Bus Information by Country

National Bus Information

In addition to the Eurolines and Busabout passes, individual countries in Europe operate bus networks with varying degrees of coverage. We offer nutshell descriptions of bus services in several European countries below.

Buses and minibuses in Albania run between big cities. While the bus system on the surface appears to be less organized than it is in most European countries, the capital Tirana is the main hub of bus travel in Albania. From Tirana you can reach most corners of the country by bus.

The train network in Austria is particularly well developed, with the bus network taking over in some isolated and mountain regions. For information on the bus network in Austria, call 01-711 01 (in Austria).

Eurolines serves major destinations in Austria.

In small and well-linked Belgium, buses are best utilized for transportation between small towns. For information on bus services for travel within, from and to French-speaking parts of Belgium, see Wallonia's official transportation website.

Eurolines serves major destinations in Belgium.

Bosnia and Herzegovina's generally reliable bus network is complicated by the political administration of this once-wartorn country. Check out Centrotrans, the local affiliate of Eurolines.

Bulgaria has a decent bus network, though there is no single source of schedule information. In Sofia, the Central Bus Terminal (adjacent to the Central Train Station) handles a great deal of bus traffic. For some basic information about bus transportation, visit the Public Transport Company Sofia.

Eurolines serves major destinations in Bulgaria.

Bus service in Croatia is comprehensive and inexpensive. Among the best are Croatia Bus and Panturist.

Eurolines serves major destinations in Croatia.

Several bus companies in Cyprus divvy up the island's bus network. Check the online schedules of the island's "green lines" of buses Inter City Buses.

For budget-minded travelers, buses in the Czech Republic provide a serious alternative to trains. Buses are inexpensive and sometimes provide faster connections between cities than trains. Check schedule information Jizdnirady online.

Eurolines serves major destinations in the Czech Republic.

The Danish bus network is quite dense, connecting most rural corners of the country. Buses also connect Danish cities, and in so doing offer an more affordable alternative to train transportation. Map out your train or bus journey at this official Danish trip planning site. Click for the English version of the site in the upper right corner.

Eurolines serves major destinations in Denmark.

The Estonian bus network maps the country far better than the Estonian train network, and is less expensive to boot. Check bus schedules at the Bussireisid site.

Eurolines serves major destinations in Estonia.

Finland's bus network reaches most cities and towns across Finland's huge expanse. Long distance travel is covered by Oy Matkahuolto Ab. Check out schedule and price information at the Oy Matkahuolto Ab website.

Eurolines serves major destinations in Finland.

Bus travel in France is not, generally speaking, the best way to get around the country. Areas beyond the tentacles of France's fantastic train network provide the main exception to this rule. Transportation by bus in France's northwest regions of Brittany and Normandy is especially useful. For Bus Verts in Normandy, call 0810 214 214 for information. In Brittany, rely on Les Courriers Bretons.

Eurolines serves major destinations in France.

The bus network in Germany takes up where the train network leaves off, and most train stations are adjacent to bus stops. In a country as big as Germany, Eurolines (known in Germany as Deutsche-Touring GmbH) is also a good option for intercity travel. See the Deutsche-Touring website for information on travel within, from and to Germany.

Eurolines serves major destinations in Germany.

The main player in British bus travel is National Express, which runs the most comprehensive network of bus, or coach, travel in Britain. Check out National Express FunFares for budget-friendly deals.

For travel to remote locations, take advantage of the Royal Mail's postbuses. Royal Mail customer service can be reached at 01246-546329.

Traveline, which can be reached at 0870 608 2608 between 8am and 8pm, offers comprehensive information on timetables and bus companies.

A new breed of budget bus lines has sprung up in Britain. City Link covers Scotland while Megabus blankets England, Wales, and Scotland. These bus lines offers journeys for under 2 GBP.

Eurolines serves major destinations in Great Britain.

The Greek bus network is run by KTEL, a cooperative bus organization. The KTEL website is extremely well organized.

Eurolines serves major destinations in Greece.

Volanbusz runs an extensive Hungarian bus network. For timetables and fare information, visit Volanbusz online.

Eurolines serves major destinations in Hungary.

