Oulu
Region
Arctic Gateway
Finland
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OuluOn Magazine
Publisher: Travel Marketing Oulu Ltd
Layout and content production: Pohjolan Mylly
Edition: Printed in: 20 000 copies
PunaMusta Oy
Arctic Gateway
is in and around
Oulu, the Capital of
Northern Scandinavia
Did you know, that
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•
•
•
•
•
Rotua ri
Piknik
Oulu Airport is Finland’s second busiest after Helsinki-Vantaa?
there are more than 200 international companies in Oulu?
the University of Ouluis among the largest ones in Finland?
Oulu is Finland’s southernmost reindeer husbandry area?
Oulu’s Cathedral houses Finland’s oldest oil painting with an identifiable portrait?
Oulu is the World Capital of Air Guitar?
T
hese are just a few facts on Oulu, the Capital of Northern Scandinavia, also known as the Arctic Gateway. Passenger traffic at the Oulu airport has increased by almost 40 % in 2011 during
which three new flight companies began operating to Oulu. Almost a million passengers a
year pass through the most important airport of Northern Finland. A modern airport with
frequently operated routes is of crucial importance forinternational business, and tourism.
The location of the airport is excellent regarding the the interesting tourism centres in the region of Oulu.
Within a drive of less than two hours, you can travel to north-east from the coastal city to Finland’s
southernmost fell area Syöte, or towards north or south along the coast line for a spot of golf, boating
or a beach holiday. In one hour’s distance to the east is the world’s northernmost Unesco-protected
Geopark area, called Rokua, which was formed over 10,000 years ago by the Ice age. The buzz of history can also be found under an hour away to the sorth at the Kierikki Stone Age centre, located in
Yli-Ii, where an entire stone age village has been reconstructed based on archaeological findings, and
items are collected in the Kierikki museum. The area’s many national parks and nature centres invite
you to experiencethe clean and untouched nature on guided tours. For example the Liminganlahti
nature centre focuses on the special features and species of the world-renowned bird area.
Fly & Drive package gives you the freedom to create your dream holiday at sea, in the city or in the
fells and eskers, and even combine all of these in the same trip.
You can read more about these sites, services and events from this magazine and on our website
www.ouluon.fi
Kaisu Laurila-Seluska
Travel Marketing Oulu Ltd
Managing Director
OuluOn Magazine 2012 - www.ouluon.fi
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Table of contents
Editorial ................................................................. 3
Welcome to Oulu, Finland.................................... 5
Oulu region – Arctic Gateway ............................. 6
A smooth trip to Oulu .......................................... 7
Knowledge, skills and stories ............................. 8
Capital of Northern Scandinavia ........................ 9
Shopping, activities and culture ........................10
Arctic Seasons – the wealth of four seasons ....12
Arctic Summer – Adventures near the water....13
Arctic Autumn – Autumn colours .......................14
4
Arctic Winter with Arctic Activities ......................15
Arctic Spring – Inviting you outdoors..................16
First-class accommodation................................. 17
Oulu menu and lively evenings.......................... 17
A Creative City of Events......................................18
Rich Irish Culture..................................................19
Air guitar festivals – the Right Attitude.............. 20
Freezing fun!........................................................ 22
Service directory.................................................. 23
OuluOn Magazine 2012 - www.ouluon.fi
Arctic Circle
Oulu
Hong Kong
Welcome to
Oulu, Finland
O
On the map, a trip to Oulu, the
Capital of Northern Scandinavia seems long, but when you
fly, Oulu isn’t so far away, as
numerous daily flight connections to Finland’s second busiest airport Oulu bring
tourists to the region in an instant. The
journey to Oulu often runs via HelsinkiVantaa airport, as flights from all over the
world land there. Changing planes is easy,
and a flight from southern Finland takes
less than an hour, or in other words, it
lasts as long as a cup of coffee and the daily
newspaper. You can choose a suitable flight
OuluOn Magazine 2012 - www.ouluon.fi
from over 20 daily flight connections. It is
also possible to land in the Northern Capital from Latvia’s capital, Riga, and from
the capital of Estonia, Tallinn, from which
there is a direct flight to Oulu. New transfer cities during 2012 will be Stockholm in
Sweden and Copenhagen in Denmark.
5
Oulu region
Arctic Gateway
“It’s easy to get to Oulu, as tens of daily flights smoothly bring tourists to the
Oulu region. As you land, you’ll be met by a renovated airport used daily by
six flight operators.” Pekka Mäntynen, Head of Oulu airport.
he journey to Oulu is easy and
effortless, as flight operators
fly tourists to Finland’s second
busiest airport in an instant.
Finnair, Blue1 and Norwegian
operate through the Finnish
capital Helsinki to Oulu, with a total of
over 20 daily flights. In addition airBaltic
offers connections all over Europe with
extremely flexible timetables via Riga.
Flybe flies daily between Tallinn and
Oulu. Airlink operates between Tampere
and Oulu.
T
Fly straight to Oulu and build yourself a
versatile holiday combination of city and
northern nature. There are also plenty of
tour products on offer.
6
Oulu’s attraction is seen in the
number of flight passengers
Almost a million passengers travel through
the airport annually. In 2011 the number
of flight passengers increased by 40 %
compared to the previous year. Thanks to
the expansion that took place last year, the
airport is now more pleasant than before.
