Our FlixBus Experiences and Review

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We’ve taken FlixBus several times, so I thought I’d share our experiences in case you’re considering using FlixBus on your Germany trip.

Quick Answer

FlixBus is a budget-friendly option for travel in Germany and across Europe. It’s usually cheaper than the train, especially when booked in advance, and routes are direct with no connections to worry about. The tradeoffs: seats are not spacious, seat reservation prices are variable, and journeys oftten take longer than the train. For short trips or routes without a convenient train option, FlixBus is a solid choice. For longer journeys, we find the train more comfortable.

Here are the trips we’ve taken on FlixBus:

Trip 1: Hamburg to Berlin (in December, 3+ hours)
Trip 2: Budapest to Belgrade (early November, 6+ hours)
Trip 3: Belgrade to Ljubljana (late November, 7+ hours)
Trip 4: Ljubljana, Slovenia to Trieste, Italy (late November day trip, 1.5 hours each way)

Price:

We found the prices reasonable, especially when booking in advance (we booked 1 week ahead for Hamburg to Berlin and 2 months ahead for Budapest to Belgrade and Belgrade to Ljubljana). We booked our day trip from Ljubljana to Trieste the night before so we paid more than if we’d booked earlier.

Seat Reservations:

For Hamburg to Berlin we paid extra to reserve the “panorama” seats in the front row. It was kinda nice to not have anyone sitting in front of us but since we were only on the Autobahn for most of the trip, it wasn’t especially scenic.

When I booked our Budapest to Belgrade tickets a couple months ahead, seat reservations weren’t an option. But when I pulled up our tickets the night before travel, I noticed that there were a few seats still available to reserve. So I guess the option to reserve seats was made available sometime after we bought out tickets…but unfortunately, we didn’t get any notifications.

Since we didn’t have seat reservations, we arrived at the bus station 45 minutes early, were the first on the bus, and got 2 seats together in the middle of the bus one row behind the door. When we boarded we were told we could only choose a seat in the second half of the bus.

If you have a ticket, you will get a seat on the bus. But if you want to sit in the front half of the bus, want to ensure you sit together with your travel companion(s) or just don’t want to stress about where you’ll sit, I recommend adding a seat reservation. Pricing is like on airlines so how much you pay depends on which seat you’re reserving. And do check back if seat reservations aren’t available when you book your ticket.

We didn’t have any problems reserving seats on the other trips. We paid extra to reserve our choice of seats to Ljubljana but we didn’t for our Trieste day trip and lucked out by being assigned 2 seats together on the upper level just behind the panorama seats.

Tickets:

Our tickets arrived via email but I also downloaded the app and could access them there, too. When we boarded the bus, our tickets were scanned right away so make sure you can access them (and your passport) quickly and easily.

On our bus from Budapest to Belgrade, while Aaron was stowing our luggage under the bus, I boarded so I could claim our seats, since we didn’t have seat reservations. But when I showed our ticket to the driver, he told me that I couldn’t board without Aaron. Evidently, because I bought our tickets together, we were required to board together. Fortunately, Aaron got on the bus right then and we were both able to board and choose our seats!

Luggage:

We were allowed to each check 1 bag and bring 1 on the bus to store overhead. There’s an additional fee to bring more than that, which you can pay when booking your ticket. On the longer journeys we also brought a small additional bag with our lunch and snacks in it and had no problem brining that on the bus.

You’re responsible for getting your luggage on and off the bus. Our 2 larger bags went in the luggage storage compartment, and our smaller carry-on items (along with our coats) fit in the overhead storage area above our seats on most busses. Some had pretty small overhead storage and wouldn’t accommodate more than a small pack or bag.

Comfort:

Seats are fairly comfortable and ok for shorter trips (like Hamburg to Berlin) but not great for longer trips like our Budapest to Belgrade or Belgrade to Ljubljana trips. Some busses were newer, had a little more space, and were more overall more comfortable. Others…not so much.

Fortunately, on our longer trips, the bus made a couple pitstops and we were able to get out and stretch our legs. We also made a longer stop at a rest area which had toilets, snacks, drinks, and hot food options.

Safety:

Our drivers drove safely and each seat had a seat belt. I felt comfortable and safe on all trips.

Overall, we’ve had good experiences with FlixBus. Not amazing…but solidly ok.

FlixBus Pros:

• Can be less expensive than trains, especially if you book in advance
• We left on time
• Both busses were direct so we didn’t worry about missing any connections
• Safe driving and friendly staff
• There was a power socket in every row, small tray tables, and wifi
• There was enough space in the overhead bin for my backpack
• There’s a toilet on board (neither of us have tried that out yet tho)

FlixBus Cons:

• You pay extra to reserve seats ahead of time
• It often takes longer than taking the train or driving
• Only 1 checked bag and 1 carry-on is included in your ticket
• Seats and leg room are ok but not spacious
• You can only get up and walk around if and when the bus stops for a break
• It’s not easy to keep an eye on luggage you stow in the luggage area
• Busses can be late (we had one that arrived about 45 minutes late but the others were on time)
• Our bus to Berlin dropped us at a bus station far from the city center

Personally, in Germany I prefer traveling by train because I like having more space and the ability to get up and walk around. I’ll take a high speed ICE over FlixBus any day.

But I also strongly dislike being stuck in a small bus seat for hours on end…so you won’t ever hear me raving about FlixBus!

That said, I feel like our experiences were positive and I’d use them again for shorter trips or if a train route isn’t available.

FlixBus FAQ

Do you need to print a FlixBus ticket?

No, you don’t need to print your FlixBus ticket. Tickets are sent by email and can also be accessed in the FlixBus app. The driver scans your ticket when you board, so make sure you can pull it up quickly (on your phone is fine).

Can you bring a backpack on FlixBus as a carry-on?

Yes, 1 carry-on bag is included with every FlixBus ticket and a standard backpack will fit in the overhead bin on most buses. Some older buses have smaller overhead compartments, so if you are traveling with a larger pack, consider checking it in the luggage compartment below instead.

Is FlixBus cheaper than Deutsche Bahn in Germany?

FlixBus is often cheaper than Deutsche Bahn (DB), especially when booked in advance. However, Deutsche Bahn offers more frequent departures, faster journey times, and more comfort, particularly on ICE high-speed trains. If budget is the priority, FlixBus can often save you money. If comfort and speed matter more, the train is usually the better choice.

Can you buy FlixBus tickets at the bus station?

FlixBus recommends booking online in advance through their website or app, where you’ll find the best prices. Walk-up tickets at the station may be available on some routes but selection and pricing will be less favorable than booking ahead. And you never know if an office will be open, closed, have a long line, etc. For popular routes in peak season, booking in advance is strongly recommended.