2024 Rankings of the Worst Subways in Europe

A recent study ranked the subway infrastructures of major European capitals. Paris, unfortunately, stands out again…

To establish a reliable ranking, the luggage storage specialist Bounce analyzed numerous factors such as the number of stations, network distribution, ridership, and of course, Google reviews. Even though this type of ranking should always be taken with a grain of salt, the results align with previous studies on the topic. Furthermore, the seriousness of the analysis convinced us to share the main points with you.

The metro in Budapest, or “Budapesti Metró” in Hungarian, is the lowest-rated network with a score of 3.13 out of 10. The network in the Hungarian capital is relatively small, with 48 stations over only 39.7 km of track. This is far too little to accommodate the 382 million annual travelers, and overcrowded platforms have become a recurring issue. Additionally, with relatively low safety, only 1% of passengers rated it positively.

Surprisingly, Brussels ranks second. The reason for this poor ranking is the same as for Budapest, with only 59 stations and 40 km of track. The Belgian capital is constantly saturated, and the surface network cannot compensate for this under-sizing due to incessant construction disrupting circulation.

On the third step of the podium, we find the bustling Eternal City, Rome. All the Italian clichés converge on this network, with noise, disorganization, and aging equipment. The only positive aspect saving the Italian service somewhat is a suburban train system called FL lines that provide connections to the suburbs of the capital, including Rome Fiumicino Airport.

And Paris? One might expect a favorable evaluation of the Paris metro network, which, it should be noted, has the highest number of metro stations in Europe, with a total of 303 stations covering 245.53 km of track. A true city beneath the city. Add to that countless connections, and you have on paper the best network in Europe. But no! Paris ranks fifth among the worst networks with only 4% positive reviews and, above all, 41% negative feedback! Beyond the price, the primary issue raised is safety, with omnipresent pickpockets facing a general feeling of total absence of security personnel in the tunnels. Following that, of course, comes hygiene, with scathing comments such as: “Paris hasn’t changed since the Middle Ages in terms of cleanliness” or “A true shame for France, the court of miracles like in the Middle Ages”. At least the Metro merits a nod to our glorious past and Victor Hugo’s masterpiece, “Notre-Dame de Paris.” One must find comfort wherever they can…

READ ALSO: Paris: as of January 1, 2025, the metro ticket will rise to €2.50