I’ve travelled by FlixBus well over 25 times, across the entire continent of Europe (and beyond, if you count its affiliation with Turkish bus company Kamil Koc!).
So, I feel well versed writing this FlixBus review! I also do lots of train journeys and have taken other coach providers in Europe, so I can compare it to other forms of overland travel.
But hold on – what is FlixBus? You may be wondering. If you’ve travelled in Europe, you DEFINITELY will have seen one on the roads. It’s a coach company, notable for its bright green vehicles. It has grown significantly in the last few years by buying or working with local operators across the continent. If you travel Europe overland, it’s almost certain that you’ll have used it at some point.
We’ll go into all of my FlixBus tips in this post, as I review the seats and amenities, prices, likelihood of delay, drivers and staff, scheduling, customer service and the stations it uses.
Is FlixBus good? My overall impressions
There’s a lot to get into in this FlixBus review, but I’ll give my brief answer here; if you’re travelling around Europe on a budget, FlixBus is very useful. Quality can vary, but the modern coaches are excellent, and they connect lots of places that you might not otherwise be able to reach.
The company does have its fair share of 1* reviews on Trustpilot, but I think that’s often the case (people are more likely to review when something goes wrong). Personally, I’ve never had any experiences that have put me off FlixBus – but there are a few things that are very good to know, which we’ll get into in this review!
Seats and amenities
First up, I need to specify that there is a difference between FlixBus coaches and coaches from a company that FlixBus works with. Sometimes, you’ll be able to book a ticket on the FlixBus app or website for a non-FlixBus company – I have done this in North Macedonia and Turkey.
This will mean that the coach will vary in quality, and may not be the same as FlixBus’s usual standard. It may also be better – Turkish company Kamil Koc, who work with FlixBus, offer seats in a 2-1 configuration with no extra charge to reserve them.
This is what you can expect on a classic FlixBus:
- 2+2 configuration, with five seats at the back (and try to make sure that you don’t end up there on a night bus, like I did the other day!
- USB-C chargers, although I have expereinced these not working before
- A tray table with a cup holder and seat pocket
- A little recline on the seats
I have found the newer sets comfortable enough!
This isn’t unique to FlixBus, but the single biggest thing that affects my comfort is if there is someone next to me. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed buses where nobody is next to me, and absolutely hated others where I’m stuck next to an inconsiderate stranger!
I recently took a 22 hour bus from Munich to Sofia, and ended up moving because I wasn’t comfortable next to the man I was with, who was spreading out and was travelling (and having a very loud conversation) with a man who was chugging a bottle of neat vodka. I then sat next to two different women, and they were both very respectful. It makes a huge difference!
It seems I’m not the only one who thinks this, as on some journeys FlixBus offers the chance to pay to keep the seat next to you empty. In my experience, this is about 50% of the ticket price. It’s possible on a route that they don’t expect to sell out, and is sometimes only available last-minute. I did this when I took a night bus from London to Paris, and a bus from Hamburg to Brussels.
Night trains can be a whole different beast. On my 22 hour bus, I had a window seat, so I took a pillow and laid it against the window. However the night before (don’t ask about this plethora of night buses, I’d been doing a YouTube challenge), I’d been on what I consider the worst seat of a FlixBus. The back row, between the middle seat and window – so I didn’t have extra legroom but was still between two people. There was no recline, no armrests and it was one of the least comfortable nights’ sleep I’ve ever had.
Raving about Kamil Koc (the Turkish bus company) may be becoming a theme of this review, but I took one a few days later. As well as the aforementioned 1+2 configuration, there were only four seats at the back, and all seats had armrests and cupholders in the middle, so there was plenty of space between people.
Plus, if I was to sit in one of the double seats, I’d only be able to sit next to a woman – you cannot book a seat next to someone of the opposite gender. This is likely for religious reasons, but I would be quite happy if all buses adopted it, especially for night buses, as I think the safety element of sitting and sleeping next to a strange man all night does put people off long-distance coach travel.
Toilets
Generally, buses have toilets. Whether they work is a different story! On my Munich to Sofia trip, the bus had no water, which meant that there was no toilet the whole way! I actually didn’t mind this, because the stops were frequent and many were free. Most were nicer than bus toilets too – beware that even if there is a loo onboard, it might not be the nicest.
Wifi
Wifi is VERY limited on FlixBus. I usually connect to it to test it, and it works for loading webpages etc, but then cuts out at 250 MB (which is barely any time). Generally, you’re better off using data.
I always use Holafly for my trips across Europe – their plans include unlimited data, and if your days run out, you can make use of their “Always On” extra 1GB! Click here for 5% off.
Prices
This is the main draw of FlixBus. It is usually far cheaper than the train or flying.
I once paid £4 (!!!) for a trip from Perugia to Rome in 2022 – although this was before the current cost of living crisis. More recently, I paid £39.99 for a London to Paris day bus and £35 for an all-day Amsterdam to Hamburg journey.
Prices of coach travel HAVE gone up (I remember getting one for £10 from London to Amsterdam around 13 years ago!), but it still remains the cheapest way to travel around the continent.
