We are flying to Oulu in Finland – Planning

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The decision to fly to Oulu in the north of Finland was a very spontaneous one for us. As Lufthansa had now added 2x per week direct flights from Munich to Oulu to the flight schedule from December 2023 to March 2024.

I was also bombarded with advertisements for Oulu on social media. The “Visit Oulu” website in particular advertises “Winter paradise just three hours from Munich – 9 reasons to visit Oulu, Finland, this winter”.

Source: Facebook and Instagram

Here are the top 9 reasons why you should definitely visit Oulu this winter:

1. Frozen sea in Oulu – Numerous companies offer exciting activities and programs on the frozen sea
2. Untamed winter wonderland – Northern Lights and snowy activities in Syöte National Park (which, by the way, is only about 2 hours from Oulu)
3. Arctic icebreaker cruise (starting point in Kemi, about 1 hour from Oulu)
4. European Capital of Culture 2026
5. Arctic food and beer
6. Finnish sauna
7. Large selection of accommodation
8. Santa Claus Village (near Rovaniemi, about 3 hours from Oulu)
9. 12 exciting destinations for a road trip nearby (Pohjola route)

I’m a bit put off by the long journey times, as the weather and road conditions are often difficult in winter. Oulu is more of a starting point for exploring northern Finland.

Oulu

With around 211,000 inhabitants, Oulu is the largest city in Northern Finland and the northernmost major city in the European Union. Once famous for wood tar and salmon, Oulu is now a center for the Finnish IT industry and is known for its strong wellness culture.

Oulu is located at the mouth of the River Oulujoki, which flows into the Gulf of Bothnia. The airport is located south of Oulu in the neighboring municipality of Oulunsalo.

Flights

From mid-December 2023 to the end of March 2024, Lufthansa will offer direct flights from Munich to Oulu twice a week (Wednesday and Saturday). The flight takes approx. 3 hours 15 minutes.

We paid EUR 349.96 per person for our flight with hand baggage and checked baggage for the outward and return flight.

Rental car

Until now, I have always booked my rental cars through my trusted travel agency. This time I compared a few provider portals and ended up with ADAC. Based on my experiences in and around Tromsø, I booked a vehicle from the “compact class” category. In Finland, tires with studs should also be fitted as standard in winter. An SUV or four-wheel drive is not absolutely necessary, unless you plan to drive on snow-covered side roads.

Accommodation

I looked on the well-known accommodation portals(Airbnb and Booking.com). Everything is available, from low to high prices. There is also a good selection of hotels in Oulu. However, we opted for a “villa” (vacation home) on the outskirts of Oulu. This time we didn’t want to be too far out of the city, as we usually are on our trips to northern Norway. There are some nice cottages outside Oulu, but we don’t yet know what the road conditions are like in northern Finland.

Activities / Excursions

This point is currently proving somewhat more difficult. The choice is still very limited for Oulu. I have the feeling that the region is still in the process of developing offers for tourists. On one page it also says that they do not offer any activities for individual travelers for winter 23/24. Actually, as of now (January 2024) nothing is offered directly from Oulu. I guess I’m just too spoiled by our Tromsø vacations and the offers there.

But here is an initial collection of possible activities with links:

• From Kemi: Icebreaker Sampo cruise & pick-up
  Duration: 6 hours; Costs: approx. 340.00 EUR
• Santa Claus village near Rovaniemi
  Quite touristy, but there is a wider choice of activities such as snowmobiling, reindeer and husky farming. But you are also driven there first.
• Amethyst Mine Tour
  I can’t figure out at all where to pick them up. There is nothing on the page.
• Syöte National Park
  There is a lot on offer here again. Husky safaris, snowshoe hikes, snowmobile wilderness safari, reindeer farm, and much more.

Conclusion

After some research, I am a bit skeptical about the offers directly in Oulu. They are very clear at the moment. Directly in the Syöte National Park you will find more winter activities. We still have some time.

If anyone has any good suggestions for the area, please keep them coming! I would be delighted.

I would also be particularly interested in photo spots. Mainly landscapes and spots for auroras to photograph 😁 Thank you 💜

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