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

Sanginjoki Nature Reserve

Oulu
Elämyskota Kieppi

Experience Hut Kieppi

Hailuoto
Koivurannan iglut Oulussa.

Koivuranta igloos

Oulu
Oulu brand products on a shelf

Oulu Shop in Oulu Tourist Info

Oulu
Rantakortteli block in winter.

Historical Rantakortteli blocks of Oulu

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

Cafe Hanna

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

Deluxe Poiju Villas by the Sea in Nallikari, Oulu

Oulu

Environmental Art Park

Ii
Floating Cafe.

Koivuranta Floating Cafe

Oulu
Hupisaaret city park covered with frost in October.

Hupisaaret Islands city park

Oulu

Sokeri-Jussin Kievari Restaurant

Oulu
Burger and country fries

Vanhatien Ravintola, Smoked burgers & BBQ

Tyrnävä
Lomakoti Onnela

Idyllic holiday home by the Kiiminki River

Oulu
Meijerikatu ja Myllykirjasto

Tyrnävä's beautiful and historic Dairy Street

Tyrnävä

Mediterranean Restaurant

Oulu

Restaurant Hugo

Oulu

Sasu Ripatti: Konemetsä 17.12.2024–2.3.2025

Oulu

Local Taxi Services in Kempele

Oulu
Mourunki lake

Mourunki lake

Oulu
Virkkula Birdwatching tower from bird perspective.

Virkkula Birdwatching Tower at Liminka Bay

Liminka

Restaurant Marani

Oulu

Local Taxi Services in Liminka

Liminka
Merihelmi Camping sea shore

Merihelmi Camping in the Gulf of Bothnia

Ii

Restaurant Liminka Bay

Liminka
Aloita matkasi Otaxin kyydissä.

Oulu's Original Taxi - OTAXI

Oulu

Liisa Rehu Design

Oulu

Avis Car Rental at Oulu Airport

Oulu

Bed and Breakfast by the Iijoki river

Ii
Market hall in winter.

Oulu Market Hall

Oulu
Cottages are yellow and very idyllic outside.

Traditional Holiday Cottages in Nallikari, Oulu

Oulu
Picture of the restaurant pointing towards the sunset

Restaurant Aava

Hailuoto

Sailor's trail

Ii

1bar

Oulu
Inside Oulujoki church.

Oulujoki Church

Oulu
Brownish Oulu city hall with three main doors and two little towers. Background blue sky.

Guided Transportation from Oulu Airport to Oulu

Oulu
Finnish design is sold by Taito Shop Oulu.

Taito Shop Oulu

Oulu
VENN Oulu, seating area

Restaurant and winebar VENN

Oulu
Facade of OSH Arina

Original Sokos Hotel Arina, Oulu

Oulu
Outside picture of the hotel

Arctic Lighthouse Hotel

Hailuoto
Liiketilan sisääntulo

J&S Burger Grill-Restaurant in Ii

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

Charter buses and private transportation services in Oulu region

Oulu

Photo North's gallery

Oulu

Den 15.11.2024–2.3.2025

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

Liminka Bay Visitor Centre

Liminka
Old pilot building Torni

Hailuodon Majakkapiha

Hailuoto
Bacaro Doppio indoors

Bacaro Doppio Café

Oulu
OuluHostel AlliMaria

OuluHostel AlliMaria

Oulu
OTAXI VIP is available also for groups and disabled.

OTAXI VIP for Premium Taxi Wishes

Oulu
Design Center Proto

Design Center Proto

Oulu
Northern lights.

Restaurant Nallikari

Oulu
Policeman statue at night.

Oulu Market Square Policeman statue

Oulu
Lapland Hotels Oulu Comfort Room.

Lapland Hotels Oulu

Oulu
Babista interior

Babista Oulu

Oulu
Tourist info sign in front of Market Hall in winter.

Oulu Tourist Information Office

Oulu
Nallikari Aalto located By the Sea

Nallikari Aalto Apartment Hotel

Oulu

Hotel Liminka Bay

Liminka
Hiastinhaaran suisto.

Nature trail and birdwatching tower Hiastinhaara

Ii
Robson's Lunch

SuperPark Restaurant

Oulu
Rosso Oulu seating area

Rosso Restaurant Valkea

Oulu
Valkean Kesäkatu ilta-auringon paisteessa.

Valkea Shopping Centre

Oulu
Kuusisaari recreation park in winter.

Kuusisaari Recreation Park

Oulu
Majakkapiha Caravan park

Caravan park

Hailuoto
Exterior

Scandic Oulu City

Oulu

Zivago

Oulu

Voimala 1889

Oulu

Night at Reenis

Oulu
Varjakka island fire station.

Varjakka industrial heritage site and nature trail

Oulu
Laaja valikoima eläintarvikkeita Puuilosta

Puuilo Rusko

Oulu
Accommodation double room.

Ailasto accommodation

Hailuoto

Oulu Art Museum

Oulu
Kuusiluoto presents heritage of wood building in Finland.

Many layers of history in Kuusiluoto

Oulu
Dinner in Oula Kitchen & Bar.

Oula Kitchen & Bar

Oulu
Nallikari Holiday Village tent site

Tent site in Nallikari Holiday Village, Oulu

Oulu

Pottery Keramiikkapaja TiinaMari

Liminka
Liminka church at summer.

Liminka Church

Liminka
Saunallinen kahden hengen parivuoteellinen hotellihuone 10 kpl

Best Western Hotel Apollo, Oulu

Oulu

Rauhala ravintola-pâtisserie

Oulu

Restaurant Harald

Oulu
We recommend preordering when arriving to the airport.

Airport Taxi Service in Oulu

Oulu
Iin Sillat restaurant

Iin Sillat Camping and Inn

Ii

Puistola Cafe & Bakery

Oulu
Northern lights abowe the Nallikari lighthouse.