– The new and modern passenger terminal
doubled the airport’s space, which enables
even better and more versatile service for
the customer, explains Head of Oulu airport Pekka Mäntynen, satisfied.
Flexible service
The expansion of the Oulu airport
formed the base for the airport’s inter-
nationalisation and the diversification
of operations. A separate non-Schengen
area was completed in the new terminal,
which will enable transit flights via Oulu
in the future.
– We can offer even better and more flexible services to those passengers coming
from outside the Schengen area on transit
flights. The expansion makes Oulu airport
also suitable as a hub for airlines, if needed,
says Mäntynen.
You can also find car hire services at Oulu
airport. A regular bus, a standard taxi or
Airport taxi are all available at the airport
to get to the city of Oulu, which is only 15
minutes away by car.
OuluOn Magazine 2012 - www.ouluon.fi
A smooth trip
to Oulu
”You don’t have to go further than the open air market place or indoor market hall for a coffee in order to come into contact with the northern lifestyle.”
Heleena Luusua, Managing Director, Nordic Marketing
T
he exotic Oulu region, the
Arctic Gateway, is close even
from a Central European
perspective. A trip to Oulu
is easy, for example by air,
taking one of the numerous daily flights.
Offering excellent services and a diverse
range of activities, the Oulu region will
charm you with its authenticity and positive attitude.
– Oulu is definitely a number one northern
tourist region. There is a great selection of
flights from southern Finland to Oulu as
several different operators fly to the city.
Direct flights between Helsinki and Riga
open up connections around Europe, explains Nordic Marketing’s Managing Director Heleena Luusua.
At best, the journey from Central Europe
to Oulu lasts less than 5 hours. For exam-
ple, at its fastest, a flight from Frankfurt
to Oulu’s Arctic scenery takes just over 4
hours. As there are over twenty daily flight
connections, at Helsinki-Vantaa airport
it is often possible simply to walk straight
onto a plane destined for Oulu without unnecessary waiting.
Authentic Oulu life
The diverse and active Oulu region has
charmed Luusua, who works in the tourism industry.
– Arctic, beautiful and maritime describe
the Oulu region, which in my opinion
has developed immensely in recent years.
Services that were already diverse have become even more so. I would also especially
like to point out the very good restaurants
in Oulu offering a wide selection of food.
The level of services is high throughout,
Luusua recalls from her experiences.
OuluOn Magazine 2012 - www.ouluon.fi
In laid-back Oulu, it’s easy to get to know
the authentic way of life in Northern Finland.
– In the centre of Oulu you don’t have to go
further than the open air market place or
indoor market hall for a coffee in order to
come into contact with the northern lifestyle. The region’s activities include also
local daily life related programmes, such
as barbecuing sausages over an open fire
on a hike, or flaming salmon at an open fire
for a dinner, says Luusua, who praises the
friendliness of northern people. Oulu is a fantastic and interesting holiday destination, but from the northern
city known as the Arctic Gateway, it is
also easy to take a trip for a few days to
the natural sites in the region or even to
Lapland and Nordkapp, on the shores of
the Arctic sea. 7
The female student standing in the line of statues
represents Oulu as a city of education. There are
over 30,000 students in various educational facilities, of which 16,000 study at Oulu’s multidisciplinary university, founded over 50 years ago. The
university works in close cooperation with industry
and trade in Northern Finland, of which a good example is the Oulu Mining School.
The business man talking on his mobile phone and
walking decisively forward hints at the successful
technology city. Founded in 1982, Technopolis
Oulu is the first technology village in the Nordic
countries. Over 200 international companies operate in Oulu, and represent ICT and the bio- and energy industries, among others. Worldwide known
brands, such as Nokia, Polar Electro and Google
are represented here.
The fantastic cavalcade ends with young Marttiboy sitting on the end of the wall, directing his gaze
at the future. Oulu’s population structure makes it
Finland’s youngest city.
Knowledge,
skills and stories
T
he Oulu Chamber of Commerce donated a piece of
arts consisting of 32 small
statues to the City of Oulu
in honour of its 400th anniversary in 2005. The sculptures, handiwork of a local sculptor Sanna Koivisto,
depict people who lived in Oulu in different centuries and who have brought success to the city.
The series of statues begins with the Swedish King Charles IX, who founded the city
of Oulu in 1605. In 1765, Oulu became
a city with staple rights, which allowed
8
Oulu to export goods directly abroad. This
period is depicted by a bourgeois and a
woman of nobility. The importance of tar
in the 19th century is demonstrated by the
man rolling a barrel of tar and sea captain
who transported tar and other commercial
goods to the rest of the world.
Oulu was a major tar power in the past
times, and up to half of Finnish tar exports were exported to the rest of the
world via Oulu. Besides being a commercial route, Tervantie road “Tar road”,
running from Kainuu to Oulu has been
a popular tourism route since the 19th
century. Tar was the key to Oulu’s internationalisation, as at the same time other
commercial goods such as wooden goods
were also exported abroad. Oulu’s paper
making machines have milled top-quality paper for decades.
Over the years, Oulu has burned numerous times, so a fireman has been given a
place in the line of statues.
The series of sculptures, containing
knowledge, skills and stories, is located
in front of the impressive Oulu City Hall,
right in the heart of the city.
OuluOn Magazine 2012 - www.ouluon.fi
Capital of
Northern
Scandinavia
O
ulu, the capital of Northern
Scandinavia is a gateway to
northern Arctic life, a fascinating combination of history, culture and nature. In
Oulu, a modern business and tourism
city meets northern peace and cleanliness.
