Take some Me-time in Oulu!

Enjoy summer mornings in a local market hall and step up to Arctic Food Lab pop up to explore arctic food trademark and program.

Pop up will open at 1st of August in Oulun Kauppahalli staying there until the 3rd of September. There will be Arctic Food Lab info, companies presenting and selling their products and food related theme days. On Saturdays there is also traditional street music.

Come and leave your favourite recipe spiced with Arctic Food Lab touch. Three most fresh recipes with best imagination will be picked and published in Arctic Food Lab contents.

Traditional favourite recipes will be collected in Oulu2026 area aim to publish Arctic Food Lab recipe book before European capital of culture year.

Arctic Food Lab – Northern Delicacies to the World
Northern Finland’s short but intensive summer ripens our local ingredients. Arctic Food Lab is one part of Oulu2026-culture programme that brings forth the ingredients that have grown under the Oulu2026 region’s Northern sky, and the uniqueness of traditional food born under arctic circumstances.

Arctic Food Lab brings together those operating in gastronomy and food culture in the Oulu region and celebrates Northern cuisine and gastronomy. You will recognize local tastes and experiences from this trademark.

www.arcticfoodlab.fi

Arctic Food Lab Pop up is a trial point, that is co-financed with Oulu Culture Foundation, Council of Oulu Region and City of Oulu.

Opening hours
From Monday to Friday 8-17 and Saturdays 8-16

See you at Oulun Kauppahalli on August!

Aheap of expertise with a sprinkling of love. This is what Coffee House is all about. So, come and let the aroma of fresh coffee and a delicious croissant or bagel bring a smile to your face. Morning, noon or night – any time is the right time.

Coffee House perks up your day!

Follow us in social media:
Facebook @coffeehouseoulu
Instagram @coffeehouseoulu

There is nothing more valuable in life than friends, wine and good food. All of these are combined at the new VENN. You can easily pop in to the charmingly relaxed atmosphere of VENN during your shopping day or enjoy the fun until the night. VENN offers simple and delicious food, charming wines and exhilarating cocktails. Being serious – that’s not our thing. Come to VENN and bring your friends, or you can borrow some of ours!

Find us on social media @VENNOulu

The surprise menu is a tribute to the diverse nature of the North and the world’s purest ingredients sourced from the wild. We have roamed the rolling fell tops and open mires and forests in the wilderness to offer you a surprise menu that embodies the genuine and unique quality of Northern nature.

We believe every bite should be an experience, so take plenty of time to enjoy the surprise menu. To allow our kitchen enough time to prepare the dishes for your party, the 5-course surprise menu is available until 8 p.m. and the 3-course surprise menu until 10 p.m. To ensure a pleasant evening for everyone, we hope you order the surprise menu for all members of your party.

Jumpru Patio Live! – club will start at Jumpru Pub Patio on Tuesday June 14th and there will be live music every week from Tuesday to Saturday from 9 pm to 10.30 pm.

The Jumpru X OMJ Jazzpatio club is always on our menu on Tuesdays, soulful and rhythmic Soul Kitchen club on Wednesdays and a Rytmipatio club will take turns on Thursdays with weekly changing themes. On Fridays and Saturdays everyone gets to sing when the popular Allsång På Jumpru club take its turn.

Clubs have an age limit of 20 and free admission.

Websites unfortunately only in Finnish at the moment!

Gastropub Zivago serves the best savory and sweet dishes from seasons best ingredients, combined with carefully selected wines, hand made cocktails and cold beers.

The restaurant itself is worth seeing. Unique details picked from around the world make your visit interesting.

During June and July Zivago provides a big summer terrace (or patio as we like to call it in Oulu) in the heart of the city.

Pincho Friday every Friday from 4pm to 7pm!

Flying in a hot air balloon flight is a lifetime experience, when you can gently sail across the sky and enjoy the beautiful finnish landscapes from a bird’s eye view.

The MOMENTS balloon trip takes about 3-4 hours of which one hour is spent travelling in the air.

Our service includes:

– Transportation from the agreed meeting place to the departure site and back to the meeting point
– About 1 hour flight in hot air balloon
– Traditional after-flight ceremony at the landing site.
– Flight certificate

Cafe Hanna is operating in the same building with Taito Shop Oulu. Hanna is a small cafe where you can buy fresh grounded coffee, sandwiches, Finnish style pullas and ice cream. You can take all products with you or enjoy at the cafe. During the coffee break you can do some shopping in Taito Shop. Cafe Hanna is a part of Taito Pohjois-Pohjanmaa.

Taito Shop Oulu is a gift shop and handicraft studio offering authentic Finnish designs and local artisan crafts. Our vast range of products include traditional handknit goods, jewelry, sauna accessories, Oulu themed items, and materials for the crafting enthusiast. Responsibly sourced and natural materials are important to us. We are specialists in textile crafts including traditional weaving techniques and provide a variety of expertly led workshops and courses.

Lovi Factory Shop is a partner-business at Taito. Lovi is famous for their birch veneer trees which artfully adorn interior spaces throughout Oulu and Finland. Lovi designs are the creation of Oulu artist Anne Paso. Explore our selection of Lovi products for your own home! Lovi workshops are also available on-site.

While visiting our historic 1920s landmark building, enjoy a freshly brewed cup of coffee and a baked ‘pulla’ sweet bun. Daily made sandwiches are available as a convenient lunch for your train travels.

When shopping with us, you are supporting local entrepreneurship and the Oulu handicraft arts culture. Our business also includes a non-profit community program to assist local needs. Taito is a certified member of the Finnish Labor Association (Suomalaisen Työn Liitto).

Please call or email for more information and services in English. We warmly welcome you to our shop, craft studio and café!

These tips will lead you to the top attractions and sights in Oulu, whether you are staying just over one night or enjoying the versatile leisure selection of Oulu for longer. The city is compact, so everything is close, and you will soon feel at home!

The seaside atmosphere of the Market Square with the legendary Market Square Policeman’s statue and the offering of local products is a must for every visitor especially in the summertime. The Market Hall holds a variety of local delicacies and produce to take home, too. A bridge for pedestrians and bicycles connects the Market Square with the old wooden district of Pikisaari Island just a short walk away.

Pass the stately Oulu Cathedral to get to the lush city park of Hupisaaret Islands. This is a local favourite around the year and an excellent place for spending time on summery picnics or having fun in the winter. If you enjoy beach life, visit Nallikari Beach on the Bothnian Bay in Hietasaari Island – the Riviera for Nordic tourists. Its lighthouse lookout spot and phenomenal sunsets are mandatory Instagram material for all visitors.

Last but not least: any traveller must experience Oulu as a cycling city, with its vast cycleway network of more than 900 kilometres and the trademark red cycling highways! Jump on a bike and admire all these sights, pedalling comfortably through the Oulu landscape.

Oulu Music Video Festival is a four-day spectacle of music and moving pictures that brings together young and youthful people, both music and film professionals, enthusiasts and consumers on the last warm evenings of the summer.

The Festival presents hundreds of music videos, movies, documentaries and special screenings. In addition, the authors of the videos express their own views from different perspectives in some of the screenings. The best Finnish music videos and video makers are rewarded at the prestigious Pumpeli Gala.

The festival organizes also live clubs and other music video related activities in local bars.

The artistic director of the festival is Anna-Mari Nousiainen. The event is produced by the Oulu Music Video Festivals Association.

VARIKKO continues the series of multi-disciplinary and multisensory immersive performances by Flow Productions. The performance is situated in Oulu’s historic City Depot building, whose stark architecture provides an impressive setting to the events. The audience is free to roam in the building as part of VARIKKO. The experience will be different for every viewer, because the choices they make define their routes and encounters.

VARIKKO is the work of an international team of creators, including dancers, circus artists, actors, musicians and visual artists. The work is directed by dance artist Pirjo Yli-Maunula.

Flow Productions is a long-standing partner of Oulu August Festival, bringing both domestic and foreign top contemporary circus performances as well as its own productions to the Festival’s program.

Oulu Arts Night is a magical night full of culture!

Oulu Arts Night lets musicians, actors, dancers, writers, and artists take over the streets and parks and offer unique experiences for everyone. The festival lasts for only one night but the number of visitors takes up to 30 000!

The goal is to make arts and culture easy to reach and thus most of the events and performances are free of charge. Professionals and amateurs alike can bring their performances to the Arts Night.

Literary Art Festival Muusajuhlat (Muse Festival) is the most notable literary happening in Oulu area. The festival brings together poets, writers, musicians, and artists from all around Finland. The versatile programme offers something for literary enthusiasts of all ages.

The programme is mostly in Finnish but there are also events that include multiple art forms and are suitable for non-Finnish speakers.

The events are centered at the Oulu City Library and Restaurant Tuba, but there are also events in other restaurants, libraries and nearby municipalities in Oulu. Most events are free of charge.

The nine poems or muses of antiquity have inspired humanity since ancient times. Now the muses are calling us to the world of reading and writing once again. The books delight, enchant and captivate. When reading them you can empathize, be charmed, reminisce, stray and linger – the books have all our stories and countless worlds.

The festival is produced by Huutomerkki ry.

Incredible performances, international love and big emotions – welcome to the airiest competition in the world!

The Air Guitar World Championships is a celebration of love and peace. In 25 years, the semi absurd performance art has grown into a favourite of international audiences and media, spreading its message around the world.

