Finland Guide
Getting around
Buses
Run by local private companies but with a common ticketing system, buses cover the whole country, and are often quicker and more frequent than trains over the shorter east– west hops, and essential for getting around the remoter regions; they are not necessarily cheaper than trains, however. In the Arctic North there is a very limited railway network, so almost all public transport is by road; hence it's here that you'll find buses most useful. The main operators are Gold Line ( 
016/334 5500, 
www.goldline.fi ) and Eskelisen Lapin Linjat ( 016/342 2160, www.eskelisen-lapinlinjat.com ). The free bus timetable, Suomen Pikavuorot, lists all the routes in the country and can be picked up at most long-distance bus stations but is not very user-friendly, especially if you're not fluent in Finnish. Schedules and detailed information in English on travel in Finland by coach and bus can also be found at www.matkahuolto.fi .
All fares are calculated according to the distance travelled: Helsinki to Lahti (100km) costs around €21; Helsinki to Kuopio (400km) around €58. Express buses charge a supplement of approximately €3 per journey and are worth it for the correspondingly faster journey times. All types of ticket can be purchased at bus stations or at most travel agents; only ordinary one-way tickets can be bought on board the bus, though on journeys of 80km or less there's no saving in buying a return anyway. On return trips of over 80km, there is a reduction of ten percent.