• Oulu City Theatre (Oulun Kaupunginteatteri), Kaarlenväylä 2, [13]. Recently renovated theatre offers plays in Finnish. Prices vary from €15 to €40 for a single adult ticket. Significant (half price) discounts are available for people under 26..  edit

• Cinema Plaza (Elokuvateatteri Plaza), Torikatu 32, [14]. Completed in 2007, Plaza movie theater features one of the biggest movie screens in Finland. Most of the movies shown on theater's eight screens are original english versions and are subtitled in Finnish and Swedish, though some children's movies are dubbed in Finnish. Admission €9-10.50, before 17:00 on weekdays €6.80. Ticket sets of 5 or 9 tickets are available, bringing the price per admission down to €8.40 or €8 respectively.  edit

• Cinema Star (Elokuvateatteri Star), Kalliotie 6 (Tuira region, northern-side of Oulu river), ☎ 08 554 2711, [15]. The oldest still functioning (yet very modern) movie theater in Oulu, Star movie theater features 3D digital movies. Most of the movies shown on the theater's three screens are original english versions and are subtitled in Finnish and Swedish, though some children's movies are dubbed in Finnish. Star has been nominated as Finland's most disabled-friendly establishment in 2007. Admission €7.5-10. Sets of 5 tickets are available for 37€, bringing the price per admission down to €7.4 to all shows.  edit

• Rotuaari, from the french word trottoir, meaning pedestrian street, is a place for live entertainment mainly during summertime, but also on weekends all year round.

• Qstock [16] Rock Festival, late July.

• International Air Guitar Festival [17], beginning of August.

• Nallikari and its Eden sea resort. Summer visit is preferred, but you can bathe outside all year round in Eden's cozy temperature of +26°C. A bone-chilling dip in the freezing Oulu river can also be taken at the swimming spot (maauimala) of Tuira all year round.

• Oulu This Week event calendar

Public swimming pools:

• Oulu swimming pool (Oulun uimahalli), (Raksila), ☎ (08) 558 48100. Mon-Wed&Fri 6:15-21:45, Thu 7:00-21:45, Sat-Sun 8:00-16:45. One of the largest public swimming pools in Finland. In addition to the pools facilities include separate gyms for weight training, gymnastics, judo and boxing. Cafe upstairs with a view to the pools. €4.20 for the pools, €3 for the gym.  edit
• Raatti swimming pool (Raatin uimahalli), (Raatti, northwest from the city centre), ☎ (08) 558 48120. Mon-Fri 6:15-20:45. Smaller and a little worn down public pool and gym. (Closed for major renovation from August 2008 to early 2010) €3 for the pools, €4 for the gym which includes access to the pools.  edit

Indoor Activities:

• Snooker Time, Kauppurienkatu 9. Play billiards or snooker right in the city center. B-license.  edit
• Pelibunkkeri, Kansankatu 47, [18]. Indoor minigolf, air hockey and fussball tables. (65.007682,25.472564) edit
• Oulu bowling alley (Oulun keilahalli), [19]. Over twenty bowling lanes near the city center. €15-18 per hour per lane, plus €2.50 for shoe rental. Also pool and snooker tables.  edit

• Oulu City Art Museum (Oulun Taidemuseo), Kasarmintie 7 (within walking distance from the city center), ☎ 358855847450, [11]. Tues-Sun 10-17. Two story museum with a wide variety of modern artwork. Around 8 exhibits a year. Plenty of information in English, except for small, temporary exhibits. 3 euros.  edit

• Science Centre Tietomaa (Tiedekeskus Tietomaa), Nahkatehtaankatu 2, [12]. Mon-Sun 10–19. The world's first science centre. Unfortunately a 'social invention' such as a science centre wasn't to be patented and the idea was copied all over the world. €13 for single adult ticket, €10 for children aged 6-15.  edit

Quite close to Raatti swimming hall are the remaining ruins of the Castle of Oulu. Their café, Linnankahvila is open daily during summertime. It lies on the remaining premises of the Castle of Oulu after the explosion of gunpowder deposit (by a bulb of lightning) in the 18th century.

• Oulu Castle (Oululinna). There is almost nothing to describe. This is not a castle nor ruins. It is a public park where the castle used to be. The park is big, though, so it's a nice walk beside the river.  edit

By plane

Oulu Airport [4] is the busiest in the country after Helsinki, and the Helsinki-Oulu sector is the country's most popular domestic flight with frequent services (almost 20 flights per day each way) on Finnair and Blue1. A fully flexible return economy ticket costs a whopping €251 but an advance-purchase non-changeable one-way ticket can go as low as €39 plus taxes. There are also some services to Riga, Rovaniemi, Tampere, Turku and Kemi.

The airport has an automatic map dispenser that provides free maps, but sometimes it doesn't work.

Bus 19 (~€5) connects the airport to the city center in 30 minutes. Buses operate quite frequently from 06:25 to about 21:00 on weekdays. After 21:00 buses operate infrequently to 01:30. A taxi will cost you around €30 for the same distance. Bus 19 also takes you to the University of Oulu [5].

