Things to do in Oulu
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Top 10 attractions in Oulu
Oulu Cathedral
Oulu Cathedral, built in 1777 by the famous designer Carl Ludwig Engel, is an evangelical Lutheran church located in the center of Oulu. In 1822 the city of Oulu suffered a fire and the wooden structure of the church was destroyed. Soon the cathedral was renovated by building on the old stone walls and building a new central dome and a new tower. The cathedral was completed in 1832 and the tower in 1845. The cathedral and its crypts are available to parishioners for Christian family celebrations.Oulu · 307m from downtown
Nallikari Beach
In summer, the one-kilometer sandy beach of Nallikari is a great place for tourists to sunbathe. The beach is packed with roller skaters, cyclists, athletes, beach volleyball and soccer players, and families. The Nallikari restaurant here is open as normal, and in summer the landmark of the place: the lighthouse also opens its café and offers water sports equipment. Lifeguards are on duty at the beach. Chargeable storage rooms and sanitary facilities are also available here. The beach has three beach volleyball courts, a beach soccer field, a sports equipment store, a climbing frame and a children's playground. Visitors to Nallikari can use it free of charge.Oulu · 3.5km from downtown
Santa Claus Village
Santa Claus Village is located 8 km north of Rovaniemi on the Arctic Circle. Every year, a steady stream of visitors flocks from all over the world to catch a glimpse of Santa Claus. Santa Claus Village is a group of wooden buildings, including a pointed main gate, restaurants, flower gardens, Santa's office, residence, post office, gift shops, and a reindeer park. The tents and antlers used by the Laplanders for their stay are also quite interesting souvenirs. Here you can also get a certificate for crossing the Arctic Circle. The Santa Claus post office offers various fairy-tale stamps, greeting cards and gifts. All letters sent from here will bear a special postmark from the Arctic Santa Claus post office. Here you can also book a letter signed by Santa Claus at the post office, which will be sent to your friends and family during Christmas, bringing them a delightful surprise. By the woods stands a reindeer park enclosed with wooden fences, home to many beautiful reindeer. In summer, they lounge lazily on the grass to rest; come winter, especially during Christmas, they work hard for Santa and travelers, pulling sleighs across the snow at full speed. This lets travelers enjoy the thrill of snowflakes brushing their faces and experience the joy and warmth of Christmas, turning scenes from holiday cards into reality.Finland · Rovaniemi
Santa Claus Office
The Santa Claus Office is located in Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, Finland, and is the exclusive place for visitors to meet the officially certified Santa Claus. In this Christmas-themed space designed specifically for children and families, Santa Claus is in residence year-round, welcoming visitors from all over the world and creating a unique and heartwarming Christmas experience through one-on-one meetings. The surrounding Santa Claus Village features supporting areas such as reindeer farms and aurora experience zones, with an overall atmosphere full of childlike wonder, and is one of the core locations for the Christmas tourism experience in Lapland, Finland.Finland · Rovaniemi
Rovaniemi Church
Rovaniemi Church was completed in 1950 and designed by Finnish architect Bertel Liljequist. It is one of the important buildings in the post-WWII reconstruction of Rovaniemi — the original church was destroyed in the war in 1944. The church features a simple, modernist style with an emphasis on natural light and a sense of space. Behind the altar stands a massive fresco titled "The Source of Life," created by artist Lennart Segerstråle in 1951. It is approx. 14 m high and 11 m wide, is considered one of the largest altarpieces in Finland, and symbolizes post-war hope and reconstruction. The entire church can accommodate approx. 850 people and houses a 45-stop pipe organ.Finland · Rovaniemi
Kemi Church
Kemi Church was built between 1900–1902 and officially consecrated in 1903. Designed by architect Josef Stenbäck, it is a prominent Neo-Gothic brick building in northern Finland. The church's exterior is characterized by its towering steeple, spires, and triangular gables. The circular stained-glass window above the main entrance is a signature design element, and large windows on the altar wall allow ample natural light into the interior. The interior arcades and colonnades echo the traditional layout of European cathedrals, while the simple decorations reflect the style of Finnish religious architecture. It has a seating capacity of approx. 1,200. It was renovated in 2003 and is an important cultural landmark in the city of Kemi.Kemi · 90.4km from Oulu
