The underground system of the Hungarian capital is not only significant as a historically rich and architecturally diverse metro system, but also as one unusually open to film and photography productions. The operators of the public transport service are open to and experienced in providing locations to filmmakers. A perfect example of this is how the internationally renowned, action film classic Kontroll was entirely filmed in Budapest’s underground system, back in 2003. For forty nights the stations, tunnels, carriages and escalators became the film sets of the drama- and adrenaline-packed scenes that gave this underworld symbolic significance.


A tiled metro platform wall with a decorative station name panel above a simple wooden bench, reflecting early underground design and materials.
The oldest metro line retains its original style to this day
Photo: Progressive Productions

Therefore, all 48 stations of Budapest’s four metro lines are available for shooting after hours, i.e. between midnight and 5 a.m. This timeframe may sound slightly constrictive, however, it is reliable and ensures no issues of having to deal with the public or traffic, which is extremely beneficial considering that Budapest’s metro system has one million daily passengers, which is twice as many passengers as the entire country’s railway network. Next to using stations, trains and carriages can also be hired for shooting. Furthermore, some stations also have historically significant or stunningly modern entrances that can also provide beautiful locations for films or photoshoots.


This 40-kilometre-long and highly diverse underground system includes locations that are significant examples of the architecture of the past, present and future. The first metro line in Budapest is also the oldest metro line on the European continent. It was built during the Austro-Hungarian Empire and its stations remain as they were decorated 130 years ago.

Parallel escalators in a modern underground station hall, defined by clean metal surfaces, linear lighting, and wide circulation space for passenger flow.
The newly built stations are designed to handle high volumes of traffic with ease
Photo: Progressive Productions

The two largest lines were built during the Soviet Era, but have mostly been renovated to modern standards. The fourth metro line was designed by extravagant Hungarian architects whose award-winning architecture redefines our understanding of what a metro station can look like, and has consequently created a haven for those in search of sci-fi production locations. While some stations are merely located a few meters under the street level, many are much deeper, such as the deepest station on the Buda side which is 38 meters below ground level and can be accessed via Budapest’s four longest escalators. The Buda and the Pest side of the city are connected by two metro lines with tunnels stretching under the Danube River. An interesting fact is that many stations house artworks made by Hungarian artists of various generations.

The European Continent’s First Metro Line

The doors of the first metro line in Budapest opened in 1896 on the thousandth anniversary of the arrival of the Hungarians. This was an extremely outstanding way to celebrate since this was the first metro line on the European continent and the first electric one in the world! It astonishingly took only 21 months for this 4,5 km long line with 10 stations (the 11th was built later) to be constructed with the most modern technology available. It is amusing that since the metro line is so short, two of its stations only have a station’s worth of distance between each other. The line was named after Franz Joseph I, the reigning monarch of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Its stations are beautiful with cast-iron pillars and tiles made by the acclaimed Zsolnay porcelain manufacturer. Thankfully, it has always been restored in respect of the original design of the stations, so there have been no significant alterations in the last 130 years to most of its stations. The majority of the metro line runs underneath the Andrássy boulevard and most of its elegant, yellow cast-iron metro entrances and stairs lead up to this road. In 2002, both this metro line and the Andrássy boulevard became a World Heritage Site. The metro line and its unique entrances have been used in many films and also fashion photoshoots, three of which were produced by Progressive. The historic charm and sophistication of this metro line enables it to easily double as any European city in the first half of the 20th century.

A historic underground entrance enclosed by an ochre-painted cast iron railing along a wide urban boulevard with stone paving and aligned façades.
Many of the Metro Line 1’s stunning entrances are along the Andrássy Boulevard
Photo: Progressive Productions
A wide subterranean platform with green cast iron columns and a stationary yellow metro train, showing the open, symmetrical layout of early underground stations.
These spacious underground stations were the first on the European continent
Photo: Progressive Productions
A long underground station view defined by repetitive dark green cast iron pillars, low ceiling structure, and strong horizontal rhythm across parallel platforms.
Dark green cast iron pillars hold the structure of the stations, only a few meters underground
Photo: Progressive Productions
A preserved underground station interior featuring riveted metal columns, white tiled walls, and vintage wooden ticket booths integrated into the platform space.
Vintage wooden ticket booths can be found at most railway stops
Photo: Progressive Productions
An above-ground metro entrance marked by an ochre cast iron balustrade running alongside a tree-lined pedestrian path with cobblestone paving.
The cast iron entrances stand out due to their eye catching ochre colour
Photo: Progressive Productions
A metro station exit opening onto a landscaped urban square where historic stone elements meet a contemporary glass-fronted building at the city edge.
The metro line connects the historic city centre with a monumental park
Photo: Progressive Productions