Also known as the technology city, Oulu
is home to an ICT technology centre as
well as a multidisciplinary university and
hundreds of international companies such
as Nokia and Google. Active and developing strongly, Oulu is also known as an
excellent meeting city which provides a
great setting for both large congresses and
smaller meetings. Seaside Oulu’s centre changes into natural
surroundings in an instant. Clean nature
can be enjoyed in the City’s nice parks and
waterways. The Oulu region and nature,
which offers wild experiences, are full of
surprises.
While in Oulu it is also worth visiting the
City’s art gallery, the Oulu Cathedral,
which contains Finland’s oldest identifiable portrait painting, and the region’s atmospheric wooden churches. The number
one favourite for families with children is
the Science Centre Tietomaa, which is located near the city centre.
Built by the Ice age,
formed by the sea
Founded in 1605, Oulu has long traditions in international seafaring, especially
due to the tar and wood processing industries. Technology companies represent the
modern day, but traces of history reaching
back to the ice age can be seen in the Oulu
region.
OuluOn Magazine 2012 - www.ouluon.fi
In Oulu, a modern
business and tourism
city meets northern
peace and
cleanliness.
Hailuoto, the biggest island of the Bothnian
Bay, located just offshore of Oulu is an idyllic island, sculpted by the power of sand,
wind and sea into the shape that it is today. The surface area of Hailuoto, which rose up
from the sea, increases every year due to uplift. In the future, it will be possible to reach
the island by land, currently a ferry runs between Hailuoto and the mainland. In winter it is possible to reach the island rather
exotically, by driving along an ice road.
The unique nature of Rokua Geopark, located in the Oulu region, got its shape from
the effects of the ice age over 10,000 years
ago. The freshwater kettles and eskers covered with white lichen were formed as a
consequence of glacial movement. As it is
so unique, the Rokua Geopark is part of
the worldwide Geopark network protected by UNESCO. The area is the world’s
northernmost Geopark.
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Shopping, activities
and culture
Oulu is a diverse and surprising destination which offers
unique holiday experiences.
T
he Capital of Northern Scandinavia, is surprisingly big, but sufficiently small, with everything
necessary just within reach.
Director of Nordic European Solutions,
Igor Osadchy, who moved to Oulu with his
family just over two years ago.
Full of things to do
the Science Centre Tietomaa, where
there’s something interesting to do for all
ages. It’s worth reserving a lot of time for a
visit to the science centre, as there’s plenty
to do and see, Osadchy hints.
– Oulu is a very pleasant and perfectly-sized
city with lots to do and see. The arctic city
is full of all kinds of events, culture, history
and beautiful nature, explains Marketing
The Arctic Gateway offers activities for
families, groups, couples and people on
business trips.
– For families I’d definitely recommend
The gorgeous coastal scenery at Nallikari,
located on Hietasaari island, is a short cycle trip or walk away from the centre. A trip
10
OuluOn Magazine 2012 - www.ouluon.fi
It’s somehow
surreal to drive a car
over the frozen sea, as
a ship sails past on its
own route next to you.
Igor Osadchy
through Pikisaari, another small island in
the mouth of Oulu river, and its wonderful
scenery on the way to activities by the sea
is already an adventure in itself.
– It’s nice to spend a summer day playing
volleyball, for example, in the clean sea air
surrounded by long sandy beaches. There
are almost 550 kilometres of cycle paths
in Oulu, so it’s easy to move in and around
the city by bike, Osadchy says.
In winter, the snow and temperatures below zero attract winter activity enthusiasts. In addition to the ski paths and snowmobile routes, Osadchy recommends
trying out the ice road to Hailuoto.
– It’s somehow surreal to drive a car over
the frozen sea, as a ship sails past on its
own route next to you.
There are several museums and art exhibitions in the Oulu region for those interested in culture. One of the most interesting
places is Kierikki, an exhibition of stone
age life, which is less than an hour away
from Oulu by car.
Excellent service
In the northern capital, shopping is an essential part of any holiday programme,
as the Oulu region contains an excellent
OuluOn Magazine 2012 - www.ouluon.fi
selection of shops from small boutiques
to brand stores. The extensive range of
services also includes plenty of choices for
accommodation.
– There are extremely high-level hotel
chains, affordable hostels and accommodation alternatives full of character, where
the local atmosphere is strongly present,
Osadchy says.
11
Arctic seasons
– The Wealth of Diversity
S
ummer: As the bright sun shines it raises the temperature near to +30°C which
warms the sea nicely for a swim. The sun
shines through the night during summer, so
you can enjoy a beach holiday all day long.
The midnight sun is well worth the visit.
A
utumn: Birds’ preparations for migration can be seen amid the display
of colour as the leaves turn autumnal
reds and golds. The forests and surroundings in the area invite you to pick healthy
12
berries and mushrooms from the clean
nature, or simply to enjoy the beautiful
scenery. As the temperature drops towards the first subzero nights, we enjoy
the brisk air and wait for the first snowflakes to fall.
W
inter: Enjoy the cleanliness and
sparkle of a white blanket of snow
as well as the atmospheric lighting
and silence of the winter darkness. Bears
are hibernating in the winter weather, with
temperatures dropping to - 30 °C in some
places, but people carry on as normal. Winter cyclists are a familiar sight.
pring: As spring comes, nature
awakens as the bright sun melts the
snow and ice. After the winter the
energy of the spring sun also affects people
and so the city’s mood too becomes more
active as the temperatures climb above zero
and we wait for summer. Migratory birds
are a spectacular site in coastal areas.
