What Is an Urbex Map and How Do You Use One to Find Abandoned Places?

An urbex map is a community-sourced map of abandoned or lost places, typically showing coordinates, photos, and filters so you can find spots near you. On urbexology.com, the map is built from community submissions and is described as having over 1,000,000 locations. The critical condition: listings are not verified as abandoned, accessible, or safe, so you must do your own research before visiting. The service is for adults aged 21 and over, and the site states you are solely responsible for your actions.

How a community urbex map works

The map is collaborative. Users add spots, and the site explicitly notes there is no proof that the places are actually abandoned. Some positions are approximate and extracted from OSM, and the site warns that these are "ALMOST ALL OBSOLETE." That means a pin on the map is a starting point for research, not a confirmed destination.

The site also states that map records may be inaccurate and do not establish public access, permission to enter, or safe conditions.

What you can filter and search

According to the site's own interface text, the map supports:

• Building type filters — for example, buildings only in forests, or buildings only in industrial zones
• Building area filter — set a minimum floor area for the pointed building
• Alert zones — move an alert zone to be notified of new spots, then validate it
• Search — zoom in to see all spots, or use the search function
• 3D terrain view — hold and drag to rotate the 3D view and zoom on the terrain
• Categories — the site highlights haunted abandoned places, deserted buildings, and underground urbex sites such as abandoned hospitals, industrial plants, military buildings, residential properties, and prisons

Spot visibility and membership signals

The submission form includes a "Spot visible to pro members only" option, which indicates some spots are restricted to paying members. The site does not publish pricing on the evidence provided, so treat "pro" as a gated tier rather than assuming free access to everything.

How to use an urbex map to find places near you

1. Search your area. Zoom into your region and look for pins. Use the search function if you have a place name or area in mind.
2. Filter by what you actually want. If you're looking for industrial sites, apply the industrial-zone filter. If you want larger buildings, set a minimum floor area. This cuts down on noise from small or irrelevant pins.
3. Set an alert zone. Move the alert zone over your area of interest and validate it. You'll be notified when new spots appear there.
4. Vet each candidate before going. Cross-check the pin against satellite imagery, street view, local news, historical records, and property ownership. The site itself frames this as "research architecture and local history."
5. Check access and condition. A pin does not mean public access, permission to enter, or safe conditions. Confirm whether the site is private property, occupied, or hazardous.
6. Report problems. Use the location report button to flag private, occupied, hazardous, or inaccurate listings.

What the iOS app does and doesn't do

The site states the iOS app does not provide directions, access reports, community discussions, or visit tracking. If you need those, use the web version or another tool.

Why listings can be wrong, outdated, or dangerous

The site is unusually direct about this:

• There is no proof that listed places are abandoned.
• Approximate positions from OSM are "ALMOST ALL OBSOLETE."
• Map records do not establish public access, permission, or safety.
• You must do all necessary research before going.

Practical failure modes include: a building has been demolished, renovated, or reoccupied; a pin sits on private property with an active owner; a site has structural hazards, asbestos, or security; or the coordinates are simply off.

Legal and safety basics

The site's own rules are the baseline:

• Respect abandoned sites and local laws above all.
• Never enter private property.
• The service is for adults aged 21 and over.
• You are solely responsible for your actions.
• Do not enter unsafe places.

If a listing turns out to be occupied, private, or hazardous, report it rather than visiting.

How to contribute a spot

The submission flow on the site includes:

1. Add a spot via the map interface.
2. Provide details and optionally up to 3 images (max 25 MB).
3. Associate your Discord account to accumulate points when you contribute.
4. Submit.

The site's stated conditions for contributing: you must be certain the place is absolutely abandoned, and the place must not pose any risk to anyone. You can also report errors via Discord (described as the fastest) or by email.

Quick reference

The map is a research tool, not a permission slip. Use it to generate candidates, then verify access, ownership, condition, and legality yourself before you go anywhere.