Europe TOP 20 | 2026 Cities worth filming in

The ranking is designed to help international producers, line producers, executives, and production managers evaluate and compare European cities as filming destinations using a consistent, operational framework. The result is a clear, trusted guide to the region's most compelling filming environments.

See the ranking

WHY WE MAKE THIS RANKING?

Our motivation comes from real industry patterns. Over the past few years, while assessing hundreds of client requests and working closely with producers, location managers, and hosts during the development of ScoutAround, we noticed a consistent challenge: filmmakers struggle to confidently choose the right city for their shoot—not due to a lack of options, but because the essential information is scattered, inconsistent, or hard to compare.

This fragmentation makes the decision-making process slow, biased, and often based on assumptions rather than insight. That gap shaped our mission.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED
TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT FILMING DESTINATION

We built a decision-making tool for productions planning their next shoot abroad.
Smart comparisons, local insights, and expert advice — all in one production-focused index.

RANKING OF CITIES

Compare top filming destinations easily

RISK & COST REDUCTION

Minimize budget and production risks

CITY BY CITY GUIDE

Detailed insights for each location

TIPS AND TRICKS

Expert advice for smooth productions

OUR METHODOLOGY

Cinematic potential & filming friendliness

This system helps film producers evaluate how suitable any city is for film production. Each category is scored from 0–100%, based on how favorable the city is for filming. The final result is a Weighted Filming Friendliness Score, similar to a film-bond risk assessment.

10 Key Metrics

Comprehensive analysis covering permits, incentives, infrastructure, crew availability, and more

Trusted Industry Sources

Data compiled from official film commissions, government databases, and industry publications

RESULT Weighted
Filming
Friendliness
Score

Weighted Overall Score

Sophisticated algorithm balancing all factors based on real-world production priorities

Verified with Local Experts

Validated through interviews with producers, location managers, and film professionals

EUROPE TOP 20

CITIES WORTH FILMING IN

A data-backed ranking of top 20 cities for film production — scored on cost efficiency, crew quality, infrastructure, incentives, and overall filming friendliness. Built for producers, scouts, and creatives planning their next shoot.

RANK CITY COUNTRY CATEGORY SCORE GUIDE

1 London UK World-class Tier 1 92/100

Global benchmark for scale, crews, studios

Deepest crew base in Europe, top-tier infrastructure and soundstages, highest production capacity, strongest international accessibility.

Best for: Feature films, premium TV series, large-scale commercials.

Cons: High costs; Bookings and studios can be capacity-constrained during peak cycles.

2 Berlin Germany World-class Tier 1 88/100

Balanced cost, infrastructure, and diversity

Strong all-rounder: mature ecosystem, dependable crew depth, stable operations, solid infrastructure with respected studios and vendors.

Best for: TV series, films, commercials with strong art direction.

Cons: Weather variability; costs are moderate and rising.

3 Budapest Hungary Tier 1 / Incentive-driven 86/100

Incentive-driven, studio-heavy powerhouse

Exceptional cost-to-quality ratio with very strong studio infrastructure and highly effective incentives (modelled).

Best for: Feature films, TV series, studio-heavy productions, action.

Cons: Crew depth and capacity can tighten when multiple international shows overlap.

4 Prague Czechia Tier 1 (Cost-efficient) 84/100

Historic authenticity with mature crews

Strong historic/architectural looks + mature production services + compelling value proposition.

Best for: Period pieces, commercials, mid-budget films/TV.

Cons: Peak-season availability and some permitting complexity for central locations.

5 Paris France Tier 1 (Infrastructure) 83/100

Premium visuals, fashion, prestige production

World-class talent pool, strong infrastructure and vendor ecosystem, high production activity and accessibility.

Best for: High-end commercials, premium TV, prestige film projects.

Cons: Higher cost base and potentially complex permitting depending on districts and scope.

6 Madrid Spain Tier 1 82/100

Year-round sunshine, scale, and Spanish creative pool

Strong climate advantage and diverse urban/regional looks; growing studio infrastructure and deep vendor network.

Best for: Commercials, TV series, films with outdoor/urban looks.

Cons: Costs have risen; permitting can be complex in central/historic zones.

7 Barcelona Spain Tier 1 80/100

Aesthetic-driven, lifestyle & brand content

High aesthetic diversity (urban/coastal), strong creative scene, attractive for brand work and lifestyle content.

Best for: Commercials, music videos, short-form.

Cons: Permitting complexity and crowd management in popular areas.

8 Rome Italy Tier 1 79/100

Heritage, authenticity, cinematic prestige

Iconic architecture and heritage locations; meaningful studio footprint; strong depth in traditional crafts.

