Urban exploration: A different sort of adventure

Urban exploration, often referred to as urban spelunking, is a trend that’s captured the attention of many of the more adventurous travelers around the world.  The idea of finding some of the forgotten places of both modern and historical times is one that appeals to the part of us that wanted to be Indiana Jones when we were a kid.  There are many locations to be found both in our own backyards and across the cities of the world that hold hidden treasures. 

From labyrinths of underground tunnels to abandoned amusement parks and office buildings, there are plenty of options when choosing what to explore.  Some are open to the public, some even give proper tours, and others are locked away and only accessible to those who are willing to be a little risky and maybe jump a barbed wire fence or two.  Here I've listed a few, geared to both the starting spelunker and those looking for more obscure places, along with a few resources that those looking into the adventure of urban exploration can use to learn more.

Some of most amazing targets of urban exploration are ghost cities.  Formerly successful population centers often fall on hard times and when they do people move out, leaving behind the shells of what was once a thriving economy.  Sometimes people still live in these broken cityscapes, but usually the buildings are left to fall into ruin, crumbling year after year until nothing remains.  Exploring cities can be dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing, since the floors and ceilings of buildings aren't exactly up to code when it comes to safety.  Still, as long as you take the proper steps to keep yourself safe and understand what you’re getting into, they can be an amazing adventure and provide some truly brilliant photo opportunities.

Hashima/Battleship Island - Japan

BattleshipIsland is both an island and a city in decay, located approximately 10 miles off the coast of Japan, near the city of Nagasaki.  Once, the island was a central coal provider for the country and very densely populated.  When oil began to replace coal as the primary source of energy, however, the city lost its economic backbone.  If you’re looking to take in some large scale ruins, BattleshipIsland is perfect.  The remnants of decades of living still stand, many of the buildings in decent shape.  The whole area is reminiscent of something out of a post-apocalyptic film.

Another, less urban but still interesting location that urban explorers like to frequent is the abandoned amusement park.  These places of fun go empty more often than people might think, so there’s no shortage of them across the world.  Better yet, they’re usually easy to access and fairly safe to wander through.  As long as you don’t try to climb you way across the remains of a rusted roller coaster, you’ll probably be OK.  They also present some unique photography shoots for those that like to document urban decay.

Spreepark PlanterWald - Berlin, Germany

One such amusement park is Spreepark PlanterWald in Berlin, Germany.  This park has been abandoned for more than 10 years now and many urban explorers consider it a good starting point for those new to urban exploration.  It stands empty, being slowly devoured by the regrowth of the forest that surrounds it, a ruin of roller coasters, water rides, old animal statues and other formerly entertaining attractions.

One method of getting your feet wet when looking into urban exploration is by visiting some places that have already been cleared and made safe.  A tour can sometimes work as well if you’re just interested in getting a look at a location.  Some of the best of these are underground constructions, such as catacombs, cities, railways and bunkers.  Though they lurk beneath the earth, they’re generally much safer than their aboveground counterparts since they were made to withstand the test of time without much maintenance.

Cappadocia - Turkey

No one should spend out their time on Earth without taking a trip to the famous underground cities of Cappadocia.  Hundreds of years old, these cities were once fully populated by people, a safe haven from the roaming barbarian tribes and the armies of empires looking to expand through the area.  Inside the tunnels of Cappadocia one can find all the things that would be expected of a city, from breweries to stables to blacksmiths to schools.  The cities of Cappadocia are a major tourist attraction, so it’s an easy one to put on the list without getting into trouble or risking your life.  Unless you decide to try to sneak in and explore some of the areas that are off limits, of course.

Roman Catacombs - Rome, Italy

One of the Holy Grails of urban exploration is the maze of catacombs beneath the city of Rome, Italy.  Several of these tunnels can be seen via tours and are quite safe to visit.  There are many, however, that are off-limits to the casual explorer.  Urban exploration websites often share the locations of entrances to the catacombs so that those who don’t mind being risky with the law can attempt to explore on their own.  Some of these tunnels are known to be flooded and are considered dangerous, so they’re not for the amateur explorer.

London Post Office Railway - London, England

Another popular underground spot for urban explorers is the London Underground.  Many of the old railway tunnels and stations have been closed down over the course of the last 150 years and, thanks to their superior engineering, still stand much the same way as they did when first built (aside from, perhaps, a little graffiti).  The Post Office Railway is one of those, though it was only closed recently, in 2003.  This is another spot where locked doors block the way and the risk of being caught by authorities may outweigh the promise of adventure.

The above examples are just a very small sampling of what’s out there.  If you’re interested in urban exploration, remember that it’s not usually a casual activity.  While there are plenty of safe places, the hardcore explorer will need to know several things in order to keep safe, maintain proper etiquette and not end up in jail.  Luckily, there resources for those looking to get started, including this site which lists 10 important things to address before going on an exploration adventure.  There are also plenty of websites where experienced explorers share their stories, photographs and sound advice on where to go, when to go and how to stay alive while delving into the forgotten areas of the world.  For those looking to expand their experience of travel into an area that is risky and where those risks may well be worth the rewards, this can be the answer.

HellinglyHospital photo courtesy of Chess via Wikicommons

BattleshipIsland aerial courtesy of kntrty via Wikicommons

Spreepark PlantarWald water slide - author unknown

CappadociaSchool photo courtesy of Martijn Munneke via Wikicommons