Flixbus is bringing back the infamous 'Route 666' bus service from Kraków to the Polish seaside resort Hel, three years after it was renumbered to 669 due to pressure from religious groups. The 13-hour route, which includes stops in Warsaw and other major hubs, was originally retired after Catholic conservative groups labeled the number 'satanic' and 'anti-Christian propaganda'. Flixbus states the number was chosen for marketing visibility and to meet traveler demand for direct connections to the Hel Peninsula. The service is set to run daily during the summer 2026 season, with a timetable designed to avoid peak holiday traffic. The Hel Peninsula is a popular summer destination known for its sandy beaches, historic sites, and seal sanctuary.
Ready for a ride on the highway to Hel? The infamous ' Route 666 ' bus service to the Polish seaside resort is being resurrected by Flixbus – three years after it was renumbered due to pressure from religious groups.
The 13-hour route links Kraków and Hel, with stops in major Polish hubs like Władysławowo, Kuźnica and the capital, Warsaw. The route gets its name from a mix of its destination, Hel , and bus number 666, the biblical number of the beast.
Although the service ran for over a decade, the number was ultimately retired and replaced with '669' in June 2023 following years of complaints from Catholic conservative groups, who called it 'satanic' and 'anti-Christian propaganda'. Roman Catholicism is the majority faith in Poland, where the Church has traditionally played a major role in shaping society and culture.
'The management board buckled under the weight of letters and requests that were sent to us, maybe not in large numbers, but periodically for many years with a request to change the line number,' a PKS Gdynia spokesperson told media at the time. Poland's controversial 'Route 666' to Hel is being revived by Flixbus in time for the summer 2026 season The service was renumbered '669' in June 2023 following years of complaints from religious conservative groups However, the infamous bus line is now making a comeback for the 2026 summer season, with international operator Flixbus reinstating the controversial route number.
Speaking to Polish news service TVN24, FlixBus spokesperson Aleksander Kalenik said: 'The number 666 was deliberately chosen as a marketing communication element, intended to increase the visibility of the connection on the popular holiday route to Hel.
' However, the operator insists the move goes far beyond marketing, as it steps up to serve travellers across major Polish cities who have long demanded direct connections to the Hel Peninsula. According to Euro News, the new service is set to run daily during the summer season, with departures from Kraków at 6am, arrival in Warsaw at 10.30am and arrival in Hel by 8pm.
The timetable is intended to avoid heavy traffic towards the Hel Peninsula, which experiences maximum road and rail congestion during the holiday period. The 35-kilometre sandy spit along the Baltic coast is one of the country's most popular attractions during peak summer months, where temperatures can sit between 22C and 28C. Hundreds of thousands of tourists flock to the region each year to experience its sandy beaches, ancient architecture and famous seal sanctuary.
Hundreds of thousands of visitors flock to the Hel Peninsula each summer The region boasts white-sand beaches, historic sites, a national park and a famous seal santuary Nature lovers can head to the very tip of the peninsula, where Puck Bay's waters mix with the Baltic Sea. Alternatively, Nadmorski Landscape Park offers extensive dune parks, charming wooden bridges and stretches of pine forests.
The peninsula is home to heritage sites for history buffs, including abandoned watchtowers and German artillery bunkers from the Second World War, and a Fisheries Museum housed in a 15th-century church that showcases the rich culture of the Kashubian people. Visitors to Hel can explore a bustling fishing village lined with fresh seafood eateries, cosy cafés, boutiques, and markets. Stroll down Wiejska Street to discover these offerings alongside charming 18th-century fishermen's cottages.
With travel to Eastern Europe set to boom this summer, a travel expert has shared the top Polish destinations to add to your bucket list, including one with £15 flights and £2.50 pints - and the 'Alps of Poland'. Alessandro Petazzi, CEO of travel package holiday and hotel provider Lastminute.com, told the Daily Mail the most popular destinations are 'either the smaller cities, like Krakow, Gdansk, and so forth, or the European capital cities such as Berlin and Copenhagen'.
Eastern Europe saw the most growth in the city escape market, thanks to Gdansk and Bucharest . Meanwhile, Kraków also increased in popularity over the last year.
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