Finland is certainly one of our favorite locations on the planet, and there’s no finest time to go to than winter. Listed here are 8 causes to go to Oulu in winter – this Finnish metropolis is the gateway to Lapland and the 2026 Capital of Tradition!
Experiencing the great thing about the North in winter is one thing that needs to be on everybody’s journey record. Sure, the Northern Lights are wonderful certainly – in case you are fortunate sufficient to see them.
There are additionally loads of enjoyable outside experiences, from husky safaris to sauna followed by ice swimming, snowmobile, and the like – however if you happen to ask me, admiring the Arctic mild is essentially the most unforgettable expertise of all of them.
The vacation spot of our final Finnish journey was Oulu, a metropolis in Northern Finland. Oulu is south of the Arctic Circle, so it doesn’t expertise full darkness in winter.
On the time of our go to in late November, the solar rose round 10 AM and set by 2 PM – 4 hours of spectacular golden-peach mild, because the solar by no means rises excessive above the horizon, making it seem as if dawn and sundown occurred one after the opposite.
The darkness and lack of daylight of the Nordic winter are seen by many outsiders as miserable, however after having visited, I can assure that the ambiance is really magical – particularly if you happen to’re fortunate to get some sunny days.
Having fun with the winter mild and ambiance is motive sufficient to go to Oulu in winter. But, there’s lots extra to see and do – and for the reason that city is the gateway to Lapland, you’ll be able to at all times use it as a base to increase your journey additional north.
Let’s take a look at some sensible data, earlier than transferring on to 8 issues to do in Oulu in winter!
The place is Oulu?
First issues first, Oulu is situated on the shores of the Gulf of Bothnia in Northern Finland, 200 km south of Rovaniemi and the Arctic Circle, and 600 km north of Helsinki.
It’s about 100 km away from Kemi, house to the famous Kemi Snow Castle, and an ideal place to mix with Oulu for a Finnish winter break!
On the lookout for extra Finnish winter locations? Learn our publish about North Karelia in winter!
Oulu Winter Climate – What’s it Like?
Okay, so we’ve established that Oulu is pretty up north, so I’m positive you’ll be questioning one factor – how chilly does it truly get in winter?
Throughout our late November go to, we have been fortunate to have 4 good and sunny days, with daytime highs round -5°C, dropping to -10/-15 at night time. The local weather was dry, which made the chilly simpler to deal with.
You’ll shortly discover that Oulu locals benefit from the outdoor in all seasons – driving bikes, mountaineering, and working even when the temperature drops to -20. An Oulu native informed us that -5 is taken into account ‘good winter climate’, so be warned!
We have been fairly fortunate to seek out sunny and significantly gentle winter climate in Oulu, however it may well certainly get chilly – in January/February, temperatures of -25/30 aren’t unusual.
Naturally, you’ll additionally discover loads of snow when visiting Oulu in winter. The primary snow might fall as early as late September, and by November/December will probably be a real winter wonderland. Be sure to take some sturdy winter boots, presumably with spikes to keep away from slipping on the icy footpaths!
Oulu in Winter – Issues to Do
1) Lumo Mild Pageant
The principal motive of our winter go to to Oulu was Lumo Mild Pageant, going down yearly in mid-November. The pageant options all kinds of sunshine installations by Finnish and worldwide artists, in numerous areas across the metropolis – from the previous water tower to public parks, metropolis streets, and even the bottom flooring of a buying centre.
The concept behind Lumo Mild Pageant is to deliver mild by artwork in individuals’s life, throughout one of many darkest months of the 12 months. Within the phrases of Henry, an Oulu native who guided us round on our first day, ‘November is a extremely tough month. It’s darkish and chilly, however there’s not but a lot snow – usually we simply keep in. We’d like one thing to cheer us up!’
The 2021 version of Lumo Mild Pageant featured 18 mild installations everywhere in the metropolis, all numbered and linked collectively by a 3 km itinerary. Lots of them are impressed by the surroundings – equivalent to Gaia, a 7-meter reproduction of Planet Earth, or The Effectively, with rows of dangling CDs paying homage to cascading water.
Probably the most placing set up of all was most likely The Traveler, a space-themed video mapping projection on the façade of Oulu Cathedral.
