Bus 666 Is Going Back to Hel

Passengers are once again booking a literal ride to Hel. FlixBus is reviving Poland's famed 666 bus route, sending coaches from Krakow to the Baltic seaside town of Hel on the so-called "Highway to Hel," the BBC reports. The number was dropped in 2023 after years of pressure from religious conservatives. One group accused the previous operator, PKS Gdynia, of "spreading satanism." The company renumbered the line 669, with a spokesperson saying management eventually gave in to repeated requests

FlixBus is now leaning into the controversy, with spokesperson Aleksander Kalenik telling Polish media that 666 "was deliberately chosen as a marketing communication element, intended to increase the visibility of the connection on the popular holiday route to Hel." The 13-hour service will run once a day through cities including Warsaw before reaching Hel, a resort town on the tip of the Hel peninsula. Despite the name, it is far from a hellish place, CNN reports. The area is known for its clear water, sandy beaches, historic buildings, and seal sanctuary.