Book as early as possible, and if you can be flexible, check dates and times to see if any are better value.
I would, however, highly recommend paying extra to reserve a seat. I’ve always enjoyed the front for its panoramic views, and it’s only about £3.50 extra to reserve. I’ve found that people often skip reserving it, because it costs more!
Another thing I”ve done, if I’ve either not had the option to book the seat next to me or it’s been too expensive, is to reserve a seat and check later to see if anyone’s sitting next to me. If they are, I’ll move again to a pair of vacant seats. On a FlixBus from London to Paris a few years ago, this worked and I ended up sitting without a seat neighbour for the whole night journey!
Delays
I’ve never had any catastrophic delays with FlixBus, although they can happen. International borders can sometimes be subject to delay, but these are usually built into the journey time of the buses. However, my recent day trip from London to Paris via the Eurotunnel was delayed, but that was due to a problem with Le Shuttle.
Likewise, I’ve heard reports of people being held up on the German border – which is in Schengen with all its neighbours but often has on the spot passport checks. Balkan borders are known for their delays – but I think all FlixBus routes have these built in to their schedule! Sometimes, they arrive early or have extra rest stops if these things take less time than planned.
On Trustpilot, there are reviews about massive delays and drivers stopping where they shouldn’t; which I haven’t experienced.
Drivers and staff
I’ve never had an issue with the drivers on FlixBus. Some, I’ve found very friendly; there can occasionally be a language barrier because they come from all over Europe (and of course I never expect anyone to speak English!). On my recent trip from Munich to Bulgaria, I actually spoke Spanish to the driver!
On long routes, there are usually two drivers who swap out – one drives while the other rests. Sometimes, the whole team swaps out as well!
I’ve never experienced what I would call unsafe driving, although I have travelled throughout the world and may have a slightly higher tolerance (I was in a bus crash in India this year and was not surprised it happened there!).
I can’t think of any times I’ve had absolutely exemplary service, but also no times it’s been awful.
Scheduling
FlixBus scheduling is generally very good! I’ve always been able to find a bus on the day I’ve wanted one, and there are often several to choose from. This is travelling largely between major cities; it will likely be more limited if you travel between smaller cities/ towns.
But one of the big advantages, for me, is that FlixBus does well at connecting places without stations!
Customer service
I’ve had a couple of issues after booking FlixBus. Once, a bus was rescheduled and I had to take a last minute train from Wroclaw to Warsaw. Initially, they said they’d refund the ticket but not the extra cost of me paying for a last-minute train. I had a chat with their customer service, raised allll my points, and in the end they did cover it.
They have a good cancellation and change policy, and refunds are allowed to a certain point. It’s much more flexible than most travel!
Stations
Bus stations aren’t FlixBus’s responsibility, but they’re worth mentioning if you’re thinking about bus travel in Europe.
They really vary in quality and service; for example, Amsterdam Sloterdijk is just bus stops outside the train station, Bercy Seine is an underground station with very small screens (I always feel quite claustrophobic here), whereas London Victoria Bus Station is a big station with free toilets and lots of places to buy food etc.
Free toilets are not the norm – most stations in Europe charge for the privilege of going for a pee! However, some do accept card (depending on the country).
Do I recommend FlixBus?
Largely, yes. I am happy with FlixBus for short hops and day buses. I especially enjoy them when I don’t have a seat neighbour, but obviously understand sometimes I do need them!
Night buses aren’t the best, so I wouldn’t recommend them unless you have to (try Twiliner instead!).
See my recent YouTube challenge where I spent 92 hours on buses from London here.
FlixBus FAQs
Is FlixBus good?
FlixBus is good for the price, but it largely depends on where you’re going! For a trip of less than six hours, I’d consider it good, yes!
Is FlixBus safe?
I’ve never felt in danger on FlixBus, but I have moved seats from people that I don’t feel comfortable next to on night buses. Of course, you are sharing a space with other strangers – there is always a risk something could happen – but it’s fairly low.
Is FlixBus comfortable for long journeys?
Errrmmm… long day journeys it can be ok, long night journeys I’d say not!
Can you sleep on a FlixBus night bus?
It depends on how well you sleep in general! I’d recommend packing a pillow, eye mask and earplugs, and booking the window seat so you have somewhere to lean.
How do you reserve a seat on FlixBus?
You can reserve a seat on the FlixBus app or website, either when booking or after booking your trip.
Do FlixBus coaches have toilets?
FlixBus coaches SHOULD have toilets, but in my experience they often don’t work! The bus driver should let you know when you board if this is the case.
Are FlixBus buses often delayed?
They can be, but in my experience they haven’t been HUGELY delayed before. However, bear in mind that it definitely can happen and plan accordingly.
Can you get a refund or change a FlixBus ticket?
Yes, FlixBus has quite a good refund policy and you can often get ticket changes until last minute. I’d recommend checking the official Ts and Cs when you book, however as they’re subject to change .
Is FlixBus cheaper than the train?
Usually, yes! FlixBus is often the cheapest way to travel around Europe.
