Travel guides
Long-distance bus: FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus, Alsa…
The long-distance bus is today one of the cheapest ways to travel in France and Europe. Gopaxo compares FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus, Alsa, Eurolines, Megabus, Ouibus and their competitors in a single search, with the most up-to-date schedules and fares.
The main bus operators
- FlixBus — European leader, 2,500+ destinations across 40 countries, baggage included, Wi-Fi, power sockets.
- BlaBlaCar Bus — formerly Ouibus, dense network in France and connected to the BlaBlaCar carpooling network.
- Alsa — Spanish leader, very strong on Spain–France routes.
- Eurolines — international network, long-distance routes (London, Berlin, Rome, Barcelona).
- Megabus, Itabus, Marino Bus, National Express — local players depending on the country.
Baggage and onboard services
Each traveller is generally entitled to 1 piece of hold baggage (up to 20 kg) and 1 piece of hand baggage (max 7 kg) included. Free Wi-Fi and power sockets are now available on most operators. Toilets are present on journeys > 2 h.
The main French bus stations
Paris Bercy (the largest French hub), Paris La Défense, Paris Porte Maillot, Lyon Perrache, Marseille Saint-Charles, Lille Europe, Toulouse Matabiau, Bordeaux Saint-Jean, Strasbourg ETOILE. These stations are connected to the metro or TER network for easy connections.
Bus or train?
The bus is on average 2 to 5 times cheaper than the train on equivalent journeys (Paris–Lyon from €12 vs. €39 on OUIGO), but 2 to 3 times longer. It is highly competitive on cross-country routes or outside high-speed lines. Consider combining it with carpooling to optimise the last leg.
Most frequent questions about Gopaxo
What baggage can I take on the bus?
Is there Wi-Fi and power sockets on the bus?
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