A Finnish city whose claim to fame is the annual World Air Guitar Championship, which takes place every summer, Oulu may seem a small player on the world stage. Founded in 1605 by the King of Sweden, the city has grown into a sophisticated centre for Finnish IT and high tech services, even boasting completely free wireless service in its city centre. Located on the west coast of Finland on the shore of the Gulf of Bothnia, the city contains several islands within its area, all connected by pedestrian bridges. With nearly 140,000 inhabitants, Oulu is the sixth largest city in Finland and is located in the region of Ostrobothnia. Get cheap tickets with airBalticTravel for your trip to high tech city - Oulu.
Languages
Hyvää huomenta! (Good morning!) The main language of Oulu is of course Finnish, which the majority of its population speaks. Most signs are written in Finnish, so tourists should become at least a little familiar with the basics of the language. Tourist areas and some restaurants will provide service in English as well, so a city-break to Oulu does not exactly require a course in Finnish. The locals, of course, always appreciate the effort.
See and Do
Oulu may sound like it’s all just a high tech world perfect for a little free internet, but it does have a few noteworthy sights to make for an enjoyable city-break. Several good hotel and restaurant options are found throughout the city centre, and the nightlife, while a little slow, promises some new acquaintances, if you’re open to the locals. Do pay a visit to Oulu Cathedral, dated to the 19th century and standing on the site of an earlier church, which was unfortunately destroyed in a fire. Feeling inventive? Get tickets to the Tietomaa Science Centre housed in what was once a factory, an enormous set of exhibits thronging with children as interested as you’ll be in the many contraptions and hands on attractions. Stroll through the Oulu University Botanical Gardens located in Lineman to see the many interesting species as well as a pair of greenhouses named in honour of Shakespeare’s greatest lovers. Have a meal in the observation tower of Oulunlinna (or Oulu Castle), the ruins of it that is, as the castle was unfortunately destroyed by an unfortunate mix of lightning and gunpowder. Spend an afternoon, or at least a few hours, enjoying the exhibits at the Taidemuseo with its Finnish contemporary art and international pieces. When you are in the mood for some shopping, wander through Kauppahalli market square with its shops in old wooden houses selling many not so cheap Finnish trinkets and assorted goods.
