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TravelTips24 : Europe : Northern Europe : Finland : Oulu (province) : Oulu

Oulu

Oulu (Swedish: Uleåborg; [1]) is a city of about 130,000 inhabitants in Oulu province, northern Finland.

Culture and History

Oulu is the capital of the province of Oulu and the region of Northern Ostrobothnia. It is the sixth largest (fourth largest if you exclude Espoo and Vantaa which are not actually cities but suburbs of Helsinki) city in Finland, and the largest and most important in Northern Finland. Oulu is known for its high-tech nature, with free wireless internet access, Panoulu [2], in the city center. A lot of Finnish IT companies, including Nokia, have offices in Oulu or nearby areas.

Travel to Oulu & Visa Requirements

Flights and airtickets to Oulu

Oulu Airport [3] 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 plus taxes. There are also some services to Riga, Rovaniemi, Tampere and Kemi.

Bus 19 (~€4) connects the airport to the city center in 30 minutes. Buses operate quite frequently from 06:25 to about 21:00 on weekdays. After 21:00 buses operate infrequently to 01:30. A taxi will cost you around €30 for the same distance. Bus 19 also takes you to the University of Oulu [4].

By train

Oulu is on the railway [5] main line between Helsinki and Rovaniemi. The fastest Pendolino trains complete the journey from Oulu to Helsinki in about 6 hours (€72), while direct sleepers take around 9 hours (€64 plus optional sleeper at €12-€31 per bed). The newest type of sleeper train carriages have a shower and a toilet in each 2-person cabin.

Buses to Oulu

Trip duration from Helsinki varies between 9½ and 15 hours and costs around €70-80. Timetable and information from Matkahuolto [6]

Tours & Getting around Oulu

Public transportation is operated by Koskilinjat [7]. Single ticket (kertalippu) in the city of Oulu costs €2.90 (€1.40 for children ages 4-11). Between 23:00-04:00 a single ticket costs €5.60. A single ticket allows unlimited transfers within one hour. A 24-hour ticket (matkailijalippu) allows unlimited use of the buses for the 24-hour period for €8. To plan your route in the city, try Linjakas [8]. It gives you the most convenient route to where you want to go, including walks to/from bus stops, which bus lines to use and where to switch buses. Bus drivers generally do not speak english, so plan your trip beforehand.

To get a good look around Oulu, with English commentary, try Potnapekka [9]. Half train, half bus, it operates during summer months (June to August) on two routes, via Nallikari or Hupisaaret, through roads for light traffic. Both routes leave from the stone ball at Rotuaari (at the center of Oulu) and the journey lasts about one hour. You can hop off and in on the way.

Oulu is renowned for it's good bicycle routes, which get you around the city easily and safely. To rent a bicycle try Pyörä-Suvala, Saaristonkatu 27. If you're staying at Nallikari Camping, Leiritie 10, they also have bikes to rent for visitors costing €12/day.

Oulu attractions and sightseeing

  • Oulu City Art Museum(Oulun Taidemuseo), Kasarmintie 7, [10]. Located within an easy walking distance from the city centre. Due to renovations, the museum is closed 11.6.2007 - 31.12.2008. edit
  • Science Centre Tietomaa(Tiedekeskus Tietomaa), Nahkatehtaankatu 2, [11]. Mon-Sun 10–19. 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.€13 for single adult ticket, €10 for children aged 6-15.  edit

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.

Oulu city tours

  • Oulu City Theatre(Oulun Kaupunginteatteri), Kaarlenväylä 2, [12]. Recently renovated theatre offers plays in Finnish.Prices vary from €15 to €40 for a single adult ticket. Significant (half price) discounts are available for people under 26..  edit
  • Cinema Plaza(Elokuvateatteri Plaza), Torikatu 32, [13]. Completed in 2007, Plaza movie theater features one of the biggest movie screens in Finland. Most of the movies shown on theater's eight screens are original english versions and are subtitled in Finnish and Swedish, though some children's movies are dubbed in Finnish.Admission €9-10, before 17:00 on weekdays €6.50. Ticket sets of 5 or 9 tickets are available, bringing the price per admission down to €8 or €7.67 respectively..  edit
  • Rotuaari, from the french word trottoir, 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. Note: The festival will not be held in 2008, but is scheduled to return in 2009.
  • Qstock [14] Rock Festival, late July.
  • International Air Guitar Festival [15], beginning of August.
  • Nallikari and its Eden sea resort. Summer visit is preferred, but you can bathe outside all year round in Eden's cozy temperature of +26°C. A bone-chilling dip in the freezing Oulu river can also be made in at the swimming spot (maauimala) of Tuira all year round.