The Awe-Inspiring, Futuristic Fourth Line

Although this metro line was the last to be built, featuring it second highlights the strong contrast among the various styles of metro lines in Budapest. The planning for this metro line started in the 1970s, but its actual design and construction only commenced in the 2000s and was completed in 2014. However, it was definitely worth the wait, because it resulted in internationally acclaimed, stunning architecture which is quite unlike anything before! For two of the line’s stations the Hungarian architects were given the A+ international architecture award, which was founded by the Wall Street Journal and The Webbys. This 7,4-kilometre long line has 11 stations all with unique structures and features but overall, it has a strong and unifying aesthetic, featuring raw concrete walls and pillars, as well as iron structures. The aim was to create exciting spatial experiences with vast spaces, without hiding the structures, but rather presenting them in a slick, industrial way as one descends on one of the many escalators. One of their aims was also to create stations that did not have to be renovated often, so they used durable raw materials. This monumental, industrial and slightly cold atmosphere was intended to be counterpointed by the wooden benches on the platforms and colourful decorations on the walls of the platforms. The most notable decoration consists of an enormous mosaic spiral covering the entire wall of one of the stations. This simple, but dramatic and vast spatial design makes these stations ideal for any film set in the future or that has action scenes which require a lot of space.

A large underground station hall with parallel escalators, exposed concrete walls, metal railings, and a wide open platform layout.
The daring design of this metro line consciously makes use of natural light
Photo: Progressive Productions
Long escalators rising between smooth concrete walls and glass balustrades, emphasizing vertical scale and clean, modern geometry.
Raw concrete, glass and steel provide a futuristic and industrial atmosphere
Photo: Progressive Productions
An arched underground passage lined with colorful mosaic tiles forming a continuous spiral pattern across vaulted ceilings and structural supports.
Unique art, such as this psychedelic mosaic spiral decorates the underground stations
Photo: Progressive Productions
A contemporary metro platform with curved tunnel walls, integrated signage, and a stationary white train framed by steel and glass elements.
Vast scales and dramatic angles ensure an exceptional experience for the passengers
Photo: Progressive Productions
A deep escalator shaft clad in raw concrete and oxidized steel panels, creating strong linear perspective and industrial surface textures.
Instead of paint, the walls by this escalator are covered with rusty steel panels and concrete
Photo: Progressive Productions
A minimalist underground platform leading into a circular tunnel opening, defined by curved concrete walls, linear lighting fixtures, and precise alignment.
Simple geometric shapes and bold colours provide ideal shooting locations underground
Photo: Progressive Productions
Upward-viewed escalators set within a tall concrete shaft, featuring bold geometric forms, metal finishes, and layered architectural depth.
These vast halls, escalators and shafts offer perfect backdrops for sci-fi films
Photo: Progressive Productions

The Soviet Era’s Red Metro Line

Budapest’s second metro line was built as a response to the transport crisis that occurred after the Second World War, however, unlike the 1st metro line’s 21 months, this line took 22 years, from 1950 until 1972, to get constructed. This was partially due to Soviet technology and preferring to use miners to make the tunnels rather than modern tunnelling shields. Another reason that the majority of this long line with 11 stations on 10 kilometres is located significantly deeper underground is that it was also designed to function as an enormous underground bunker for 200,000 civilians in the case of a nuclear attack, a constant fear during the Cold War. Some stations are more than 30 meters underground level (mainly on the Buda side) with Budapest’s longest escalators, but there are also two stations above ground on the Pest side. Its station by a large stadium is significant due to having four train tracks instead of two with three platforms in a large hall. The line was stylized as the red metro line, which is undoubtedly due to red being a symbol of communist ideology. However, not much of the original Soviet design has survived renovations, with it now looking more simply like a typical contemporary underground line.