S
OuluOn Magazine 2012 - www.ouluon.fi
Arctic Summer
Adventures
near the water
n Oulu, situated on the coast of
the Gulf of Bothnia, we make
the most of the cooling powers
of the water during hot summer
days. The region’s rivers and lakes
invite you to get to know the scenery on a
languishing cruise, splashing on a beach or
by sliding along a cable wakeboard course.
The easiest way to get out to sea from the
city centre is to step onboard the Alexandra ship that leaves from the market
square. Suitable places for trips with
smaller private boats include e.g. Varjakka
in Oulunsalo, Marjaniemi in Hailuoto, Kiviniemi in Haukipudas, and Vatunki and
Röyttä in Ii.
You can take a trip out to the sea on the traditional Oulu ship which provides cruises
to order. On the ship, captained by Pentti
Auronaho, you can take a summer tour
around the Oulu surroundings.
– From Oulu you can also travel over the
Gulf of Bothnia to the shores of Sweden
with your own boat, Auronaho suggests
for those dreaming of a boat trip.
I
– On short trips lasting only a few hours we
are able to see the Oulu city skyline from
the sea, where it is easy to distinguish the
Oulu Cathedral tower and chimneys of
the paper factory, Auronaho explains. Also try a night canoeing trip where the
silence and brightness of the midnight sun
set the background for a peaceful canoe
ride. It is possible to go canoeing to the sea
from the city centre. The river of Kiiminki,
Kiiminkijoki, on the other hand, challeng-
es more experienced canoers with its freely
flowing rapids. At Koitelinkoski you can
join white river rafting on guided tours in a
large rubber boat from May-June.
The world’s northernmost
Cable wakeboard course
At the Ukkohalla tourism centre, two
hours from Oulu, you can speed over the
water at over 30 km/h. Finland’s only and simultaneously the world’s northernmost - cable wakeboard course challenges
you to do spectacular tricks created from a
combination of water, speed and obstacles
along the course.
The sport offers an excellent way to cool off
in the summer heat, as you’re guaranteed a
few splashes in the refreshing waters.
Said about Oulu
Although Captain Auranaho has sailed the seas for work and
fun for decades, year after year he is drawn intensely to the sea in
spring.
“Who wouldn’t be in a rush to get out on the water? It’s the same
for all boaters. Thanks to the spring sun, one has to get out even
to just be near the boat. And when you get the boat out on the sea,
it’s a feeling of unbelievable freedom. I suppose that’s what you
get when you grow up surrounded by salt-water.” Pentti Auranaho
OuluOn Magazine 2012 - www.ouluon.fi
13
Arctic Autumn
Colourful Paradise
I
n autumn the different tones
of red and gold blazing in the
leaves attract people outside
to marvel at nature’s display of
colour. It’s possible to walk, cycle or canoe
through the northern Arctic nature.
The Oulu region is full of fabulous hiking
places with diverse outdoor routes and
nature paths. The autumn colours also
shimmer in the centre of Oulu, where the
beautiful park areas invite you for a walk.
Hiking in the Oulu region
You can enjoy the thunder of rapids and
the iridescent autumn scenery at the
Koiteli recreation area, located around
25 kilometres, which is 25 minutes by
car, from Oulu. The area offers great fishing spots for enthusiasts. Other special
hiking areas are on the Gulf of Bothnia’s
largest island Hailuoto and at the Virpiniemi sports centre in Haukipudas at the
seashore.
You are allowed to pick berries and mushrooms in forests, as everyman’s right applies in Finland. In Rokua you can combine
hiking and berry or mushroom picking in
clean and refreshing autumn weather and
easily accessible area. Rokua is known for
its boletus and milk cap mushrooms.
The Iso-Syöte hiking area is also an excellent site for a day trip, if time is limited as
it is located only around two hours from
Oulu. You can admire the northern fell
landscape along marked routes which
contain shelters for taking a break and
rest.
Local companies offer guided tours to the
secrets of northern nature. Good information on nature tourism and sites can be
found at www.outdoors.fi
Said about Oulu
“The Oulu region has exceptionally good possibilities for nature
hiking, as the seasons as well as the varying scenery diversify nature. Actually you could say that you always find something new
when setting out into nature. The freedom and space surrounding
Finnish nature is unique. For example the wide sandy beaches of
14
Hailuoto and maritime scenery are a fabulous combination. As
a site for seeing the autumn colours I especially recommend the
Syöte national park, which offers an excellent setting for hiking.” Matti Tapaninen, Senior Advisor, Metsähallitus
OuluOn Magazine 2012 - www.ouluon.fi
Arctic Winter
Arctic Activities
are Freezing Fun
In Oulu, winter activities start in the centre
and continue in the region’s tourism centres.
hanks to the thick blanket of
snow, the ski tracks of the Capital of Northern Scandinavia
invite you to test out the grip
on your cross country skis. You
can also trade in your skis for snowshoes
for a convenient way to take a trip out in
the northern nature. All you need for snow
shoeing is snow, so suitable routes are
found even close to the centre. We recommend you to try snowshoeing on the ice
covered sea, for example.
