Nurture the light within

When daylight is scarce, you need to nurture your soul with another kind of light. Winter is no time to dive into darkness at home – it’s the perfect time to find a new spark in museums, exhibitions and restaurants along the Pohjola route!

Art is for everybody

Here along the Pohjola route, we believe culture belongs to everybody. In Oulu, a good starting point for your road trip, culture has its own twist. Be it in a museum or art exhibition, you’re about to find both widely acclaimed masterpieces and intriguing local art. A city with strong visual art traditions, Oulu is home to many professional artists, some of whom have gained international fame.

The Oulu Art Museum works in close collaboration with local artists from Oulu and its neighbouring Pohjola route destinations Liminka, Hailuoto, Ii and Tyrnävä, boasting a versatile repertoire of local art, selected Finnish visual art and international special exhibitions. The building itself has a lot of charm: it used to be the headquarters of a leather factory.

Visit the factory turned into an art museum.

Treat your inner child.

Walking from attraction to another – snow problem!

Take a walk in the whiteness of Oulu in winter. Within a short distance, you’ll find many popular attractions to perk up your day. Admire the Oulu Cathedral right next to the city centre, and continue towards the Ainola park just a few hundred metres further. A powerful sight, the Northern Ostrobothnia Museum stands in the middle of the Hupisaaret park area, with exhibitions for both adults and children to enjoy.

If you’re with family, your children will love Science Center Tietomaa almost as much as yourself. The Science Center offers food for thought and visualisations of the many wonders of our world from dinosaurs to local northern flora and fauna.

Warm up your taste buds

Along the Pohjola route, you’ll find delicious meals made of locally grown, pure ingredients, from hearty burgers to fine dining. Whether you’re in Oulu or one of the close-by destinations along the route, you won’t leave hungry – and you’re sure to have food for your soul as well. Book a memorable lunch or dinner at a quaint old building that used to be a retirement home or vicarage, or choose fine dining on a hilltop or at the city centre.

So put on your winter coat, your nicest woolly hat and head to the Pohjola route. We have the snow-how to warm you up with fresh and original culture. 

Feel your inner light shine brighter already?

 

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Science center tower.

Tietomaa Science Centre Tower

Oulu
Ryhmä lumikenkäilijöitä kulkee jonossa lumisessa metsässä. / A group of snowshoers walking in a line in snowy forest. Kuva: Harri Tarvainen.

Sanginjoki Nature Reserve

Oulu
Freedom / Vapaus 270 x 450 cm

Surrealist Seppo Similä's art gallery

Tyrnävä
Burrito

Fresh Mex

Oulu
Inside Oulujoki church.

Oulujoki Church

Oulu
Ruovikon takana on rakennus, jossa on torni.  Behind the beach grass is a building with a tower.

Liminka Bay Visitor Centre

Liminka

Restaurant Harald

Oulu
Cafe Hanna is a small cafe close to the Oulu Train station.

Cafe Hanna

Oulu

Pottery Keramiikkapaja TiinaMari

Liminka
Laaja valikoima eläintarvikkeita Puuilosta

Puuilo Rusko

Oulu

Mediterranean Restaurant

Oulu
Lapland Hotels Oulu Comfort Room.

Lapland Hotels Oulu

Oulu
Bacaro Doppio indoors

Bacaro Doppio Café

Oulu
Sunset scenery with Nallikari lighthouse.

Nallikari Lighthouse

Oulu

Marjatta Hanhijoki: Aino and Reetu – Visibly So 3

Oulu
Burger and country fries

Vanhatien Ravintola, Smoked burgers & BBQ

Tyrnävä
View from the Hupisaaret City Park.

Hupisaaret Islands city park

Oulu
Rantakortteli block seen from above.

Historical Rantakortteli blocks of Oulu

Oulu
Nallikari Holiday Village tent site

Tent site in Nallikari Holiday Village, Oulu

Oulu
Saunallinen kahden hengen hotellihuone.

Best Western Hotel Apollo, Oulu

Oulu

Night at Reenis

Oulu
Fafa's Valkea indoors

Fafa's Restaurant Valkea

Oulu
Robson's Lunch

SuperPark Restaurant

Oulu

The Seasons in Us – Works from the Collections of the Association of Finnish Fine Art Foundations

Oulu
Artist room at Hotel Lasaretti

Nordic Art Hotel Lasaretti

Oulu
Finnish design is sold by Taito Shop Oulu.

