Poland has brought back the infamous number 666 bus route to the coastal resort of Hel, a move that has delighted British tourists and sparked fresh tensions with the European Union over conservative values. The route, known colloquially as the ‘Highway to Hel’, was suspended in 2006 after complaints from religious groups who said the number 666 symbolised the devil. But local authorities in the northern town of Wladyslawowo have reinstated the service ahead of the summer season, citing overwhelming demand from tourists who see the route as a quirky attraction.
“We are restoring a piece of Polish tradition,” said a spokesperson for the local transport operator. “The number 666 has become a symbol of our defiance against EU overreach. People love it. British tourists especially find it amusing.” The bus runs between Wladyslawowo and Hel, a popular seaside town on a narrow peninsula. The revival comes as Poland’s conservative government continues to clash with Brussels over judicial independence, LGBTQ+ rights, and migration policy.
For British holidaymakers, the return of the 666 bus is a nostalgic thrill. “I remember seeing it on a list of the world’s weirdest bus routes years ago,” said Dave Thompson, 45, from Manchester, who was visiting with his family. “To actually ride it is brilliant. It’s just a bit of fun, but it feels like a middle finger to the EU bureaucrats who tried to ban it.” The European Commission had no official comment, but sources suggest the move will be seen as another provocation by Warsaw.
However, not everyone is amused. Local priest Father Janusz Kowalski condemned the revival. “This is not a joke. It mocks the name of the devil and trivialises evil. The Church fought to have it removed, and now the authorities have undone that work for a cheap thrill,” he told reporters. The bus company insists the decision was purely commercial. “We have had requests from travel agencies across Europe. It is a tourist attraction, not a religious statement,” said the spokesperson.
For ordinary Poles, the debate cuts deeper. Some see it as a harmless lark that boosts local tourism. Others worry it fuels a culture war that distracts from real issues like rising inflation and stagnant wages. “I don’t care about the number on the bus. I care about the price of bread,” said Ewa Nowak, a shopkeeper in Wladyslawowo. “But the government uses these fights to get votes. It’s a distraction.”
The route’s revival also highlights the economic inequality between Poland’s booming tourist hubs and its struggling industrial regions. While Hel enjoys a summer bonanza, towns in Silesia or the north-east face job losses and declining public services. The ‘devil’s bus’ may be a symbol of defiance, but for many working families, the real hell is living costs that keep climbing. As one tourist board official put it: “We’ll take any publicity we can get. But we need more than bus gimmicks to keep our communities alive.”