Talvikylä - Winter Village in Nallikari is
full of fun things to do – for adults and children. As well as the adventure tunnel and
snowy slides, at Talvikylä you can also try
out quad biking. In February-March there
will also be wintry action built on the market shore in the centre. Oulu is Finland’s
southernmost reindeer husbandry area
and you can see reindeer in the city at various events in late winter. Otherwise, reindeer are often seen on roads when driving
north-east.
Speedier holidaymakers can take a ride
in a snowmobile. In winter you can ride
on the ice as well as along forest routes.
It’s worth visiting the nearby islands, like
Hailuoto. The largest island in the Gulf of
Bothnia is also accessible by car in winter,
on an exotic eight kilometre long ice road
ploughed on the ice of the sea.
The sea is full of action
The tourism centres in a convenient distance from the city of Oulu offer the chance
to relax and have fun, especially if you happen to enjoy snow parks and half pipes.
Put the skates on and go ice skating on the
ice hiking route ploughed on the ice of the
sea. Take a backpack with some food and
you’re ready for a new experience along
an ice route surrounded by wide open
scenery. Of course you can also try out the
route on foot without skates.
The downhill skiing centres in the Oulu
region, Iso-Syöte, Ukkohalla and Vuokatti
offer other wintry activities as well as skiing. Try out a snowmobile or husky safari,
go sledding or try out snowshoeing. The
Oulu region winter is full of activities! T
In Oulu, swimming is unaffected by the
seasons, so pluck up some courage and
try out the refreshing power of the sea at
a winter swimming site. It is possible to
go winter swimming throughout winter
at the Tuira beach near the centre. Many
local residents take a dip in the Oulujoki
river every morning before work.
Great downhill courses
Said about Oulu
“The Arctic winter in the Oulu region should be approached with
a broad mind and adventurous spirit. Snow is guaranteed, and the
Oulu region is full of snow-related activities such as snowmobiling, skiing, dog sledding and snow shoeing. Driving along the ice
road to Hailuoto island and ice fishing in subzero temperatures
are definitely unforgettable experiences. The Oulu region also of-
OuluOn Magazine 2012 - www.ouluon.fi
fers spectacular fell and hill scenery, which conceals places only
reachable on skis or snowshoes during winter. The best way to get
to know sites is with a professional guide, as s/he knows the area’s
history, nature and the best routes and sites.”
Vepe Okkonen, production manager, GoArctic!
15
PHOTO: Jari Peltomäki/Finnature
Capercaillies can be heard in the forest areas of the city of Oulu.
Arctic Spring
Inviting you outdoors
T
he first signs of spring are increasing daylight, retreating
ice and the return of migratory
birds. As the spring sun shines
at its brightest, the weather is the best possible for outdoor activities.
The thawing of ice over rivers is a spectacular
display of nature, where the power of flowing
water carries huge shards of ice downstream,
often causing large dams and floods.
The number of bicycles increases in spring
as roads thaw. There is a superb cycling
network in Oulu and the local area which
attracts people on long cycling trips.
Hiking trips in the Oulu region are full of
adventure, especially if you head towards
eastclose to the Russian boarder, where
you can see bears and other wild animals.
In Kuhmo, three hours by car from Oulu,
there are magnificent opportunities to snap
photos of bears, wolves and wolverines.
A night in a bear and wolverine watching
hide, waiting quietly for predators to arrive,
is guaranteed to be an experience.
The Liminganlahti nature centre, just a 20
minute drive from Oulu is an excellent destination for those interested in birdwatching, as over 100 different species nest in the
area and 250 different species are observed
in the area annually. The location of Liminganlahti makes it possible to see southern
and northern bird species at the same time.
Keeping your eyes
on the skies
As Liminganlahti is easy to reach, a day
is well spent even on your own, but if you
want to get the most out of the tour, we
recommend to ask for a guide who shows
the best birdwatching and photography
sites. The Liminganlahti nature centre offers useful information and professional assistance for a successful birdwatching trip.
The Oulu region is known as one of the
world’s best birdwatching areas offering an
interesting range and big crowds of birds
to watch and photograph.
Thanks to its varying landscape, the Oulu
region is home to all kinds of bird species.
Said in Oulu
PHOTO: Jari Peltomäki/Finnature
“The bird sites in the Oulu region offer an extremely diverse range
of species, and in addition they are very easy to find. Swans and
Cranes in marshland, coastal Black-tailed Godwits and Temminck’s Stints as well as forest owls and grouse are all found in
the Oulu region. The most optimal time for birdwatching is from
mid-May to mid-June, when there are most species visible. Liminganlahti is an incredibly diverse and internationally well-respected bird wetland, and is definitely a place worth visiting.”
Jari Peltomäki, nature and bird photographer and manager of Finnature, which organises bird and nature photography tourism
16
Whooper swans gather at open water in April at Liminganlahti.
OuluOn Magazine 2012 - www.ouluon.fi
First-class
accommodation
I
n the Oulu region you are
guaranteed a good night’s
sleep, as the comprehensive
range of accommodation
makes it easy to find the
most suitable for different tastes . The city
centre offers both international chain hotels as well as smaller alternatives. In addition to city centre hotels, you can also
choose from comfortable suburban and
resort hotels, hostels, holiday and city
apartments, cabins, as well as camping
sites such as the Nallikari holiday village
on the sea shore not far from the centre of
Oulu.