The year of air guitar culminates in August in Oulu, where national champions and black horses arrive to compete for the world championship. The official Air Guitar World Championships network includes over 10 countries from almost all continents.

The AGWC Finals offers performances from the world’s best air guitarists and a magnificent show for old and new friends of air guitar. In the Black Horses Qualifying Round the night before, the prize is an instant place to the world finals. In addition to the contest events, Air Guitar World Championships offer air guitar-themed events for tourists.

The next Air Guitar World Championship competition takes place in August 2022. The Air Guitar World Championships are organized by Airnest Productions Oy.

Oulunsalo Soi is a versatile, intimate and high-class chamber music festival that brings great pieces, premieres and musical delights to the Oulu region. The festival’s concerts and events are surprising, touching, and sometimes a bit whimsical too.

This year’s main theme is classics and forgotten gems. The festival includes eight concerts and one art exhibition, which is made by the visual artist of the year, Aino Väänänen.

Oulunsalo Soi presents both international and domestic top names and rising stars. The concerts invite you to more traditional concert halls as well as new venues.

The artistic director of the festival is pianist Mika Rännäli. The festival is produced by the Oulu Cultural Events Association.

Fresh, hand made croissants, cakes, tarts and macarons.

We are the Northernmost French Pastry shop in the world!

Step into a piece of France to share its pastry tradition in our intimate café, or order online a variety of pastries, desserts and savory offerings to enjoy at home! Either way, we look forward to sharing with you the pleasure of smelling a fresh croissant coming out of the oven!

Finland’s first science centre is the perfect place for learning, enjoying yourself, putting your brain and body at test or simply spending some time engaging in entertaining exploration. Science Centre Tietomaa is a household name in Oulu and the entire Northern Finland. It has been one of the best-known attractions in Oulu for years.

The themed exhibitions of the science centre feature more than 150 hands-on attractions and demonstrations. New exhibitions are opened every year, and the highlights of past exhibitions become part of the permanent exhibition. Our exhibitions explore different fields of science and technology and give food for thought for all audiences.

The Science Centre’s giant screen cinema shows fabulous 3D films that take the audience to the depths of oceans, the darkest jungles, the infinite reaches of space, or back in time to see the dinosaurs. Our giant screen theatre has the second-largest screen in Finland.

The Science Centre’s 45-meter tower, completed in 1920 to serve as the water tower of the tanning plant, is one of the key landmarks of the Oulu cityscape. The glass-walled elevator of the tower takes you up 35 metres to the top floor with fabulous views over the city.

Pure maku is offerring the authentic Japanese Ramen.

Our ramen noodles are made by stricktly selected wheat and imported from Hokkaido in Japan.
We also offer Authentic Japanese tea and sweets with Ramen.
Visit us and experience Japan.

Open : 12:00 – 18:00 Tue – Sat
Cloesd : Sun & Mon, 1st Tue of every month

Find us at Pakkahuoneenkatu 5 B22 90100 Oulu.
Follow us on Facebook@pure.maku.eu

The Hietasaari recreational area represents post-glacial rebound coast with lush vegetation of old park and garden species, dotted with old villas and private gardens. Here you can discover the various seacoast vegetational zones, coastal meadows and woods, young and grove-like forest heaths, and an abundance of indigenous birdlife.

Starting in the 1850s, a villa community was created in Hietasaari as the wealthy merchants of Oulu escaped the summer heat of the town to the island with their cattle and servants. Some of the old villas still exist in Hietasaari. Some are used as private homes while others have been renovated to serve as rentable facilities, for example. The ever-evolving island remains an attractive summer destination, with Nallikari Beach offering a fantastic setting for visitors near and far. Here you will also find accommodation and restaurant services, a variety of activities to choose from, and nature trails with birdwatching towers and campfire sites along them. Trails are suitable for walking and biking and they are maintained all year round!

The café has always been an important part of visiting the Science Centre. Now, it is even more so as science has become the centre of our renewed Tiedekahvila cafe, too!

The Tiedekahvila science cafe has a new appearance which better matches with and merges in the Science Centre – with both its decor and activities. In the cafe interior, there are bits of science scattered around, offering you knowledge and amusement. Mini-interactives, the small exploratory exhibits on tables, offer you a hands-on experience to science in the traditional Science Centre Tietomaa way.

So, while enjoying your food and beverages, you can enjoy exploring and investigating the mini-interactives or, for example, fiddle with and revamp the symbols of chemical elements found from the interior.

Tiedekahvila has free entry, and it is located on the ground floor of the Science Centre Tietomaa.

Food experience in the Northern Finland is unique. Lean-to dining, authentic and cultural restaurants create the perfect Lappish atmosphere. The restaurants and food experience producers chosen by Hungry for Finland, know how to make a tourist fall in love not only with Lappish nature but also with local food.

A la Carte restaurant that serves food from different Mediterranean countries.

Jarkko Martikainen ja Luotetut miehet performing on Friday 22nd of July at Voimala 1889’s patio!

Every Wednesday in July there is a flea market at Voimala 1889’s patio.
You can come as a seller and buy your sales table at Tiketti or just come to shop as a customer! Sales table for one person costs 15€ for one night.

We also sell refreshments and food at the patio!

Aknestik performing on Saturday 23rd of July at Voimala 1889’s patio!

SUAD performing at Voimala 1889’s patio on Friday 8th of July!

Edu Kettunen performing on Thursday 21st of July at Voimala 1889’s patio!

Samae Koskinen + Sipe Å performing at Voimala 1889’s patio 7th of July!

The Meänland + 2-7 Miehen Trio? (duo) performing at Voimala 1889’s patio on Saturday 9th of July!

Every Wednesday in July there is a flea market at Voimala 1889’s patio.
You can come as a seller and buy your sales table at Tiketti or just come to shop as a customer! Sales table for one person costs 15€ for one night.

We also sell refreshments and food at the patio!

Every Wednesday in July there is a flea market at Voimala 1889’s patio.
You can come as a seller and buy your sales table at Tiketti or just come to shop as a customer! Sales table for one person costs 15€ for one night.

We also sell refreshments and food at the patio!

Schedule of the evening:
Flea market 5 PM – 8 PM
Orvokki (band) 7.30 PM – 8.15 PM (free gig)
Kielo Ilona (band) 8.45 PM – 10 PM (tickets 10/12€)

Kielo Ilona performing at Voimala 1889’s patio on 6th of July!

Litku Klemetti performing at Voimala 1889’s patio on Friday 1st of July!

Yona (trio) + Emilia Aarnio performing at Voimala 1889’s patio on Saturday 2nd of July!

Elojazz is an intimate jazz and rhythm music festival in the heart of Oulu. The sweet melodies of Elojazz have been heard in Oulu for more than three decades.

The artistic director of Elojazz is Jukka Eskola, one of the most recognized jazz musicians in Finland. The festival is produced by Jazz-20 Association.

This year’s festival takes place on the first weekend of August and includes four main concerts as well as few free gigs. As always, also this year’s Elojazz has a lineup full of amazing artists all the way from our local jazz stars to worldwide champs: Oulu Youth Jazz Orchestra, Pete Parkkonen and Yellowjackets are just some examples.

The most central blocks of wooden buildings in Oulu – with national significance – are the Rantakortteli ones adjacent to the Market Square. They are a window to the era of wealth in Oulu due to trade and seafaring in the 1870s and 1880s, when many trade-educated businessmen worked in Oulu. After the third and final Oulu Fire, handsome houses were built on Rantakatu, Ojakatu, and Hallituskatu streets in the spirit of neo-renaissance and art nouveau. Some stone buildings are included.

If you stand back-to-back with the plump Market Square Policeman’s statue, you will see the pink House Höckert across Rantakatu street as well as the pastel green House Jurvelius on the left. Together they constitute a significant and recognisable part of the Oulu cityscape around the Market Square. House Jurvelius was built in the empire style and is the oldest wooden building (1828–1945) on Rantakatu street. Nowadays it is used as a student residence. The first ever electrical lighting system for a private home in Oulu was installed in the house in the year 1900! House Höckert dates to 1838.

Also the Ojakatu and Hallituskatu streets still have some of the construction milieu built after the Oulu Fire in 1882. The single-floor wooden neo-renaissance building of the Oulu Trade Society was built in 1884.

Oulu Climbing Center is a recreational sports venue with indoor climbing facilities for lead, top rope and automatic belayed climbing and bouldering. There is climbing for everyone even if you are a first timer or beginner, a young child or an elderly climber. The climbing routes are setup by competent route setters who take all the climbers into consideration. Come and try it yourself!

A sauna with a meeting room and kitchen is found at the top floor of the climbing centre. A balcony with a view to the sea is equipped with tables and chairs together with barbecue facilities and a hot tub to relax after climbing or a meeting! Make a reservation for your work group or peer.

Fishing in the summer and ice fishing in the winter are a popular pastime in Oulu! Fishing is also perfectly suited for travellers visiting Oulu, even with the whole family. Go angling in Kuusisaari, fish with a spinning rod in Tukkisaari, net a plump salmon on the river, or ice fish on the Bothnian Bay in Nallikari with dozens of other winter fishing fans. In Kuusisaari in the autumn, you may also watch the traditional scoop netting of whitewish and even try it out yourself. Take a guided tour with a skilled fishing guide for luring rarer catch. When fishing, you must naturally follow the standing regulations. For fishing licenses and instructions, please visit Oulu10 service desk or the online Kalapassi service.

