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. 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?

budget++

For each arriving Ryanair flight their will be a chartered bus from Terminal 2 to the railway station in Tampere city center. 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