FlixBus is expanding its summer route network and launching a seasonal service from Kraków to Hel. The line will be numbered 666 — a number that has sparked discussions in Poland before. The company emphasizes that this is a deliberate and clear reference to the direction of travel.
According to a FlixBus representative, the choice of number is not accidental — it is meant to intuitively indicate the route's direction
“It’s better when the line number explains itself where it is going. There’s nothing more to say. Everyone will understand,” noted the company representative Michał Leman.
The number 666 has long been surrounded by cultural and religious associations, which regularly makes it a source of controversy. Additionally, the name Hel is often played on through the English word hell, which enhances the symbolic references.
The route numbered 666 to Hel already existed previously. It was then operated by PKS Gdynia on the line from Dębki. The trip quickly became known throughout the country, but it also faced criticism from parts of the public. In 2023, the number was changed to 669
The decision sparked widespread resonance on social media: some considered it inappropriate, while others viewed it as a clever marketing move and an element of the region’s tourist brand.