The cultural landscape of the Oulu River estuary also offers plenty of activities for photography lovers. The historical Market Square area, the handsome trees in the parks, pedestrian bridges lighted by architects, and the monumental dam bridge of Oulu look wonderful from the waters and create beautiful reflections on the surface. When paddling, you can see the reflecting pools of Oulu in all their glory as the cultural landscape is drawn onto the water surface in front of you. When admiring them on land in Hupisaaret, Linnansaari, or the Rautasilta steel bridge crossing the Oulu River, the pools look amazing, and you can capture the stunning view in pictures.

Do you want to be your own boss on the waters? For those who prefer independent activities, there are easy and safe paddling routes around the islands in the estuary, and a special atmosphere awaits those who paddle the “Amazon of Oulu”, a route along Mustasalmi strait through Hietasaari Island all the way to the sea.

Adventurers can paddle through Toppilansalmi strait toward Nallikari and back down Mustasalmi to the estuary, truly discovering the aquatic Oulu from the waves! You can also rent an inflatable canoe or SUP board and head out to other waterways around Oulu, such as lakes Kuivasjärvi, Pyykösjärvi, or Valkiaisjärvi, the last of which is a special local favourite. The best summer moments also include taking part in a relaxing, guided paddling trip and enjoying a shared experience with others.

Oulu is a bicycle-friendly city all year round. The extensive network of pedestrian and cycle paths spanning over 900 kilometres features beautiful Nordic landscapes and lively districts and offers plenty of opportunities for sports and recreational activities. The pedestrian and cycle paths are maintained throughout the year.

The main cycling routes in the Oulu region are signposted and numbered to guide you to your destination. The longest main route of the cycling route network, which is undergoing continuous development, extends 38km from the centre of Oulu. The cycling routes can be accessed from various locations, including directly from the Kauppatori market square!

The wooden district of Raksila is a nationally valuable cultural environment of multi-coloured wooden houses. The construction of the area dates mainly back to the 1930s and 1940s. The houses represent the classical wooden architecture of the time. Some apartment buildings have functionalist features.

As you walk around in the colourful Wooden Raksila, you will notice that the wooden apartment buildings have been designed meticulously in six large grid plan blocks. The regular method of construction makes it a uniform residential district, and the design has been based on a unified city image. The lush courtyards are spacious, and you can see small outhouses at the back of them. Wooden Raksila has its very own, unique atmosphere.

In Puistikkokatu street in the middle of the district, there are houses formerly used for business. Teuvo Pakkala School at the end of the street was built in 1950 as an integral part of the composition and intended particularly for use by residents of the Karjasilta district.

The Kuusiluoto District with its beautiful wooden houses lies right next to the city centre by the Oulu River estuary. A pedestrian bridge leads you forward to currently uninhabited Sonnisaari Island to enjoy its peaceful atmosphere. In the 18th century, Kuusiluoto was still an island just like Sonnisaari, and locals used them both as pastures for sheep. Since then, upthrust, soil brought in by the river, and landfill have connected Kuusiluoto to the continent.

According to the city plan made after the Oulu Fire in 1822, construction turned Kuusiluoto into a traditional 19th-century Finnish wooden town district that attracted sailors and artisans as residents. A third of the houses in the area date back to the 19th century and another third to 1900–1920. Stone houses built in early 1950s as replacements for wooden ones destroyed in Second World War bombings represent the third layer of construction in Kuusiluoto.

Also the Sonnisaari Island used to be inhabited in the last decades of the 19th century, housing for example a hospital for epidemic diseases since 1982 and the first municipal maternity hospital in Oulu between 1903–1925. Now the island is a nature destination for discovering the flora of coastal meadows and wetland dells as well as grove woods.

Karjasilta is a wood-governed residential district selected as the best city district in Finland in the 2000s. Built in the 1940s and 50s, the dimensions, plot setting, and materials of the houses are consistent, and the aim is to maintain the mood of the era in the district as well as possible. In Karjasilta, there are about 200 detached houses built after the Second World War for the families of soldiers who returned from the front.

This residential district of the reconstruction era has remained exceptionally large and unified, and its value as a constructed cultural environment has been assessed as nationally significant. However, renovations and expansions transforming the appearance of the houses have been done since the 1960s. Nowadays there are some renovation or expansion methods to be seen that are alien to the identity or unity of the district. In addition to houses, on the west side of the district there are some apartment buildings built in the 1950s and 60s, a school, a library, a music centre, two churches, and a grocery store.

Karjasilta (in English: Cattle Bridge) was named after its history as grazing ground for cows owned by the locals. The street names of the district still echo this period. On the northern edge of Karjasilta flows the Kaupunginoja brook, across which the cattle had to be led along a bridge. Another section of the street names here refers to battle locations of the Second World War.

PosiTits is a pop up strip club -consept that started in summer 2021.

In a real ghost house you will hear interesting and even scary stories told by a ghost guide.
Outside you get a sight of Kakaravaara ghosts, spirits and shadows.
Inside the house you take a look at the places and go down the old prison cells. (This could be a little bit creepy).
During all this you meet the creative person but you should be careful…
Kahvila Hanna’s colourful ragrugs, soft pillows and handmade coffee cups calm you down if the round has been too exciting.
At the end of the tour you’ll find out the secret of the house.
The experience includes a tour and coffees and pullas or juices to kids.
The starting point for the walk is at Rautatienkatu 11, the stairs to the Railway station.
Walks are arranged as follows:
Thu June 7th at 15:30 PM
Thu June 14th at 15:30 PM
Thu June 21st at 15:30 PM and
Thu June 28th at 15:30 PM
Pre-registration needed.

In this workshop we will teach you how to make useful brushes and scrubbers for your home from natural materials. Fiber bundles are assembled into durable home tools using traditional brush tying techniques.
During the course you´ll have time to make three tools and the price of the course includes guidance for learning traditional brush making and a material fee to make 2 pot scrubbers and 1 crumb brush.
Price 37 € / member price 32 €.
Non-stop workshop Thu 7.7.2022 or Tue 19.7. between 12 and 5 PM. Please arrive no later than 3:30 PM. No pre-registration!

Dye a surprising skein of yarn with plants or organic waste!
Jar dyeing is a fun and easy technique, and we welcome you to join us in a journey of experiments. In this workshop you will learn how to dye yarn in a glass jar using natural dyes.
You don`t need any material of your own, we provide all supplies.
Workshop Fri June  8th  from 12pm to 5 pm or
Workshop Fri June 22nd from 12pm to 5 pm
Workshop is non-stop, so you can attend at a time that is suitable for you.
No prior notice – attend 4 pm at the latest.
Price: 25€/attendant (the price contains 100 grams of wool yarn, a glass jar, mordants and guiding)
Our maximum group size is 12 attendants at the same time.

The Botanical Garden of the University of Oulu is one of the northernmost scientific gardens in the world. Botanical Garden collection of plants is maintained for teaching and research purposes and it is open to the public.

Collections include more than 4,000 different plant species and provide an overview of global vegetation diversity. Botanical Garden is also a testing and experimental area for many new and rare plants. The landmark of the Oulu Botanical Garden are the pyramid-shaped greenhouses Romeo and Julia where about 1,200 exotic plant species are presented. Science Garden of the University of Oulu is also located here.

Outdoor garden is open every day 8 AM – 8 PM and is free of charge. Greenhouses are open Tue – Sun 10 AM -4 PM, with voluntary admission fee of 5 €.

Come and create your own memory on a backpack, in our summer adventurer’s workshop.
In the finished backpack you will carry all the goods needed for a summer adventure and the treasures and memories that you grabbed from a summer trip.
Would you draw the ocean and the Nallikari beach, the beautiful flowers in the garden of Kiikkusaari or a happy moment eating icecream?
In the workshop, a summer picture is drawn on a cotton string backpack with fabric chalks, and the picture is attached to the fabric by ironing.
Non-stop workshop Fri June  8th  between 12 PM and 5 PM or Fri June 22nd between 12 PM and 5 PM.
Price 20 €/attendant (the price contains all material for one backpack and the guidance in the workshop).
No pre-registration – please arrive no later than 4 PM.
No pre-registration. Workshop duration less than an hour.

Luotolainen is an old traditional sweater knitted by finnish sheep wool. It has many special details that you can not find other knit wears. The first Luotolainen was found in Hailuoto island near Oulu. Now that knitted sweater is more famous than ever! In the exhibition you see all the versions of this awesome sweater. Can you use a spinning wheel and make yarn? Now you have a change to try!

The legend of Luotolainen
On the island of Hailuoto, in the far north of the Baltic Sea, lived a boy and a girl. As they grew older, their paths led them apart; he went off to war, and she married another man. As a token of their deep affection, she knit the Luotolainen sweater for him. The sweater was his most prized treasure. He lived in solitude for the rest of his life, but his Luotolainen sweater he never gave up. It was worn and mended for over 45 years—worn until the day he died. The Luotolainen is the island’s story of love and longing.
the man got several other sweaters over the years, but he never wore them. instead he took pieces from the new ones to mend the sweater from his unrequited love. the orginal sweater from this legend is located in the handicraft museum in Jyväskylä. (Käsityön museo). This sweater is about 100 years old.

