Traveling by Flixbus with a bicycle

For some people, covering the whole distance from the doorstep of their home to their final destination by bike is an honor. But I want to ride my bike where I want to ride it and, if possible, skip some boring stretches and save some time, especially when my time is limited. 

I have had my fair share of taking bikes on planes, trains, and buses. Sometimes, my friends say that I travel more with the bike than by bike.

It can get super complicated, though. Find a box to pack the bike. Unscrew everything, deflate the tyres, protect the derailleur and sprockets, and fight with the pedals stuck in the threads. Realise that the box you have is probably too small. Find a way to transport the gigantic box to the airport. Sweat, tears and blood. 

It can sometimes be exhausting and costly. If you travel around Europe, Flixbus can be your ally for cheap and uncomplicated bicycle transportation.

Flixbus may not be the fastest or most comfortable carrier, yet their policy is quite bike-friendly. 

They use bike racks for a range of routes, so you can transport your bike on the back of the bus without disassembling and packing it. It saves you some time and effort. I’ve read about theft attempts of bikes transported this way when the buses stopped in the city centre, so you better use a lock to secure your bike. 

Remember that this service is only offered from March to November and only on selected routes. You can still transport your bike in the luggage compartment if this service is unavailable. However, you must contact customer service first to check if the selected bus has enough space.

Routes

Below, you can find a list of selected routes that allow transportation of the bicycle on a luggage rack:

• Riga – Vilnius – Warsaw
• Hamburg – Brussels
• Prague – Munich
• Prague – Wrocław
• Warsaw – Berlin
• Cracow – Wrocław
• Tallinn – Ryga – Vilnius/Kaunas – Warsaw
• Warsaw – Dresden – Munich
• Szczecin – Zakopane
• Prague – Brno – Budapest
• Amsterdam – Hamburg
• Cracow – Banska Bistrica – Budapest
• Frankfurt – Cologne – Maastricht

Prices

Flixbus’s low fares are their main strength and are difficult to compete with. 

The rates for taking a bike are around 10 € on all courses, which is reasonable, and no airlines can beat it. The tickets are usually cheaper than the train tickets, especially in Western Europe. 

Bike Trip ideas

Copenhagen and the Swedish West Coast

From where? Berlin, Warsaw, Wroclaw

Enjoy your stay in the cycling capital of the world. Then, take a bike ferry from Helsingør (Elsinore) to Helsingborg. It costs 6 €, and you can take your bike onboard free of charge (timetable and more information here). From there, head on Kattegattleden—a stunning 390-kilometre coastal route. It was named ​​European Cycle Route of the Year in 2018.

Budapest-Vienna along the Danube

From where? To Budapest from Warsaw, Cracow. To Vienna from Berlin, Amsterdam

The scenic Danube Cycling Path is one of Europe’s most popular cycling routes. You will visit three European capitals, Budapest, Bratislava and Vienna, on the course of 300 km. The trail is perfect for beginner cycle tourists. The infrastructure is well developed, and the route is rather flat, so an average person will easily survive it. Besides the three capitals, one of the highlights is the charming and historical town of Visegrad. Plan also some extra time for relaxing on the Danube sandy beaches. 

The Netherlands – a paradise for cyclists

From where? Amsterdam from Dresden, Krakow, Düsseldorf.

The Netherlands is the perfect destination for your first bike tour, regardless of age, stamina and experience. Don’t limit yourself to touristy Amsterdam. There are plenty of things to do and see in Rotterdam, Utrecht and Groningen. And if you need some quiet time in nature, visit Utrechtse Heuvelrug National Park, Zeeland or Friesland.

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