Lumo Mild Pageant has confirmed to be very profitable – in 2021, regardless of journey restrictions and really low vacationer numbers, the pageant was visited by roughly 50,000 individuals. The streets have been buzzing from 4 to 10 PM, the time the installations have been working.
For info on the 2021 installations of Lumo Mild Pageant and for future editions, visit the official website!
2) Take pleasure in Nature within the Metropolis
Lumo Mild Pageant was the principal motive for us to go to Oulu in winter, however there’s lots extra to see and do! Like Helsinki, Oulu has some wonderful parks and is about near protected nature areas the place it’s potential to go mountaineering and birdwatching.
Within the neighborhood of Oulu, you’ll be able to discover completely different habitats – coastal nature in Letonniemi, bogs at Pilpasuo, and forests alongside the Sanginjoki outside routes. Kempeleenlahti can be identified to be an awesome birdwatching location.
In case you don’t have a lot time to get away from Oulu however nonetheless need to get pleasure from some city nature, head to Pikisaari, an island proper reverse the town centre, related by a bridge. There’s a forest within the high of the island, and a few conventional picket homes. You’ll be able to observe the loop path circling your entire perimeter, good for a morning stroll or run!
3) Go to a Fishermen’s Village
One other enjoyable factor to do when visiting Oulu in winter is a day journey to Hailuoto, an island about 50 km from the town. Hailuoto is simple to succeed in with a combo of automotive and free ferry connecting the island to the mainland, or else you’ll be able to prepare transportation with Saaga Travel.
One unmissable spot in Hailuoto is Marjaniemi, a sleepy fishermen’s village with conventional purple picket homes – most of that are rented out in the summertime. There’s additionally a lighthouse you’ll be able to climb to see the village from above.
In winter, Marjaniemi will probably be extraordinarily quiet, however the fairly Arctic mild and the purple homes make for some good picture alternatives. In summer season, Marjaniemi hosts the Bättre Folk music pageant, and hundreds of revellers descend upon the village – I’d be actually curious to see it!
4) Meet Artists in Hailuoto
There’s additionally one more reason to go to Hailuoto throughout your time in Oulu in winter. The island has lengthy been standard with artists, drawn to its nature, peace, neighborhood, and distinctive mild.
We visited on a sunny winter day, and noticed the dawn from the ferry, shining a powdery pink mild made extra vibrant by the slate-blue sea. As soon as once more, the day was temporary however intense – we walked below mottled mild filtering by snow-covered bushes, below a candy-floss sundown in Marjaniemi, and surrounded by a starry sky as we made our manner again.
Artists, writers, and photographers have the choice of spending time in Hailuoto on residencies. Applications final between one week and one month – artists get a personal room and shared workspace within the Hailuoto Culture House, a renovated Thirties heritage home with a sauna and recording studio.
Hailuoto additionally has a resident artist neighborhood – we received to satisfy Eija Ranta, a motion artist who runs workshops encouraging individuals to make use of their very own our bodies as a inventive medium.
In summer season, the Hailuoto Tradition Home organizes workshops and performances, however winter is a bit quieter. Even when there’s not a lot occurring, you’ll be able to nonetheless expertise a bit of Hailuoto’s inventive soul by heading to Organum, three interconnected concrete domes by acoustic artist Lukas Kuhne.
Organum is surrounded by bushes, on the sting of a small cove. It’s at all times open and everyone seems to be allowed to enter at any time, and do no matter they need – sing, dance, meditate, play an instrument, or simply use their voice to see how sound adjustments whereas transferring across the construction.
6) Study The right way to Make Chocolate
We have been fortunate with the climate throughout our Oulu go to in winter, however chilly, moist, or snowy climate is a probable incidence. If that’s the case, you is likely to be on the lookout for an indoor exercise – and we now have a extremely good one to advocate!
Chocosomnia is a chocolate-making enterprise on the outskirts of Oulu, owned by Riikka, a chocolate aficionado who began making goodies in her personal kitchen. Chocosomnia is a mixture of the phrases ‘chocolate and ‘dreaming’ – and Riikka’s dream certainly got here true, as she quickly outgrew her kitchen and moved to the glossy manufacturing facility the place workshops are held.
In the course of the workshop, you’ll learn to deal with and mood chocolate, turning cacao pastilles into tasty chocolate bars and different treats, with the signature ‘snappy’ texture given by the proper tempering course of. Then, you’ll additionally have a go at making pralines, selecting the fillings you favor – we went for orange, ardour fruit, and raspberry.