Best for: Period films, prestige TV, brand work requiring heritage visuals.

Cons: Bureaucracy and logistics; traffic and permitting lead times.

9 Warsaw Poland Tier 2 (Growing) 78/100

Modern capital, scalable, incentive-backed

Solid growth city with competitive costs, improving infrastructure, and strengthening crew availability.

Best for: TV series, films with urban looks, commercials.

Cons: Weather and seasonal light; capacity can tighten with rapid market growth.

10 Lisbon Portugal Tier 2 77/100

Climate-advantaged, location-driven hub

Strong climate advantage, appealing look variety, popular for international commercials and short formats.

Best for: Commercials, short-drama, music video, outdoor-heavy shoots.

Cons: Crew depth and infrastructure scale are more limited than Tier 1 hubs.

11 Sofia Bulgaria Tier 2 (Value-driven) 76/100

Cost-efficient, studio-capable value hub

Very strong cost environment; viable infrastructure base and growing production competence; efficient for value-driven projects.

Best for: Commercials, short-drama, cost-sensitive film/TV components, hybrid city+nature.

Cons: Crew depth and capacity for concurrent large productions; consistency of regulatory experience.

12 Vienna Austria Tier 2 (Stable) 75/100

Premium stability, heritage-focused

Extremely stable and safe operating environment; strong logistics; high professionalism.

Best for: Commercials, premium brand work, controlled productions.

Cons: Higher cost base; less "volume" capacity compared to top hubs.

13 Bucharest Romania Tier 2 74/100

Flexible, cost-driven long-form market

Strong cost advantage and improving ecosystem; workable for many formats as a value option.

Best for: Cost-sensitive commercials, short-form, select film/TV packages.

Cons: Infrastructure and senior crew depth are more limited; regulatory friction can vary.

14 Athens Greece Tier 2 73/100

Incentive-led, historic & exterior-driven

Strong climate and good incentives (modelled), attractive for coastal + urban mix.

Best for: Commercials, short-drama, travel/lifestyle content; selective film/TV.

Cons: Capacity and crew depth can strain at peak; permitting complexity for high-traffic zones.

15 Kraków Poland Tier 2 72/100

Boutique historic city with strong incentives

Strong historic "look" density and favorable costs; benefits from Poland's broader ecosystem.

Best for: Period commercials, indie films, short-drama, selected TV units.

Cons: Not a full-scale infrastructure hub; larger productions may need Warsaw-linked resources.

16 Belgrade Serbia Tier 2 (Emerging hub) 71/100

Action-friendly, cost-efficient regional hub

Very competitive costs and a pragmatic operating style; emerging regional hub characteristics.

Best for: Commercials, music videos, short-form; cost-sensitive film/TV.

Cons: Perceived risk profile and variability in ecosystem maturity; capacity constraints.

17 Zagreb Croatia Tier 3 (Diversity) 70/100

Film-friendly, easy permitting, regional access

Good safety/stability profile and attractive regional diversity (urban + nearby nature/coast access via region).

Best for: Commercials, short-drama, regional co-productions.

Cons: Moderate infrastructure scale; may rely on regional vendor/crew supplementation.

18 Ljubljana Slovenia Tier 3 69/100

Compact, nature-adjacent boutique capital

Efficient logistics and strong safety; excellent proximity to diverse natural looks.

Best for: Commercials, short-drama, outdoor-heavy content, specialty sequences.

Cons: Limited scale for long-running high-volume productions; smaller local crew base.

19 Tallinn Estonia Tier 3 (Digital-friendly) 67/100

Digital-first, medieval-modern niche market

Digitally efficient market; safe and stable; good for streamlined, modern production operations.

Best for: Commercials, music videos, short-form, tech/branded content.

Cons: Limited studio scale and climate constraints for long seasons.

20 Vilnius Lithuania Tier 3 66/100

Historic stand-in city with strong incentives

Cost-competitive with emerging ecosystem; workable for smaller-to-mid productions.

Best for: Commercials, short-drama, value-driven projects.

Cons: Infrastructure and crew depth still developing; lower production activity than peers.

Get the London Guide

Enter your email to receive the complete city guide with exclusive insights and recommendations.

Your guide is ready!

Click below to download the London guide.

Download Guide (PDF) Continue exploring

COMPARE

CITIES BY METRIC

Choose two key metrics for you and find the best cities

CITY DETAILS

FULL PROFILE CHART

See how a city performs on all metrics

COMPLETE RESULTS, INSIGHTS AND ANALYSIS

OVERVIEW REPORT

Download the Report