اولو، فنلاند

Buy

thumb|Kauppahalli Oulu thumb|Rotuaari, the main shopping street thumb|Valkea shopping centre

Oulu Market Hall If you are in desperate need of something from the grocery store late at night (which means after 22:00 for Finns) or early morning, the options are narrowed down to four grocery stores: S-Market Tuira, Kastelli, Kaakkuri and Ritaharju. They are open 24/7. None of them are located downtown, but Tuira is the closest one. If you need to get somewhere warm in the middle of the night in the winter, other place that is open 24/7 is the "summer street" of the shopping centre Valkea (yet no shops there are open in the night). The railway station building is open 04:00-01:20. Bars and fast food places downtown are usually open until 4-5 AM on weekends.

If you have a car available, the petrol station/restaurant/shop Oulun Baari in Maikkula is open 24 hours daily.

Drink

Drinking in Finland can be an expensive activity, a typical pint (either 0.4 or 0.5L) of domestic macro lager is typically around €6 and up. Typical Finnish beer is European lager, but also more interesting Finnish and local (breweries Maistila, Sonnisaari and Hailuoto are local) craft beer is available at a few pubs, as is imported stuff. Do try lonkku, a long time Finnish favorite long drink of gin and grapefruit juice.

Stay safe

Oulu is, on the whole, a very safe city, but avoid getting into arguments late in the night in fast food joints. Pickpocketing is remarkably rare, but it doesn't harm you to keep an eye on your belongings just like in any other place.

Even though crime otherwise is rare, Oulu has experienced a lot of bike thefts, so make sure to keep your bike locked when you go shopping etc.

There can be some drunks in Rotuaari, the "summer street" of Valkea, the Mannerheim park and some other places in the city centre, but they shouldn't cause any harm to travellers.

The police are helpful and friendly, although some might lack English skills. If you have non-emergency cases or questions, you can contact the police department of Oulu at . The central police office is at Kirkkokatu 13.

Connect

The panOULU (public access network OULU) network provides wireless internet access to everybody in its coverage area, mostly the city centre.

The tourist information centre has a computer with free internet access.

Usually, there is free Wi-Fi in cafés, although the connections might not be the strongest. The same goes with Oulu PTA's buses.

Go next

Hailuoto is the largest island in the Gulf of Bothnia and a good destination for a day trip. Accessible by a free of charge , either with own car or by bus. In February you can drive there on an official ice road (dates varying by year). Iso-Syöte on the way to Kuusamo is the closest destination for downhill skiing and the southernmost fell of Finland. Here are also Syöte national park, Iso-Syöte national hiking area and Pikku-Syöte recreational forest. Koskilinjat arranges day trips to the slopes during the winter season. Kuusamo by Finland's eastern border is a gateway to Lapland, with the ski resort Ruka, the legendary Karhunkierros hiking route (80 km) and Oulanka national park. Koitelinkoski — rapids of Kiiminkijoki-river, about 25 min by car from Oulu. Ii has a beautiful old town and is 35 km away. Vaala municipality on the shores of Lake Oulujärvi about 90 km southeast of Oulu. Helsinki, the capital of Finland