Miila is a conservation biologist from Finland, and she’s currently living in South Africa, where she works on her PhD, does travel writing and proofreading, and spends time with her small baby and two dogs.
The city of Oulu lies on the shores of the Baltic Sea, about halfway up along the length of Finland. Its geographical location makes it an important hub in terms of connections to the sea as well as further up north towards Lapland. This vibrant student city is known for high-tech companies and beautiful forests and water bodies. From Oulu, it’s possible to explore the north of Finland, or take a trip to Sweden.
The area surrounding Oulu, as well as the whole of Finland’s coastline, is fairly flat because of the earth rising up out of the sea after the last ice age. Oulu is thus famous for great cycling, in no small part due to the fact that there are no hills to speak of and the bicycle roads are fabulous. Downtown Oulu has amazing cafés and restaurants, as well as cultural centres and other attractions. Oulu is surrounded by several islands connected with each other by bridges, and each island has its own fascinating characteristics and things to do.
One of the bridges in Oulu city, lit up at night (Credit: Juhani Hopkins)
Certainly, in winter, the cold winds of Oulu can feel a little nippy, but I can attest that summers here are balmy, and when you dress correctly, every season in Oulu can be full of adventure, culture, nature, and fun. In this guide you’ll learn more about Oulu and some of the best things to do while visiting Oulu.
Midday sun and frozen Baltic Sea in winter in Oulu (Credit: Juhani Hopkins)
When to visit Oulu really depends on what kinds of experiences you’re after. In summer, you can experience the “nightless night”, that is, the sun staying up almost throughout the night. Temperatures are warm, and you can swim in the sea, in Oulu River, or the nearby lakes. Hiking in the forests or wetlands can be magical, whether just to explore or to pick berries or mushrooms.
Travel tip: I’d advise you to take plenty of sun cream and mosquito repellant with you when heading out.
The northern wetlands are important ecologically, but also for the resources they offer, such as cranberries (Credit: Miila Kauppinen)
In winter, however, you can have unique experiences. Just dress warmly and you can go skiing at the local downhill skiing centre or rent cross country skis or snow shoes for a beautiful forest adventure. As Finnish as I am by birth, ice swimming is not quite my thing; but you might enjoy giving it a go, and it is indeed said to have wonderful health benefits (apparently 11 minutes a week of cold plunges is all you need to reverse the signs of aging, right?)
Ice swimming takes some courage, but it is said to have great health benefits (Credit: Miila Kauppinen)
All in all, just be prepared with appropriate clothing, and in every season there are wonderful things to do in Oulu, indoors or outdoors.
How to get to Oulu and getting around
Oulu is easy to reach from Helsinki by plane. You can also take a train or a bus to Oulu from Helsinki, or from other cities in Finland. Of course, you can rent a car – and this will certainly help with getting to the more remote places – but the city of Oulu has a fantastic public bus system. Using just Oulu city buses, you can easily reach most destinations within a 30-40 km radius.
In Oulu city center, it is easiest to just walk around.
Travel tip: I highly recommend getting a bicycle for a day or two.
In the summer months you can rent city bikes at the rate of 10 euros/3h or 20 euros/24h. It is fun to cycle from Oulu city centre to the nearby islands or the beach. Or, you could cycle along Oulu River to observe the nature and little villages found along its course.
Oulu’s bicycle roads are functional and well maintained (Source: Oulu Kaupunki)
Best things to do while visiting Oulu
Oulu marketplace and market hall
Any visit to Oulu ought to include some time spent at the historic Oulu tori, or marketplace, wedged between the city center and the sea. In the summer, the marketplace outdoors is full of local merchants and farmers selling their crafts and produce.
The market is overseen by a sturdy, iconic statue, the Oulu Policeman. In the winter, the outside marketplace is pretty much closed, although there are still curiosities to see. You’ll find a public sauna at the marketplace, as well as old aittas, traditional buildings that were used as store rooms in the 19th century and that now serve as bars and restaurants.
Toripolliisi at Oulu marketplace (Source: Visit Oulu)
Right next to the outside marketplace, the market hall is open all year round. Inside, you’ll find fascinating stalls selling Finnish products such as traditional woolly crafts, Finnish berry products, and specialty meats such as salmon, reindeer, or bear. There is also a lovely small café at the hall where you can try unique Finnish foods.
Culture and performances
Oulu is known for many small pubs and venues that regularly host live music. There is also a fabulous cultural centre called Valve in the centre of the city. Valve is a place enjoyed by both younger and older people. The centre hosts permanent and changing art exhibitions, and they sometimes show films or host live music performances.
Oulu’s city theatre is next to the marketplace. The theatre brings forth creative, impactful performances; it truly is a meaningful and valued centre for the performing arts in northern Finland. Why not make a whole evening out of it, with pre-theatre drinks and post-performance dinner to discuss the impressions and the highlights.
Oulu’s city theatre (Source: Oulu Kaupunki)
Sample Finnish cuisine in Oulu city centre
One place where you can find traditional Finnish foods, for affordable prices, is Kauppahallin Kahvila, at the market hall. Here, you can enjoy a cinnamon roll or a Karelian pie, both traditional, beloved foods in Finland. Or, try salmon soup, or the special dish from Oulu called rössypottu (potatoes, pork, and blood sausage).
Karelian pie is a beloved Finnish food found in many places in Oulu (Credit: Hendré Wassermann)
Viking Restaurant Harald Oulu serves Nordic foods, viking style. On their menu you’ll find starters such as chanterelle soup with rye bread, and for mains they serve willow grouse, reindeer, and salmon, among other Finnish specialties. The meals are on the pricier side, between 20 and 40 EUR, mostly.
