Oulu Attractions
Post code: SF-90100
Telephone code: 8
Oulu (Swedish Uleåborg), chief town of Oulu province and the see of a bishop, lies near the north end of the Gulf of Bothnia at the mouth of the Oulujoki.
Telephone code: 8
Oulu (Swedish Uleåborg), chief town of Oulu province and the see of a bishop, lies near the north end of the Gulf of Bothnia at the mouth of the Oulujoki.
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Tietomaa Science Center
To the east of the Oulu Botanic Garden, beyond a small stream, is the Tietomaa Science Center, an introduction to science for the whole family, with an observatory, a computer exhibition and a cinema showing films on science and natural history.
There are over 150 exhibits with changing themes and a glass elevator that offers a spectacular view over Oulu.
There are over 150 exhibits with changing themes and a glass elevator that offers a spectacular view over Oulu.
Hours
January 7 to February 15
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
February 16 to June 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
July 1 to August 16
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 |
August 17 to October 4
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
October 5 to October 25
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
October 26 to December 23
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
December 27 to December 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
December 31 to December 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 |
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Disabled
Partial facilities for persons with disabilities.
Facilities
Gift shop
Restaurant or food service
Restaurant or food service
Ainola Park
From the north end of Kirkkokatu in Oulu a small bridge leads into the beautiful Ainola Park, on an island. At the west end of the island is a handsome building (1930) which houses the Municipal Library (Kirjasto) and the Provincial Museum (historical and ethnographic collections; exhibition on Lapland). In front of the building a stone commemorates the writer Saara Wacklin (1790-1846), a native of Oulu. Farther north is the Botanic Garden and on the island of Hupisaari a summer theater.
Castle Island
To the east of the Oulu Market Square are two bridges leading on to Linnansaari (Castle Island), on which there are the scanty remains of the Castle (built 1590), which was destroyed by an explosion in 1793 (summer cafe). The road continues over another arm of the river to the island of Raatinsaari, with a park, a stadium, an indoor swimming pool and a number of high-rise towers.
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Haukipudas, Finland
(Near Oulu)
20km/12.5mi north of Oulu is Haukipudas, with a wooden church of 1762 containing wall paintings by the well-known Finnish church painter Mikael Toppelius, and a belfry added in 1751. 17km/10.5mi beyond this is the fishing village of Ii, with old wooden houses in the harbor quarter (Iin Hamina).
International Festival of Children's Films
Oulu International Festival of Children's Films is in November.
The week-long festival includes a competition for the best film, after which directors are presented with a Starboy figurine and cash prize.
The festival includes several dozen feature-length films from throughout the world, and special releases from Finland.
The week-long festival includes a competition for the best film, after which directors are presented with a Starboy figurine and cash prize.
The festival includes several dozen feature-length films from throughout the world, and special releases from Finland.
Liminka, Finland
(Near Oulu)
25km/15mi south of Oulu on Road 4 is Liminka, which has a Historical Museum, housed in an old granary, illustrating the traditional activities of the area (dairy farming, fishing, hunting). There is also a Museum of Art in an old school (1868).
A well-known bird paradise is located on the Bay of Liminka.
A well-known bird paradise is located on the Bay of Liminka.
Modern Residential District
A bridge from Oulu leads north on to the island of Toivoniemi, on which is a modern residential district built in the 1940s to the design of Alvar Aalto. To the east of this is a hydroelectric station powered by the Merikoski, the last of the rapids on the Oulujoki. The power station (by Aarne Ervi, 1949-57) is one of the finest examples of Finnish industrial architecture of the postwar period.
Oulu University
To the north of Oulu, in the Linnanmaa district, is the University with a Geological and a Zoological Museum on the campus.
Town House
Southwest of the Oulu Cathedral, in Hallituskatu, is the Town House (Kaupungintalo; 1894), and beyond this, in Torikatu, the old Town House, now the police headquarters. At the far end of Asemakatu is the Museum of Art.
Tuira
A bridge from Oulu leads to the suburb of Tuira, on the north bank of the river, in which are a number of schools.
To the north of the town, in the Puolivälinkangas district, is the Water Tower (viewing platform).
To the north of the town, in the Puolivälinkangas district, is the Water Tower (viewing platform).
Turkansaari Open-air Museum
13km/8mi southeast of Oulu, on the left bank of the Oulujoki, can be found the Turkansaari open-air museum (which can also be reached from Oulu by boat), with more than 20 old buildings, including a church of 1694. The road continues to Muhos, with the oldest wooden church in Finland (1634). 6km/4mi upstream is the Pyhäkoski hydro-electric power station.
Turkansaari Open-air Museum
Turkansaarentie 165
Box 419
SF-90101 Oulu
Finland
Turkansaarentie 165
Box 419
SF-90101 Oulu
Finland
Hours
May 24 to August 14
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
August 15 to September 15
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 |
Facilities
Restaurant or food service