The hotels in the heart of the city centre
offer high quality rooms, but equally attractive is their excellent location a stone’s
throw from cultural and shopping opportunities. Suitable accommodation can be
found for any visitor, whether good traffic
connections, peaceful nature or spas are
what you’re looking for. Sweet dreams are securedin regional
tourism centres, where the surrounding
nature, activities and good service form a
perfect experience.
It is also worth trying the comfortable and
diverse restaurants in the hotels. Many of
them serve local regional food.
Oulu menu and lively evenings
A
relaxing place for lunch, atmospheric evening restaurant or gourmet restaurant
with international cuisine
– flavours are ready for tasting in different
kinds of restaurants in the Oulu region.
The selection of restaurants offers not only
Finnish cuisine, but also caters to those
who enjoy Italian, Russian, French, Indian, Chinese and Greek food. The Oulu
menu, offered in different restaurants
around Oulu, highlights Oulu’s most delicious flavours.
OuluOn Magazine 2012 - www.ouluon.fi
There’s also something suitable if you’re
looking for organic and local food. But
how does rössypotty, the traditional delicacy the locals always talk about, taste?
Come to Oulu and find out.
Oulu nightlife is full of cosy pubs, traditional dance restaurants and entertaining
nightclubs. There is a diverse range of live
music, and in most of the pubs and bars
you can even step on stage yourself, as the
locals love karaoke. In Oulu it’s easy to enjoy yourself.
17
A Creative City of Events
“OuluFestival is an excellent example of cooperation between events organisers. Together we’re stronger.” Samu Forsblom, Manager, City of Oulu Events
O
ulu is a city of events which believes in creative ideas. Or what
else are we to think of a city
which organises the Air Guitar
World Championships, and the
rhythms of Flamenco are combined with
reindeer racing?
– Oulu is an interesting city with an enormous range of different events. The variety
will be made even more diverse in the future, explains City of Oulu Events Manager Samu Forsblom.
Kuusisaari, an island located in the centre, is a central part of the development
of events Oulu has to offer, as a versatile
events venue is planned for the island. In
addition, the open air Market place, lo-
18
cated just by the sea, is continuously being developed as an environment for new
kinds of events.
Cooperation
is the key to success
Over recent years in Oulu, events production has become a professional activity.
Forsblom is especially pleased with the cooperation between events organisers.
– Oulu Festival, is a fantastic series of
cultural events. The festival, organised
in August, culminates in Oulu’s most international event, the Air Guitar World
Championships, where around 20 countries are represented by masters chosen
in their own national competitions. OuluFestival is an excellent example of co-
operation between events organisers. Together we’re stronger, Forsblom says.
The audience has clearly found its way
to Oulu, shown, for example, by a record
audience at the traditional rock festival
Qstock in summer 2011. In 2011, a total
of a quarter of a million visitors attended
events in Oulu. Tourism sites in the Oulu region also offer great programme all year round. The
new programme called Sea-City-Fell
brings new events to the centre of Oulu,
to the nearby beach area of Nallikari, and Finland’s southernmost fell area
Syöte, located just under 2 hours away by
car. More information can be found at
www.ouluon.fi.
OuluOn Magazine 2012 - www.ouluon.fi
Photo: Juha-Pekka Maaninen
Rich Irish
Culture
“The world’s northernmost Irish festival, The Irish Festival of Oulu, will be
taking over Oulu from 3.–7.10.2012 with energetic events and lively music.”
Brent Cassidy, festival organiser
T
he festival, focusing on traditional Irish music, will be showcasing
the richness of Irish culture for
the seventh time in 2012. Culture, entertainment and a busy
programme is open to people of all ages.
first the jam sessions were organised once
every couple of months, then once every
two weeks, and in the end, they were so
successful that Cassidy and his friends decided to found the Irish Music Society of
Oulu association.
– Music is a big part of the festival, so, as
in previous years, world-class Irish bands
will be stepping on stage this year, too. The
event consists of a number of events and
contains something for everyone. Dance
courses, films, storytelling and theatre are
also featured on the programme. The festival week also contains Irish music workshops which have gained popularity from
year to year, explains festival organiser
Brent Cassidy.
– The February opening festival held for
the association, founded in 2006, was a
great success so I thought hey, this works.
So at the end of the year, we organised the
first Irish music festival, which attracted
almost 2000 participants, Cassidy says,
remembering how the event began.
Green fun
The Irish Festival of Oulu was created
in 2001 when Cassidy began to organise
jam sessions focusing on Irish music. At
The festival, which started with dance
courses and musical performaces by local
bands, has seen a total of 36,000 visitors
over the years.
– The festival has expanded with regard
to repertoire, duration and activities. We
have developed and grown from year to
OuluOn Magazine 2012 - www.ouluon.fi
year, so there is definitely demand in Oulu
for Irish festivals, Cassidy says.
As well as people from Oulu, the easy-going and happy atmosphere of Irish music
attracts people from all over Finland. In recent years the festival has attracted visitors
from Ireland, the United States, England,
Sweden, Italy and Russia.
During the festival there are events all over
Oulu city centre. Green fun can be found,
for example, in Cultural Centre Valve,
Pohjankartano, the Central library, Oulu
pubs and the Uusi Seurahuone pub, located on torinranta. – Irish music pierces your soul. Even though
the music is lively, the lyrics emphatically tell
stories about life, history and love, of course.
But what’s best, there is always an unbelievable atmosphere at the concerts, Cassidy
laughs, revealing the secrets of Irish music.