Naturally, you’ll be capable to eat as a lot chocolate as you’ll be able to, and likewise take house a small field of the treats you’ll make, an exquisite Oulu memento for your loved ones and buddies. The expertise is an absolute steal at solely €51 per individual – I actually can’t consider a greater strategy to spend a day in Oulu when it rains!
7) Attempt Ice Fishing
On good, sunny weekend mornings, chances are you’ll discover a number of lone people sitting on the frozen sea, naturally all at an satisfactory distance from each other (that is Finland, in any case). It’s possible you’ll marvel what they’re doing – the reply is ice fishing, an iconic Finnish exercise and among the best issues to do in Oulu in winter!
Our ice fishing expertise was organized by Oulu Safaris and came about in Nallikari, a seaside about quarter-hour drive from Oulu, one of many favorite spots of locals in summer season in addition to winter. You’ll be onto the frozen sea on sledges, reaching a scenic spot on the Gulf of Bothnia – if you happen to go to in winter, chances are you’ll anticipate the ice to be roughly 40/50 cm thick, arduous sufficient to face up to the load of individuals and automobiles.
Your information will give you every little thing you want – drills to chop holes into the snow, seats, tiny ice-fishing rods and bait. After which… you wait. Sit and swish the rod round, admire the solar rising at 10 AM, the frozen Finnish nature, and luxuriate in every little thing being nonetheless and silent. It’s possible you’ll or might not catch one thing – we didn’t in Oulu, however we did after we visited Mikkeli in winter, so that you by no means know!
8) Discover Nature on Sliding Snowshoes
Okay, do you favor one thing a bit extra lively than ice fishing? We now have one other fantastic exercise for you good for Oulu in winter – a forest tour on sliding snowshoes in Pilpasuo, about half-hour inland from Oulu.
Sliding snowshoes are just like the Altai skis we utilized in Nuuksio after we visited Helsinki in winter – they’re shorter and wider than traditional cross-country skis, and fitted with seal skins beneath to extend grip. They’re very straightforward to maneuver, even if you happen to’re an absolute newbie at snowboarding, and so they mean you can ‘glide’ over the path.
Pilpasuo is a boggy space on the fringe of a forest, lined in snow in winter, with a path of roughly 2.5 km. The primary a part of the tour is thru the forest, then you definately’ll attain a clearing with a flat, snow-covered space the place it’s actually enjoyable to ski. Outings additionally embrace a espresso break at a close-by kota, a picket hut formed like a teepee with a fire within the centre.
Our sliding snowshoe journey was organized by Finnaction, an area operator that focuses on lively experiences, together with mountain biking.
8) Go on a Northern Lights Safari
There’s just one strategy to shut your Oulu winter expertise with a bang – seeing the Northern Lights.
Now, let me let you know a few issues in regards to the Northern Lights. Sure, Oulu is much north sufficient, however don’t neglect that to see them you want three parts – a transparent sky, absence of synthetic mild, and magnetic exercise on the floor of the solar.
Because of this, the Northern Lights are by no means ‘assured’ – to offer you an concept, in 2016 we spent 2 weeks in Northern Finland, including a week-long stay in Salla, and by no means noticed them.
You want to be fortunate to get the suitable situations, and becoming a member of a tour will certainly assist discover areas the place the Lights may seem.
On high of that, the Northern Lights are sometimes not seen to the bare eye. You may even see them by your digital camera, so don’t be disenchanted if you happen to solely see faint lights. They’re nonetheless wonderful!
On our final night time in Oulu, we joined a Northern Lights tour with Oulu Safaris. We have been taken to 2 completely different areas – a snow-covered golf course and a bit harbour simply outdoors Oulu.
The Northern Lights made a quick look, arches of flickering inexperienced mild rising from the horizon, and dissolving into the night time sky.
It was a magical second, but it was so temporary and fleeting, that all of us appeared and each other questioning if we had certainly seen the Northern Lights. Then, night time descended once more. I assumed it was a type of metaphor for all times, particularly in these troubled instances.
You want a darkish night time to really respect the great thing about mild.
Our go to to Oulu was a part of the TraCEs – CultourIsCapital mission, in collaboration with Go to Oulu and iAmbassador.
