FlixBus Revives Infamous 'Route 666' to Polish Peninsula

"It's vacations. Let's have fun, let's do some jokes about the thing. I don't think that there is anything bad in that."
— Michał Leman, FlixBus Eastern Europe managing director

German transport company FlixBus has introduced a seasonal bus service, Route 666, connecting Krakow to the Hel Peninsula in Poland. The service operates once daily through summer 2026, including stops in Warsaw and several coastal towns, with a total travel time of approximately 13 hours.

Route History

The original Route 666 was operated by Polish carrier PKS Gdynia. In 2023, the company renumbered the route to 669 following complaints from conservative Catholic groups. The number 666 is identified in Christian tradition as the "number of the beast."

FlixBus has revived the 666 designation as a marketing strategy to increase visibility. The company states the route addresses real demand for direct connections to the Hel Peninsula, a Baltic coastal destination popular with tourists for its beaches and clear water. The name "Hel" derives from old Germanic words describing the local landscape and is unrelated to the biblical underworld.

Company Statements

FlixBus Eastern Europe managing director Michał Leman stated the route number was selected deliberately for its recognizability, adding: "Everyone will understand."

Leman dismissed concerns about the number, saying: "It's vacations. Let's have fun, let's do some jokes about the thing. I don't think that there is anything bad in that."

Public Reaction

News of the route's return has spread on Polish social media and international platforms. The original 666 bus to Hel had previously gained popularity as a tourist attraction, with passengers sharing photos of the route signage.

Operators anticipate a mix of novelty-seeking passengers and regular beachgoers on the service.