Local Bus, Tampere

Tampere's local buses are clean and, although more expensive than in many other cities around the world, dirt cheap compared to taxis or rental cars. If you're planning to see some of the city by bus or sleep outside the town centre, a tourist card is probably the best ticket choice for you. Such a card allows for unlimited travel within the city during the charge period and at the time of writing costs 6 euros for the first 24 hours and an extra 4 euros for each subsequent day. At purchase, be sure to know how many days you'll be needing the ticket for! Tourist cards are available at the bus and railway stations and, at Keskustori, in the kiosk next to the giant blue bus shelter as well as TKL's information office (Aleksanterinkatu 18). Single tickets, valid for one hour, cost 2 euros and can be purchased on the bus.

The bus network covers all of the significant tourist locations in the city. Buses 16 and, between June and mid-August, 4 take you to Särkänniemi Amusement Park; bus 21 covers the Pyynikki outdoor theatre; bus 10 takes you to Pyynikki Observation Tower. Buses 5, 10 (August 2006 onward), 13 and 22 stop at Tampere-talo. Virtually all buses go through the city centre, with theatres, restaurants, transport terminals and major hotels within a few hundred metres from their routes. The last buses depart from Keskustori at 0:10 Sundays through Thursdays and 2:10 on Fridays and Saturdays. After 23:00, buses have different routes that are marked with a Y in front of the route number. If you're headed back to your accommodation after a night at the bar, make sure you can afford the two euro night surcharge (between 0:00 and 4:40). Tourist card holders will not be charged.

If you're headed out to the neighbouring municipalities for whatever reason, notice that these areas have their own confusing fares, routes and timetables; your best bet is to ask a friendly local (not abundant) for advice. Tampere airport is located outside the city, bus 61 will take you there for €3.80.

To/From the airport

There are two means of public transport which will get you from and to the airport. The easiest way is the Ryanair bus which stops in front of terminal 2. It takes around 25 minutes and will cost you 6 EUR (2010). The bus meets every Ryanair flight on arrival and arrives at the airport around 1 ½ hours before each departure. It departs in Tampere from the central train station. Bus tickets to the airport are bought on board, bus tickets from the airport are bought at the information desk in terminal 2. Check the airpro link for further information on this bus.

The second bus runs from terminal 1. This is line 61 and needs around 45 minutes for the same trip as it stops at several points in between. As of 2010, a ticket from Tampere to the airport costed 4,30 EUR. The ticket can be bought in the bus. The station in Tampere's city center is the coach station and NOT the Keskustori. Note that line 61 stops directly at the street and not in the bays (See picture). Check the Paunu website for further information and timetables.

Both terminals are within short walking distance of each other, so there is no need to amke the terminal a criterium for your choice. Check timetables in the internet or directly at your point of departure. I was given the departure time from an old timetable by the hotel and missed by bus. Fortunately, there was still the other option, else I would have had to pay a taxi to get to the airport.

The local buses works good and go about anywhere, when purchase a ticket it's valid for 1 hour so you can switch buses and lines. Late at night take a taxi, Tampere is relatively small and no traffic problems, so you will get to your destination quickly and relatively cheaply.

Public bus transportation system is quite good. By bus you can get to and from Tampere from a greater distance too.

Inside Tampere, buses are one of the best ways to get around. Tough in a city centre, where distances are short, walking might be the most convinient choice.
For single charge in buses (2 euros in spring 2003) you get unlimited travel (or actually change between different buses) for one hour. If you are using buses more often, you might want to get some type of 'smart card' for them, with which you get cheaper journeys.

At the closing time of the bars, it might be difficult to get a taxi - and they are quite expensive too.