With his 550,000 km², France is a great country! For a Paris-Nice, it takes almost 12 hours by bus.
And to reach abroad, let's not even talk about it! Paris-Barcelona, around 14 hours. Even from other cities, if you go to Northern Italy (Lyon-Milan) or Germany (Strasbourg-Munich), it's easy to travel more than half a day!
Fortunately, modern coaches like those of France Bus are designed to offer real comfort: reclining seats, USB sockets, air conditioning, sometimes even Wi-Fi.
But to arrive rested and ready to enjoy your stay, it is useful to plan for some essentials.
Here are all our best tips for prepare for a long bus trip!
👕 1. A comfortable but practical outfit
Spending more than 5 hours sitting requires suitable clothing, forget the 3-piece suit or the princess dress, and instead opt for:
Soft and breathable clothing (chic jogging pants, flowing pants, cotton t-shirt) → from €20 at Décathlon or Uniqlo.
Light sweater or cardigan because air conditioning can be cool for some → €25-40.
Easy to remove shoes to rest your feet.
- Compression stockings : from €25, very useful if you suffer from heavy legs on long journeys.
👉 Tip: Layer up rather than wear one big garment to adapt to the temperature on the bus.
🥪 2. Snacks and hydration
Stops can be several hours apart, and motorway service station snacks are often expensive. Be smart and always plan ahead:
Small bottle of water, 50 cl to 1L (preferably reusable).
Cereal bars, dried fruits, homemade sandwiches → budget 5-8 €.
Avoid foods with strong odors (strong cheeses, fast food).
👉 Objective: maintain energy without weighing down digestion.
👉 And think about the antibacterial gel (€5): practical for washing your hands after a greasy bag of crisps.
🎧 3. Distractions to pass the time
A Paris-Barcelona trip is a 14-hour drive. Good entertainment makes all the difference:
Headphones or earphones (20-50 €) → respect your neighbors, they may not want to discover Aya Nakamura's latest hit with you.
Book or e-reader (80-120 €), light and practical.
- Tourist guide → Take advantage of the time to finalize the final details of your stay and discover more about the region's special features.
Downloaded movies/series in advance → 4G/5G coverage is not optimal in Creuse!
Travel diary (10 €) to write, draw or simply dream or jot down your ideas.
- …And enjoy the scenery of course! It's an integral part of the journey: the roads of France and Europe are lined with wonders, so keep your eyes open, it's the best spectacle!
👉 Protect your eyes and ears : If you watch movies or series, apply the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, stare at an object 20 feet (6 meters) away for 20 seconds to rest your eyes. For music, avoid exceeding 60 minutes of consecutive listening with headphones, and keep the volume below 60 % of maximum power (the famous 60/60 rule). Result: less visual and auditory fatigue, and a much more pleasant journey.
💤 4. Small equipment for real comfort
This is the key to arriving without being broken in two:
Travel pillow (neck pillow) : from €15, memory foam at €30.
Night mask : 10-15 €.
Earplugs : 3-5 € (or high-end noise-cancelling headphones 200-300 €), your neighbor may be a serious snorer!
Lightweight blanket / throw (20 €).
Small health kit : aspirin or paracetamol (€3-5), lozenges for motion sickness (€6-8), plasters.
👉 No need to take an entire pharmacy, but a few essentials will prevent your journey from turning into a marathon of grimaces.
🤸♂️ 5. Keep your body active: mini-exercises
Sitting for hours at a time isn't natural for the body. The result: stiffness, heavy legs, and sometimes even a slight feeling of dizziness when getting off the bus. Good news: a few simple exercises are all you need to stay in shape during the journey.
Seated stretches (without disturbing your neighbor)
Knees to chest : bring one leg after the other against you and hold for 10 seconds, 3 times on each side.
Ankle rotations : 10 circles in each direction, to stimulate circulation.
Leg Extension : gently stretch them out in front of you and slightly contract your thighs, perfect for activating blood circulation.
Mobilize the upper body
Shoulders : raise them towards the ears then release (5 to 10 times).
Neck : gently tilt your head left, right, then make a half circle forward (never backward).
Take advantage of breaks
At each stop, go out for a 5-minute walk, stretch your arms toward the sky, or take a few quick steps to get the machine going again.
Relaxing breathing
Even while sitting, you can relieve travel stress:
Inhale deeply through your nose for 4 seconds,
Hold for 2 seconds,
Exhale slowly through your mouth for 6 seconds. Do 5 cycles to relax… and who knows, maybe fall asleep more easily.
👉 These little gestures only take a few minutes, but they make all the difference: less tingling, more energy, and you get off the bus ready to tackle your trip!
🎒 6. The right bag for your essentials
Even if your luggage goes in the hold, keep a small backpack (20-25 L) with you to have easy access to the following things:
Water + snacks
Electronics + chargers and batteries
Comfort kit (neck pillow, earplugs, mask)
Sweater + travel documents
👉 A quality backpack costs between €40 and €70.
Conclusion
A long-distance coach travel is not difficult if you prepare well.
In short: comfortable clothing, a few snacks, something to keep you entertained, resting equipment, and a few simple exercises are all you need to turn a 12- or 14-hour journey into a truly relaxing experience.
With France Bus, comfort is already there: spacious seats, air conditioning, USB ports, Wi-Fi depending on the model...
All you have to do now is plan your essentials so you arrive rested and can fully enjoy your stay, whether in Barcelona, Milan or Munich.
