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Lively Oulu

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Lively Oulu

Finland’s fourth largest city Oulu is a gateway to urban culture as well as to the unique nature of the North. The city is located on the shores of the Bay of Bothnia – where modern business and technology meet Northern peace and exoticism.

When strolling around the city, you will soon realise how important role nature and outdoor activities play in Oulu. You can find beautiful parks all around, ski tracks are well maintained in the winter-time and the archipelago nature of the Bothnian Bay is just around the corner. A ferry runs between the city of Oulu and the sand dune island of Hailuoto in the summertime, and in the winter you can experience crossing the frozen sea via an ice road to the island.

Even though Oulu is known for its year-round cyclists (its cycleway network is the most extensive in Finland), everything in the centre is within walking distance. Rotuaari Promenade in downtown Oulu is like an urban living room. A wide variety of high-calibre cafés and restaurants, department stores and boutiques are on offer there.

Scroll down to find out our favourite places to visit when in Oulu.

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Coast and Archipelago

Coastal Finland with its stunningly beautiful archipelago offers a variety of fascinating destinations that are easy to reach.

Coast and Archipelago

Qstock & Oulu Music Festival

Oulu hosts Qstock (pictured), a two-day festival in July, with six stages, over 60 top artists and 32,000 visitors – making it one of the largest music festivals in Northern Scandinavia.

When looking for something a bit less action-packed, Oulu Music Festival brings a broad range of Finnish and international artists to Oulu every March. The programme includes premières, theatrical works, chamber music, clubs, ethnic and folk music, free concerts, and children’s concerts.
The Air Guitar World Championships

The Air Guitar World Championships is one of the most popular and widely known events of Oulu August festival. In addition to the best air guitar players in the world, the event also attracts a diverse range of performance artists and thousands of fans and spectators from all over the world. 2015 marked the 20th anniversary of the Air Guitar World Championships. The other events of Oulu August Festival includes hundreds of multi-art events.
Tietomaa Science Centre

Finland’s first science centre Tietomaa offers fun and excitement for visitors of all ages. The changing theme exhibitions consist of over 150 exhibits. In Tietomaa’s amazing super screen theatre you will see fascinating documentary films in digital 3D format. The screen is huge, the second largest in Finland.
OULU MUSEUM OF ART OMA

Occupying an idyllic setting near the centre of Oulu, the Museum of Art offers an array of changing exhibitions, interesting art-education events, and splendid collections. The museum has an extensive collection, with a particular emphasis on art from Oulu and Northern Ostrobothnia.

Nallikari beach

With its long beaches and carefree beach days, Nallikari is the best place to enjoy your summer holiday. After a relaxed day of playing in the water, all the entertainment of Oulu is just around the corner.

In the winter take a white walk on the frozen sea – it is a real rarity nowadays.

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Koitelinkoski rapids

The Koitelinkoski rapids are beautiful place for nature lovers, both local daytrippers and visiting tourists. It’s easy to explore the area on foot, following marked paths that wind along the mainland and across the islands.

The rapids are about four kilometres from downtown Kiiminki and a quick 24-kilometre drive from Oulu.
Turkansaari Open-air Museum & Kierikki Stone Age Centre

At Turkansaari Open-air museum, over 40 buildings complete with artefacts will tell you about rural culture in Northern Ostrobothnia and the region’s typical livelihoods. The open-air museum’s traditions include lighting a tar pit at Midsummer.

At Kierikki Stone Age Centre, visitors can travel back in time and experience and see what daily life was like on the banks of the River Ii thousands of years ago in the Stone Age.

Rokua Geopark

Rokua Geopark, the northernmost geopark of the world, is a unique combination of geology, nature and culture. The characteristic features of the area are the landforms shaped by the Ice Age. Rokua Geopark is part of the Global Geoparks Network, a UNESCO-supported group of unique geological territories.

Photo: Markus Sirkka

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Liminka Bay

During the migratory seasons in spring and autumn, you can hear the symphony of hundreds of thousands of birds at the Liminka Bay.
Virpiniemi

Located on the shores of the Gulf of Bothnia, a 20-minute drive from downtown Oulu, Virpiniemi is ideal for both leisure-time sports activities and lively conferences, wellbeing events, and birthday celebrations.

Syöte

Syöte, Finland’s southernmost fell region, is known for its two downhill skiing slopes and is particularly popular with families. The Syöte National Park is an inviting place for cross-country skiing during the winter, and hiking and mountain biking in the summer.

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Accommodation

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Article

Lively Oulu

Watch the video

Lively Oulu

Coast and Archipelago

Qstock & Oulu Music Festival

The Air Guitar World Championships

Tietomaa Science Centre

OULU MUSEUM OF ART OMA

Nallikari beach

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Koitelinkoski rapids

Turkansaari Open-air Museum & Kierikki Stone Age Centre

Rokua Geopark

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Liminka Bay

Virpiniemi

Syöte

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Related Links

Visit Oulu

Nallikari

Syöte

Liminka Bay

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Coast and Archipelago