19
Air guitar
the right
attitude
”The atmosphere was amazing. The competitors were like
one big family where everyone supported each other.”
Aline ”Devil’s Niece” Westphal
O
ulu is known as a real rock city,
and not least because of the Air
Guitar World Championships
held in August.
In August 2011 German Aline “Devil’s
Niece” Westphal rocked the torinranta in
Oulu with her air guitar and her blazing
performance gained her the title of World
Champion. She beat the winner of the two
previous championships Sylvain “Günther
Love” Quimene from France.
– The competition was tough and fair as
there were champions from various coun-
tries and veterans from previous years participating, and there were brilliant performances, Aline explains.
The championships in summer 2011 was
a festival of female guitarists, as in addition to Aline, there was a total of four
female air guitar virtuosos participating
in the semifinal. There were around 7,000
spectators at the event.
– The atmosphere was amazing. The competitors were like one big family where
everyone supported each other. Of course,
on stage you forgot about your fellow competitors and concentrated on a good performance and making the crowd go wild, Aline
says, laughing.
The recipe for a good
air guitar performance
Air guitarists truly take over the stage as
their lively performances include kicks
and jumps, among other things.
– In my opinion, an air guitar performance
is like a dance. The performer has a certain
choreography which she or he develops.
Body language and timing are extremely
important, because those are how you express the music, Aline explains, revealing
the secrets of air guitar.
20
Aline’s character Devil’s Niece charmed
the judges and the audience with the
compulsory song in the first round which
in 2011 was the classic Without A Face by
Rage Against the Machine. The decisive
factor in the championship was the song
of your choice in the second round, as
Devil’s Niece rocked out to Foo Fighters’
The Pretender.
A journey to Oulu
Aline, who studies media and pop culture,
began her air guitar career in 2009 when
she got to know the secrets of air guitar as
part of seminar work relating to her studies. One thing led to another, and Aline
ended up participating in the German
championships. In 2011 Aline hit the jackpot and the road to the World Championships held in Oulu opened up.
– The experience was unbelievably awesome, I really loved being in Oulu. People
were really friendly and the food was very
good. My favourite was definitely the Karelian pasties, says Aline, who has learned
a few words of Finnish.
In 2012 the Air Guitar World Championships will be held from 22nd–24th August.
Welcome along, attitude is the key!
OuluOn Magazine 2012 - www.ouluon.fi
In 2012 the
Air Guitar World
Championships
will be held from
22nd–24th August.
OuluOn Magazine 2012 - www.ouluon.fi
21
Freezing fun!
W
hen you visit Oulu or Pudasjärvi in winter, you can find
three “snow worlds” open to
everyone, made to give visitors
a fun time - not just to look at, but places
where you can make the most of snowy activities by yourself or with a guide.
Oulu Market square in the city, the Nallikari coastal area near the cityand Syöte, Finland’s southernmost fell area in Pudasjärvi, promise snow, fun events and creative joy.
The snow worlds are created in three different places with different themes: A fell
rises up from the Oulu market square,
containing an ice-art gallery, an illuminated exhibition made of snow and ice,
and of course a great slide down and a
climbing wall. A couple of kilometres
from the heart of the city centre, an attractive town will be constructed on the
seashore at Nallikari, which, with its
mazes, stairs and live fires, offers an activity-filled place you can enjoy for a long
time. This snow structure is topped with
speedy snow tubes which start literally
from the city rooftops! At the Iso-Syöte
fell, near the slopes of the skiing centre,
waves of snow are left to carry us along.
You can slide, crawl, climb and adventure
amongst the waves. In the middle stands
a mysterious, illuminated ball of ice, why
not take a look inside...?
Build your holiday out of snow
In February and March especially, there
will be lots of action at the snow worlds. In
addition to various snow activities, there are
also events for the whole family. In the Rein-
22
deer Carnival you can take a reindeer sledge
ride, try your hand at lassooing and try local
delicacies. Handicrafts are also for sale at
the winter markets. You can get in the reindeer carneval spirit at Oulu marketplace, on
the sea ice in Nallikari and surrounded by
crown-snow loaded trees at Syöte.
The Tour de Liukuri sliding competition
will test the skills at all three sites, in a fun
way, of course. There are also other interesting events on the agenda, such as a film
presentation for the whole family under
the starry sky, outdoor performances by
the children’s theatre, beach volley tournaments amid glittering snowdrifts and
a Kicksled polo match, demonstrating a
whole new, exotic way to play polo!
A fourth snow world will be built electronically. There you can try out playing and
building things in the snow - but of course
the real winter can only be experienced in
person on the site.
Events will be updated online at the address www.mericitytunturi.fi.
