The ‘Abandoned World’ project has 336k followers, and it’s clear why they’re so popular: the photos they share are absolutely stunning. Whether or not you’re a huge fan of the whole Dark Academia aesthetic like we are, you can’t deny that the pictures practically ooze a spooky atmosphere.

For a moment, they transport us someplace else. A place where we’re seriously considering whether we could fix the place up and live in our dream home. Are the ghosts included in the price or do we have to pay extra for ‘em?

Besides that burning desire to move in right away, we’re also confronted by a huge urge to explore these places. They look fantastic from the outside, but our curiosity wants us to take a step inside and see what secrets we might uncover.

Playing Dungeons & Dragons satisfies most of our adventuring needs, but there also comes a time when you just really want to explore a castle like a real-life hero. That’s where urban exploration comes into play. Also known as urbex or UE, the name pretty much says it all: you explore abandoned urban places. It can be super illegal (depending on the country and the particular building) and very dangerous, so you’ve got to be aware of a few things.

Look, the fact of the matter is that you have to respect the law. You might be trespassing on someone else’s property, even if that property might be overgrown, crumbling, and nobody’s taken care of it for decades and decades. Be aware that you might have to deal with law enforcement. Stay polite. Be respectful. Apologize. Understand that they’re worried about your safety as well.

‘Jetset Times’ suggests getting the right gear. Start off by getting some proper footwear. You’ll encounter a lot of dirty, filthy, mucky places, so get yourself some sturdy, waterproof shoes. Abandoned places are, obviously, abandoned, so you’ll need light as well. Bring a spare flashlight and some extra batteries just in case.

Meanwhile, be sure that you’re never exploring these spots alone. Have at least one person go on the adventure with you. That way, you can help each other or call for help if one of you gets injured. What’s more, when you’ve got someone else besides you, they can help you avoid any potentially risky areas. Two sets of eyes really are better than just one.

You can expect a lot of creaky, rotten floors, as well as unstable walls, and broken windows inside, as you’re walking, crawling, and squeezing through tight fits during your exploration. It’s worth repeating: your safety is paramount. Don’t take silly risks when don’t need to. Look for alternative paths. When in doubt, take the safest route. You’re one bad step away from turning your urban adventure into an urban nightmare, so stay focused.

Meanwhile, the ‘Killer Urbex’ site urges new explorers to start off by doing their research about the building. Find out when it was abandoned, what the general layout and state of the place is like. The better prepared you are in advance, the more dangers you can avoid. Part of your research will undoubtedly be to take a good long read through your local area’s trespassing laws.

Though many of us might be raring to run off and explore pretty much every forlorn and God-forsaken place we can get our gloved hands on (remember to pack a pair of really thick gloves, Pandas), beginners really ought to take it slow and steady.

Start your urbex journey by going to some (perhaps haunted) residences or warehouses, instead of (most definitely haunted) mines and sewers. Build up your experience bit by bit. Don’t try to run before you can even crawl. And even then—safety first!

Aside from your gloves, boots, flashlights, and batteries, you should also bring some water, a first-aid kit, a fully-charged cellphone, as well as a respirator (to keep the asbestos, mold, and dust out of your lungs).

Let someone you trust know where you (and your friend!) will be going… and learn to trust your gut. If you feel like something’s way too risky or doesn’t look right, take a step back, regroup, and consider cutting the outing short. Heck, even if you don’t go inside, you can snap some truly gorgeous photos of the exterior. Photos definitely worth sharing!