Taito Shop Oulu

Oulu
Old wooden houses in Karjasilta.

Wooden Karjasilta from the reconstruction era

Oulu
Varjakka island fire station.

Varjakka industrial heritage site and nature trail

Oulu
Varjo Festival 2022 was held in Kuusisaari.

Kuusisaari Recreation Park

Oulu
We recommend preordering when arriving to the airport.

Airport Taxi Service in Oulu

Oulu
Veranta for private occasions

Breakfast & Private Restaurant Veranta

Oulu
Letonniemi nature trail.

Letonniemi protected area and nature trail

Oulu
Rosso seating area

Rosso Restaurant Valkea

Oulu
Bird watching tower in Hietasaari

Hietasaari recreational area

Oulu

Mon Chou - French Pastry Shop

Oulu
Oulu market square and market hall.

Oulu Market Square

Oulu
Coffee House seating area

Coffee House Café

Oulu
Keskiniemi beacon tower in Autumn

Keskiniemi Beacon Tower

Hailuoto

Design Shop Proto

Oulu
Toripolliisi statue in the Oulu Market Square.

Top 5 attractions in Oulu!

Oulu

Iisland Cottages

Ii

Sailor's trail

Ii
OTAXI VIP is available also for groups and disabled.

OTAXI VIP for Premium Taxi Wishes

Oulu
Accommodation double room.

Ailasto accommodation

Hailuoto

Photo North's gallery

Oulu
Facade of OSH Arina

Original Sokos Hotel Arina, Oulu

Oulu
Oulu cathedral from outside.

Oulu Cathedral

Oulu
Café Kaari

Café Kaari

Oulu

Rauhala ravintola-pâtisserie

Oulu
Mourunki lake

Mourunki lake

Oulu
Picnic shelters in Virpiniemi sport area

Virpiniemi recreational area

Oulu
Oulu market square policeman.

Oulu Market Square Policeman statue

Oulu

Zivago

Oulu
Puuilo Vasaraperästä löydät laajan valikoiman työkaluja

Puuilo Vasaraperä

Oulu
Superior room

Scandic Oulu Station

Oulu
Old pilot building Torni

Hailuodon Majakkapiha

Hailuoto

Sokeri-Jussin Kievari

Oulu
Talvinen wanha Hamina.

The old town of Ii - Wanha Hamina

Ii

Restaurant Hugo

Oulu

Cafe-Restaurant Seelari in Hietasaari

Oulu

Bed and Breakfast by the Iijoki river

Ii
Virkkula Birdwatching tower from bird perspective.

Virkkula Birdwatching Tower at Liminka Bay

Liminka
Greenhouses Romeo ja Julia.

Botanical Garden of the University of Oulu

Oulu
take-away coffee

Kahvila Kiikku

Oulu
Two dogs on the bridge.

Alakestilä Arboretum in Liminka

Liminka

GreenStar Hotel Oulu

Oulu
The Table, Amarillo

Amarillo Restaurant Oulu

Oulu
Picture of the restaurant pointing towards the sunset

Restaurant Aava

Hailuoto
Yksi kissahoitolan huoneista, joissa kaikissa ikkuna, monipuoliset aktivointirakenteet sekä myös piilopaikkoja.

Jokiniemen Kissahoitola boarding cattery – individualized holiday care for cats

Tyrnävä
Fafa's Limingantulli indoors

Fafa's Restaurant Limingantulli

Oulu
Lomakoti Onnela

Idyllic holiday home by the Kiiminki River

Oulu
Puistokahvila Makia

Puistokahvila Makia Cafe

Oulu

Jaakko Autio: OWLA

Oulu

Voimala 1889

Oulu
A smiling girl dressed in an old-fashioned role costume. In the background is the Museum of Northern Ostrobothnia.

Northern Ostrobothnia Museum

Oulu
Accommodation near Oulu and Hailuoto.

Warjakka B&B Accommodation

Oulu
Ravintolamaailma seating area

Ravintolamaailma Linnanmaa

Oulu
Welcome!

Nallikari Bakery & Bistro

Oulu
Pikisaari island from air.