Significance of the ribbing: not unusual, goes through whole sweater, easy to adapt when making larger or smaller. ribbing also makes it warmer, better insulator. Inteded to be kept and mended even through multiple generations. If the sweater is gifted to a specific person, the knitter can add the wearers, personalized initials or other personal emblem, so that if the fisher died or was lost at sea, the person could be recognized by the sweater. If it happened in late fall or winter you couldn’t find the person, but the sweater.

This exhibition is to be seen in Taito Shop Pop up room all the july. This exhibition is not guided.

Welcome to Lännentila’s summerfairs 16th July 2022.

Summer fair with more than 50 local vendors. Lot of different activities for kids and adults. The main star of the day is Roni Back, famous Finnish Youtuber. This is the biggest market event in Northern Finland during summer time. Check more about the day from Facebook: Lännentilan kesämarkkinat. Free entry! Book bus transport to fairs here: https://saagatravel.fi/en/product/lannentilan-kesamarkkinoille-bussilla/

The content of the fair:
– 50 brands (Foods, clothes, pastries, ornaments, etc.)
– Magician Roope Ylitalo
– Finnish skier legend Juha Mieto
– Youtuber Roni Back

We have lots of different animals in our farmyard; sheeps, ducks, chickens, bunnies and ponies. We also offer free pony rides for kids from Monday to Saturday, between 11-15 o’clock. The animals warmly welcome you to visit, for free!

In addition the main building of the farm has been inhabited since 1690. The Lännenpirtti café is located in this centuries-old log cabin.

This country café offers you homemade tasty pastries that contain products from our farm. These are traditional Finnish pastries; pancakes, buns, chocolate mudcake, strawberry cakes… The café also serves savory pies and stuffed breads. And let’s not forget the soft ice cream!

We have a sandbox and toys for children in our farmyard. We also have pedal tractors for kids to drive. Do you like to play minigolf? You can do it in our farm for free! And hey, have you met our mascot, Bison?

We have also farmshop with fresh local products, all the products are picked up daily. We sell our own products; strawberries, peas, potatoes, onions, cauliflowers and broccolis. We also sell our strawberry-caps and strawberry-bags!

The main building of the farm has been inhabited since 1690. The Lännenpirtti café is located in this centuries-old log cabin.

This country café offers you homemade tasty pastries that contain products from our farm. These are traditional Finnish pastries; pancakes, buns, chocolate mudcake, strawberry cakes… The café also serves savory pies and stuffed breads. And let’s not forget the soft ice cream!

You can have your coffee inside or go out to enjoy the beautiful courtyard! Check out cafe’s Instagram-site: lannenpirtinkahvila.

In the cafe courtyard we have lots of different animals; sheeps, ducks, chickens, bunnies and ponies. We also offer free pony rides for kids from Monday to Saturday, between 11-15 o’clock. The animals warmly welcome you to visit, for free!

In addition we have farmshop with fresh local products, all the products are picked up daily. We sell our own products; strawberries, peas, potatoes, onions, cauliflowers and broccolis. We also sell our strawberry-caps and strawberry-bags!

The large park area on Hupisaaret Islands near Oulu city centre invites travellers to roam in its verdant oasis in the summer and discover a snow-covered wonderland in the winter. The park is a must for any outdoor person, culture enthusiast, and romantic to visit. Here locals and visitors alike can find enjoyment, adventure, games, picnics, and tranquillity. Oulu Museum of Art, the Northern Ostrobothnia Museum, and Tietomaa Science Centre are all located near the park, so there is plenty to see and do indoors as well as outdoors.

The Hupisaaret Park consists of several small islands in the Oulu River estuary. It became a public park after the 1850s, and its history holds industry, watermills, cattle pastures, French gardens, and child’s play. The sound of the rippling brooks is part of the park’s attraction – in the brooks, you can even find sea trout belonging to the native stock of Oulu River as they run to spawn in the park’s channels.

Cafeteria Kiikku serves customers in the park in the summertime, while a versatile playground attracts adventure seekers to play around the year. Created by talented architects, a wonderful summer theatre offers cultural enjoyment for all the family. Gazebos from the old days and lovely bridges joining the small islands provide beautiful spots for resting. At the northern end of the park is the longest fish ladder in Finland and the only one in Oulu River. Here you can spot migrating fish from May until the end of October.

Welcome to our atmospheric museum café located in the historic Åström Brothers industrial property next to the beautiful Ainola park.

Café Kaari is a perfect meeting point for friends and family with great choice of refreshing delicacies.

Our selection emphasises local products from the North. We have lovely sweet and savoury treats, fantastic special coffee varieties – and of course some sparkling wines.

Rauhala is a beautiful old event and meeting venue next to Ainolanpuisto. For over a hundred years there has been events organized in Rauhala’s building. You can throw a birthday party, wedding, memorial service or have a meeting in Rauhala’s beautiful cabinets. We are experts in organizing both unofficial and official events such as academic events or parties held to celebrate completion of a project.

We serve brunches on selected Saturday or Sunday afternoons.

We have our own bakery, where every morning freshly baked goods are being made by our patissiers and bakers. Bakery products are sold next door at Tuba Food & Lounge.

Voimala 1889 offers events and culture in an urban environment!

Voimala 1889 lies in the same courtyard as restaurants Tuba Food & Lounge and Rauhala ravintola-pâtisserie next to beautiful park Ainolanpuisto. Voimala 1889 is a versatile place for culture and events. You can enjoy awesome gigs and events both inside Voimala 1889 and during summertime outside on our cozy patio. Our patio fits many hundreds of visitors! We also organize e.g. summer parties there for firms.

Voimala 1889 is a great place to throw a party for up to 60 people. It also operates as a meeting venue. We have different kinds of ready-made meeting packages to choose from. If you want, you can get all our party and meeting foods vegan! We have also sauna!

Voimala 1889 has also different art exhibitions which you can check out during events.

See you at Voimala 1889!

Tuba Food & Lounge is an eco-friendly and recycling oriented culture restaurant. We use a lot of ingredients that are organic, locally produced or ingredients that would’ve gone to waste. There is always food on our menu that is vegetarian friendly or vegan. We take pride in our pizzas that are made with our own sourdough and our handmade burgers. Come and stop by for a cup of coffee or have a glassful. For example we offer a variety of Finnish craft brewery products.

Tuba is a lively venue. There are weekly quizzes, gigs and a diverse offering of culture on our programme.

There are beaches in Oulu for many tastes. The most popular one – and the number one destination for families – is the Nallikari recreation area and tourist resort with its pearly beaches. You can get to the beach from the city centre even by foot or bike through Pikisaari Island or catch a ride on a local transport bus. The Nallikari beach is almost a kilometre long and a true family favourite.

The beaches of Tuira and Värttö along the Oulu River provide excellent opportunities for swimming or enjoying the heat of a sauna raft with appropriate refreshments to complete the experience. Riding rentable jet skis at Värttö beach is a fun activity. In the wintertime, Tuira beach attracts winter swimmers to take a dip in the freezing cold water. Winter swimming is possible also at Värttö sauna raft, with the added opportunity for having a sauna in between.

In the summertime, you can try more active sports, for the facilities offered in Linnansaari Island next to the city centre include kayaks, canoes, and SUP boards as well as a floating adventure course. At the northern end of Toppilansaari Island, you will find a sandy beach and breakwater favoured by kitesurfers speeding on the waves.

Water games in Oulu are not a matter of weather. You can splash about in Oulu’s Raatti and Raksila swimming pools all year round. In addition to traditional pools, the Raksila swimming pool offers a wading pool for kids, a diving tower, a pool slide, and a multi-function pool with massage spots.

Fresh bakery goods, good coffee, lunch, tasty bistro food and easy take away. Gather your friends and family to relax and enjoy!
Full service catering with amazing food ideas, perfect cakes to your wishes and professional service. We are at Nallikari Holiday Village.

Restaurant Nallikari is a high quality, Nordic restaurant on Nallikari beach Oulu. Restaurant is open from lunch to late evening. 250 seats inside and 300 seats on summer deck.

Lunch
Served in buffet; tasty soup lunch, famous Islander buffet and Business lunch with two main courses.

A´la Carte
Local ingredients and seasonal food. Menu designed by Chef Antti Lindholm.
A´la Carte menu changes five times a year. Seasonal weeks: blini, asparagus, sea food.

Brunch
Nallikari brunch is a stylish way to spend Saturday with friends and family.

Bar & Coffee
Full service international cocktail bar, quality coffee and Nallikari Bakery pastries.

At Ravintolamaailma Linnanmaa we offer food and beverages from three differend brands: Pizza&Buffa, Presso and Hesburger.

Pizza & Buffa offers a straightforward and relaxed way to enjoy good food, on your own or with your family. In addition to freshly baked pizzas, we serve a healthy home-cooked lunch and a variety salads and desserts. To juice up evenings, Pizza & Buffa holds theme fiestas, offering new tasty surprises. Come and enjoy a cosy atmosphere – we cook food today. The entire buffet is available at a single price. On weekends, you can also enjoy a wide array of desserts.

Presso wants you to have a special moment, every day. We want to cherish a close and cosy coffee culture. Our coffee satisfies Finnish tastes and is 100% fresh. Our buns, rolls and snacks are delicious, baked in-house and always fresh – our oven is on all day long. Of course, life also needs to be sweet. Let us surprise you: when the bell rings, something good just came out of the oven.

Robson’s restaurant, located next to the SuperPark activation park, serves tasty lunch, small snacks and sweet and savory coffee breads.

