When planning a trip to Finland in winter, Oulu might not be the first location that comes to mind, but it should be. After all, the city and the surrounding area have a lot to offer. Hereby, it is especially the city’s proximity to the sea that makes it such a unique winter destination, as it freezes and disappears under a 70 cm thick layer of ice.
Due to this, the area turns into a frozen wonderland that is ideal for adventure lovers looking for unique experiences. Once the ice is thick enough, Oulu’s seaside area Nallikari, which is also known as Riviera of the North, transforms into a hotspot for winter activities.
The snow-covered beach of Nallikari turns into the starting point for all kinds of things to do in Oulu in winter including ice fishing, sliding snowshoeing, and fat biking. And of course, the city center itself with its restaurants and events is also not to be missed.
I had the pleasure of experiencing what the city has to offer and can say that it is the place to go in winter if you want to venture off the beaten path and are looking for frozen adventures, great food, and friendly people.
This article is based on a press trip organized by Visit Oulu. As always, all opinions expressed are my own.
About Oulu
Oulu is located in Northern Finland, around 600 km north of Helsinki and 166 km south of Rovaniemi. The city is located at the Bothnian Bay and South of the Arctic Circle. Therefore, you always have some sunlight, with the least amount of daylight being in December when the average is 3:54 h.
As the 5th largest city in Finland, it is known for technology companies and startups, but thanks to its geographical location at a river delta and at the sea, Oulu also offers plenty of opportunities for outdoor adventures regardless of the season.
It is also the perfect starting place if you want to explore the Pohjola route to experience the natural and cultural diversity of Northern Finland.
Moreover, Oulu is the European Capital of Culture 2026. As the European Capital of Culture, the city and 39 municipalities in the Oulu region which is located between the borders of Russia and Sweden, will showcase the local culture and art.
Hereby, the overlying theme is “Cultural Climate Change” with the goal of facilitating new connections between people in Oulu and the world, and establishing a trustful, sharing, and caring cultural climate.
The program is divided into the following three themes:
- Brave Hinterland — a remote area of extremes that is impacted by climate change and supplies both hardships and beauty
- Wild City — vibrant city life in a lively city that uses art & culture to fill the silence and darkness
- Cool Contrasts — it is a place of midnight sun and sunless winter, that is undergoing a process of rebalancing
Overall, the Oulu 2026 projects, including the Arctic Food Lab and the Peace Machine, aim to connect people and help establish a connection with the world around us.
And given Oulu’s tar history, it is the perfect city to strive for this goal. After all, the city’s tar export helped establish connections worldwide, as said tar was used to waterproof wooden sail ships of the British Empire, France, and America. As such, the city that once enabled sea voyages around the globe now invites the world to come to Oulu and see all the city and surrounding area have to offer in terms of art, nature, and culture.
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My Top 3 Winter Activities in Oulu
There are many great things to do in Oulu, but if you are short on time, you should be sure to include the following three winter activities in your itinerary.
- Sliding Snowshoeing — Take in nature while gliding over the frozen sea on sliding snowshoes.
- Snow Sculpting — Get creative and turn snow into a piece of art!
- Arctic Food — Enjoy the food scene of a city that celebrates local ingredients and dishes.
Where to stay: Nallikari Aalto Apartment Hotel
Things to Do in Oulu in Winter
Both Oulu and Nallikari offer many outdoor activities in summer, but winter unveils a completely different side of the city. As snow covers the ground and the sea freezes, a completely different set of adventures becomes possible, enabling you to experience the frozen landscape.
During my time in the city, I had the chance to try all kinds of outdoor adventures and attend two unique events. Based on my experience, I recommend adding the following things to do in Oulu in winter to your itinerary.
1. Sliding Snowshoeing
While there are various activities you can do on the frozen sea, sliding snowshoeing was my favorite experience. A modern version of forest skis, sliding snowshoes allow you to glide over the frozen surface and thanks to fur underneath them, you can even go uphill.
However, you will not have to do so during the tour along the coastline of the frozen bay and then on a frozen canal through a forest. As such, it is a beginner-friendly activity.
If you want to go sliding snowshoeing on the ice, you can only do so from January to March. Hereby, I recommend booking a sliding snowshoeing excursion with Nallikari Safaris. My adventure was organized by them, and I had a fantastic time.
Alternatively, you can also do a sliding snowshoe tour through Pilpasuo Swamp.
2. Snow Sculpting
Do you want to build a snowman? If so, snow sculpting is the ideal winter activity in Oulu for you! Unlike a regular snowman, you start by shoveling powdery snow into a mold and compressing it by continuously stomping on it ‘as if you were making wine’.
Once the mold is filled up, you have to let it sit for 50 minutes. We used this time to decide on the subject of the sculpture, and after removing the mold, we got to carving the snow with a variety of tools.
Given the location, we decided to sculpt the Market Square Policeman statue of Oulu and while I did not expect it, our sculpture resembled it. Likely, because one can simply add snow to the sculpture if too much is removed.
