URBEXOLOGY
Abandoned places offer a unique and captivating experience. But how do you find them? Here are some tips to help you uncover these forgotten treasures.
Carte-urbex.com is a search tool designed for urban exploration (urbex), created by experienced enthusiasts within a legal business structure.
More specifically, we search for abandoned locations around the world and offer you the possibility to purchase their GPS coordinates — individually, by department, or by region — all compatible with Google Maps.
Join Facebook Groups and Browse Instagram
Social media can be a true goldmine for finding urbex locations. All you need to do is join urbex Facebook groups in your area to discover potential spots to explore.
You can also join our Facebook Group to share your discoveries, post your photos, or even find an exploration partner!
Instagram is an excellent tool for finding clues about locations. Simply search using hashtags like #urbexuk, #urbexusa, or similar. You’ll quickly come across photos of abandoned places in your region.
Often, the person who posted the photo may have included additional clues in the caption. Check if the photo is pinned to a specific location, analyze the hashtags, and read the description carefully — you’ll be surprised how many hints you can gather that way.
Observe Your Surroundings
It might sound obvious, but still… We spend so much time on our smartphones that we sometimes forget to simply look up. We all remember seeing abandoned places in our area at some point.
Why not dig into your childhood memories and try to track down a spot that rings a bell? Take a walk through your neighborhood or city, and pay close attention to your surroundings. You’re bound to come across something interesting!
Browse Urbex Blogs
One method you’ve probably already tried is searching for urbex blogs online. From there, you can narrow your search by region or carefully examine the photos. Sometimes, images can reveal real clues — occasionally even visible addresses, like on a newspaper, invoice, or postcard.
Don’t hesitate to type phrases like “urbex blog + your region” or “urbexology.com” to refine your search and uncover more concrete leads.
Spot Trading
Let’s be honest — you’ve probably tried reaching out to someone for information about a location. But keep in mind that receiving constant requests can be annoying. Some explorers get dozens of messages every time they post a new spot… and you probably wouldn’t enjoy being in their shoes either.
That said, remember that this person is just like you — also on the hunt for new places. This can be a great opportunity to offer a trade: share a location you've already explored in exchange for one they’re willing to disclose.
With this approach, you could get much more accurate and useful information. Just be respectful and don’t overdo it — urban exploration comes with a code of conduct that should always be followed.
Browse Google News
More and more media outlets are publishing articles about urban exploration. And to find those articles, Google News is the tool you need!
Just go to Google, click on the “News” tab, and type in keywords like “abandoned,” “derelict,” or “vacant.” You can narrow down your search by adding the name of your city or region.
You’ll be surprised how quickly you can discover new urbex spots this way!
Google Earth Is Your Friend
We all know about Google Earth, but we don’t always think to use it. Launch the tool and start exploring the map.
If you’ve followed some of the steps mentioned above, you may already have spot ideas without knowing their exact location. In that case, scan the region on Google Earth to try and pinpoint the place you’re looking for!