A bright underground escalator tunnel with white curved wall panels, metal handrails, and symmetrical ventilation units emphasizing a clean, engineered interior.
This Soviet Era metro has been renovated making it a typical European contemporary metro
Photo: Progressive Productions
A wide metro platform hall supported by white cylindrical columns, polished red stone flooring, and a stationary train aligned along the platform edge.
The floor of this railway station is made from red marble typical of Hungary
Photo: Progressive Productions
An escalator rising toward a concourse beneath a grid of circular ceiling lights, creating a strong central perspective and rhythmic overhead pattern.
In some places, unique and authentic details from the Soviet past can still be found
Photo: Progressive Productions
A monumental set of parallel escalators framed by a dark arched opening, highlighting depth, symmetry, and the vertical scale of the station.
In the Cold War this metro line was built to also function as an atomic bunker for the city
Photo: Progressive Productions
A long underground corridor defined by repeating white columns, red accent bands, glazed wall sections, and a straight central circulation axis.
Hundreds of thousands of passengers travel on Budapest’s underground system daily
Photo: Progressive Productions
A broad escalator hall with four parallel escalators, smooth metal cladding, and a low arched ceiling emphasizing depth and mass.
This metro line’s deepest station has four escalators that are more than thirty meters long
Photo: Progressive Productions
A large vaulted concourse with red stone flooring, curved wall structures, overhead directional signage, and a central axis leading toward escalators.
Even though it was less efficient, often miners were used to mine the railway tunnels
Photo: Progressive Productions

The Bustling Retro Metro Line

The third underground line is the largest in Budapest, covering 17 kilometres with 20 stations and is used by a staggering half a million passengers. This line was also built in the Soviet Era between 1970 and 1990 with an esthetic typical of that period. Its metro cars came from a factory in Moscow and these are the same ones that you can travel on today. However, both the carriages and the stations have been under renovation for quite a few years now, but only sections of the line are worked on at a time to minimise disturbance of traffic. This is why only a few stations are still in their old, haggard, retro state. The colours, materials and shapes of both the stations and the carriages were so typical of that era, the latter of which can still be seen on the renovated metro cars. The previously mentioned film called Kontroll was shot solely on this line. This line also has many long escalators in tunnels decorated in a variety of retro colours and shapes.

A modern underground platform with a stationary metro train, grid-pattern ceiling, linear lighting, and clean stone flooring emphasizing a contemporary renovation.
This newly renovated Soviet-era metro line has become slick and cutting edge
Photo: Progressive Productions
A long, minimalist platform corridor defined by repeating concrete columns, reflective flooring, and strong linear perspective along the tracks.
With 20 stations, this railway line is highly frequented with half a million passengers daily
Photo: Progressive Productions
An upward view of an escalator framed by metal side panels and geometric ceiling lights, highlighting symmetry and functional design.
All of the many escalators are available for shoots after hours
Photo: Progressive Productions
A deep underground platform with a renovated metro train, smooth wall cladding, and continuous lighting guiding the length of the station.
The carriages are renovated Russian ones given to Hungary back in the day by the USSR
Photo: Progressive Productions
A wide platform view with open train doors, polished stone floors, and evenly spaced benches integrated into the station layout.
Spacious and well-designed stations provide a lot of space during rush hours
Photo: Progressive Productions
A streamlined metro platform interior featuring curved wall panels, modern benches, and a clear central circulation axis extending into the distance.
In some stations, authentic Soviet Era benches can still be found
Photo: Progressive Productions

Diverse and Accessible

Therefore, Budapest’s underground system has a vast range of architecture to offer film productions. Not only does it have 48 stations, many of which were designed uniquely, but each metro line has its own character typical of a given historical age and architectural style. Stations vary from simple and charmingly historic, to contemporary with monumental and industrial structures. Thanks to the open-minded, experienced and collaborative company running public transport, filmmakers and other creatives can easily use these places as locations for shoots in the nighttime when the underground is out of service. Due to the countless productions shot here in the past, they have a well-developed protocol to enable swift acquisition of permits for these locations and the renting of carriages. Whether it is a period film or a sci-fi movie, Budapest’s underground has fitting locations for all!