Nallikari Lighthouse

Oulu
Surprise menu

Surprise Menu; a tribute to the diverse nature of the North

Oulu
Burrito

Fresh Mex

Oulu
Old wooden houses in Karjasilta.

Wooden Karjasilta from the reconstruction era

Oulu
De Gamlas Hem Restaurant.

De Gamlas Hem Restaurant

Oulu

Mon Chou - French Pastry Shop

Oulu
Dining room of the Koiteli Residenssi.

Koiteli Residenssi accommodation villa

Oulu
Local tradiotional Pulla

A Unique Cafe Huvila in Oulu

Oulu
Windland – Ohjelmapalvelut luonnossa

Experiences in Tyrnävä: Tours, Local Experiences, Snowshoeing

Tyrnävä
Log cabin of Liisa Rehu.

Liisa & Moss Wonderland

Oulu
Sea Oulu Terwaluoto lounge

Villa Terwaluoto

Hailuoto

KulttuuriKauppila Art Centre

Ii

Tuba Food & Lounge

Oulu
Winter scenery of river delta.

Gems of the Oulu River estuary

Oulu
Main door to Cafe

Sleep in hostel

Oulu
Two dogs on the bridge.

Alakestilä Arboretum in Liminka

Liminka

Cafe-Restaurant Seelari in Hietasaari

Oulu
Veranta for private occasions

Breakfast & Private Restaurant Veranta

Oulu

Minna Henriksson: Hidden 13.9.2024–5.1.2025

Oulu

Lähde! wellness art park

Ii
Piispanletto Rajahauta nature trail.

Letonniemi protected area and nature trail

Oulu
take-away coffee

Kahvila Kiikku

Oulu
Park Hotel Liminka

Park Hotel Liminka

Liminka
Ravintolamaailma Limingantulli seating area

Ravintolamaailma Limingantulli

Oulu

Taxi and charter services Ii

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

Pastel-coloured wooden Raksila

Oulu
Starter at Lasaretti's Bistro

Bistro, Hotel Lasaretti

Oulu
Joo Hetki kahvila sisätila

Joo Hetki Cafe

Oulu

Avis Car Rental in Oulu

Oulu
Pikisaari scenery in winter.

Wooden old town in Pikisaari Island

Oulu
Frans&Camille table setting

Frans&Camille Bistro

Oulu
pitojenhelmi

BB Villa Helmi

Liminka
Radisson Blu Hotel Oulu ulkoa kuvattuna

Radisson Blu Hotel Oulu

Oulu

Pohjolan Matka Charter Coaches Oulu

Oulu
Majoitushuone

Idyllinen kartanohotelli Iissä Iijoen rannalla

Ii
Keskiniemen Pooki kunnostuksen jälkeen

Keskiniemi Beacon Tower

Hailuoto

Bistro Mesu

Oulu
Freedom / Vapaus 270 x 450 cm

Surrealist Seppo Similä's art gallery

Tyrnävä
Coffee House seating area

Coffee House Café

Oulu
Toripolliisi statue in the Oulu Market Square.

Top 5 attractions in Oulu!

Oulu
Skiers on sea ice.

Virpiniemi recreational area

Oulu

Iisland Cottages

Ii
De Gamlas Hem Hotel & Restaurant.

De Gamlas Hem Hotel

Oulu
Kujalan Tilan löökikastikkeet

Farm Products from Kujala´s farm Hailuoto

Hailuoto

Kirkkosalmi Bird Watching tower

Hailuoto

Nature Cafe Loppula at Sanginjoki

Oulu
Nallikari beach covered with ice and snow.

Hietasaari recreational area

Oulu

Jakkukylä suspension bridge and Purusaari

Ii
Greenhouses Romeo ja Julia.

Botanical Garden of the University of Oulu

Oulu
Authentic soy sauce ramen

Pure maku

Oulu
Talvinen wanha Hamina.

The old town of Ii - Wanha Hamina

Ii
Nallikari Holiday Village - camping

Nallikari Holiday Village - Camping, Oulu

Oulu
Pöllän Mökkimajoitus Hailuoto

Rented cottage, holiday home, cottage accommodation

Hailuoto
Superior room

Scandic Oulu Station

Oulu
Ravintola Mallassaunan sisäänkäynti

Restaurant Mallassauna

Oulu
Puuilo Vasaraperästä löydät laajan valikoiman työkaluja

Puuilo Vasaraperä

Oulu
The Table, Amarillo

Amarillo Restaurant Oulu

Oulu
Oulu cathedral in Oulu city.

Oulu Cathedral

Oulu

GreenStar Hotel Oulu

Oulu
Pilpasuo nature trail includes duck boards.

Pilpasuo protected area and nature trails

Oulu
Bar is Baari in Finnish

45 Special

Oulu
Puistokahvila Makia

Puistokahvila Makia Cafe

Oulu
Nallikari beach in winter.

Nallikari – the Riviera of the North

Oulu

Design Shop Proto

Oulu

Geocaching in Ii

Ii

Restaurant Puistola

Oulu

Ravintola Sarkka

Oulu

Café Kaari

Oulu
A bucket and a rope on a dock at Kiviniemi port.

Traditional Fishing Harbour Kiviniemi

Oulu
Visit Hailuoto, Hailuoto, Information point, info, Hailuodon Elinkeinotoimijat ry

Visit Hailuoto, Tourist Information

Hailuoto
The menu provides ample choices for many tastes

Restaurant Pannu

Oulu
Artist room at Hotel Lasaretti

Nordic Art Hotel Lasaretti

Oulu
Ravintolamaailma seating area

Ravintolamaailma Linnanmaa

Oulu
Grandma's cottage

Farm accommodation

Hailuoto