Viking Restaurant Harald, Oulu (Source: Ravintola Harald)Viking-inspired food at Viking Restaurant Harald (Source: Ravintola Harald)Sokeri-Jussin Kievari is located in a historic building in Pikisaari (Source: Sokerijussi)
If you’d like to really spoil yourself, I suggest having a meal at Sokeri-Jussin Kievari in Pikisaari. The restaurant is located in a traditional wooden building, with traditional interior decoration. At Sokeri-Jussin Kievari you can eat foods that represent the cuisine of Oulu and the northern Ostrobothnian region in general.
Dishes include reindeer with juniper berries, Finnish fish such as pike perch, and a beef dish, Karelian roast. For dessert, you could try a Finnish leipäjuusto (bread cheese) with cloudberry compote. The meals are rather pricey though, between 30 and 50 EUR.
For a lovely sweet treat originating in Oulu, head over to Katri Antell café in Oulu city centre. I highly recommend trying their omenahyve – a sort of creamy apple tart/crumble. This tart has been a favorite of many Finnish people since the late 19th century.
Omenahyve apple tart has its roots in Oulu (Source: Antell)
Explore Oulu’s islands
Pikisaari
If you leave Oulu’s marketplace by crossing a bridge between the theatre and the city library, you’ll reach the small island of Pikisaari. It is a creative’s hub: there is a craft school on the island, as well as several galleries and a small fishermen’s museum.
Artists and artisans largely inhabit the traditional wooden buildings, some of which are protected. I visit Pikisaari every time I’m in Oulu, just to admire the old buildings and walk a wooded trail around the island.
Pikisaari in winter (Source: Visit Oulu)
There are some characterful restaurants in Pikisaari, too. At Winebar Kurkela you can enjoy fantastic wines, along with great food. Restaurant Mallassauna across the way also serves food, though they are especially known for their tasty, local craft beers. And, if you fancy going to a sauna, Mallassauna has got you covered – just remember to bring your own swimsuit and a towel.
Sauna at the backyard of Mallassauna, in Pikisaari (Source: Mallassauna)
Hietasaari Island and Nallikari beach
The next island beyond Pikisaari, and connected to it and the mainland by bridges, is Hietasaari (translated: sand island). Hietasaari has traditionally been a popular recreational area for Oulu residents. There are lots of picturesque old villas and gardens dotted around the island. Hietasaari also has a fantastic bird observation tower where you can spot birds or take in the views of the surrounding sea and coastal wetlands.
Nallikari is Oulu’s famous beach, located in Hietasaari. It is a one kilometre-long sandy beach, popular among locals and visitors alike. Right next to the beach, Eden Spa is a place for relaxation, be it summer or winter.
Nature trail in Hietasaari (Source: Oulu Kaupunki)Nallikari beach in winter (Source: Visit Oulu)
Hupisaaret park area
Hupisaaret is a large park area scattered across several small islands in the Oulu River estuary, connected with each other by small bridges. This historical park contains gardens, a café, a theatre, small brooks and bridges, and even a fish ladder, in which you may spot migrating fish during the months of May to October. In the summer, the park is lush and verdant, with inviting green lawns to sprawl on and shadowy glens to rest in. In the winter, it is a wonderland of snow and ice formations.
Hupisaaret park in Oulu (Source: Visit Oulu)
Trips a bit outside of Oulu
Liminganlahti Nature Reserve
One beautiful day trip to do from Oulu is to visit Liminganlahti nature centre and reserve. The Finns, on the whole, are nature-loving people, and birds especially have a special place in their hearts. Liminganlahti is one of the most beloved places in Finland to do bird watching and observe coastal wetlands. It is possible to get all the way to the nature centre by public buses from Oulu.
The visitor center has interactive exhibitions about Finnish nature and especially the migrating birds that call Liminganlahti their home for some part of the year. I highly recommend taking a walk as well, to visit the bird observation tower and to try to spot a few bird species yourself. I also find it a relaxing experience to behold the wide open waters of the sea and the gently swaying reeds of the surrounding wetland.
Ruff (Calidris pugnas) at Liminganlahti (Source: Visit Liminka)
Rokua national park
Another amazing place to explore Finnish nature is Rokua national park. It is one of my favorite nature areas in Finland, be it summer or winter. This is mainly because of Rokua’s stunning nature, but also because Rokua is fairly easily accessible from Oulu, by car or by public transport.
The national park is part of a UNESCO Geopark, because in Rokua’s landscape many features are visible that were formed at the end of the last ice age. The region’s wooded sandhills, ridges, and kettle hole lakes are all reminders of the massive forces that changed these lands forever.
The hills in Rokua are not very tall, and skiing can thus be easy even for beginners. It is a special experience, gliding through the silent, snowy forest in winter. And in the summer, you might find blueberries or lingonberries under the tall pines and spruces of Rokua.
Pine forest, lake, and a wooden shelter, laavu, in Rokua (Source: Classic Nationalparks)
Hailuoto Island
Hailuoto is an island and a municipality off the coast of Oulu. There are daily buses to Hailuoto from Oulu centre, though it is also great fun to cycle to Hailuoto. The island is ultimately reached by a ferry that is free and runs from early morning until late at night. In the winter months, there is also an ice road connecting the mainland to Hailuoto island.
Hailuoto ferry (Credit: Aapo Kauppinen)
The name of the island is misleading: it means “shark island”, but in truth no sharks come to these northern, cold parts of the Baltic sea. The nature is beautiful on Hailuoto island. There are stunning pine forests with diverse undergrowth, as well as moss- and sedge-filled marshlands.
Hailuoto is famous for its long, sandy beaches that are not very common in Finland. The little village of Marjaluoto is idyllic with its red, wooden huts and a lighthouse. There is also a special, small craft brewery, Hailuodon Panimo, in Marjaniemi that produces organic craft beer made with local ingredients.
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