Spain has more than 38,000 documented abandoned places — ghost towns, sanatoriums, factories, palaces, mines, and hospitals spread across all autonomous communities. The problem is not that they don’t exist: the problem is knowing where they are. This guide explains the most effective methods to find abandoned places near you in Spain, from digital tools to explorer communities, and how to access verified GPS coordinates that will save you weeks of research.
The Fastest Way: A Verified GPS Map
If you want to find abandoned places near you immediately and reliably, the most effective way is to use a map with verified GPS coordinates. Our Urbex Spain Map gathers 600+ GPS locations across Spain — from anti-tuberculosis sanatoriums to Civil War towns, including Indian villas, Basque farmhouses, and mercury mines — with access ratings, current condition, and explorer reports for each spot.
1. Use Google Maps and Google Earth in Satellite Mode
The satellite view of Google Maps and Google Earth is the free starting point for any explorer — look for isolated buildings, damaged roofs, land with invasive vegetation, or facilities without parking or signs of activity. In rural areas, collapsed roofs or dark patches where a farmhouse should be are clear signs of abandonment. Complement this with Google Street View for a closer look before you go. For rural areas, SigPac — the agricultural parcel geographic information system from the Ministry of Agriculture — offers high-resolution aerial images with information about land ownership.
2. Join Urbex Communities on Social Media
Urban explorer communities are the most up-to-date and specific source of information about the real condition of abandoned places. On Instagram, hashtags like #urbexspain, #lugaresabandonadosespana, #abandonedspain, and #urbexespaña gather tens of thousands of posts with recent photos of active spots. On Facebook, groups like "Exploración Urbana España" and "Lugares Abandonados España" have tens of thousands of members sharing locations, photos, and alerts about places being demolished or rehabilitated. The Abandoned Spain community and its networks have more than 40,000 active explorers.
3. Research Local Historical Heritage
Municipal archives, heritage guides from provincial councils, and cultural asset catalogs from autonomous communities are systematic sources of information about historic buildings in abandonment. The Red List of Heritage by Hispania Nostra — regularly updated — catalogs Spanish historic buildings at risk; many listed have been abandoned for decades and are accessible. Catalog entries sometimes include the exact address of the property.
4. Check the Cadastre and Public Records
The Spanish Cadastre (sedecatastro.gob.es) allows you to check ownership, use, and status of any property in Spain — an essential tool to know if a building is public or private before planning a visit. Properties with very low cadastral value, undefined ownership, or decades without registry transmission are common candidates for abandonment. Combine the Cadastre with the Property Registry to confirm the estate’s status.
5. Explore with Geographic Criteria
Some areas of Spain have such a high concentration of abandoned sites that simply driving through them with open eyes yields results. The mining valleys of Asturias, the Jalón region in Zaragoza, the Serra de Prades in Tarragona, the Alpujarras of Granada, or the Sierra de Francia in Salamanca are examples of territories where rural exodus, deindustrialization, or reservoirs have left so many empty buildings that explorers find spots without prior research. In these areas, driving on secondary roads instead of highways multiplies chance encounters.
6. Locals and Local Memory
The older residents of any Spanish rural village are the most valuable and least exploited source of information for national urbex. Asking directly — "Is there any abandoned house or building around here?" — produces surprising results in any village with fewer than 500 inhabitants. Local memory knows exactly what is on every hill and ravine; the urban explorer who knows how to listen has access to a database no app can replicate.
Urban Explorer’s Code of Ethics
Finding an abandoned place is only the first step — how you visit it determines whether urbex is a responsible practice or a problem. The basic rules shared by the entire community:
- Do not enter private property without the owner’s permission
- Do not take anything — neither materials, objects, nor architectural elements
- Do not damage any structure, paint, or graffiti at the site
- Do not reveal exact locations of places especially vulnerable to looting
- Always assess structural risks before entering
- Never explore alone — always bring at least one other person
"Take nothing but photographs, leave nothing but footprints."
The Most Effective Solution: 600+ Verified GPS Locations
If you don’t want to spend weeks researching, the most direct solution is our Urbex Spain Map — 600+ verified GPS coordinates, with access ratings, current condition, and explorer reports. Instant access after purchase, free updates forever.
Urbex Spain Map
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