OuluOn Magazine 2012 - www.ouluon.fi
Service directory / Travel Marketing Oulu Ltd co-operation partners
Accommodation Restaurants
Airport Hotel
www.airporthotel.fi
Amarillo
www.amarillo.fi
BEST WESTERN Hotel Apollo
www.hotelapollo.fi
Anna & Albert
www.anna-albert.fi
BEST WESTERN
Hotel Samantta
www.samantta.fi
Coffee House
www.coffeehouse.fi
Cumulus Oulu
www.cumulus.fi
Emolahti Camping
www.emolahti.fi
Forenom apartments Oulu
www.forenom.fi
Forenom Hotel Oulu
www.forenom.fi
Holiday Inn Oulu
www.finland.holidayinn.com
Hotel Herkko
www.hotelliherkko.com
Hotel Iso-Syöte
www.hotelli-isosyote.fi
Lasaretti Hotel Restaurant
www.lasaretti.com
Kalajoki Camping
www.camping-hiekkasarkat.fi
Kotimaailma Oulu
www.kotimaailma.com
Spa Hotel Sani
www.kalajokiresort.fi
Nallikari Holiday Village
www.nallikari.fi
POHTO Hotel Kortteeri
www.pohto.fi
Radisson Blu Hotel Oulu
www.radissonblu.fi
Rokua Health&Spa
www.rokua.com
Scandic Oulu
www.scandichotels.fi
Sokos Hotel Arina
www.sokoshotels.fi
Sokos Hotel Oulun Eden
www.sokoshotels.fi
Virpiniemi Sport Hostel
www.virpiniemi.fi
Fransmanni
www.fransmanni.fi
Grill it!
www.grillit.fi
Heinäkenkä
www.karaokebar.net
Hevimesta
www.hevimesta.com
Hot NightClub
www.hotnightclub.fi
Kantis
www.kantis.net
Karaoke Bar
www.karaokebar.net
Karaoke Pub Aitta 22
www.karaokebar.net
Wilbert
www.karaokebar.net
Yöhuikka
www.yohuikka.fi
Culture
and events
Local arts and crafts
museums in the area
www.ouka.fi/ppm/
maakunnallinen/
yhteystietoja.htm
Iin Kulttuurikauppila
www.kulttuurikauppila.fi
Sailor’s home museum
www.ouka.fi/ppm/
merimiesmuseo
Meri Oulu Cultural Society/
Summer theatre Meri Oulu
www.merioulu.fi
Oskari Jauhiainen museum
www.jauhiaisenmuseo.fi
Oulu City Theatre
Teatteri.ouka.fi
Find out more about culture
and events in Oulu region
from www.ouluon.fi
Activities and
programme
services
Finnature
www.finnature.fi
Go Arctic!
www.goarctic.fi
Eventours
www.eventours.fi
Stone Age Centre
www.kierikki.fi
Maritime Oulu /Oulu Laiva
www.merellinenoulu.com
Oulu Lines
www.oululines.fi
Oulun Sports&Karting
Center
www.sportskartingcenter.fi
RTG Ready To Go
www.readytogo.fi
Maikkula Estate
www.maikkulankartano.fi
Oulun Kulttuuritapahtumayhdistys
www.oulunjuhlaviikot.fi
Nightclub Tähti
www.nightclubtahti.fi
Oulu Museum of Art
www.ouka.fi/taidemuseo
Vauhtipuisto
www.vauhtipuisto.fi
Paloaseman Ullakko
www.paloasemanullakko.fi
Oulu Sinfonia
www.oulusinfonia.fi
Wild Brown Bear
www.wbb.fi
Pepper´s
www.karaokebar.net
Paavo Tolonen Exhibition
Other services
Pub Graali
www.graali.fi
Pub Linja 25
Ravintola Toripolliisi
Restaurant
www.toripolliisi.fi
Rosso
www.rosso.fi
Sokeri-Jussin Kievari
www.sokerijussi.fi
Torero
www.torero.fi
Vanha Paloasema
Bar & Bistro
www.vanhapaloasema.fi
OuluOn Magazine 2012 - www.ouluon.fi
Pateniemi Saw Museum
www.ouka.fi/ppm/pateniemi
Northern Photographic Centre
www.pohjoinenvalokuva
keskus.fi
The Northern
Ostrobothnia museum
www.ouka.fi/ppm
Pro Piknik Festivals
www.piknik.fi
Qstock
www.qstock.org
Teatteri Rio theatre
www.teatteririo.fi
Turkansaari open-air museum
www.ouka.fi/ppm/turkansaari
Science Centre Tietomaa
www.tietomaa.fi
Business Oulu /
Congress Oulu
www.congressoulu.fi
Huiput
www.huiput.fi
Keskipisteen Matkailu
Tourism Services
www.keskipiste.info
Konffa PCO
www.konffa.fi
Merilä Manor
www.utajarvi.com/
merilankartano
Oulun koru
www.oulunkoru.fi
Oulun Taksipalvelut
www.ouluntaksipalvelut.fi
Pukumies Oulu
www.pukumies.fi
Stockmann Oulu
www.stockmann.com
Find out more about shops,
restaurants, cafés and other
services in Oulu
city centre from
www.rotuaari.info
Municipalities
and regional travel
destinations
Municipality of Hailuoto
www.hailuoto.fi
Municipality of Haukipudas
www.haukipudas.fi
Iilaakso
www.iilaakso.fi
CIty of Kalajoki
www.kalajokimatkailu.fi
Municipality of Kiiminki
www.kiiminki.fi
Municipality of Liminka
www.liminka.fi
Municipality of Muhos
www.muhos.fi
Municipality of Oulunsalo
www.oulunsalo.fi
Rokua
www.rokua.com
Syöte
www.syote.fi
Ukkohalla
www.ukkohalla.fi
Virpiniemi
www.virpiniemi.fi
Vuokatti
www.vuokatti.fi
Oulu City Tourist Office
www.visitoulu.fi
Oulu Congress Techniques
www.oktoy.fi
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OuluOn Magazine 2012 - www.ouluon.fi