When it’s time to relax I like to go to the theatre, hike in the wilderness, grow chillies and sing in a choir.
Geocaching, airsoft, band contests, spa visits, ice hockey… When it comes to recreational activities in the Oulu region, the sky’s the limit. Even the craziest ideas are welcomed. Such as…? Well, the unconventional Men’s Choir called the Shouters who shout well-known Finnish songs and the Air Guitar World Championships organised since 1996 are both from Oulu. And there’s also a darker side to Oulu – heavy metal fans will certainly find a soul mate here.
There’s no lack of sports venues either: the renovated Raati sports centre with its stadiums and swimming pools is right in the middle of Oulu’s city centre. A stone’s throw from the Rotuaari pedestrian street, the Raksila sports parks provide the opportunity to do various sports from skiing, swimming and skating to all kinds of indoor sports. At Raksila you can also watch championship-level sports at the swimming pool, the ice arena, the synthetic ice rink, pesäpallo stadium and the Oulu Hall…Theatres, music, art exhibitions, dance performances, restaurants and excellent library services will all satisfy your hunger for culture. Various associations and clubs in the area all warmly welcome new faces. The Valve Cultural Centre is my favourite.
Sometimes you just have to get away from it all, and in Oulu the northern wilderness is within walking distance. You can go to the beautiful Oulujoki river delta and the sandy beach at Nallikari to relax in any season. Liminganlahti bay, Finland’s most valuable habitat for birds, with its bird watching towers or the foamy rapids of Koiteli will take you far away from everyday hassles. And don’t forget to go hiking in Hailuoto, a unique national landscape just a short ferry trip off the coast.
More about recreational activities in the following links:
What’s on
Services
Hailuoto
Air Guitar World Championships