ÅA Survival Guide 2015-2016

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Tr ave l and Tr an s po r t
In order to get a student discount you have
to show proof of being a formal exchange or
degree student. This is either done by showing
your official student card or a signed and
stamped form from Åbo Akademi University.
Long Distance Buses
With their Finnish student card, or with a student
card issued by VR and Matkahuolto, exchange
and degree students get a 50% reduction
on long distance bus fares if they travel for a
minimum distance of 80 km. PhD or visiting
students cannot buy tickets at reduced student
rates.
The main bus stations in Åbo and Vasa are:
Åbo Bus Station
Aningaisgatan 20
20100 Åbo
Vasa Bus Station
Bangatan 1
65100 Vasa
For more information about timetables, fares
and routes, please see .
You can also find cheap tickets at
and at (Åbo).
Taxi
Taxis in Finland are more expensive than in many
other countries. To get a taxi you should call and
order one. Flagging taxis in the streets is rare
and may not work.
In Åbo, call +358 (0)2 10041
In Vasa, call +358 (0)6 100 411 or +358 (0)600 300 11
Car Rental
To be able to rent a car in Finland you must be
at least 20 years old and have had your driving
licence for at least one year prior to renting. For
more information, please contact the car rental
companies directly, for instance:
Autovuokraamo Sixt,
Avis car rental,
Budget,
Hertz,
Europcar,
Transwell,
Trains
All railway traffic in Finland is handled by the
state owned railway company VR .
Exchange and degree students with a Finnish
student card, or a student card issued by VR and
Matkahuolto, have the right to a discount on
long distance fares. The discount varies between
45% and 55% depending on the time and route
you wish to travel. Students also get a 50%
discount on one-way tickets and serial tickets
with local trains. Please note that if you cannot
present a Finnish student card or a student card
issued by VR and Matkahuolto onboard the
train, you will have to buy a new ticket for the
full price. Note that PhD and visiting students
cannot buy discounted student tickets.
Åbo Railway Station
(Turun rautatieasema/Åbo järnvägsstation)
Bangårdsgatan 37, 20100 Åbo
Kupittaa/Kuppis Railway Station,
(Kupittaan rautatieasema/Kuppis järnvägsstation )
Joukahainengatan 6., 20520 Åbo
Vasa Railway Station
(Vaasan rautatieasema/Vasa järnvägsstation)
Bangatan 1, 65100 Vasa
For more information about the opening hours
of the train stations, ticket prices, timetables etc.,
please visit VR’s website: .
8.3 Accommodation
The webpage has a
collection of places to stay in Åbo and in the
neighbouring areas. For Vasa, see the website of
the tourist information in Vasa:
In addition to hotels, there are also hostels, B&B’s
and companies offering apartments for longer
stays. You may also be able to find cottages for
rent in the archipelago. If you plan to travel in the
rest of Finland, we recommend you have a look
at for tips on where to stay,
how to travel there and things to see and do.