Getting to Tahko by Public Transport

Getting to Tahko by Public Transport in the 2026 winter season

There are two railway stations located near Tahko: Kuopio railway station and Siilinjärvi railway station. From both stations, it is possible to continue your journey to Tahko using public transportation.

However, we recommend arriving at Kuopio railway station if your transfer waiting-time is long. At the Kuopio travel center, you can wait for your onward connection indoors, make use of services, and often continue to Tahko with a shorter waiting time than from Siilinjärvi.

During the winter season, Tahko can be reached by Kuopio public transport Vilkku bus, route 61, from the Kuopio and Siilinjärvi bus stations.

Public transport tickets and zones

You can purchase a ticket at vilkku.kuopio.fi or via the Kuopio Tickets mobile app. It is also possible to pay on the bus using contactless payment.

Please note the Kuopio regional zones when puchasing mobile tickets

Kuopio-Tahko: zone ABCD

Siilinjärvi–Tahko: zones BCD

From Kuopio or Siilinjärvi to Tahko

• You travel to Tahko by Vilkku bus route 61, which runs from Kuopio via Siilinjärvi to Tahko.
• You can board the bus either at Kuopio bus station or in Siilinjärvi town center.
• Departures from Kuopio bus station
  • Weekdays (at 15:35 and 18:45), and every Friday there is an extra service departing at 21:15.
  • Saturdays (at 10:00 and 15:50).
  • Sundays, route 61 does not operate all the way to Tahko. It runs only to Nilsiä (at 12:30), from where you must continue to Tahko by taxi or skibus (11 km).
• Departures from Siilinjärvi to Tahko
  • Weekdays (at 16:00 and 19:10), and every Friday there is an extra service at 21:40.
  • Saturdays (10:25 and 16:15).
  • Sundays, route 61 does not operate all the way to Tahko. It runs only to Nilsiä (12:50), from where you must continue to Tahko by taxi or skibus.
    • See the Kuopio–Siilinjärvi–Tahko local transport timetables here.
    • See th train arrival times in Siilinjärvi & in Kuopio from here.
    • Skibuss timetables from here.
• From Kuopio or Siilinjärvi to Nilsiä
  • The same route 61 also operates to Nilsiä, and to Nilsiä the buss runs more frequently than to Tahko. From Nilsiä, you must continue (11 km) to reach Tahko by taxi, skibus (€5, free for holders of a Tahko Mountain ski pass), or on weekdays you can also travel from Nilsiä to Tahko by Vilkku bus route 63.
  • See the winter timetable here for the bus route 61 and 63.

From Tahko to Siilinjärvi and Kuopio

• Departures from Tahko bus stop
  • Weekdays (at 12:50), and every Friday there is an extra service at 20:00.
  • Saturdays (at 11:30 and 17:15).
  • Sundays, route 61 operates once from Tahko to Siilinjärvi or Kuopio (departure at 14:30).
  • Kuopio and Siilinjärvi can also be reached from Nilsiä by Vilkku bus route 60 or by a bus arriving from Nurmes. To reach these connections, you must travel from Tahko to Nilsiä by taxi or skibus.
    • See the Nilsiä–Siilinjärvi–Kuopio local transport timetables here and the Tahko–Siilinjärvi–Kuopio local transport timetables from here.

Note: You can purchase a bus ticket at a website vilkku.kuopio.fi or via the Waltti Mobiili or Kuopio Tickets mobile apps.

You can easily plan your travel schedules in the Kuopio Tickets or Waltti mobile app if you wish to use public transport for your entire journey. The app provides up-to-date information on public transport connections, routes, and timetables for your whole trip, for example between Helsinki and Tahko. 

Public transport mobile apps:

• Kuopio Tickets app: Recommended app for the Kuopion region.
  • Single tickets for adults and children (zone ABCD: €5.90 adult / €2.95 child).
  • Timetables for Vilkku buses, trains, and for example the skibus in Tahko.
  • A map that allows you to track your journey in real time and find the locations of stops.
  • Through the app, you can also see transfer waiting times, and it shows the best-suited public transport routes and timetables connecting with VR train services.
• Waltti app: Used for Waltti cards (top-ups) and wider regional travel, and it is integrated with the Kuopio Tickets system.

Example route Helsinki-Tahko-Helsinki

Helsinki-Tahko route recommendation on weekdays

1. VR train from Helsinki to Kuopio at 8.14-12.29.
2. Vilkku public bus from Kuopio to Tahko at 15.35-16.45. 
   • During the waiting time in Kuopio, you have time to, for example, enjoy a meal at Matkakeskus Portti.

Helsinki-Tahko route recommendation on Saturdays

1. VR train from Helsinki to Kuopio at 11.19-15.35.
2. Vilkku public bus from Kuopiot to Tahko at 15.50-17.05

Tahko-Helsinki route recommendation on weekdays

1. Vilkku public bus from Tahko to Kuopio at 12.40-14.00
2. VR train from Kuopio to Helsinki at 14.11-18.40.

Tahko-Helsinki route recommendation on Saturdays

1. Vilkku public bus from Tahko to Kuopio at 11.30-12.45.
2. VR train from Kuopio to Helsinki at 13.00-17.25 or at 14.11-18.44.

Tahko-Helsinki route recommendation on Sundays

1. Vilkku public bus from Tahko to Kuopio at 14.30-15.45.
2. VR train from Kuopio to Helsinki at 16.12-20.44.
   • During the waiting time in Kuopio, you can, for example, grab a meal or shop at Matkakeskus Portti. If you wish to visit the city center, luggage storage is available at the railway station.
   • Check station-specific VR train timetables from here.
   • Check your stop and route specific public bus timetables from the Kuopio Tickets app.