog
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Carrizo Gorge Scenic Railroad, California (thx google)

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Photographer Dominic Sberna previously shared some great tips with Bored Panda on what to keep in mind when photographing abandoned buildings. For example, camera angles are super important if you want to show off how large a particular structure really is.

 "A lower angle is going to intensify the view, just as a high vantage point would. The vantage point really matters as well. Depending on what you're going for in your shot, you'll want to have a nice showcase of the scene in front of you when exploring any abandoned property," he told us during an earlier interview.

#25

Would You Want To Live In This Abandoned Valley? (North Italy)

Would You Want To Live In This Abandoned Valley? (North Italy)

BWT_Urbex Report

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#26

I Drove Over 1,000 Miles This Weekend To Visit An Abandoned Mine. It Was Worth It

I Drove Over 1,000 Miles This Weekend To Visit An Abandoned Mine. It Was Worth It

kenfagerdotcom Report

#27

Free Alcohol In Abandoned Supermarket

Free Alcohol In Abandoned Supermarket

generalkossmosa Report

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Jrog
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, the photo was taken during an urban exploration in the Fukushima Red Zone. The radiation there is not crazy high, but still five to ten times higher than the normal and enough to build up to dangerous levels within a few months.

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"A wide-angle lens is always a great option for any confined space, but again this all depends on the look you're going for and is absolutely dependent on the scene in front of you. If you're in a massive industrial warehouse, you could lose some impact to your image if you have a super-wide-angle lens," the photographer shared some practical tips and tricks with us.

"At the end of the day, just like any genre of photography and anything in life, practice makes perfect. But don't beat yourself up if your images aren't 'perfect.' You should always try to take them for yourself. If others like them, that's an added bonus and you'll stay true to your creative self by knowing you did things for yourself," the expert said.

Meanwhile, the photographer also had some tips when it comes to the equipment you bring with you. "The best way to keep your camera safe is to always keep it attached to you. That might mean different things to different people. Generally having your camera strap around your neck is a good thing. But, if you feel more comfortable holding it, that way if something unexpected does happen, you can move as needed," he told Bored Panda.

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#29

I Found This In An Abandoned House

I Found This In An Abandoned House

Freaktography Report

#30

One Of Many Waterfalls Under Manchester, UK

One Of Many Waterfalls Under Manchester, UK

p4ulpowers Report

The photographer pointed out that the flash that’s built into your camera might not be good enough in some cases. “You're going to cause a lot of harsh shadows and as a general rule, I would recommend staying away from the on-camera flash unless you absolutely have to use it.”

Instead, you might want to consider bringing a tripod with you, and using long exposure when you’re taking pictures in the dark. "If you want an action shot in the dark or a more illuminated subject, I'd recommend using an external flash or using external lighting altogether. Depending on the look you're going for will depend on your preferred light source,” he said.

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So, dear Pandas, which of these photos left the biggest impression on you and why? Have you ever taken part in urban exploration? Would you ever want to? If you’re an Urbex veteran, why not share a few tips and tricks with everyone else in the comments? We’d love to hear a bit about your first-hand experiences.

#31

Church From The 1800's

Church From The 1800's

drr4545 Report

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CSC
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks like the church that the group stayed in for a while on The Walking Dead.

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#32

Abandoned Presidents Heads In A Rural Virginia Field

Abandoned Presidents Heads In A Rural Virginia Field

Thereaper29 Report

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Jrog
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

42 10-tons, 6 meters-high statues built for Presidents Park in Williamsburg, Virginia. The park unsurprisingly closed down in 2010, and when they had to vacate the lot the statues were stored on the private property of one of the owners. https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/president-heads

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#33

"Colored Only" City Pool, Filled In

"Colored Only" City Pool, Filled In

aTwitchUponTheThread Report

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Val
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Umm, hopefully because everyone was finally able to swim together?

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#35

Abandoned Mansion That Belonged To A Former Corrupt Police Chief Of Mexico. His Yearly Salary Was $1300

Abandoned Mansion That Belonged To A Former Corrupt Police Chief Of Mexico. His Yearly Salary Was $1300

heretogethelp Report

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#37

Abandoned Trains In Pennsylvania

Abandoned Trains In Pennsylvania

nav_15 Report

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Jrog
Community Member
6 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The former "Windber Trolley Graveyard". A collection of disused trolley carts bought by an Edward Metka, a civil engineer and transportation enthusiast, stored over one mile of tracks on the grounds of a dismissed coal mine's repair shop in Pennsylvania. After failing to gather resources to restore the vehicles -of which only a handful have historical interest and most are in terrible state- the trolleys remained abandoned and in disarray until Metka sold the whole collection for scraps in 2023, leaving a channel open for any museum who wanted to preserve parts of it. The collection is not at the site anymore.

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#39

Children’s Wing, Abandoned Asylum

Children’s Wing, Abandoned Asylum

PeterPanBean Report

#41

Bennett School For Girls In Millbrook, NY. It's Been Closed Since 1978

Bennett School For Girls In Millbrook, NY. It's Been Closed Since 1978

Thereaper29 Report

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Corvus
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you stare at the picture long enough, you can hear faint screams...

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#42

Found In The Desert Outside Of Roswell, New Mexico

Found In The Desert Outside Of Roswell, New Mexico

Vikingwithguns Report

#43

Abandoned Amusement Park In The Mountains

Abandoned Amusement Park In The Mountains

Driftershoots Report

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GlassHalfWay
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ghost Town in the Sky, North Carolina. Opened in 1961, closed in 2002. Briefly reopened in 2006, but then officially closed its doors in 2009. Now for sale $5.9M

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#45

Massive Symbol On Floor Of Abandoned House

Massive Symbol On Floor Of Abandoned House

reddit.com Report

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Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa)
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Big Egyptian vibe. Bet it has something to do with the Egyptomania fad from the 1920s. Lot of that going around back then along with "psychics" and other hocus pocus.

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#46

Found Inside Of An Abandoned Historical Landmark Hospital With Power

Found Inside Of An Abandoned Historical Landmark Hospital With Power

TheAjalin Report

#47

Abandoned Railway Tracks In Alexandria, Egypt

Abandoned Railway Tracks In Alexandria, Egypt

Halla5432 Report

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Mark
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks to be well used, no growth on the rails. Sleepers can be overgrown with no issues

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#48

A Beautiful Home Wasting Away In Detroit

A Beautiful Home Wasting Away In Detroit

kenfagerdotcom Report

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Mark Meirow
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe past restoration for Keith and Evan of "Bargain Block." This pair have restored historic homes in Detroit, many in the same neighborhoods, keeping their best features and making them homes again.

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#49

Abandoned Train In New York State

Abandoned Train In New York State

StephanieKay22 Report

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Jrog
Community Member
6 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Penn Railway GG1, a streamline electric locomotive from the 1930. They built a ton of them (well, actually, over one hundred units totaling over 30 thousand tons), and many are preserved in museums, those are way too far gone for viable preservation. Nevertheless, this is owned by the Leatherstocking Railway Historical Society, that had plans to work with a museum from Florida to restore it. Unfortunately, the association looks pretty much inactive since a decade, so these are rusting away.

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#50

Found In A Car In An Abandoned Fairground

Found In A Car In An Abandoned Fairground

Avangelista Report

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Rob
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are lots of people on YouTube with restoration videos. They'd have a field day with that loot!

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Note: this post originally had 90 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.