Situated in the heart of the fabled
Lapland - the land of the midnight sun and the haunting Northern Lights - Oulu is a lively
university town at the mouth of the Oulu River, in west-central Finland.
| Oulu is a port town of some importance, but its prominence
is largely because of its significance as a centre of both education and religion. The
city has been a bishopric since 1900 and has a historic cathedral too. |
 |
Oulu’s main tourist attraction is the Meri Rapids, along which the city is
built. Other than the rapids, the city also has interesting art galleries and museums,
parks, botanical gardens and cultural venues. Among them, the ones that are highly
recommended include the City Art Museum and the Film Centre. Science and
tech buffs should visit the Tietomaa Science Centre, which is the reason
for Oulu’s fame as center for scientific activity.
The city is brimming with excellent restaurants, bars and pubs, and street musicians
jazz up the streets with performances at every other corner.
Strike out on a limb even if you are mildly adventurous. The neighbouring districts of
Oulu have lots of scope for trekking, walking, fishing and photographing some of
Finland’s virgin territory. Buses from Oulu travel regularly to other towns and
villages in Lapland, or, if you prefer to be on your own, you can hire a car at Oulu to
tour the area.
Oulu is connected by air, train and road to other large cities in Finland. Once
you’re in the city, accommodation can be obtained in one of Oulu’s many hotels
and inns, but if you’re looking for inexpensive accommodation, the local hostel or
campsite might be more suitable.