Oulanka National Park
The Karhunkierros hiking route has rough terrain and visitors can feel the force of the currents. Oulanka National Park has several hiking routes and suspension bridges that take you to Finland's spectacular waterfalls. The picturesque scenery here, with leaping wild brown salmon, diving European river birds, cotton sedge swamps and delicate orchids, is difficult for even experienced nature photographers to accurately record such a wonderful picture.Finland · Kuusamo
RIISA- Orthodox Church Museum of Finland
Finland · Kuopio
Pakasaivo
Finland · Muonio
Luosto
During your winter vacation in Losto, in addition to trying various snow activities, you must stay in a local log cabin built with Lapland silver pine. The various decorations of the ancient log cabin truly show the traditional style of northern Finland, which can make you feel more Strong local rural flavor. There is a wood-burning stove in the living room and a sauna and steam room in the cabin. You can also live in a hut named Pohjan Kruunu, whose roof is entirely covered with glass, where you can wait for the mysterious aurora borealis to appear.Finland · Sodankyla
Experiences you can't miss in Oulu
Featured Day tours in Oulu
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![Icebreaker Sampo check-in + The SnowCastle of Kemi + Kemi Church + Gemstone Gallery [Flexible itinerary]](https://ak-d.tripcdn.com/images/0354812000fphe9pcA9A0_C_568_320.jpg?_fr=wc)
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![1-day tour to Icebreaker Sampo check-in + The SnowCastle of Kemi + Kemi Church [Private Charter Route I Chinese-English Speaking Driver Guide]](https://ak-d.tripcdn.com/images/10021f000001gxaz734DF_C_568_320.jpg?_fr=wc)
![The SnowCastle of Kemi + Kemi Church + Gemstone Gallery day tour [Flexible itinerary]](https://ak-d.tripcdn.com/images//0582712000r91n07lAFFA_C_568_320.jpg?_fr=wc)
FromTRY 51,029.63
Free things to do in Oulu
Oulu Cathedral
Oulu · 307m from downtownNallikari Beach
Oulu · 3.5km from downtownSanta Claus Village
Finland · RovaniemiSanta Claus Office
Finland · RovaniemiRovaniemi Church
Finland · RovaniemiKemi Church
Kemi · 90.4km from OuluOulanka National Park
Finland · KuusamoRIISA- Orthodox Church Museum of Finland
Finland · KuopioPakasaivo
Finland · MuonioLuosto
Finland · Sodankyla
What travellers say about Oulu
Lalida Noychumphae25 September 2025
5.0
Oulu, Finland, is another city worth visiting. It boasts beautiful scenery and numerous interesting sites. You can visit important landmarks and take photos to preserve your memories. It also serves as a great way to share your experiences with those who visit for a short break.
Oulu Cathedral
yxigeri20 August 2022
5.0
Foreigners know how to have fun. Look at how many games they play on the beach?
Nallikari Beach
YoYo_0T9A3B0L1 May 2026
5.0
The tree in the center of the square gets its decorations changed every year, and the lighting is quite cozy. There's a Santa Claus office in the village where you can take photos, and a post office where you can send postcards with an Arctic Circle postmark. The tree itself isn't particularly special, but the surrounding wooden houses and reindeer sleighs, combined with the lights in the snow, create a nice atmosphere. It's a good place to bring children to experience Christmas culture.
Santa Claus Village
Koupipii25 July 2021
4.0
The place is fun but I have always wanted it to be a little bigger to offer a full day experience. Currently it’s suit for half a day only including visiting Santa. The food options are somewhat limited but pizza and burgers are available. The location just next to the main road 4 (E75) not far from Rovaniemi city is perfect.
Santa Claus Office
潇扬28 July 2023
4.0
There are a lot of people coming to Rovaniemi Church to worship on weekends, and the atmosphere is great!
Rovaniemi Church
佛系中年妇女21 August 2023
5.0
Kemi Church⛪️ is very beautiful, majestic and dignified, the stained glass is dreamy and everyone loves it.
Kemi Church
M32***238 September 2022
5.0
[Scenery] Sana Mountain and Pakasaivo are adjacent. Generally speaking, you can hike back to Pakasaivo because you can see the coastline along the way, which is magnificent!
[Fun] There are great mountain activities and mountain crossing activities, which are worth visiting for outdoor sports enthusiasts.
Pakasaivo
บันทึกนักเดินทาง24 July 2022
5.0
It is a place that is very suitable for skiing and driving snowmobiles on the snow. The snow is very beautiful, the whole city is white. At night, some nights, there are Northern Lights in the sky. It is a once in a lifetime experience that you must visit.
Luosto