There is a daily renewed lunch table and wonderful delicacies straight from the barbeque. Our lunch menu includes traditional Finnish lunch favorites, tasty pastas, oriental delicacies and everything in between. Versatility is our advantage!

Rosso is a well-known Italian classic, which has offered relaxing moments to Finns for five decades. We serve beloved classics, tasty new dishes and, above all, our famous pizzas, baked in Italian wood-fired pizza ovens.

Rosso is a happy place to eat, where everyone is welcome! We cater to different diets: our pizzas and many pasta dishes are available in gluten-free versions, and you can also opt for a high-fibre rye pizza crust.

We serve lunch every weekday. And don’t forget to ask about the chef’s recommendations, which change daily!

Benvenuti – welcome to Rosso!

Follow us on social media: Facebook: @RossoOulu Instagram: @rosso_oulu

At Ravintolamaailma Linnanmaa we offer food and beverages from three differend brands: Pizza&Buffa, Presso and Hesburger.

Pizza & Buffa offers a straightforward and relaxed way to enjoy good food, on your own or with your family. In addition to freshly baked pizzas, we serve a healthy home-cooked lunch and a variety salads and desserts. To juice up evenings, Pizza & Buffa holds theme fiestas, offering new tasty surprises. Come and enjoy a cosy atmosphere – we cook food today. The entire buffet is available at a single price. On weekends, you can also enjoy a wide array of desserts.

Presso wants you to have a special moment, every day. We want to cherish a close and cosy coffee culture. Our coffee satisfies Finnish tastes and is 100% fresh. Our buns, rolls and snacks are delicious, baked in-house and always fresh – our oven is on all day long. Of course, life also needs to be sweet. Let us surprise you: when the bell rings, something good just came out of the oven.

Fafa’s offers authentic handmade gourmet street food with straightforward and friendly service.

We serve delicious organic falafel, meze and pita portions, made in-house and always fresh. Each and every portion is carefully planned with a focus on flavour. Meat-eaters, vegetarians and vegans alike are warmly welcome!

You can find us at in Valkea shopping centre, Valkea 3th floor, Kööki

Follow us on social media:
Facebook @FafasValkeaOulu
Instagram @fafasvalkeaoulu

On the third floor of the Original Sokos Hotel Arina you will find the beautiful restaurant Veranta.

In the morning, the restaurant serves as a breakfast restaurant for the hotel guests and others. For lunch, the hotel’s conference guests are served here, and in the evenings the restaurant transforms to any kind of restaurant needed for the occasion. Veranta is suitable for corporate parties and serves also as a beautiful wedding venue. The centerpiece of the summer celebrations is the restaurant’s cozy patio.

Restaurant Veranta exudes Scandinavian countryside combined with modern design. The menu is inspired by the pure nature of the north, and the breakfast table also features delicacies from nearby producers.

The restaurant is open on request and on special evenings, and every morning for breakfast guests. Access to breakfast is via Original Sokos Hotel Arina, where you can buy the breakfast for € 23.

The space features three video projectors and a screen as well as audio playback.

Restaurant Veranta:
-party rooms for 50-150 people
-delightful patio for 47 people, even suitable as a wedding venue
-party menu from a standing table starting at 40 €
-Guests stay comfortably at the Original Sokos Hotel Arina

Reservations and inquiries: Original Sokos Hotel Arinan Sales Service
sales.oulu@sokoshotels.fi or +358 8 3123 255

Bacaro Doppio offers a laid-back and stylish atmosphere for friends of Italian coffee, wine and delicacies. You’ll enjoy the feel of a Venetian wine bar where tradition blends effortlessly with modern elements.

Savour an espresso made by a real barista, enjoy a light lunch, treat yourself to an artisan ice cream, or buy a tasty snack to take away. Have something delicious to eat and enjoy life!

You can find us at street level in Valkea shopping centre, along Kesäkatu.

Follow us on social media:
Facebook @BacaroDoppioOulu
Instagram @bacarodoppio_oulu

Fafa’s offers authentic handmade gourmet street food with straightforward and friendly service.

We serve delicious organic falafel, meze and pita portions, made in-house and always fresh. Each and every portion is carefully planned with a focus on flavour. Meat-eaters, vegetarians and vegans alike are warmly welcome!

Follow us on social media:
Facebook @FafasLimingantulliOulu
Instagram @fafaslimingantullioulu

Puistokahvila Makia is located in the centre of Oulu in Otto Karhi Park. It is a cosy and comfortable café with a modern twist. A full breakfast with freshly made omelette and fresh fruit is served every morning. For lunch, the café offers salads, soup and tasty cafeteria products. In the evening, you can come to Puistokahvila Makia to enjoy delicious coffee and pastries or large smörrebröd-style open sandwiches, or have a glass of sparkling wine.

The summer terrace attracts you to enjoy views to the park, the relaxed atmosphere and cold drinks.

Breakfast is served from Monday to Friday between 7:30 and 10 am, and on Saturday and Sunday between 9 am and 1 pm.

Salad and soup are available on weekdays between 10:30 am and 6 pm, and on Saturday and Sunday between 1:30 pm and 6 pm.

Follow us on social media: Facebook @puistokahvilamakia and Instagram @puistokahvilamakia

Over centuries, Oulu Market Square has offered its visitors a year-round, lively meeting and trading place which has also required guarding. A peculiar feature in the local policing history were the Market Square policemen who kept an eye on the Market Square and maintained order there. Through them, the townspeople and those who came from the province became acquainted first-hand with the authorities and the police.

The era of Market Square policemen in Oulu lasted from 1934 until 1979. After the patrolling ended, the policemen were commemorated through a citizen’s fundraiser for erecting a bronze statue in front of the Market Hall. The Market Square Policeman’s statue was designed by sculptor Kaarlo Mikkonen.

Standing at 2.2 metres, the robust policeman with his cap and Sam Browne belt has become a symbol of Oulu over the years and is a popular choice for selfie buddies. So go ahead and snap a friendsie with the jolly Policeman and prove you were really in Oulu!

Relax in a lovely traditional wood-heated sauna. Silence and candlelight relax the mind and body. Guests can book their own sauna session at an additional cost. The sauna can accommodate 7 people at a time. On the terrace you can cool off and enjoy the countryside. The sauna is heated on request. Watch the stars and northern lights in luxury! In addition to the sauna, there is a wonderful, large whirlpool that can accommodate up to 8 people. Sauna and jacuzzi are heated on request as it takes around 5 hours.

The beautiful pearly beach, spectacular sunsets, high-quality accommodation, and vast selection of recreational outdoor activities have earned Nallikari the nickname ‘Riviera of the North’. The Nallikari beach attracts not only sunbathers but also beach sports lovers.

A family seeking adventure can try out the gigantic climbing net on the beach or storm the well-equipped playground. In the winter, the vastness of the Bothnian Bay offers a range of possibilities for walking, skiing, or snowshoeing on the sea ice. You may also catch kite skiers or fatbikers speeding on the ice. If you fancy a day trip, discover the trails, birdwatching tower, and campfire sites around Hietasaari Island for recreation throughout the year. Accessibility has been considered for the summertime routes.

One of the most important buildings in Oulu by cultural history standards is the Market Hall which has served its customers since 1901. The building was designed in neo-Gothic fashion by Karl Lindhal and Valter Thomé, and a massive reconstruction finished in 2020 restored its old-time glory.

Some of the current merchants have operated in the Market Hall for decades. They stock a multitude of products for gifts and souvenirs, including beautiful and unique handicraft products, clothes, and other lovely gift shop items. This is also a great place for buying high-quality local food produce and organic ingredients for festive or everyday occasions. Popping in for breakfast of a hearty bowl of salmon soup is not a bad idea either!

Web page only in Finnish at the moment!

The Pilpasuo mire is a great destination for a family day trip and a unique northern experience, about 20 km from Oulu city centre. Most of the mire was formed on an ancient 3,000-year-old coastal meadow. One of the area’s rarities of is the raised beach of Ala-Korkiakangas. The top is covered by boulder soil, which was a little island in the sea 6,500 years ago.

The changing seasons bring out the versatility of the protected area of Pilpasuo. In the summertime, the nature trails attract visitors to take daytime hikes and relax by campfires in the nature. In the autumn, it is a good for berry and mushroom picking. During the winter, Pilpasuo is ideal for Aurora hunting on skis or snowshoes. Pilpasuo has two duckboarded nature trails with fun, nature-themed task points along them for a brain workout.

The shorter one-kilometre trail is especially suited for families with children. You can recognise the trail by the red route markers. The longer seven-kilometre trail has eight task points and is marked with blue. There are designated campfire sites along the trails.

An idyllic wooden district, old industrial milieu and unique artists’ community awaits travellers who cross the pedestrian bridge from the Market Square to Pikisaari Island. Pikisaari (in English: Pitch Island) got its name from an old pitch works founded in the 17th century. Besides that, the island has housed shipyards, a sawmill, a distillery, a wool mill, and a machine workshop. Nowadays the island is the home and studio for many artists and artisans.

Pikisaari Island has residential and industrial buildings as well as granaries from the 18th and 19th centuries as well as the early 20th century. Many of the original wooden houses remain standing, although several fires have tested the island. The oldest wooden building in Oulu accommodates the Sailor’s Home Museum. Another building worth seeing is the old, decorative office of the local machine workshop from the 1880s, nowadays used as a residential house. It represents the neo-renaissance style with a tower that is a notable landmark among the houses on the island. Unique accommodation businesses have also found home at the heart of the island, and there are charming restaurants, too.

