| Oulu | ||
 | ||
Coat of arms and flag   | ||
| State | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Altitude | 0-60 m a.s.l. | |
| Surface | 369.43 km² | |
| Inhabitants | 198.804 (2016 estimate)--> | |
| POSTAL CODE | 90100, 90120, 90130, 90140, 90150, 90220, 90230, 90240, 90250, 90310, 90400, 90410, 90420, 90500, 90510, 90520, 90530, 90540, 90550, 90560, 90570, 90580, 90590, 90600, 90620, 90630, 90650, 90660, 90670, 90800 | |
| Time zone | UTC 2 | |
Position
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| Tourism site | ||
| Institutional website | ||
Oulu (in SwedishUleåborg) is a city of the Northern Finland.
To know
Oulu is the capital of the province of the same name and of the northern Ostrobothnia region. It is the sixth city of Finalndia and an important technological hub so much so that many IT industries such as Nokia have offices here and nearby.
How to orient yourself
Oulu: full screen map.How to get
By plane
L'Oulu airport is the most important airport in Finland after Helsinki, served in particular by Finnair is Norwegian.
Bus 9 (~ 5 €) connects the airport to the city center in 30 minutes. Quite frequent runs from 06:25 to about 21:00. After 21:00 there are less frequent runs until 01:30. A taxi ride costs around € 30.
On the train
Oulu is on the line between Helsinki is Rovaniemi. The fastest train from Helsinki takes about 6 hours (€ 72), while the night trains take 9 hours (€ 64 plus sleeper at € 12 / € 31 per bed). Most modern trains have sleeper cabs with showers.
By bus
From Helsinki it takes 9½ to 15 hours for a cost of € 70-80. Timetables and more info on Matkahuolto
Omnibus offers low cost connections to Oulu from various cities in the Finland.
How to get around
By public transport
Public transport is operated by Koskilinjat. A single ticket (kertalippu) in the city costs € 3.30 (€ 1.60 children aged 4-11). Between 11pm and 4am a single costs € 6.20. The single ticket allows you to travel for 60 minutes. A day ticket (matkailijalippu) allows unlimited bus travel for 24 hours and costs € 14.40 (€ 7.20 for children). Try to plan your trips in advance using maps and remember that it is rare to find drivers who speak English.
By taxi
- Taxify is an app for booking taxis and manages over 150 in Oulu. It works with Android, iOS and Windows Phone. Easy to use, just choose the nearest taxi.
What see
- 1 Oulun Taidemuseo (Art Museum), Kasarmintie 7, ☎ 358 855847450.
3€. 
Wed-Sun 10: 00-17: 00. Two-story museum with a good collection of modern art. 
- 2 Tiedekeskus Tietomaa (science Museum), Nahkatehtaankatu 2. 13 € full 10 € children aged 6/15. Mon-Sun 10: 00-19: 00.
- 3 Oulun linna (castle). In reality, not much remains of the castle, which was destroyed by an explosion of the gunpowder depot in the eighteenth century. Today it is a nice public park.
3€. 
Wed-Sun 10: 00-17: 00. Two-story museum with a good collection of modern art.
Events and parties
- [link not working]Qstock. Rock Festival.
- International Air Guitar Festival.
What to do
- 1 Rotuaari. From the French trottoir, is the pedestrian street where you can spend your time all year round. Part of the road was renovated with a lot of heating in 2011, which frees it from ice during the winter.
- Nallikari and the resort Eden. Better in summer but you can swim all year round in Eden (temperature 26 ° C). You can also swim (cold) in the river.
Public swimming pools
- 2 Oulun uimahalli (Raksila), ☎ 358 8 558 48100. € 4.50 swimming pool or gym. Mon-Wed, Fri 6: 15-22: 00, Thu 7: 00-22: 00, Sat-Sun 8: 00-16: 45. One of the largest in Finland.
- 3 Raatin uimahalli (Raatti), ☎ 358 8 558 48105. € 4.50 swimming pool or gym. Mon, Wed-Fri 6: 15-21: 45, Tue 7: 00-21: 45, Sat-Sun 8: 00-20: 45. Smaller than the previous one.
Indoor activity
- 4 Snooker Time, Asemakatu 28. Billiards.
- 5 Pelibunkkeri, Kansankatu 47. Zone Laser Tag, air hockey, and video games.
- Oulu bowling alley (Oulun keilahalli). Over 20 bowling lanes € 15-18 per hour per lane, plus € 2.50 for shoe rental. Also pool tables.
Shopping
How to have fun
Night clubs
- 1 1bar, Kauppurienkatu 5. .
- 2 45 Special, Saaristonkatu 12, ☎ 358 8 8811 845.
- 3 Amarillo, Kirkkokatu 15, ☎ 358 8 312 3100. Mon-Thu 11: 00-00: 30, Fri-Sat 11: 00-23; 30, Sun 12: 00-23: 00. Bar on the pro floor and night club below. Tex-mex cuisine too.
