Oulu Things to Do

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In the park on Hupisaari you can have a look at the small glass house in which many different tropical plants are growing. The glass house is open until 17:00 and located just beside the cafe Tuomenkukka.

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If you like flowers, in particular roses, then you should pass by the rose garden in the park complex on Hupisaari. Located close to the glass houses you can easily combine your visit with a relaxing stop at the cafe Tuomenkukka.

There’s no place like Pikisaari these days. There’s always someone with an opposing decree or a view. Pikisaari, located only a short walk from Market Square outside of Oulu, used to be a busy industrial region. These days the island is home to a closely-knit artist community of dozens of artists and craftsmen. The old factory buildings on the island have been renovated to act as the working and living quarters of the artists. Idyllic Pikisaari also has the Seaman’s Home Museum, located in the oldest wooden building in Oulu.

You will walk around the island in one hour. There is also a tiny beach which is suitable for swimming!

Just found a nice round tour on the sparetime island Hietasaari. The loop starts just at the edge of Hietasaari when coming from downtown.

To get to this point just take the walk-/bikeway between the theater and the library. You will cross the bridge and follow straight forward the road to a brickstone building in factory look. There keep slightly right to follow the bike/footpath further. You should pass by a tennis court and reach finally the bridge to Hietasaari. Cross it and you are at the starting point of the loop.

The loop has signs showing the way. Look for wooden signs with 'Hietasaarenkierros' inscribed. What has the tour to offer? Well, at first after a long straight forward road you will reach Nallikari beach. Here you can make a short detour to the lookout tower, which is hardly to miss once reaching the seashore. Back on the loop you will now pass Hotel Eden on the beachside. After some hundred meters you will pass one of the many BBQ places in Oulu region. Driving further there are some options to make a stop to have a look at the seaside. There is no beach here anymore, instead nature takes place. Just before the track pulls towards the inner part of Hietasaari, you will pass a birdtower, which you can climb. From here you will have a nice view over the sea towards many small islands, Hailuoto and the penninsulae on which the airport is located. Have seen enough you will now cross the island towards the Oulu side. Even the trail will stay inbetween the trees, there are two small sparetime harbours, where you can have a look towards the downtown of Oulu. Inbetween the two harbours you will pass some nice houses, of which one is form the 18th century. I have to investigate more about it as I did not understand the sign (Finnish) in front of it. Once you pass the second sparetime harbour you are about to reach the point from where you started. The whole loop should be roughly 5 km.

It can be that you will findyourself with mosquitos! There are several wet areas, like channels and wet sea shore.

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Being around in Oulu you should definitely not miss the open-air museum on Turkansaari. There you will find old buildings of the region in which you can have a look at the past of Oulu. The buildings vary from an old church to a forestry building complex showing the living and working conditons of forest workers in the past. At some days you can have a look at how museum workers are making tar.
Don't miss the short nature trail which features several traps for bears, moose, foxes and other animals which were hunted.

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A nice getaway from Oulu for a day is the village Liminka. It is located south of Oulu at the bay with the same name. Several things you can do here.

Close to Liminka there is the Nature Center from where a small trail on duckboards leads to a bird watching tower. The trail also gives an idea on how fast the land rises since the melting of the glaciers at the end of the last iceage. Small signs indicate the shorelines over the last century.

In the village you should have a look at the 'Vanha Liminka' (Old Liminka), where you will find old traditional houses and an open air museum showing how people lived here hundred years ago.

Also nice to see is the church of Liminka.

Check this link for infos on sightseeing in Liminka... (Finnish)
Check this link for an online map of Liminka... (Finnish)
Check this link for infos on birdwatching around Liminka... (Finnish, English)

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Whenever throughout the year it is nice to come here to Nallikari beach. In wintertime the endless ice reaching to the horizont, in summertime the sandy beach call for you.
For wintertime I recommend some warm clothing, which protects against wind, as it might be pretty windy even though it is very cold (I have experience with strong wind at minus 12 degrees).

My Nallikari travelogue...

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Why have a look at the rapids of Kiiminkijoki. Especially when meltingwater is pushing down the Kiiminki river (Kiiminkijoki) it is impressive.
It is a small recreation area, with bridges to two islands and several barbeque places.
Have fun!