How to: use a bus in Finland

Vocabulary:
Lippu, liput - a ticket, tickets
Aikataulu, aikataulut - a timetable, timetables
Reitti, reitit - a route, routes
Reittiopas - journey planner
Aikuisten lippu - adult ticket
Lastenlippu - children's ticket
Nuorisolippu - youth ticket
Meneekö tämä _______n? - Does this bus go to _________?

Local buses

Prices vary from 2 to 4 €, depending on the city. In central areas they charge by ride, not by distance. Pay upon boarding, with cash or credit card. Your ticket is usually transferrable up to one hour. In Turku you can also buy a ticket on your cell phone.

Bus stops are marked by the bus numbers, nowadays the electronic timetables have started to show up more and more.

In Helsinki you can also transfer between local trains, subway and trams. Note, that tram tickets only work in trams. In capital area you also need to consider, if you are traveling inside Helsinki, or crossing the border to surrounding cities. The region ticket (seutulippu) is a bit more expensive. Ask the driver if you are unsure.

You can also purchase a tourist day pass (1-7 days) or a travel card. Travel cards are either 30 day passes or 10, 20 or 40 ride passes. Ticket vendors vary by city:

Helsinki
Tampere
Turku
Vaasa
Iisalmi, Jyväskylä, Kuopio, Lahti, Oulu, Porvoo, Varkaus

This bus ain't stopping!

If you want to get on a bus, wave your hand. In winter time, use a reflector or your cell phone display, or you'll go un-noticed. If you want to get off the bus, press the stop button well ahead your bus stop. The problem is, there are no announcements, so you have to check it on the map beforehand. Or ask the driver to drop you off at the right stop. Board the bus from the front door and hop off from the back door. If you have a trolley or your bike with you, board from the back door.

Example dialogue:
You: "Yks aikunen." - "One adult ticket, please."
Driver: "Kolme ja kymmenen." - "3,10€"
You: "Kiitos!" - "Thank you!"

Long distance buses

Check the schedules, book and buy tickets on-line (Matkahuolto) or get tickets from the local bus terminal.  Tickets are valid for 1 month, seat bookings only on the date and time the booking was marked for. You can also pay with cash or credit cards upon boarding. Some express buses in Southern Finland still have ticket-collectors, but in most cases you pay to the driver. Buses rarely get too packed, except right before public holidays, so booking ahead is not necessary.

Buses stop automatically on all bus stations listed on the route. The buses don't stop on the bus stops, unless somebody wants to get off or on the bus (press the stop button after the announcement or wave your hand if you want to get on the bus). The express buses only stop at bus stations and express bus stops, marked with a blue "pikavuoro" sign. On longer routes the driver announces a 15 minute break once or twice (in Finnish). If you see a lot of people getting off the bus, along with the driver, go ahead and fetch a cup of coffee. Return on time and have your ticket with you.

Discounts (with registered ID):
Students, defence force cadets, conscripts, non-military servants, children 4-11: 50%
Senior citizens and pensioners, members of press, youth 12-16: 30 %
One or two children under 4, accompanied with a person older than 12: 100%
Group of 3 or more: 25%
Return ticket purchased beforehand: 10%
Annual ticket, 44-rides: adults 25%, children 4-11 50%
Annual ticket, 22-rides: adults 15%, children 4-11 50%

Example dialogue:
You, waving your student ID: "Opiskelija Lahteen." - "Student ticket to Lahti, please."
Driver, checking your card: "Kolkyt kaks ja yheksänkymmentä." - "32,90€"
You: "Kiitos!" - "Thank you!"

PS. Matkahuolto also does parcel delivery. They are reasonable priced, so if you need to send something heavy, it's an option.