Just a stone’s throw from Oulu Market Square, you can find the lovely, pastel-coloured Tähtitorni Café, which has served as a summer café since 1912. The idyllic setting invites you to experience an interesting piece of history while enjoying a nice cup of coffee – you are sitting on top of the renovated foundations of Oulu Castle which was destroyed in 1793 when the gunpowder storage blew up. From the observation tower, you have a nice view of Pikisaari Island where a stone from the castle landed in the explosion. The stone is still there.

Finished in 1875 according to a design by Wolmar Westling, the building with its observation tower originally belonged to Oulu Maritime School. More than 200 sea captains graduated from the school.

In the summer, the castle cellar is home to an exhibition about the history of the castle. For centuries, people have tried to find a rumoured, secret passage from Linnansaari Island to the city. Can you find it?

Varjakka has a colourful history full of local stories. The island houses an old sawmill that is important for reasons of both cultural history and architecture. The collection of buildings around the sawmill is an intact entity and rare by international standards. It has also been declared a nationally significant cultural environment. Varjakka is located just over 20 kilometres from Oulu city centre.

The island of Varjakka was a ship and renovation dock in the 19th century, before seeing its golden age in the early 20th century when the largest sawmill in the Nordic countries operated on the island. The island and the Varjakka area on the continent constituted a sawmill community that used to employ as many as 700 people.

Nowadays, the island is a forested destination of natural beauty. You can reach it in the summertime with your own boat, a kayak, a SUP board, or a hand-winched block ferry – an unforgettable experience especially if you are travelling with children. You can explore the island on your own or hire a guide. The Varjakka area also has a beach, the all-year Warjakka Art Trail, and a B&B accommodation.

South of Varjakka Island, there is the 263-hectare nature reserve of Akionlahti, a popular resting place for migrating birds. The area has a nature trail, a tower for birdwatching, and a campfire site.

Just a ten-minute walk from the city centre, Kuusisaari Island offers a variety of recreational opportunities and an active day out in a wonderful setting by the river. The island’s campfire sites are regularly used throughout the year, and plenty of fishing spots are available, too. The spacious lawns provide a great setting for enjoying a sunny summer day on a relaxed picnic, for example.

For those in search of active leisure activities, street basketball is the best way to get fit! At the end of the day, you can take a dip in the river or watch the local football club play at the nearby stadium. By the way, Kuusisaari is also the number one location to watch in Oulu’s lively summer calendar. Festivals, concerts, and other events will take you to holiday mood with rock, pop, and metal music every summer.

With its splendid sunsets, Nallikari is home to a lighthouse – actually, a lookout tower – that is a must for countless holiday photos and a landmark loved by locals. The unique landmark was completed in 1988 and designed by architects of the Oulu School of Architecture. The tower offers excellent opportunities for taking photos, enjoying the sea view, or staring at stars late in late evening. This is a popular spot for taking unhurried promenades, snapping selfies, or just spending quiet time by the calm sea. Romantics find their way to the lighthouse for summer sunsets.

In the summer, the lookout tower offers a view over the pearly Nallikari Beach as sunbathers crowd the Riviera of the North. In wintertime, you can watch locals spend hours ice-fishing, skiing, fatbiking, or kite skiing. When darkness falls, you may also be lucky enough to spot the Northern Lights flickering across the night sky.

The protected area of Letonniemi is an important destination for education and research of post-glacial rebound, showcasing seaside nature and how areas like this turn from sea into forest. It is located only six kilometres from the city centre. A 2.7-kilometre nature trail provides a great opportunity to discover the lush and versatile vegetation. Along the trail, there is an old seafaring navigation device, now standing on solid ground 150 metres from the shore in the middle of the woods. The small lighthouse was built in the 1940s to guide ships to Toppila harbour. In those days, sea level was much higher than today, and Piispanletto in the middle of the area was still an island – the word “letto” means a small, bare island in the local dialect.

In Piispanletto, you will find a resting shelter with a campfire site and a birdwatching tower for the best view of the coast and the sea. Taking and harming of plants and plant parts is forbidden in Letonniemi protected area. Picking berries and mushrooms is allowed, however.

When you reach the Market Square and its landmarks – the Market Hall, the old granaries, and the Market Square Policeman’s statue keeping the peace – you know you have arrived in the local people’s summertime living room.

From early morning on, the summery Market Square bustles with travellers and local residents, along with vegetable and food vendors as well restaurant keepers serving customers till late evening. The old, multi-coloured granaries house not only restaurants but also tiny, charming boutiques selling handicraft products, clothes, and decoration items.

Patrolling in front of the Market Hall and keeping a watchful eye on the visitors is the Market Square Policeman, a plump statue as a reminder of the times when real policemen were guarding the area. The vibrant harbour and export hub of the 18th century gradually became less busy, and the market area became a meeting place for city folk and visitors from the countryside. The policement were needed for upholding law and order.

Warjakka B&B provides relaxed and friendly accommodation near the coast of Bothnia Bay, just 10 min from Oulu airport, 10 min from Hailuoto ferry and 20 min from Oulu city center.
Perfect for couples, families and small groups of up to 20 people looking for some quiet time in the countryside.
Welcome to our home!

A walking distance from the city centre, you will find the historical industrial complex of Brothers Åstrom tannery. Since 1988, the former steam power plant of the tannery has housed the first science centre in Finland – Tietomaa Science Centre. The tower standing next to the centre was designed by Birger Federley and completed in 1921. Originally it served as the tannery’s water tower. Now the tower offers a wonderful view of the estuary and over the city of Oulu.

You can reach the top observation deck at 35 metres easily with a panoramic lift. When descending along the staircase, you can enjoy the tower’s exhibitions and a Northern Lights presentation. You can buy tickets to the tower at the counter of the Science Centre.

You have 60 minutes, can you get out..?

Can you escape the infamous Alcatraz? Or find the Dead Man’s Island in Caribbean in a pirate ship? Or solve mysteries of a famous magician?
Exit Oulu is the biggest room escape game organiser in Oulu with 12 differently themed games in four locations all located conveniently in Oulu city centre.

Each of our 12 games is designed to be played by team of 2-6 persons, so we can host games for up to 70 players at the same time.

There are bars in our Rotuaari and Uusikatu 22 venues. We can also provide catering services for groups. (Pre-booking required.)

A french bistro with a joie de vivre

This happy French bistro welcomes you to the pulsating heart of Oulu, the restaurant at the base of Original Sokos Hotel Arina. We combine a relaxed atmosphere with love for and enjoyment of good food in an atmospheric environment right next to the Otto Karhi Park.

Our menu offers you and your friends unique rural French experiences. Fresh ingredients combined with traditional French recipes and new creations by our chefs guarantee a great meal experience for all tastes. Our extensive and carefully composed wine selection complements your experience.

Like us and keep in touch: Facebook @fransetcamilleoulu Instagram @fransetcamille

Always something going on!

Amarillo in Oulu connects both friends and strangers, who can enjoy themselves at the same table until the early hours.

The menu includes famous classics from Big Burgers to Margaritas, as well as an extensive range of fresh new flavours in Amarillo’s style. The current “social dining” trend is at its best at Amarillo, because many of the dishes are suitable for sharing.

Every Friday and Saturday at 20.00, Amarillo arranges a meal experience known as The Table with unique drinks and dishes, where anyone can take part by reserving a table. This is something everybody should experience – alone or with friends.

Welcome to Amarillo in Oulu!

Follow us on social media:

Facebook @amarillo.oulu
Instagram @amarillo_oulu

On this ocean adventure we will learn the basic skills on paddling a stand up paddle board (SUP). We will also focus on how to paddle safely and on a sustainable manner protecting the nature.
This paddling trip suits beginners and experts alike. We will provide you with all the SUP equipment needed. Just wear some sporty clothing and bring your adventurous spirit – Lappis will take care of the rest. We will ensure You’ll have a relaxing and a memorable paddling experience. We will paddle on a slow and easy pace, everyone can tag along on this journey.
What is included: guidance in English, SUPboard, live vest, paddle and waterproof cellphone case
Good to know:
• This adventure requires basic physical fitness and is recommended for children of 10 years or older.

Start the day with your local guide who will introduce you the secrets of Fatbiking. Even though the fatbikes look sturdy, they are great fun to ride and surprisingly agile, giving you a feeling of floating even on rugged terrain. After the guided tour, the guide will give you the best tips to explore the beautiful nature by yourself.
What is included: guidance in English, helmet and fatbike
Good to know:
• This adventure requires basic physical fitness and is recommended for children of 10 years or older.

Raahe is full of history and maritime experiences!

Take a day trip from Oulu to Raahe for a full day of experiences! In Raahe, you can stroll through the atmospheric quarters of Old Town Raahe, stop at cafés and museums, shop in boutiques or enjoy a maritime experience on an archipelago cruise, by paddling or stand-up paddle boarding (SUP). Bicycle rental is also possible.

The Saaga Travel day trip bus to Raahe runs on Thursdays from 30 June to 4 August 2022 as a guaranteed departure. The trip is organized if there is at least one participant. The bus leaves from Kaarlenväylä street next to Oulu Market Square at 10.00.We will be back in the center of Oulu at 6 p.m.

We organize also private tours from Oulu to Raahe on request – ask for a quote!

