Discover Hidden Worlds

What is Urban Exploration?

Urban Exploration – or urbex for short – is the practice of discovering abandoned, forgotten, or hard-to-reach structures. What started as a niche subculture in the 1980s has grown into a worldwide movement with hundreds of thousands of enthusiasts. At its heart lies a fascination with places where time appears to have stood still: silent factories, empty hospitals, forgotten bunkers and decaying mansions.

Unlike classic sightseeing, urbex isn't about polished experiences – it's about the stories hidden behind the walls. UrbexHunt brings this passion together on an interactive map with thousands of documented lost places across Europe and beyond.

What are Lost Places?

Lost places are abandoned buildings and sites that have been left behind by their previous owners. They range from industrial ruins to military exclusion zones to private homes reclaimed by nature. The most popular categories include:

• Abandoned factories and industrial complexes
• Decommissioned bunkers and military sites
• Empty hospitals and sanatoriums
• Forgotten hotels and castles
• Derelict train stations and tunnels
• Closed-down swimming pools and amusement parks

On UrbexHunt you'll find thousands of such locations, sorted by region, category and rating – all documented by an active community of urban explorers.

Find Lost Places Near You

Want to know which lost places are around you? With the interactive UrbexHunt map you can find abandoned places anywhere in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and across Europe. Filter by category, popularity or rating, and discover lost places that other explorers have already documented.

Each entry includes photos, field reports and – when shared – the exact coordinates. So instead of spending hours searching the internet, you'll find your next spot in just a few clicks.

Explore Responsibly

Urban exploration thrives on respect – for the places, for their history, and for the community that documents them. A few simple principles help make sure every location stays the way it is for as long as possible:

• Take nothing, leave nothing, damage nothing
• Respect ownership and ask when in doubt
• Never explore alone – a buddy is essential
• Bring a headlamp, sturdy shoes and a dust mask
• Only share location data when you're sure the place can handle it

On UrbexHunt the community looks out for each other – particularly sensitive locations are protected from full public disclosure. It's a safety net you won't find in any other app.

Equipment for Urban Explorers

The right gear is what separates a smooth tour from an unpleasant experience. These basics belong in every urbex backpack:

• Headlamp and a backup flashlight – many lost places have neither power nor daylight
• Dust mask (FFP2 or better) – mold and asbestos are common companions
• Sturdy shoes – broken glass, nails and unstable floors are everywhere
• Gloves – protect your hands from sharp edges and grime
• First-aid kit – compact but adequate
• Power bank and phone – for maps, emergencies and of course photos
• Camera – most lost places deserve to be captured

With the UrbexHunt app you also have your entire lost place collection offline – even where there's no signal.

The UrbexHunt Community

UrbexHunt is more than a map – it's the largest multilingual platform for urban explorers in Europe. Thousands of members share photos, ratings and stories about every location, plan tours together and unlock achievements. With native apps for iOS and Android, your entire lost place atlas is always with you – whether you're in Berlin, Paris or the deepest part of Brandenburg.

Become part of a community that doesn't just discover lost places, but protects them.