Poland’s infamous ‘666 bus to Hel’ is back. Why is it so controversial?

FlixBus has resurrected the controversial Bus 666 after it was rebranded several years ago following pressure from religious groups.

The new 13-hour FlixBus service will connect Kraków to Hel, travelling through several key Polish towns and cities, including the capital, Warsaw.

"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," FlixBus spokesperson Aleksander Kalenik told the Polish news service TVN24, BBC reported.

A Polish religious group had accused the bus company of "spreading satanism".

Route 666 to Hel: Why it's controversial

The Route 666's history dates back many years. The service was operated by PKS Gdynia, which linked Dębki with Hel for a long time. The route number emerged popular for two reasons: The town’s name is phonetically similar to the English word “hell”, and 666 is widely associated with the biblical “number of the beast”.

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The bus travelled to Hel for years; however, in 2023, the number was changed to 669 after protests from some religious groups. Petitions were reportedly launched over the issue, and the story was also picked up by the media.

But now, in the 2026 summer season, the number 666 is returning. Firm representatives kept no secret that the choice of number was deliberate.

Michał Leman, managing director of FlixBus in Eastern Europe, said at a press conference, "It’s better when a route explains by itself where it’s going. In this case, there’s really nothing more to say. Everyone will understand," as reported by EuroNews.

FlixBus to Hel

The new route is to run regularly during the summer season. Departure from Kraków is set for 6:00 in the morning, arrival in Warsaw around 10:30 and in Hel before 20:00. The entire journey may take around thirteen hours.

According to the operator, the carefully chosen timetable is aimed at avoiding the worst traffic jams on the approaches to the Hel Peninsula. This becomes particularly significant during the holiday season, when transport links to the Baltic coast, including trains and roads, operate at full capacity.

According to the company, demand for direct services connecting Poland’s largest cities with the Hel Peninsula has remained high over the past several seasons.

About Hel, the Baltic town

The Route 666 will take travellers to the town of Hel (spelt with one ‘l’), located at the tip of the Hel Peninsula, and not "hell." The 35-kilometre sandy spit is one of the most visited tourist attractions on Poland’s Baltic coast.

The name has a different origin. It is believed to stem from Old Germanic languages, where hel referred to a "dune" or coastal hill. Medieval Danish maps, meanwhile, labelled the peninsula Heel (“heel”), likely in reference to its distinctive shape.

With inputs from agencies