Events/Akademy/2010/TampereInfo

Tampere Airport

Tampere has an international airport. There are 2 terminals. Terminal 1 is a nice building used by traditional airlines. Terminal 2 is a building that was closed down ~1997 because it was no longer considered good enough to serve as an airport. It was reopened ~2003 without any major renovation for Ryanair's use and has served since than for the majority of passengers flying to and from Tampere still without any major renovation. Guess whether it can be considered good enough to serve as an airport...

The goods news first: Both terminals offer free WLAN access.

Otherwise the services are very much limited. The is no ATM (cash machine) and there are no pay phones (which is actually true for all of Tampere. In Finland you are expected to own a mobile phone.)

Terminal 1 has a cafeteria, but it has limited opening hours (especially now during summer, terminal 1 is mostly used by business travelers). There are 2 vending machines, one for chocolate bars, one for coffee.

There is a courtesy phone to order taxis and courtesy phones for rental car companies. That's pretty much it. Don't expect any crowds in terminal 1.

Terminal 2 is only used by Ryanair and only open to serve their flights. There is a small sales desk where you can get soft drinks, chocolate bars, some souvenirs. I couldn't check myself because the terminal was closed when I visited it today, but according to sign outside a there should be a courtesy phone to order taxis. I vaguely remember having seen at least one courtesy phone for a rental car company earlier. Don't expect any other services.

Terminal 2 is so small that is feels crowded to handle one set of Ryanair passengers (180 outbound, 180 inbound).

Ground transportation

free as in free beer

Walking distance is ~ 20 kms to Tampere city center (100% sidewalks on minor roads actually, so it's not a bad walk if you don't mind the distance...).

Budget

There is a regular local bus line 61 operating from Terminal 1 to Tampere city center. The bus company is called Paunu. Unfortunately the schedule is sparse on weekends, there are no connections for late evening flights and any correlation with flight arrivals and departures is accidental. The bus will not wait for delayed flights. A single ticket is only 4.10 EUR, depending on the trip you might get some sightseeing or at least some residential or industrial area seeing. See http://www.paunu.fi/pdf/TMP%20airport%20kesa10.pdf for full details including the exact location of the bus stop.

TBD: Should they get off at Koskipuisto when going to TOAS house in Tuomiokirkonkatu?

Still pretty budget

For each arriving Ryanair flight there is a chartered bus from Terminal 2 to the railway station in Tampere city center. The bus does not stop at any other regular bus stop. Tickets are sold at the sales desk inside terminal 2, 6.00 EUR single fare. (Officially you are only allowed to use the bus if you are Ryanair passenger. Nobody has ever checked, so if you arrive at terminal 1 and there happens to be a suitable Ryanair arrival, just go to the sales desk in Terminal 2 together with the Ryaniar crowd an buy your ticket). Details at http://www.airpro.fi/files/airpro/linja-autoaikataulut/Heinakuu_2010_Tokee.pdf

Taxis

Airport Taxi is a shared ride offered by the Tampere taxi company (from the end user's perspective there is only one). It's operated with regulat taxi cars, but the price is fixed 17,00 EUR per person. They serve only city center hotels.

Airport taxis leave in the front of the regular taxi queue from both terminals. It's clearly signposted. Ask any taxi driver for airport taxi if unsure (unlike in many other locations they will not try to cheat you and sell their own ride)

TBD: Need to check whether they serve TOAS student house or which is the closest hotel (it will be in walking distance even with luggage, no worries)

Normal taxi service is metered, shared rides will not be organized by the company, but of course you can take a taxi as your own group. The rate depends a bit on the number of passengers, late evenings and week-ends are more expensive. Price is between 30 and 40 EUR to the city center. So if you are 2 or more going to the same location it's actually cheaper to take a regular taxi than the airport taxi. You can get taxis for up to 8 persons if you are able to gather so many, then you are down to 5 EUR per person. If no big enough taxi is available just order one by asking a taxi driver or using the courtesy phone (it will take 20 minutes if it has to come from the city center) Tipping is not required. Credit cards are very widely accepted in taxis, but I'm not sure whether I would 100% rely on it.

I have never seen any illegal taxi at any Finnish airport, I don't think you need to be worried about getting cheated.