Oulu Travel Guide
From Wikitravel
Oulu (Swedish: Uleåborg; [1]) is a city of about 125,000 inhabitants in Oulu province, northern Finland.
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Understand
Oulu is the capital of the province of Oulu and the region of Northern Ostrobothnia. It is the sixth largest city in Finland, and the largest and most important in Northern Finland. Oulu is known for its high-tech nature, with wireless internet access in the city center and IT companies, including Nokia, in nearby areas.
Get in
By plane
Oulu Airport is the busiest in the country after Helsinki, and the Helsinki-Oulu sector is the country's most popular domestic flight with frequent services (almost 20 flights per day each way) on Finnair and Blue1. A fully flexible return economy ticket costs a whopping 251€ but an advance-purchase non-changeable one-way ticket can go as low as 39€. There are also some services to Rovaniemi, Kemi and Stockholm.
Bus 19 (2.60€) connects the airport to the city center in 20 minutes. A taxi will cost you around 20€ for the same distance.
By train
Oulu is on the railway main line between Helsinki and Rovaniemi. The fastest Pendolino trains complete the journey in 5 hours 45 minutes (68€), while direct sleepers take around 9 hours (60€ plus optional sleeper). The newest type of sleeper train carriages have a shower and a toilet in each 2-person cabin.
Get around
Public transportation is operated by Koskilinjat.
Linjakas service gives You advice on the best public transport connection to your destination within the Oulu region.
See
Do
Rotuaari, from the french word 'trottoar', means pedestrian street, is a place for live entertainment mainly during summertime, but also at weekends all year round. For lovers of garlic and masquarade parties the annual valkosipuliyö (garlic night) in the end of July is recommended and also happens on Rotuaari. Please notice also the international air guitar festival, which happens in the beginning of August.
Also to see is the science centre 'Tietomaa', which is the world's first science centre. Unfortunately a 'social invention' such as a science centre wasn't to be patented and the idea was copied all over the world.
For beach lions and other meoowing creatures Nallikari and sea resort Eden is highly recommended. Summer visit is preferred, but you can bathe outside all year round in Eden's cozy temperature of +26°C. A bones chilling dip in a freezing river of Oulu can also be made in a maauimala in Tuira, Oulu all year round. Merely familiar swimming halls for refreshment are located in Raksila and Raatti.
Quite close to Raatti swimming hall are the remaining ruins of the Castle of Oulu. Their café, Linnankahvila is open daily during summertime. It lies on the remaining premises of the Castle of Oulu after the explosion of gunpowder deposit (by a bulb of lightning) in the 18th century.
Buy
Eat
Oulu is a place for eating pizza. The Finnish language website kaenkky.com (referring to the local name for pizza, känkky) lists the fast food joints around town. For as low as 3-4€ you can get a greasy pie with your choice of (usually three) toppings.
For more upscale dining, restaurants such as Sassi (at the Radisson SAS hotel near the marketplace and the waterfront) and Fransmanni (at the recently-built Arina hotel in the town center) provide.
Drink
- 45 special, Saaristonkatu 12, (08) 8811 845, [2]. Open every night.
Sleep
Get out
- Hailuoto is the largest island in the Gulf of Bothnia and a good destination for day trip. Accesible by ferry, either with own car or by bus.
- Iso-Syöte is the closest destination for downhill skiing. Koskilinjat arranges day trips during winter season [3].
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