From Oslo to Budapest: These are the best and worst metro systems in Europe

22.09.2024 - 22:48 / euronews.com / Saskia ODonoghue / London

Have you ever wondered which European cities have the best, worst and busiest metro networks? New research reveals the answers. 

Luggage storage company Bounce has looked into all of the services across the continent’s capital cities - and made some surprising discoveries. 

While the London Underground is perhaps the most famous of all of Europe’s metro networks, it doesn’t even come in the top five best. 

It lost points for its huge numbers of passengers and confusing layout, making it difficult for tourists to navigate. 

In its research, the company considered a wide range of factors, from the average Google review score of stations and the distance covered by the system to the number of stations, the annual ridership, and the percentage of positive and negative online reactions to each service. The data was then combined into an ‘underground index’ score.

It’s important to note that Moscow and Kyiv’s metro systems were excluded due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, and Minsk metro was not included due to the US Department of State’s level 4 advisory against travel to Belarus.

Oslo came top of the ranking, with an index score of 8.06 out of 10. 

The Norwegian capital’s system, known locally as the Oslo T-Bane or T-banen i Oslo, boasts 101 stations covering 85km of track. It serves all 15 of the city’s boroughs, as well as extending part-way into the neighbouring Baerum municipality. 

The Oslo Metro comprises five separate lines - and another is currently under construction. 

The system’s busiest station is Jernbanetorget. It’s part of the largest transport hub in Norway, along with the Oslo Bus Terminal, Oslo’s Central Station, and the attached tram station. Jernbanetorget itself has been described as “easy to get around”, “very well organised”, and “nice and clean” in its many online reviews. 

Up next is Sofia’s metro system with an index score of 7.64 out of 10

The Bulgarian capital’s metro is the only one in the country as well as one of the youngest in the study, having only opened to passengers in 1998. 

The city’s metro system covers 52km of track and is accessible via 47 stations, including one at Sofia Airport.

That particular station has a Google review score of 4.10 out of 5 and is a favourite with passengers, who say there’s plenty of English language signage, including payment instructions which, they say, makes it simple and accessible for foreign visitors.

Tourists and locals alike also enjoy the Aleksandar Malinov and Moesia/NBU stations, which both earned Google review scores of 4.70 out of 5. 

Aleksandar Malinov station is situated in the Mladost area of southern Sofia and is frequently praised for its attractive architecture and decor, in particular the modern forest-like artwork that decorates one