Nuclear war: Can you afford to survive? Here's how much private bunkers cost across Europe

During the Cold War, many European countries were packed with underground nuclear bunkers to shield civilians in case of attack.

However, after the fall of the Berlin Wall, many were decommissioned, transformed into museums or simply abandoned.

Bunker hunter group Subterranea Britannica suggests there were once more than 280 underground nuclear shelters in the UK.

"I think it is fair to say that only a very small number is now in use," they told Euronews.

"Of the ones out of use, few if any could be brought back to life. Older designs are likely to be ineffective against modern nuclear weapons," they added.

Is a private bunker more expensive than a one-bedroom flat?

Amid rising geopolitical tensions, the lack of extensive bunker networks has created a niche market for personal shelters in countries like Italy, Spain, Germany, Sweden and the UK.

But the investment required is not to be taken lightly.

The most basic versions (usually under 10m²) range between €3,000 and €5,000 per m², roughly the price per m² of a modern studio or a one-bedroom flat in a medium-sized European city.

The promise is protection against nuclear, biological and chemical threats.

Key features include a reinforced concrete core structure (30cm thick walls), radiation-proof armoured doors and an air ventilation system.

TV and...tear gas: What's included in the premium versions?

At the more expensive end, a 140m² bunker offering "real house" comforts like a living room and a 40-inch television can command prices of €1 million, Italy's Il Mio Bunker told Euronews.

In the UK, Burrowed LTD sells "luxury prefabricated bunkers" that cost up to €181,000 with a maximum length of around 16 metres. They feature an air-tight door, an electric heater, a fresh water tank, a full kitchen, storage beds and a solar power generator, among other things.

Meanwhile, Germany's BunkerBauer offers a 9.6m² bunker for €79,000, which, on top of video surveillance, motion detectors and infrasound alarms, includes a tear gas launcher.

In Sweden, €170,000 would be enough for a 54m² bunker able to house at least six people, with a kitchen and a diesel generator included.

Sweden-based Victor Angelier, founder of the Nuclear Bunker Company, said his clients are interested in private shelters because they don't feel safe enough with "government security".

"There is not enough space for the number of civilians", he noted, adding that the majority of his customers are from Poland, Sweden and the Netherlands.

Angelier said he noticed an uptick in clients after the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Wednesday's incident involving Russian drones in Poland sparked renewed interest, he said.

What's the safest country in Europe in case of nuclear attack?

In Europe, only a handful of countries have kept their bunker facilities active.

The continent's most extensive nuclear bunker system is in Switzerland, the only country where the obligation to provide nuclear shelters for the entire population is enshrined in law.

Around 60 years after the law was enacted, Switzerland currently has around 9,000 public shelters and about 360,000 private bunkers. Their total capacity is approximately 9.3 million people — enough to cover the entire population of roughly 9 million.

Around 100,000 of the country's small shelters, built around 40 years ago and able to host up to seven people, are being renovated due to outdated ventilation systems. The plan is to replace them with larger, public shelters. The programme is expected to cost €235 million.

Swiss public shelters can currently accommodate between 200 and 5,000 people.

Some of the largest facilities include the Beaulieu shelter in Lausanne and the Sonneberg Tunnel near Lucerne. The latter could originally house 20,000 people but now it can only accommodate about a tenth of that.

Which other European countries have active bunker networks?

Sweden is another country that has invested heavily in nuclear preparedness.

It has roughly 64,000 shelters with enough space for around 7 million people. The largest is the Klara shelter in Stockholm, which can host up to 8,000 people in wartime.

The issue is taken extremely seriously in the country. The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) has launched a €9-million plan to step up inspections and ensure shelters can be operational within 48 hours if needed.

Neighbouring Finland also has a network of active bunkers. According to 2022 data, before the country joined NATO, Finland had 50,500 nuclear shelters, the vast majority of which (85%) are privately owned.

According to the Finnish Interior Ministry, that is enough to protect 4.8 million civilians.