Like hiking, but in other people's buildings. Most urban adventures take place in derelict buildings, but also includes any location you can access without forcing entry.

Remember a joint and a camera to celebrate reaching the summit of your local really tall building.

Probably started by students living in halls in really big old universities who liked to explore all the tunnels and hatchs. Has even been featured on shows like Buffy and X-Files, firmly locating it in the "not cool, but fun" section of modern culture.
When urban exploring you should carry ID and consider if you have any suspicious articles on you, even a penknife can constitute a weapon if you manage to really make a dick out of yourself.
by dj_monged August 28, 2004
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Upper middle class white kids with $1,000 cameras (also known as "photographers") who seek entrance into abandoned or no-longer-in-use buildings in order to look around, drink, or party. They leave nothing but footprints, graffiti, and beer cans and take nothing but pictures or anything not bolted down.

Exploration is incomplete without telling the world about it via urban exploring forums, Facebook, and Instagram. An "explorer" is incomplete without the air of superiority for their alleged knowledge of architecture, history, or gutter punk lifestyles.
*While scrolling through Instagram*

"Look at my pictures of this Art Deco building."

"That's not Art Deco, that's New Formalism."
"No, it's Art Deco. Believe me, I do urban exploring."
by Erasers January 5, 2015
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A person who usually goes into an abandoned building and "flicks" pictures usually with an iPhone or Android. They claim to be a photographer or artist after editing their 5 megapexil shot with a fisheye and over abusive HDR effect. Snapseed is usually the #1 "editing" program they use. You can spot them out in real life as they are usually middle aged wearing a bandana around their mouth or disposable dust mask as a form of protection. If you do see them don't be alarmed as they usually stick to one place only and proclaim themselves as an explorer. Lastly they abuse hashtags by using some type of subject following the day in the week "brickmonday" "rustythursday" and put a quote from someone they know nothing about in order to make them sound intellectual. The more crews they are in the better Instagram urban explorer they are.
Girl: Hey Why can't I take pictures in the dark?

Guy: Well stop using your ipad you whore and get a real camera. Fucking Instagram Urban Explorers.
by Jhm June 16, 2014
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