De Gamlas Hem Hotel & Restaurant is fully renovated, 17 room boutique hotel in a heritage protected building near the centre of Oulu. As early as in 1906, the building was used to house, care for, and provide food for elderly upper-class women from Oulu. It was a private retirement home. Swedish fighter pilots were also housed in the building during the World War II. Today, we welcome you to this wooden Art Nouveau villa to enjoy some peace, quiet and delicious food among the beautiful ceramic tiled stoves and log walls.

We offer beautifully furnished and well-equipped guest rooms with high-quality, extremely comfortable beds. We want to ensure that all our guests enjoy a peaceful night’s sleep. To preserve the building’s historical and cultural value, the floor plans are original and unchanged. We are committed to make your stay unforgettable!

The unique Hailuoto is the largest island in the Gulf of Bothnia, where you can spend a varied summer day enjoying the outdoors, beach life, culture and good food.

The Saaga Travel day trip bus is an easy way to visit Hailuoto. The bus runs between Marjaniemi fishermen’s village, the village center and Ailasto during the day, so you can combine different destinations of the island to your visit.

Example itineraries for a perfect day in Hailuoto:

1. Go first to Marjaniemi fishermen’s village. Explore the beach, take photos, climb the lighthouse, enjoy lunch at one of the restaurants and buy freshly smoked fish from the smokery. Hop on the bus and go the Hailuoto village center. Visit Hailuoto Organic Brewery, enjoy locally produced beer in the atmospheric pub, and buy local handicrafts in Luovon Puoji just next to the brewery.

2. Get off the bus at Ailasto and make a nature excursion to Hyypänmäki, the highest point of Hailuoto (31 m) with interesting history. Enjoy lunch in Ailasto. Take the bus to Marjaniemi and take a swim in the sea before heading back to Oulu.

The Saaga Travel day trip from the center of Oulu to Hailuoto island is organized on Wednesdays and Sundays from June 29 to August 7, 2022 as a guaranteed departure. If there is one participant, the tour is organized.

We organize also private tours from Oulu to Hailuoto on request.

Experience the lively atmosphere of the Stone Age at Kierikki Stone Age village on a day trip from Oulu!

Kierikki Stone Age Centre is beautifully located on the banks of the Iijoki River, less than an hour’s drive from Oulu. Kierikki is a combination of an archeological museum and modern log architecture. The Kierikki main building is one of the most magnificent and largest log buildings in Europe and it has won several awards and host to an archeological exhibition.

You can explore the outdoor area in Stone Age village on your own. There is a guide in the Stone Age village and nice things to do for the whole family. Guests can also explore the archeological excavations.

The café-restaurant in the main building offers a selection of refreshments, hot and cold drinks, as well as sweet and savory items. In the museum shop you will find personal souvenirs.

The Saaga Travel day trip from Oulu to Kierikki is organized on Saturdays from July 2 to August 6, 2022 as a guaranteed departure. If there is one participant, the tour is organized.

We organize also private tours from Oulu to Kierikki on request – ask for a quote!

We welcome you to this wooden Art Nouveau villa to enjoy some peace, quiet and delicious food among the beautiful ceramic tiled stoves and log walls.

Cozy and delicious! The ideology behind our charming and atmospheric restaurant is based on our very own vision that combines modern cuisine with De Gamlas Hem’s traditions.

Join us for a day trip from Oulu to Liminka Bay, where you can visit the interesting Eight Seasons of Birds exhibition at the Liminka Bay Visitor Centre and follow birdlife at the Virkkula Bird Tower. A birdlife guide is present at the bird tower at 10-12 am (weather permitting). There are also well-marked mountain biking trails starting form the visitor centre.

Cafe-Restaurant Liminganlahti serves customers at the visitor centre building. Own snacks can be enjoyed by the visitor centre campfire place.

The Saaga Travel bus leaves from Kaarlenväylä from Oulu Market Square at 9.30. The return from Liminka Bay back to Oulu leaves at 13.00. For an additional fee, you can also take your own bike.

This day trip is operated on Fridays 1.7.-5.8.2022.

Koitelinkoski is a wonderful nature destination for the whole family, only half an hour’s drive from Oulu.

In the area you can admire the rapids of the Kiiminkijoki River, walk on the nature trails on the islands of the river, have picnic on the rocks and campfire sites, or enjoy the delicacies of the café and ice cream kiosk. There are also play stands for children in the area.

The Saaga Travel day trip from Oulu to Koitelinkoski is organized on Fridays from 1 July to 12 August 2022 as a guaranteed departure. The trip is organized if there is at least one participant.

The bus leaves from Kaarlenväylä street from Oulu Market Square at 11.30. The total duration of the trip is 3.5 hours.

We organize also private tours from Oulu to Koitelinkoski on request – ask for a quote!

Welcome to guided bike tour from Nallikari to Oulu city center! We drive cycleways trough Pikisaari to city center. We visit Market Place, City Hall and Catherdral from outside. The tour ends in Nallikari. Guide will tell you information and stories from Oulu and Oulu region. You will get tips for shopping and events. You can rent bikes from Nallikari holiday village. Rental is not included in the price of tour. For families, small groups and companies.

Welcome to Oulu! Guided city walking tour.

History and present shortly told by an authorized tourist guide: Market Place, City Hall, Cathedral. Tips for places to visit, shopping and events.

Guided transportation from Oulu Airport to your accommodation to Oulu city center. The guide will pick you or your group up from airport. On the way you will hear stories and information of Oulu and Oulu region. You will get tips of events and shopping. 30 min tour in Oulu city center is included.

Welcome to a minivan trip to Hailuoto. We pick you up from Oulu city center and bring you back after the trip. Guide will be with you troughout the trip. You hear stories and information from Hailuoto, Oulu and Oulu region. We visit Hailuoto Organum, wich is a concrete piece of spatial art by Hai Art in Ulkokarvo. The piece was designed by a distinguished acoustic artist, Lukas Kühne. We can enjoy snacks, in the nearby Petsamo hut, on an open fire. Then we drive to Marjaniemi, where you can get to know the area with guide or independently. Possibility for shopping also. If you like to have a meal in restaurant in Hailuoto, it is better to book advance. It is also possible to visit Hailuoto Brewery, when it is open. For companies, groups and families.

Welcome to a minivan trip to Turkansaari Open Air Museum. The museum is located in three island in Oulujoki. The main themes of the museum are traditional agriculture and forestry, fishing and Oulu’s history of tar. We pick you up from Oulu city center and bring you back after the trip. The guide will be with you throughout the trip. From the guide you hear stories and information of Turkansaari, Oulu and Oulu region. Turkansaari Open Air Museum is open 6.6.-29.8. Mon-Sun from 10 a.m. to 18 p.m. In the museum area is Café, where you could have traditional salmon soup for lunch from 11 a.m. to 15 p.m. Tickets 10 € adult, children under 18 years free. Museum tickets and lunch are not included in the price of the trip. For Companies, groups and families.

Hugo is a relaxed, rough-and-ready wine bar and restaurant where the wine has pride of place. In the kitchen, local ingredients fuse with tastes from around the world. Make Hugo your living room, a place to meet friends and the highlight of your weekend. The moment you raise your glasses to celebrate something special or just the great mood around the table.

Tourist Information Office in Oulu offers you practical advice and tips for your visit to Oulu about events, accommodation, restaurants, attractions and places to visit.

More to that, Tourist Information Office provides you with a customer tablet, an open wireless network (panOulu), a charging point for smartphones, brochures, themed walking and cycling maps. In our Oulu Shop you can find local and responsible souvenirs.

On summer our customer service is also on wheels! You can see our tourist officers biking through the city from Nallikari beach to railway station, handing out maps and brochures and answering your questions. We are at your service!

Experience charming Ii on a day trip from Oulu!

The tour starts from the historic district of Ii with a short introduction to the homeland museum exhibition, after which there is time to explore the old Ii historic district (Iin Wanha Hamina) on your own. Visit also the Ii Church and enjoy refreshments at Café Wanha Hamina.

Next, our trip continues to the Art Center KulttuuriKauppila, where we have a guided art exhibition tour.

At the end of the tour, we will visit the new suspension bridge in Jakkukylä. Completed in December 2021, the longest suspension bridge in northern Europe crosses the Iijoki River, which is almost 200 meters wide. The bridge has quickly become one of Ii’s most popular attractions.

The Saaga Travel day trip from Oulu to Ii is organized on Tuesdays 5.7., 12.7. and 19.7.2022 as a guaranteed departure. If there is one participant, the tour is organized. Duration of the trip is five hours.

We organize also private tours from Oulu to Ii on request.

The programme introduces to the sounds, flora and fauna of the season.

Finland has four unique seasons. Light-filled summer, when Oulu is bright even at night. Our area’s birds and late summer berry reserves are second to none.

The colorful autumn brings with it migratory birds, dark nights and our pure nature is slowly turning into a mushroom-hunter’s paradise before frost-glazed winter.

Winters in Oulu are crisp, glittery and full of snow. It is the time for warm woolen jumpers and windproof jacket. Winter is also time for darkness but also time for peace and quiet in our forests.

Bloom-covered spring is also time for wild herbs. In the spring and early summer, nature provides an abundant harvest of wild edible plants for anyone to pick. It is easy to fond fresh, nutrient-rich ingredients for salads, seasonings and herbal beverages.