Wooden old town in Pikisaari Island

Oulu
Oulu brand products on a shelf

Oulu Shop in Oulu Tourist Info

Oulu
Exterior

Scandic Oulu City

Oulu
VENN Bar

Restaurant and winebar VENN

Oulu
De Gamlas Hem Hotel & Restaurant.

De Gamlas Hem Hotel

Oulu
Tourist info sign in front of Market Hall.

Oulu Tourist Information Office

Oulu
Northern lights.

Restaurant Nallikari

Oulu
Floating Cafe.

Koivuranta Floating Cafe

Oulu

Lähde! wellness art park

Ii

1bar

Oulu
Meijerikatu ja Myllykirjasto

Tyrnävä's beautiful and historic Dairy Street

Tyrnävä

Local Taxi Services in Liminka

Liminka
Aloita matkasi Otaxin kyydissä.

Oulu's Original Taxi - OTAXI

Oulu
Saaga Travel drivers are well-trained, polite and English speaking.

Charter buses and private transportation services in Oulu region

Oulu

Environmental Art Park

Ii

KulttuuriKauppila Art Centre

Ii
Joo Hetki kahvila sisätila

Joo Hetki Cafe

Oulu

Pohjolan Matka Charter Coaches Oulu

Oulu
Row of pastel colored houses in Raksila with autumn foliage.

Pastel-coloured wooden Raksila

Oulu

Restaurant Liminka Bay

Liminka
Liminka church at summer.

Liminka Church

Liminka
Starter at Lasaretti's Bistro

Bistro, Hotel Lasaretti

Oulu
Nallikari Aalto Apartments

Nallikari Aalto Apartments (open from February 2024)

Oulu
De Gamlas Hem Restaurant.

De Gamlas Hem Restaurant

Oulu
Nallikari beach on sunset.

Nallikari – the Riviera of the North

Oulu
Koivurannan iglut Oulussa.

Koivuranta igloos

Oulu
Cottages are yellow and very idyllic outside.

Traditional Holiday Cottages in Nallikari, Oulu

Oulu
Pilpasuo nature trail includes duck boards.

Pilpasuo protected area and nature trails

Oulu
Kujalan Tilan löökikastikkeet

Farm Products from Kujala´s farm Hailuoto

Hailuoto
Windland – Ohjelmapalvelut luonnossa

Experiences in Tyrnävä: Tours, Local Experiences, Snowshoeing

Tyrnävä
Nallikari Holiday Village - camping

Nallikari Holiday Village - Camping, Oulu

Oulu

Oulu Museum of Art

Oulu
Poiju Villat huokuvat ulkoapäin merellistä tyyliä ja niissä on iso oma terassi

Deluxe Poiju Villas by the Sea in Nallikari, Oulu

Oulu
Policeman Statue in front of the Market Hall.

Oulu Market Hall

Oulu
Oulujoki delta area from the air.

Gems of the Oulu River estuary

Oulu
Design Center Proto

Design Center Proto

Oulu
Hiastinhaaran suisto.

Nature trail and birdwatching tower Hiastinhaara

Ii
Kuusiluoto presents heritage of wood building in Finland.

Many layers of history in Kuusiluoto

Oulu

Tuba Food & Lounge

Oulu
Valkean Kesäkatu ilta-auringon paisteessa.

Valkea Shopping Centre

Oulu
Panimokierros

Hailuoto Organic Brewery

Hailuoto
Authentic soy sauce ramen

Pure maku

Oulu

Local Taxi Services in Kempele

Oulu
Dining room of the Koiteli Residenssi.

Koiteli Residenssi accommodation villa

Oulu
Outside picture of the hotel

Arctic Lighthouse Hotel

Hailuoto
Majakkapiha Caravan park

Caravan park

Hailuoto

Hotel Liminka Bay

Liminka
A unique restaurant in idyllic Pikisaari in Oulu.

Restaurant Mallassauna

Oulu
Park Hotel Liminka

Park Hotel Liminka

Liminka
Frans&Camille indoors

Frans&Camille Bistro

Oulu

Kirkkosalmi Bird Watching tower

Hailuoto
Dinner in Oula Kitchen & Bar.

Oula Kitchen & Bar

Oulu
Dinosauria logo

Dinosauria

Oulu
Ravintolamaailma Limingantulli seating area

Ravintolamaailma Limingantulli

Oulu