Information about Iceland's various bus companies, routes, and schedules can be found online. BSI operates a clearinghouse website, which should help you organize your travels through pricey Iceland.

Bus Eireann operates bus services across the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Eurolines serves major destinations in Ireland.

Generally, trains and low-cost airlines will take care of your transportation needs in Italy, but for travel off the train network, bus transportation may come in handy. Among the best-known bus transportation companies, check out Lazzi, Sita and SAIS (all in Italian).

Eurolines serves major destinations in Italy.

Bus service in Latvia is well organized. Check out Autoosta for more information.

Eurolines serves major destinations in Latvia.

The domestic bus network in Lithuania is run by TOKS. Find schedule and fare information on the TOKS website.

Eurolines serves major destinations in Lithuania.

Bus schedules for compact Luxembourg can be found at the website of Societe Nationale des Chermins de Fer Luxembourgeois (in French).

The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has a fine bus network, especially useful for transportation between the country's two top attractions: capital Skopje and scenic Lake Ohrid. Schedules are hard to come by. Visit the main domestic bus terminal in Skopje, located near the church of Sveta Dimitrija.

Tiny Malta is serviced by the Public Transportation Association of Malta. Bus route information can be found on the ATP website.

The Dutch bus network is best used for getting to small towns and villages not served by trains. In the north and northwest of the Netherlands, buses are a crucial component of the transportation network. Noord Ned connects the northern provinces of Groningen and Friesland (in Dutch). For bus transportation in the southern province of Limburg and around Nijmegen and Eindhoven, check out Hermes (also in Dutch).

Eurolines serves major destinations in the Netherlands.

Nor-Way Bussekspress is the biggest player in the domestic Norwegian bus market. For information about schedules, fares, special offers and bus passes, visit Nor-Way Bussekspress online.

Eurolines serves major destinations in Norway.

Domestic bus lines in Poland are run by PKS and Polski Express. Check out Polski Express online (in Polish).

Eurolines serves major destinations in Poland.

Portugal is well served by a comprehensive network of buses. Among the biggest bus companies are Rede Expressos, Rodonorte and Eva.

Eurolines serves major destinations in Portugal.

Buses (and speedier and more comfortable "microbuses") in Romania suffer from poor organization. Additionally, basic information about bus transportation is difficult to come by. Check posted schedules and then double-check with drivers. That said, the bus network is quite comprehensive. In Bucharest, catch buses at the Central Bus Station and microbuses at the Piata Gara de Nord, adjacent to the Bus Station.

Eurolines serves major destinations in Romania.

While bus companies in Serbia and Montenegro do not have much of an online presence, bus transportation in the country is thorough and reliable. In Belgrade, locate regional buses at the Lasta Bus Station and buses to domestic destinations further afield at the BAS Bus Station. These two bus stations are clustered together, near the Central Train Station.

Eurolines serves major destinations in Serbia and Montenegro.

Buses between cities in Slovakia are operated by Slovenska auobusova doprava (SAD). Buses in Slovakia are not a dramatically better deal than trains. Visit the Slovak language SAD website.

Eurolines serves major destinations in Slovakia.

Slovenian bus schedules in and out of Ljubljana can be found at the Ljubljana post bus website. Also check out the Mountain Wilderness Slovenia website, which searches bus schedules within Slovenia. Keep in mind that trains are often less expensive than buses in Slovenia.

Eurolines serves major destinations in Slovenia.

Buses in Spain are an essential part of the transportation network, offering inexpensive and comprehensive connections throughout the country. Among the best bus companies are Alsa, Alsina Graells Sur and Auto-Res.

Eurolines serves major destinations in Spain.

Sweden is well served by a range of bus companies. Swebus Express offers the broadest network, while Safflebussen connects the south of Sweden with Stockholm and Ybuss connects points north with Stockholm. These sites are in Swedish.

Eurolines serves major destinations in Sweden.

The Swiss Postbus network is integrated into the Swiss train network. For information about schedules and routes, see Postbus online.

Eurolines serves major destinations in Switzerland.

Also In this Article

Overview of Bus Travel in Europe

The Main Bus Lines