Finland is home to the world’s largest archipelago and has more than 80,000 islands off its coast. Our excursion destination is Akio Island, which is slowly becoming part of the mainland due to the region’s strong land uplift. The nesting birds in the area are rich in both species and numbers, and the surrounding sea area is an important resting area for migratory birds.

Did You know, that all people have the right to enjoy nature anywhere in the Finnish countryside regardless of land ownership? The legal concept of “Everyman’s Right” in Finland extends immense freedom to roam but comes with some serious responsibilities. Primary of all is a mutual respect for nature and people. The golden rule requires a desire to preserve and protect the unspoiled beauty and wonder of nature for future generations to enjoy.

Good walking condition required (includes ~3 km of walking).

Explore Oulu from the sea and as close to the sea as you can get! Be prepared for an unforgettable outdoor
excursion in Oulu!
City of Oulu by kayak is the defining paddling trip, our 2 hour guided kayak tour through the Oulu and
characterized by its clear waters and nature.
The kayaks used on the trip are easy to handle and very stable – This paddling trip suits beginners and experts alike.
We will provide you with all the kayaking equipment needed. Just wear some sporty clothing and bring your
adventurous spirit – Lappis will take care of the rest. We will ensure You’ll have a relaxing and a memorable paddling experience.
We will paddle on a slow and easy pace, everyone can tag along on this journey.
What is included: guidance in English, kayak, live vest, paddle, spraydeck and waterproof cellphone case

Maikkula Mansion has been one of the great houses on the Oulujoki River for centuries. On entering the courtyard, the view is the same as that seen by travellers back in the 19th century. The mansion grounds and the buildings, once forgotten, are valuable conservation sites that have been restored to their former glory using traditional methods and with respect for history.
Maikkula Mansion´s kitchen prepares meals on site, using carefully selected ingredients. For example, in the summer 30-40 lambs from Pudasjärvi graze in the pastures of the Mansion and are raised for the needs of the restaurant. For us, food is the number one thing and we want our customers to enjoy good Finnish local food with personal service in a wonderful setting.

Maikkula Mansion is a charter restaurant and in the area there are saunas and six different celebration spaces, where you can organize celebrations for 10 to 250 people.

Come with us to enjoy in the arms of the Finnish forest. During the nature walk we challenge our senses to hear, feel and see the surrounding nature holistically.

Breathing exercises soothe us by the trees. We hear local stories and learn what the forest means to Finns. A relaxing moment in clean, Finnish nature increases health and relieves stress. In summer this can be arranged also during the night.

After the walk we sit by the campfire. Everyone gets to make a memory for themselves; a little piece of jewerly made from a local reed.

Coffee/tea with a little sweet and sausages are served.

With more than 50 shops, Valkea is a unique site consisting of two blocks and a covered area, Summer Street. Summer Street is a new venue for events and a meeting place, where pleasant cafés and a cheerful atmosphere invite people to enjoy the hustle and bustle of the city. The wide selection of shops offer cosmetics, jewellery, fashion, interior decoration, books, electronics, well-being products and much more. The seven restaurants of Kööki constitute the heart of the shopping centre. Sokos Herkku, the best-quality grocery shop in northern Finland, serves customers under the street level. Sokos Herkku is known for its excellent selection of local food and organic products.

Ever made an ice fishing trip with a husky sled? Our Arctic huskies take you to the best fishing spots on the frozen sea. Ice fishing in the hope of the The Big Catch or – if Mother Nature is not favourable – inventing The Greatest Fishing Story of All Times. Return to the shore in a husky sled.

Suitable mainly for over 12-year-olds.

The national romantic spirit of the twentieth century was brought to life in the architecture of Oulujoki church, completed in 1908. The church was designed by the architect Viktor J. Sucksdorff of Oulu province, and it also contains Karelian influences. The atmospheric church is the only preserved wooden church in the art nouveau style in Northern Finland.

In 1984, as a result of the restoration work planned by Anna-Kaisa Ylimaula, the church was restored as closely as possible to its original appearance. Visitors to the church can see how the roof and the bell tower in particular reach upwards. On the second clock of the tower, an inscription has been made asking for a blessing for the Finnish people.

This church is part of the Oulujoki Pilgrimage route. Read more from the web page!

The six buildings in the area allow for a wide variety of meetings. The number of participants can range from 10 to 100 people. In addition to the traditional meeting room, we have a variety of personalised celebration spaces. Some rooms have the added bonus of a stunning river view, and there is plenty of courtyard space for outdoor activities on meeting days. Our kitchen prepares the food for the meeting day, which allows you to brainstorm efficiently throughout the day. Your meeting equipment includes a data projector, screen and flipchart. Sound systems are available in the main building and in the Great Barn, and wireless internet is available in the area.

Our own authentic cuisine – the best from local seasonal ingredients. We offer both our hotel guests and local people delicious, uncomplicated food that is sure to please every palate. A dinner for two or for a family, a more formal evening or a banquet – Bistro will meet your ex-pectations in terms of both taste and ambience.

The oldest wooden church in the Oulu urban area serves as a summer church and is located in Madekoski, in the Turkansaari open-air museum area. Nowadays it functions as a beautiful wedding venue for many summer weddings. In the Middle Ages, the island was the westernmost marketplace for Russians and Karelians. As was typical of the time, the church was built in connection with the marketplace. The fishing industry also had an important role on the island.

When the days of trade and fishing were over, the church was demolished and transferred to Raati island, where it served for years as a storehouse until Östen Elfving, founder of the Turkansaari open-air museum, bought it and returned it to original location in 1922.

This church is part of the Oulujoki Pilgrimage route. Read more from the web page!

Mansion´s saunas are located on the banks of the Oulu River and are heated all year round by reservation. In summer, you can also enjoy a refreshing river bath directly from the sauna benches. The smoke sauna is a traditional wood-fired sauna with gentle heat and a capacity of up to 15 people at a time. The Korsusauna is also wood-heated and can seat up to 25 people at a time. There is also an electric heated sauna on the beach, the Salmon Sauna for eight people. The price of the sauna includes towels, soap and toiletries.

You can find souvenirs and gifts at the Oulu Tourist Information Office. The Oulu Shop product selection includes popular Oulu products, such as fridge magnets featuring the Market Square Policeman.

Local craftspeople and companies sell humorously Ouluesque souvenirs at the Tourist Information Office. What better way to remember your Oulu trip than with earrings or a necklace made of the inner tubes of bicycles by local artisan! Oulu-themed postcards, books, posters and design products can also be found here. Enjoy shopping in Oulu!

It is easy to feel comfortable in this central hotel decorated in Scandinavian style. The shopping streets are close by. The hotel restaurant Torilla, which can be divided into smaller sections, serves both hotel residents and the people of the city.

A peaceful hotel in the centre of Oulu, near the railway station. Friendly service, refurbished rooms, a comfortable restaurant and a relaxation suite with sauna and swimming pool guarantee a relaxing visit. The hotel also has modern meeting facilities and good parking opportunities.

This exclusive wildlife tour takes you to the most remote areas in Europe, near the eastern border of Finland. Tour includes a lot of new experiences, long day tours on the tracks of wolves and wolverines, optional sleeping in the hide; your wildlife vacation is full of exciting moments! You will have also a good time enjoying the silence and rest during your wilderness holiday.

Learning about the wildlife and wolves is always interesting. Also, skills of managing in the wilderness are included in this winter tour. A bit of luck is needed to see the magnificent Northern Lights and these timid wild animals. Sea eagles and golden eagles are living here, so it might be possible that you see these big birds gliding silently above the untouched white snowfields.

One of our unique skills is to make beautiful meals in nature. So, welcome and enjoy. Feel free to make contact and tell us about your expectations and needs. We will make your wilderness holiday dreams come true!

Oulu August Festival is an event entity of six festivals and additional program, which attracts approximately 60,000 visitors annually. A month-long celebration of culture features hundreds of events in the city of Oulu and its surroundings, ranging from music and cinema to literature and performance arts.

The members of Oulu August Festival are Elojazz, Oulunsalo Soi Chamber Music Festival, Literary Art Festival Muusajuhlat, Oulu Arts Night, Oulu Music Video Festival, Air Guitar World Championships and Flow Productions. The members organize high-quality cultural events in August.

Oulu August Festival also offers other events, such as macro concerts, Oulu August Festival Presents event series (rotating every other year), Choir Day and silent films.

Oulu August Festival has the EcoCompass environmental certificate.

The beautiful Oulu Cathedral stands in Oulu’s monumental centre, on the same site where several church buildings were located over the centuries, with the oldest dating back to the late sixteenth century. The wooden church that was built on the site in the 1610s was replaced by a cathedral designed by Daniel Hagman of Sweden and completed in 1777. The cathedral, built of natural stone, was so big that all the 2,400 inhabitants of Oulu could fit in it at the same time!

Throughout the centuries, densely built wooden towns were vulnerable to urban fires. The Oulu fire of 1822 completely destroyed the wooden structures of the cathedral. The movable property was saved in time, and the fire left only the stone walls standing. The current stone cathedral was completed in 1832 according to the neoclassical designs of C. L. Engel. The most notable work of art in the cathedral is the portrait of Johannes Messenius, painted in 1611.

Among the cloud cherry trees in the garden is the Pikku-Sofia church for children. It is a model of Oulu’s very first wooden church from the late sixteenth century.

This church is part of the Oulujoki Pilgrimage route. Read more from the web page!