I first learned about FlixBus during a conversation with an Austrian friend. This was way back in late 2019 when I was mapping out my initial plan to travel to Europe, which eventually didn't happen because of the pandemic. He mentioned that I should look into FlixBus as it's a good and cheap option to travel between European cities.

I looked into it and the company had mixed reviews everywhere. 

During my actual trip to Europe in 2022, my transfers between cities were a mix of trains and buses. I used Omio to compare the price and travel times between different modes of transport. If taking the train is significantly faster and the price difference isn't that big, then I chose trains. If the travel times between trains and buses are almost the same, then I opted for buses knowing they're cheaper.

FlixBus in Rome
Tiburtina Autostazione in Rome

I ended up booking through FlixBus for all the times I took a bus. And now, it's my turn to write a review and what I really think about it.


What You Need to Know About FlixBus

FlixBus is a long-distance bus company operating in Europe, the United States, and Canada. It offers bus routes to over 2,500 destinations in 36 countries, providing an affordable and eco-friendly alternative to air travel. 

The company uses modern buses with free Wi-Fi and onboard entertainment options, and you can book tickets online or via the FlixBus mobile app. FlixBus also offers a variety of additional services, such as seat reservations, snacks and drinks, and extra luggage storage. This is to make the journey as comfortable and convenient as possible.

Pros and Cons of FlixBus

Now, let's get to the important part of this post: the advantages and disadvantages of using FlixBus. Let me preface this by saying that everything I'm writing here is based on my experience. Some people have different experiences, some of them bad, and I'm not going to invalidate that. We're all entitled to our own opinions anyway.

Pros

  • It's cheap! For me, this is the main advantage of FlixBus. FlixBus tickets are quite cheap especially when you're traveling long distances in Europe, and they get cheaper if you book months in advance. For example, I paid around €17 for a FlixBus trip compared to taking the train which can cost around €70.
  • Booking is easy. You can do it online or through their mobile app, and you don't need to print the tickets. You can just save a copy of it on your phone, with the QR code, and present it before boarding.
  • Your trips can be flexible. I thought that since FlixBus is cheap, you don't get any flexibility for your travel plans but I was wrong. You can cancel your trip but instead of getting a refund, you get FlixBus credits. I experienced this first-hand when I purchased extra luggage storage by mistake because I didn't know that my ticket already had an allowance for one suitcase, which was all I needed. I ended up canceling the extra luggage and I was immediately given the credits, which I was able to use for my next booking. There may be a fee if you'll be canceling the entire trip but it's better than nothing. I'd advise reading the fine print.
  • There are amenities on board. FlixBus has charging outlets, onboard toilets, wifi, and onboard entertainment. To be honest, the wifi and onboard entertainment work only half the time but it's better than nothing. It's worth noting that amenities may vary among buses or routes.
  • The seats are comfortable. Surprisingly, the bus seats were quite comfortable throughout my experience of taking different FlixBus trips in Europe.
  • There are stopovers. For long trips, you can expect that there will be at least one stopover. Then you get around 15 to 20 minutes to get off the bus to buy food, use the toilet, or simply stretch your legs.
  • It's safe! As a female solo traveler in Europe, I never felt unsafe during any of the FlixBus trips that I've taken.

Cons

  • The buses aren't always on time. For some people, this is a common complaint. Personally, I never had any experience with the bus not being on time. 
  • Some of the bus stops are at inconvenient locations. Some of the bus terminals or bus stops are centrally located and near the city's main station, while others are located in the outskirts which can be a hassle to get to. Examples of this are the bus stops in Rome, Paris, and Amsterdam, wherein you have to take another train or bus to get to these terminals. Plus, the one in Amsterdam is really just a parking lot with nowhere to sit while you wait for the bus.
  • Cleanliness can be an issue, especially in the toilets. Now, I'm pretty sure that they regularly clean the toilets but they do get dirty at one point during the trip. This is why I avoid using the onboard toilet if I can help it and just wait for the bus to make a stop somewhere. Sometimes there's trash left behind by previous passengers. Although the company should always clean the bus after every trip, passengers should also be responsible enough not to leave their trash behind.

  • There's not a lot of legroom. As you'd expect with a bus, there's not much space for legroom, which can be an issue for many people. As someone who's just 150 cm tall, this was never an issue for me but I thought I'd mention it here to set your expectations properly.

  • You're on your own. Basically, here's how the trip goes. You show your ticket, load your luggage in the storage compartment, board the bus, and get settled in your seat. They wouldn't assist you any more than that, although in my experience someone had always loaded and unloaded my suitcase for me. You always have to be alert when your bus is ready for boarding or if it's arriving at your designated stop. If you miss your bus or your stop, then that's on you.
FlixBus website
FlixBus website

Is FlixBus Worth It?

Overall, I had a good experience with FlixBus. Yes, they were cheap but my experience was quite better than I expected. And I really expected that I'd be having a terrible time because of how cheap they are.

I can say that FlixBus is worth it and I'd highly recommend it if you're looking for affordable means of transportation around Europe. For me, the pros outweigh the cons. You're getting exactly what you paid for and since it's a low-cost bus company, don't expect a luxurious trip with top-notch customer service.

Basically, FlixBus does exactly what it's supposed to, which is to safely get you where you want to go or where you need to be.