Are there public bomb shelters in Germany?

Short answer. Germany still has 579 designated public shelters with 477,593 places, but the federal government states that none of them is currently functional or ready for use ¹. There is no official shelter finder yet. A federal-state concept favours many decentralised refuges, such as basements, underground car parks and U-Bahn stations, to be shown in the NINA warning app ².

How many public shelters does Germany have, and do they work?

According to the federal government, 579 public shelters with 477,593 places remain designated ¹. Its answer is explicit: "Die Anlagen sind weder funktions- noch einsatzbereit" — the facilities are neither functional nor ready for use ¹.

Why are there so few?

In 2008 Germany still counted 1,967 public shelters ¹. In 2007 the federal government and the Länder decided to abandon the shelter concept, and from 2008 shelters were gradually released from civil-protection use ¹. That dismantling was stopped by decree on 17 March 2022 ¹.

Is a new shelter plan coming?

Yes, but it was not finished as of the latest federal answer, dated 17 July 2026 ². The federal-state concept favours many decentralised refuges rather than a small number of large bunkers: basements, underground car parks and U-Bahn stations ². Suitable refuges are to be identified nationwide and made visible, especially in the NINA warning app ². Until that happens, there is no official public locator ².

Where should you shelter in Germany today?

Until official refuges are listed, the BBK advises sheltering in a windowless basement or an inner room, with two walls between you and the outside, or in underground car parks and U-Bahn stations ³⁴. Choose that place in advance, at home and near work or school, and make sure everyone in the household knows it.

Whether to stay or leave depends on what the authorities announce; see Shelter in place or evacuate after a nuclear emergency?. To understand why a basement and extra walls matter, read What is a shelter's protection factor?. Official warnings, including future refuge information, arrive through the channels described on our Germany alerts page.

Who can answer questions about existing public shelters?

For questions about the existing public shelters, the BImA citizens' hotline is +49 (0)228 848 30400, Monday to Friday, 8:00 to 16:00; the email address is Zivilschutz@bundesimmobilien.de ¹².

Frequently asked questions

Can I find my nearest public shelter online?

Not yet. As of the federal answer of 17 July 2026 there is no official locator; refuges are to be identified and shown, especially in the NINA app ².

Are old bunkers safe to use?

The federal government states that the remaining 579 designated shelters are neither functional nor ready for use ¹. Do not plan around them unless authorities announce otherwise.

What is the best place to shelter at home?

The BBK points to a windowless basement or inner room with two walls between you and the outside ³⁴. Underground car parks and U-Bahn stations are also named ³.

Will Germany build new public shelters?

A new federal-state shelter concept was still being coordinated in July 2026 and favours decentralised refuges in existing buildings ². No new national shelter standard has been published; see our shelter standards note.

Sources

1. Deutscher Bundestag / Bundesregierung — Antwort der Bundesregierung: Öffentliche Schutzräume (Drucksache 20/14631, 20.01.2025) — https://dserver.bundestag.de/btd/20/146/2014631.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
2. Deutscher Bundestag – heute im bundestag — Zielperspektive für öffentliche Schutzräume (hib 591/2026, 17.07.2026, Antwort Drucksache 21/7120) — https://www.bundestag.de/presse/hib/kurzmeldungen-1195170 (accessed 2026-10-20)
3. Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe (BBK) — Vorsorgen für Krisen und Katastrophen (2. Auflage, Stand 11/2025) — https://www.bbk.bund.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/DE/Mediathek/Publikationen/Buergerinformationen/Ratgeber/BBK-Vorsorgen-fuer-Krisen-und-Katastrophen.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=44 (accessed 2026-10-20)
4. Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe (BBK) — Schutzbauwerke — https://www.bbk.bund.de/DE/Themen/Risikomanagement/Baulicher-Bevoelkerungsschutz/Schutzbauwerke/schutzbauwerke_node.html (accessed 2026-10-20)