Public swimming pools:

  • Oulu swimming pool(Oulun uimahalli), (Raksila), ☎ (08) 558 48100. Mon-Wed&Fri 6:15-21:45, Thu 7:00-21:45, Sat-Sun 8:00-16:45. One of the largest public swimming pools in Finland. In addition to the pools facilities include separate gyms for weight training, gymnastics, judo and boxing. Cafe upstairs with a view to the pools.€4.20 for the pools, €3 for the gym.  edit
  • Raatti swimming pool(Raatin uimahalli), (Raatti, northwest from the city centre), ☎ (08) 558 48120. Mon-Fri 6:15-20:45. Smaller and a little worn down public pool and gym. (Closed for major renovation from August 2008 to early 2010)€3 for the pools, €4 for the gym which includes access to the pools.  edit

Oulu souvenirs & shopping

Oulu Market Hall(Kauppahalli), [16]. Mon-Thu 8-17, Fri 8-18, Sat 8-15.. Atmospheric interior in over a hundred years old building. Largely a food market, offering fresh and conserved foods varying from reindeer meat to Asian specialities. The market and the surrounding 'aitat' (or barns) also offer a variety of souvenir-type items. edit

Oulu Restaurants: cheap, moderate and expensive

Oulu is a place for eating pizza and other fast foods. For as low as €3-4 you can get a greasy pie with your choice of (usually three) toppings. Arguably, Finland's biggest pizzas are served in Oulu's Pizzeria Romeo. A number of international restaurants are found in Oulu, including Indian, Moroccan, Greek, Mediterranean, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, Thai and Chinese kitchens.

For more upscale dining, restaurants such as Uleåborg (near Radisson SAS hotel in the marketplace and the waterfront) and Fransmanni (at the recently-built Arina hotel in the town center) provide. Ravintola Matala near the waterfront offers modern cuisine, and has been ranked in top ten of Finnish restaurants several times, with prices to match. There is of course the Pannu pizza joint in town - up-market trendy pizzas for the discerning. For decently priced upscale dining, try Mezzo which offers frequently changing menus for 33 euros (expect to chip in at least another for the wines though).

Oulu nightlife, bars, clubs & pubs

  • 45 special, Saaristonkatu 12,[17]. (08) 8811 845, Open every night. Weekdays gigs and meeting place of modern drunkards after 1.30am, weekends crowded.
  • Onnela, Isokatu 35, [18]. Four different rooms with different styles: Disco, Rock, Suomipop and "Saucepan". Meatcounter for 18-20.
  • Hevimesta, Torikatu 11, [19]. Hard Rock / Metal club. 1e beer on mondays, wednesdays and thursdays til 1am.
  • Caio, Sammonkatu 10, (08) 556 2286, Nice and quiet bar with music, billiards and food near the University of Oulu.
  • Amarillo, Kirkkokatu 15, (08) 312 3100, [20]. Nice bar in the 1st floor and disco in the 2nd. Also, the texmex-style kitchen is open Mon-Thu 11-00.30, Fri-Sat 11-23.30, Sun 12-23.00.
  • Cabaret, Torikatu 21-23, [21]. A discotheque with two different rooms of different styles. Meatcounter for 20+. Wed,Fri,Sat 22-04.00
  • Kaarlenholvi/Jumpru, Kauppurienkatu 6, [22]. Genuine Oulu. Pub downstairs with warmed up patio offers the authentic overview of locals. Bad nightclub upstairs. Stay downstairs.
  • Sarkka, Hallituskatu 13-17. 9am-2am. You think you are pro? Come here at 9am and see if you have what it takes!
  • Kuluma, Kauppurienkatu 5, 11am-2am. [23]. If you fancy cocktails, this is the place to go. They play with fire, plain german music and stop the queue.
  • Leskinen, Kirkkokatu 10, ☎ (08) 311 7993, [24]. 12-02. Irish-style pub with decent selection of beers.  edit

Oulu cheap and luxurious hotels, youth hostels & lodging

  • Holiday Inn, Kirkkokatu 3, (08) 883 9111.
  • Holiday Club Oulun Eden [25], Vellamontie 10, 020 1234 905. Spa hotel on Nallikari beach, a few kilometers (3.5km by foot, 5km by car) from the city center.
  • Hotel Apollo [26], Asemakatu 31-33, (08) 5 2211.
  • Hotel Cumulus [27], Kajaaninkatu 17, (08) 882 7111.
  • Hotelli Turisti [28], Rautatienkatu 9, (08) 5636 100. In front of the railway station.
  • Radisson SAS [29], Hallituskatu 1, (08) 8877 666. One of the best hotels in Oulu, a good choice if your budget isn't too limited.
  • Scandic Oulu [30], Saaristonkatu 4, (08) 543 1000.
  • Sokos Hotel Arina [31], Pakkahuoneenkatu 16 , (08) 312 3111.

Stay safe

Oulu is on the whole a very safe city, but can get risky in the small hours of the morning. There have been a series of rapes in some of the parks around the city centre a couple of years back. However, avoid getting into arguments in late-night fast food joints.

Get out

  • Hailuoto is the largest island in the Gulf of Bothnia and a good destination for day trip. Accessible 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 [32].

This page was last edited at 20:30, on 4 November 2008 by Ullrich Jans. Based on work by Jani Patokallio and Peter Fitzgerald, Wikitravel user(s) Morph and Ypsilon, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others.

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