By train

Oulu is on the railway [6] main line between Helsinki and Rovaniemi. The fastest Pendolino trains complete the journey from Oulu to Helsinki in about 6 hours (€72), while direct sleepers take around 9 hours (€64 plus optional sleeper at €12-€31 per bed). The newest type of sleeper train carriages have a shower and a toilet in each 2-person cabin.

By bus

Trip duration from Helsinki varies between 9½ and 15 hours and costs around €70-80. Timetable and information from Matkahuolto [7]

Public transportation is operated by Koskilinjat [8]. Single ticket (kertalippu) in the city of Oulu costs €2.90 (€1.50 for children ages 4-11). Between 23:00-04:00 a single ticket costs €5.80. A single ticket allows one transfer within 60 minutes. A 24-hour ticket (matkailijalippu) allows unlimited use of the buses for the 24-hour period for €9 (€4.50 for children). To plan your route in the city, try Linjakas [9]. It gives you the most convenient route to where you want to go, including walks to/from bus stops, which bus lines to use and where to switch buses. Bus drivers generally do not speak english, so plan your trip beforehand.

To get a good look around Oulu, with English commentary, try Potnapekka [10]. Half train, half bus, it operates during summer months (June to August) on two routes, via Nallikari or Hupisaaret, through roads for light traffic. Both routes leave from the stone ball at Rotuaari (at the center of Oulu) and the journey lasts about one hour. You can hop off and in on the way.

Oulu is renowned for it's good bicycle routes, which get you around the city easily and safely. To rent a bicycle try Pyörä-Suvala, Saaristonkatu 27. If you're staying at Nallikari Camping, Leiritie 10, they also have bikes to rent for visitors costing €12/day.

Oulu Market Hall (Kauppahalli), [20]. Mon-Thu 8-17, Fri 8-18, Sat 8-15.. Atmospheric interior in over a hundred years old building. Largely a food market, offering fresh and conserved foods varying from reindeer meat to Asian specialities. The market and the surrounding 'aitat' (or barns) also offer a variety of souvenir-type items.  edit

Oulu is a place for eating pizza and other fast foods. For as low as €4-7 you can get a pizza with your choice of (usually three) toppings. Also there are many restaurants that have a pizza buffet for around €7-12 which includes a drink. Arguably, Finland's biggest pizzas are served in Oulu's Pizzeria Romeo. A number of international restaurants are found in Oulu, including Indian(Indian Restaurant,New Bombay Restaurant), Moroccan, Greek, Mediterranean, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, Thai and Chinese kitchens. For American style fast food there is McDonald's and Hesburger.

For more upscale dining, restaurants such as Uleåborg (near Radisson SAS hotel in the marketplace and the waterfront) and Fransmanni (at the recently-built Arina hotel in the town center) provide. Ravintola Matala near the waterfront offers modern cuisine, and has been ranked in top ten of Finnish restaurants several times, with prices to match. There is of course the Pannu pizza joint in town - up-market trendy pizzas for the discerning. For decently priced upscale dining, try Mezzo which offers frequently changing menus for 33 euros (expect to chip in at least another for the wines though).

• 45 Special, Saaristonkatu 12,[21]. (08) 8811 845, Open every night. Weekdays gigs and meeting place of modern drunkards after 1.30am, weekends crowded.
• Amarillo, Kirkkokatu 15, (08) 312 3100, [22]. Nice bar in the 1st floor and a night club underground. Also, the texmex-style kitchen is open Mon-Thu 11-00.30, Fri-Sat 11-23.30, Sun 12-23.00.
• Cabaret, Torikatu 21-23, [23]. A discotheque with two different rooms of different styles. Meatcounter for 20+. Wed,Fri,Sat 22-04.00
• Caio, Sammonkatu 10, (08) 556 2286, Nice and quiet bar with music, billiards and food near the University of Oulu.
• Gloria, Torikatu 21-23, [24]. Two rooms, one for karaoke and one for sports and live music on the weekends.  edit
• Graali, Saaristonkatu 5, [25]. 14-03. Cozy pub with atmosphere and a fireplace. (65.012192,25.465794) edit
• Hevimesta, Torikatu 11, [26]. Hard Rock / Metal club. 1e beer on mondays, wednesdays and thursdays til 1am.
• Kaarlenholvi/Jumpru, Kauppurienkatu 6, [27]. Genuine Oulu. Pub downstairs with warmed up patio offers the authentic overview of locals. Nightclub upstairs attracts younger clientele and exchange students.
• Kuluma, Kauppurienkatu 5, 11am-2am. [28]. If you fancy cocktails, this is the place to go. Some coctails include a fire-breathing display.
• Never Grow Old, Hallituskatu 17, [29]. Sun-Thu 6pm-2pm, Fri 4pm-3am,Sat 6pm-3am. Chilled out bar with a Jamaican vibe. Red Stripe and Reggae.  edit
• Onnela, Isokatu 35, [30]. Four different rooms with different styles: Disco, Rock, Suomipop and "Saucepan". Meatcounter for 18 to 20 year olds.
• Oluthuone Leskinen, Kirkkokatu 10, ☎ (08) 311 7993, [31]. 12-02. Irish-style pub with decent selection of beers.  edit
• Sarkka, Hallituskatu 13-17. 9am-2am. You think you are pro? Come here at 9am and see if you have what it takes!