- 4 Apollo Live Club, Torikatu 21-23. Wed, Fri, Sat 22: 00-04: 00. Dance club.
- 5 Glory, Torikatu 21-23. Combined with the Apollo Live Club, pub with karaoke and live music in separate areas
- 6 Gaius, Sammonkatu 10, ☎ 358 8 556 2286. Quiet bar with billiards.
- 7 Grails, Saaristonkatu 5. 14:00-03:00.
- 8 Hevimesta, Torikatu 11. Hard Rock / Metal club.
- 9 Kuluma, Kauppurienkatu 5. 11:00-2:00. Ideal for those who love cocktails.
- 10 [link not working]Never Grow Old, Hallituskatu 17. Sun-Thu 18: 00-14: 00, Fri 16: 00-3: 00, Sat 18: 00-3: 00. Jamaican bar. Red Stripe and Reggae.
- 11 Nuclear Nightclub, Uusikatu 23. Wed-Sat 20: 00-4: 00. Live music: indie, jazz, metal, electronic.
- 12 Tivoli, Isokatu 35. Four different rooms with four different styles: disco, rock, suomipop and "Saucepan".
- 13 Oluthuone Leskinen, Kirkkokatu 10, ☎ 358 8 311 7993. 12-02. Irish pub.
- 14 Public House Pivo, Asemakatu 21 (Close to the cathedral). Inspirational pub Czech (at least in the name). Above average beer selection and friendly staff. Interesting and sometimes eclectic music selection.
- 15 Sarkka, Hallituskatu 13-17. 21:00-2:00.
- 16 Yöhuikka, Mäkelininkatu 13. Cloakroom 2 €. Fri-Sat 11 pm-4am. Small gay-friendly nightclub. No entrance ticket.
Where to eat
In Oulu there are many restaurants of all kinds, from Scandinavian cuisine to ethnic cuisine without forgetting the fast food chains and pizzerias, some of which are very good and cheap.
Where stay
Moderate prices
- 1 Lasaretti hotels, Kasarmintie 13, ☎ 358 20 757 4700. One of the cheapest.
- 2 Nallikari Lomakylä-Camping, Leiritie 10, ☎ 358 44 7031353. 36 € for a 4-person cottage. Absolutely the cheapest.
- 3 Kempeleen Moottorimaja, Sohjanantie 3, Kempele (9 km south of the city center; accessible by car, bus # 9 or taxi), ☎ 358 8 515 566. Single € 25, double € 40/50, quadruple € 65/75. Breakfast 4 € / pax. Clean rooms with refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker and television.
Average prices
- Holiday Club Oulun Eden, Vellamontie 10, ☎ 358 20 1234 905. Spa hotel on Nallikari beach.
- 4 Best Western Hotel Apollo, Asemakatu 31-33, ☎ 358 8 5 2211. From 69 €, breakfast included.
- 5 Cumulus Hotel, Kajaaninkatu 17, ☎ 358 8 882 7111. Very popular hotel, both for business and pleasure.
- 6 Airport Hotel, Vihiluoto 10 (5 minutes from the airport), ☎ 358 8 5145 100, fax: 358 8 5145 200, @[email protected]. Mon-Fri single € 100, double € 120. Sat-Sun single € 75, double € 85. Decent airport hotel.
- Hotelli Forenom, Rautatienkatu 9 (In front of the train station.), ☎ 358 20 1983 415.
- Sokos Hotel Arina, Pakkahuoneenkatu 16, ☎ 358 8 312 3111.
- Pohto Hotel Kortteeri, Vellamontie 12, ☎ 358 10 843 4500.
- 7 Forenom Oulu Uusikatu (Apartment hotel Forenom), Uusikatu 26, ☎ 358 20 198 3420, @[email protected]. ~100€. Residence, former Omenahotel Oulu with 123 rooms, free wifi with shared kitchen and laundry.
High prices
- 8 Radisson SAS, Hallituskatu 1, ☎ 358 8 8877 666. One of the best in town.
- 9 Scandic Oulu, Saaristonkatu 4 (In the city center), ☎ 358 8 543 1000. Double 146 € (May 2010).
- 10 Lapland hotel Oulu, Kirkkokatu 3 (350m from the tourist information center, behind the cathedral), ☎ 358 8 8811110. 130 €. Former Holiday inn Oulu, now completely renovated.
Safety
Oulu is a quiet city overall, but still be careful and use common sense. Some outlying areas such as Kaukovainio is Meri-Toppila they have a bad reputation and should be avoided especially at night.
How to keep in touch
Around
- Hailuoto - The largest island in the Gulf of Bothnia and a great destination for a day trip. Accessible by ferry, or even by bus or your own car.
- Iso-Syöte - The closest place to go skiing.
- Kuusamo - Another place to visit if you want to continue the journey north towards the Finnish Lapland.
- Koitelinkoski - Kiiminkijoki River Rapids approximately 25 minutes drive from Oulu.
