Hi I was just wondering if anyone has used Flixbus within Italy and France and whether you would recommend them. Thanks!

Long-distance buses are generally the downmarket mode in Europe, used by people who have to use them for financial reasons.

If you are on vacation and want to enjoy yourself, take a train. If you pre-book it's not only much faster by train but almost as cheap as a bus.

Paris-Nice from €25 upwards at www.loco2.com

Rome-Venice from €29.90 upwards or Florence-Rome from €19.90 upwards at Acquista il biglietto con le nostre offerte - Trenitalia

I used FlixBus last May to go from Ljubljana to Trieste. (There is no direct train, though there is a train to nearby Opicina.) The bus was 45+ minutes late. I'm glad I installed the FlixBus app on my phone, because otherwise I would not have known where the bus was or if/when it was coming (not much of a bus station in Ljubljana). The FlixBus app notified me of the bus's delays at least. Nothing worse than not knowing...

Our bus was also stopped for 20 minutes at the Italian border for a passport check. So we got into Trieste over an hour late. (Yes, trains can and are delayed too; I was about an hour late going from Venice to Camogli by train a few days later.) Otherwise, the FlixBus was comfortable enough - for a bus. I greatly prefer trains when they are a practical alternative to other modes of transportation. They are usually more comfortable, and I find train travel usually relaxing and fun, whereas a bus is just a way to get from point A to point B. But you may need to do some advanced planning and commitment to schedules to book trains that aren't super expensive. Sometimes buses are cheaper than trains at the last minute, but it all depends. I didn't book my bus ticket to Trieste til the night before, and it cost more than had I booked a few days earlier.

Lots of Europeans use Flixbus, sometimes for financial reasons, sometimes because they offer a better route between cities without the need for lots of changes. They can be delayed of course, since they are subject to the same road conditions as other users, unlike trains which generally do not face jams or accidents on their route. Only you know whether you would be comfortable travelling on a coach/bus for any length of time. You do need to book them earlier rather than later as, like cheap airlines the price tends to go u closer to travel.
My son's GF uses Flixbus to get from Groningen to Amsterdam where she gets a train to Weesp, a short distance away. Flixbus is normally cheaper than the train part of the journey, and considerably cheaper and easier(and in this case faster) than using the train for the whole trip.

Between Italy and France, flixbus makes sense for relations with no acceptable train offer:
Turin - Grenoble
Turin - Nice

Turin-Nice is just a few hours by a very scenic train vis sospel.

Trains go all the time and are more comfy than any bus - book those cheap tickets and the cost may not be much more. Someone booked Florence to Venice train recently for 10 euros.

For lots on trains check www.seat61.com (Man in Seat 61's commercial site); www.ricksteves.com and BETS-European Rail Experts.

But if bus is much cheaper (and those discounted tickets often have to be booked in stone weeks in advance to get) and walk-up fares are cheap. Some go overnight so you save on hotels - trains do too but less and less.

>>>Turin-Nice is just a few hours by a very scenic train vis sospel.<<<

A few hours? No changes? What level of train?

It really depends on your itinerary whether bus or train makes sense. In Italy, often a bus will involve no changes and be just as fast or faster for some routes (Rome/Siena for one). I've seen quite a few Flix buses in Italy, but haven't taken one. There are a lot of other private bus companies in Italy that run certain routes, but again, depends on where you are going. Even Italo and Trenitalia offer some bus connections of their own on routes that aren't entirely served by train or when bus is a more efficient connection. Flix buses and other regional buses are usually pretty comfortable and your luggage is stored underneath.

Some of the train routes areserved old trains (regional trains) without amenties. Again, depends on your itinerary.

Hi Deni61,

While I've never taken Flixbus in Italy or France, I have taken it about 4 times around Bavaria, where I live. Unfortunately, no, I Can't recommend them.

As hetismij2 notes, the busses are subject to road conditions and traffic jams. Of the few that I took, 3 of them arrived late, seriously late, like 1 and 2 hours late. A friend of mine took it to the Munich airport, and it was 45 minutes late, and she almost missed her flight.

I also didn't find them particularly comfortable -- they were just like airplane seats in economy, with narrow seats and no leg room. The high seat backs cut off the flow of light into the area, so you get a feeling of being locked up. Compare that to a train wagon, with low seatbacks, lots of light, and wider seats. You can also get up on a train to walk the aisles or to visit the bar car or bistro car.

I generally avoid using Flixbus these days, unless I have a lot of time and wouldn't mind being late.

Have fun as you plan!

s

" Turin-Nice is just a few hours by a very scenic train vis sospel."

Until April 28th, there is no train traffic between Cuneo and Breil-sur-Roya. People who want to go by train from Turin to Nice have to travel via Savona. After that date, there will be 2 daily train connections Turin - Nice with change at Fossano or Cuneo and at Breil. Journey time 4 1/2 resp. 5 1/2 hrs

How long does Flexibus take Turin-Nice? Those trains are slower than when I took them as they were direct so yes not a great train service though very scenic.

France now has a system of SNCF railways buses that are dirt cheap compared to trains. Italy has lots of local buses going everywhere - SITA buses but I think no Flexbus.

It's Flix, not Flex and yes, they operate buses in Italy too. Trenitalia has some of their own buses as does Italo and are branded as such.

https://www.flixbus.com/bus-routes

>>>How long does Flexibus take Turin-Nice? <<<

A couple of the direct ones take 3:55, but others during the day take about 5 hours with a transfer in Genoa. They seem to go to the Nice airport.

>>> Italy has lots of local buses going everywhere - SITA buses<<<

Italy has a lot of private buses going everywhere. Sita doesn't serve every place.

In Italy, the best list of buses I've found is on Rome's old tourism website which I often find more useful than their newer website. They only show 5 per page so you do have to keep clicking next page (9 pages - 45 or so different buses). Most list the region they serve beside their name and they provide their website links. May not be entirely up to date as it is the old site, but the individual bus sites should be up to date.

In pullman / Come arrivare / Trasporti - 060608.it

Thanks bourbon!

ITALIAN FLIXBUS DESTINATIONS FROM MILAN (only direct buses):
Alba, Albenga, Alberobello, Alessandria, Altamura, Ancona, Andria, Aosta, Asti, Bari, Belluno.........
For the deep South, you will have to change at Roma Tiburtina, Bari, Naples, Catania or so

https://www.google.com/search?q=Flix...w=1536&bih=759

Well certainly look like they are modern comfortable buses. Younger folks may especially find them OK for say overnight travel and save lots on accommodations, etc. But still for most trains will always be more comfy than any bus. But Flixbus and similar long-distance buses are a great recently development in Europe.

Flixbus is popular here (Belgium/Netherlands) among kids for cheap and comfortable travel. You can get stuck in traffic though.
There's also the Ouibus - which I think is the SNCF bus, but also with a network throughout Europe. Very comfortable (according to my kids). Modern busses with wifi.

The list fournished by KYBOURBON (thanks for the link!) is fine if you travel in the area between Southern Tuscany and Sicily or if you want to go from there to the big cities in Northern Italy or abroad.
The companies based in the Northern half of the peninsula and in Sardinia are not mentioned, however.
SITA was the biggest national operator 60 - 80 years ago. Nowadays, they offer some local services, mostly in Campania, Basilicata and Apulia.

Buses are ironically expanding long-distance serve in Europe (where trains are so so good) but can run any routes roads go on and can cram a lot more seats into just one bus. France also has dirt-cheap local buses not subsidized by departments that go out from large city hubs for just a few euros.

" not subsidized by departments "
really?

I meant subsidized by departments - not sure how 'not' got into that. Heavily subsidized.