Traveling to 15 festivals in 15 straight weekends across the continent means that I’m following a tight schedule…and an even tighter budget. I rely heavily on the numerous bus companies to get me to my job on time. The bus service network in Europe is extensive, affordable, and comfortable. Let’s take a look at a few of my favorites.
1. FlixBus (Everywhere)
With nearly a thousand destinations in 20 countries, FlixBus is my go-to service for bus travel across Europe. Based out of Germany, FlixBus goes everywhere including France, Italy, Austria, the Netherlands and Croatia. Their website is a breeze to use and the handy FlixBus-App keeps all my tickets along with travel plans in one place. Festival travelers will want to pick the Interflix Pass, an epic deal that lets you hit up 5 cities over three months for only $99.
2. Eurolines (Everywhere)
This Belgian bus company founded in 1985 covers upwards of 600+ destinations so it’s definitely worth a look when planning your next adventure. Check out the Eurolines Pass which can cost as little as $195 and lets you enjoy unlimited travel to 53 cities over 15 days.
3. Student Agency (Czech)
Don’t let the name throw you off — Student Agency is open to anybody. This Czech based company is simply one of my favorite bus lines out there. They offer free drinks, power outlets, and a seatback entertainment system that makes ever ride feel like first class.
4. Megabus (UK)
The United Kingdom may be an expensive place to travel, but Megabus makes it cheap. Everyone has seen the familiar logo of a Megabus, usually offering startling low fares from just £1. They’ve even taken their low-cost efforts to the rails of the UK with a new service aptly called Megatrain.
5. Ouibus (France)
Spend money on fancy wine, not on your travel. This regional provider drives to more than a 100 French cities and can be much more affordable than taking a train or plane. With spacious buses, Wi-Fi, electrical outlets and real-time geo-location, Ouibus is certainly a comfortable ride.
6. Lux Express (Baltic States)
Lux Express is the largest international express routes coach operator in the Baltic region, offers bus services to 7 countries, and makes it simple for travel to St. Petersburg, Tallinn, Riga, Vilnius and Warsaw.
7. PolskiBus (Poland)
Taking the train in Poland is not a pleasant experience, so it’s lucky for all us that PolskiBus showed up. The king of the budget bus in Poland, PolskiBus offers fares starting as low as a quarter. The bright red and white buses not only go to every corner of the country, but also feature deals to Germany and the Baltic States.