If you could take a single trip to anywhere in the world for UE where would it be? Which locations would you see there?

Has anyone travelled specifically for urban exploration? Where are your favorite hot spots with multiple interesting locations nearby? I've heard parts of France have a huge amount of abandoned buildings. I've always wanted to explore something military related, but the US isn't the best place for that I'd imagine. Eastern Europe?

I've already done international exploring in the UK but I was already going there for a vacation. In terms of places I'd visit specifically to do urbex, I'd probably have Chicagoland and North Western New York as my top locations in North America. Other than that, I'd definitely love to visit parts of eastern Europe.

I find the United States to be the best country for exploring, at least in terms of numbers of places. Plus we couldn't care less about our history and leave some incredible things to rot.

I've travelled all over for exploring from my base in the UK - to mainland Europe and the USA.

Italy is the place to go in Europe nowadays, there is a ridiculous amount of cool stuff there and nobody seems to care.

In terms of places I'd like to go at some point, the aforementioned Italy, plus Greece and Spain are largely untapped exploring meccas that never seem to get any visitors.

In terms of absolute bucket list though, this is a little left field but I'd absolutely love to one day explore the hidden Mayan ruins in South America, which is about as close to genuine exploring as you can get in this day and age. That and Fordlandia in Brazil.

Italy, Portugal, Spain and Germany are definitely my top places outside America.

America, not good for military ruins? My dude, we've got the biggest military spending in the world, we've got WWII and Cold War ruins out the whazoo. Missile silos, radar stations, coastal defense bunkers, derelict naval wrecks, ammunition plants, army hospitals, air fields, the list goes on. Sure it's no Maginot Line, but we're no slouch in the military ruins department and ours are less likely though it does happen) to be filled with unexploded ordinance.

I would consider not going to Pripyat for the foreseeable future.

I would love to go high up in Canada. There is lots of abandoned towns that would be fun to explore.

I went to Odessa a few years ago. It was a blast, I can't wait to get back. It's too bad that there is an awful war going on... eastern Europe in general has a lot of abandoned places. That would be my recommendation.

Posted by Cricket999 I went to Odessa a few years ago. It was a blast, I can't wait to get back. It's too bad that there is an awful war going on... eastern Europe in general has a lot of abandoned places. That would be my recommendation.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't the catacombs under Odessa larger than those beneath Paris? You went to Odessa so I imagine you visited them. There's got to be a reason they are lesser known than those in Paris.

Hard to say what countries in Europe are the best but Germany, Poland, France, and Italy are up there. Some locations are better in Europe or Asia and some locations are better in the US. Really depends on the type of spot you’re talking about.

It all depends what you're looking for but overall in North America there are few cities worth traveling for. Montreal, Chicago/Gary, Detroit, Buffalo, Rochester to name a few. pretty much anywhere in the rust belt or has experienced an economic downturn.

Yes, Odessa contains the world's largest urban catacombs spanning a whopping 2500 km and often go as deep as 60m from air raid tunnels to stone mines and shelters made for the Cold War. The slight problem is that they haven't been mapped and it is easy to get lost. Your best bet is a local explorer from Ukraine that would be willing to show you around. Their are over 1000 known entrances to the tunnels but only a small section of them is open to the public.

Posted by Cricket999 Yes, Odessa contains the world's largest urban catacombs spanning a whopping 2500 km and often go as deep as 60m from air raid tunnels to stone mines and shelters made for the Cold War. The slight problem is that they haven't been mapped and it is easy to get lost. Your best bet is a local explorer from Ukraine that would be willing to show you around. Their are over 1000 known entrances to the tunnels but only a small section of them is open to the public.

Quite true, but from what I've heard there aren't a whole lot of Ukrainian explorers left alive, nor Russian explorers. Most explorers are 18-35 year old males, and both Ukraine and Russia are dangerous parts of the world for that demograph at the moment.

I like to travel for exploring and do so all of the time, but I encourage you to focus in on your own area as much as you can. The hobby becomes a lot more meaningful when you approach it that way. It's easier to dig into a niche, crack stuff that might have never been photographed, and generally produce valuable documentation, when you dive super deep into your home turf.

That said: Italy, Ireland, Ukraine, Northeast US, parts of the Midwest - all great places to be.

Poland - they have cheap train tickets and those routes are quite enjoyable. Absolutely love it. Once when i was going north, to Kwidzyn, travelled with an old train, completely covered with graffitis.
But the downside - many places are secured with alarms or homeless people are hanging around. Gotta talk with local explorers to find out less obvious places where to go

So many good places to go. If someone bought me a free ticket, I would probably head back to England for more mine exploring. I've spent a few weeks there exploring mines in Wales and northern England. I have friends with good connections to gain us access to locations that would otherwise be unavailable.

That may sound a bit mundane, but I really love Great Britain so visiting there is a great treat.

Abby Normal

Posted by Aran America, not good for military ruins? My dude, we've got the biggest military spending in the world, we've got WWII and Cold War ruins out the whazoo. Missile silos, radar stations, coastal defense bunkers, derelict naval wrecks, ammunition plants, army hospitals, air fields, the list goes on. Sure it's no Maginot Line, but we're no slouch in the military ruins department and ours are less likely though it does happen) to be filled with unexploded ordinance.

i live maybe 20 miles from one of the leftover Atlas D missile silos ringing Plattsburgh AFB... these missiles were obsolete when they were stuffed in the ground and were the only ballistic missiles deployed east of the Mississippi River.... it used to belong to an Australian architect. I think his website is still up... some history and pics of him trying to restore the place.

www.siloboy.com