One thing that I firmly believe all human beings share is our inner yearning for adventure. We might try and satisfy this calling with good movies, awesome video games, or top-tier tabletop games like Dungeons and Dragons (as a Dungeon Master of several years, I’m guilty of this). However, at the end of the day, there’s no real substitute for going out into the field with your own two feet and starting your very own adventure going into the abandoned and mysterious corners of the Earth.

There’s an awesome community on Reddit that documents gorgeous abandoned things and places. With nearly 1.2 million members, they post high-quality images that evoke all of our inner wanderlust. While we’d love to mention their name, our Social Media Overlords don’t take kindly to one of the words in the subreddit’s title, so a link right to their community will have to do! Go on and have a gander once you’re done with this list, they really are worth your attention.

Remember to upvote your fave pics as you scroll on down, dear Pandas! And be sure to let everyone know if you, just like me, get that burning desire to go on a real-life adventure after looking at these gorgeous photos.

#1 Sintra, Portugal

Image credits: reddit.com

#2 Abandoned Gothic Church In Portugal

Image credits: reddit.com

#3 Found An Old Abandoned Diner While Driving Down Some Back Roads

Image credits: reddit.com

Taking beautiful photos of abandoned places means exploring abandoned places. That might sound obvious, but it sure isn’t easy.

Urban exploration (aka Urbex or UE) is a fascinating but difficult hobby to get into. While we’d just love to put on a pair of dirty old sneakers and rush off to a dungeon or some Elvish ruins, we really do have to consider our safety first and foremost. Precautions come first and foremost.

#4 Railroad Tracks In Forest

Image credits: reddit.com

#5 Abandoned Asylum In Italy That Has Been Touched By Bob Ross

Image credits: reddit.com

#6 Found This Beautiful Tree Growing Inside An Abandoned Silo While I Was Exploring

Image credits: reddit.com

Wearing gloves, getting a pair of thick shoes, and bringing a dust mask are all a must. You should also invest in a torch, put on heavy clothing, and consider wearing a helmet. Whether fashionably medieval or something more modern, anything that covers your head is a must. And for you ghost-believing fans of the ‘Supernatural’ TV show, bring a pocketful of salt. Just in case you meet some spooks.

Becoming an urban explorer means doing a bit of research, engaging with local Urbex communities a tad, and maybe even getting some basic gear to get you started before you go delving for doubloons and looking for magical artifacts beneath the rubble.

#7 Popcorn Left In A Theater

Image credits: reddit.com

#8 Light Rays Making Their Way Into An Abandoned Theater

Image credits: reddit.com

#9 Abandoned Stairway In The Woods: Madame Sherri Forest, Chesterfield, Nh

Image credits: reddit.com

Unlike a lot of hobbies that have a ‘just do it’ mindset, urban exploration demands that you prepare in advance so you don’t get hurt or, God forbid, get stuck or even killed.

One Urbex community in the UK that calls itself 28 Days Later (yes, just like the 2002 zombie movie) suggests doing research about the place you’re going to visit, then going in and taking some photos, getting your feet wet (metaphorically and maybe even literally). In their opinion, Urbex is all about joining a community.

#10 Japanese WWII Warplane Lies Wrecked In Shallow Water Off Guam

Image credits: reddit.com

#11 House Abandoned And Retaken By The Desert In California

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#12 Turkey's $200 Million Ghost Town Of Castles - Burj Al Babas

Image credits: reddit.com

Being part of the urban exploration community means engaging with others, going to public Urbex meetings, and even teaming up with strangers from the internet that you learn to trust. Of course, all of this has become even more difficult what with the global pandemic and lockdowns: you have to consider your health and the health of your loved ones before meeting up with anyone outside your social bubble.

#13 This Hotel In Europe

Image credits: reddit.com

#14 The Eerie Yellow Brick Road Of Abandoned "Land Of Oz" Theme Park In North Carolina

Image credits: reddit.com

#15 Abandoned Castle In Ireland Country

Image credits: reddit.com

On the flip side, having someone by your side while you’re walking about abandoned, ruined places is vital. Sure, you could go it alone, but there’s safety in numbers: if somebody gets hurt, falls down, or if the ceiling caves in, you can help each other out or rush for help.

#16 Ms World Discoverer Was A German Expedition Cruise Ship. It Hit A Uncharted Reef In The Sandfly Passage, Solomon Islands 29. April 2000

Image credits: reddit.com

#17 Abandoned French Chapel

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#18 Abandoned Presidents Heads In A Rural Virginia Field

Image credits: reddit.com

#19 Abandoned 400-Year-Old Estate In Italy That Was Home To The Youngest Sister Of Napoleon Bonaparte

Image credits: reddit.com

#20 A Crumbling Sea Fortress In Peloponnese, Greece

Image credits: reddit.com

#21 This Cave Full Of Old Cars

Image credits: reddit.com

So having someone you trust ‘watching your 6’ is something that you should take very, very seriously (while also staying safe because Covid-19 won’t be going away any time soon). Adventuring is about the friends we make along the way, not just brilliant photos and weird loot that we find in secret chambers.

#22 Abandoned Party Mansion Deep In The Maryland Forest

Image credits: reddit.com

#23 16 Mile Hike To An Abandoned Train Track Bridge In California

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#24 Abandoned 50's Restaurant

Image credits: reddit.com

Something that you should also consider is, well, even if a place is abandoned, it’s still somebody’s property. You might be trespassing. We’re definitely not telling you to trespass and break the law. However, if you feel that the call of adventure is too great to ignore, remember to be considerate and treat any buildings you visit like you would your own home: you’re just a visitor here for some photos and camaraderie.

#25 SS City Of Adelaide, Wrecked Off The Coast Of Magnetic Island

Image credits: reddit.com

#26 Radioactive Cars From The Fukushima Disaster Slowly Being Eaten By Nature

Image credits: reddit.com

#27 The New World Mall, In Bangkok, Was Closed In 1997 After It Was Found To Have Breached Building Regulations

Image credits: reddit.com

#28 The Remains Of A Crashed P-38 Lightning On A Beach In Wales

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#29 Abandoned Duesenberg

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#30 Abandoned Railroad Tracks In Forest

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So, dear Readers, which photos were your favorite ones? Have you ever delved into abandoned buildings before? Do you have any extra safety tips for all of us that you’d like to share? Got any exciting tales about your adventures and exploring abandoned places, whether in real-life or in tabletop games? Drop us a comment or two below and be part of the conversation.