If you want to try your hand at it, you can book it as a group activity (for at least 10 people) with Oulu Safaris. It costs 45€ per person. Additionally, you might also be able to check out bigger snow sculptures if you happen to visit the city during the Baltic Snow Call international snow sculpting contest.
3. Eat Arctic Food
Eating your way around the food scene of Oulu might not be an activity that is exclusive to winter, but delicious food enhances every adventure. And as such, you should certainly include several restaurant visits in your Oulu winter itinerary.
After all, the city is a foodie destination that celebrates the Arctic cuisine and the use of local ingredients. It is a way of tasting Oulu’s heritage that broadens your understanding of life in the ‘brave hinterland’.
You will be more than surprised by the unique flavors of wild food, as ripening in Northern Finland’s short, intense summer gives berries and mushrooms growing in the forests an intense flavor. And of course, the Northern Finnish cuisine also includes freshly caught fish and reindeer.
During my time in Oulu, I had the pleasure of eating Arctic Food at a variety of restaurants and all of them were fantastic. However, the best restaurants in Oulu when it comes to local dishes and cuisine are Sokeri-Jussin Kievari and Oula. Look for the Artic Food Lab trademark on the menus if you are looking for dishes that highlight the local Arctic cuisine.
4. Dance the Cold Away at ‘Frozen People’ Festival
Everyone knows the Burning Man festival in the desert, but did you know there is also a festival on the frozen sea? Frozen People is an electronic music and Northern art festival, and is the only festival of its kind. And getting the chance to attend it is certainly one of the best things to do in Oulu in winter.
Taking place annually at the beginning of March, house and techno music performed by national and international artists has you dance the cold away. Hereby, the stage is usually located on the platform of the Nallikari Lighthouse, and people are dancing on the ice.
If you want a break from dancing, you can walk around and look at the art installations. In 2023, there were 9 art installations. In the afternoon, you can also try your hand at ice fishing, but given the loud music, you likely won’t catch a fish.
If you want to make the most of your day at Frozen People, you should head there before 5 PM. This way, you can experience the atmosphere during the day, before warming up again while eating dinner. After that, you should certainly head out onto the ice again, as the real party starts once the sun has set. The art installations are lit up, there is a video projection on the lighthouse, and as you dance to the beats, you won’t even notice the cold
Frozen People is a free entry event, but you have to buy a ticket for the afterparty. The next Frozen People will take place again at the beginning of March 2025, and if you cannot make it, you should certainly plan to attend the festival in 2026, when it will be bigger than ever before. In time, you will be able to look up the date and program here.
5. Ice Fishing
Ice fishing is another popular winter activity in Oulu that is not to be missed. Locals spend hours sitting on the frozen sea to fish perches while enjoying the silence and come back with enough fish for a nice meal. The ice fisher we met while sliding snowshoeing told us he cooks them in a pan with butter.
After heading out onto the frozen sea, you have to drill a hole into the thick ice. From then on, it is a waiting game with a small ice fishing rod in your hands until the first fish bites. I gave it a try at the Frozen People festival but did not manage to catch a fish.
Given that the sea has to be frozen and safe to walk on, you can only do it from the middle of December to the beginning of April. If you want to go ice fishing, you can book a three hours long excursion with Nallikari Safaris.
6. Explore a Wintery Oulu
Oulu has many beautiful spots, and I think the city looks even more charming when it is covered by a blanket of snow. Therefore, strolling through the wintery Oulu is one of the top things to do in winter even if you have already visited the city in another season.
The new Oulu letters in Hupisaaret Islands city park are among the places not to be missed during said tour. Consisting of several small islands in the Oulu River estuary, the public park is the perfect location for an afternoon walk.
Of course, you should also head to the Market Square where you will find the Toripolliisi statue. Sculpted by Kaarlo Mikkonen, the 2.2 m high statue of an Oulu market square policeman is one of the city’s top selfie spots. It commemorates the era of Market Square policemen that lasted from 1934 to 1979.
Pikisaari Island is another place worth visiting. Once the location of a pitch tar distillery, it is now a creative hotspot in Oulu. There are plenty of art and craft studios, and while you currently still have to be lucky to visit them, you can marvel at some statues and visit Mallassauna, where you can drink a beer brewed at Finland’s first organic brewery.
7. See the Northern Lights
If you are anything like me and love seeing natural phenomena, you have likely always dreamed of seeing the Northern Lights, and given the proximity to the Arctic Circle, Oulu is one of the places where you can frequently see them. The months from September to October and March to April are the best time of the year to see Aurora Borealis, but of course, there is no guarantee.
In the week leading up to your trip, I recommend looking up the likelihood of seeing northern lights during your visit to Oulu in winter here. While there is no certainty, a KP index of 4 or above means you will likely be lucky enough to see the Northern Lights as long as the sky is clear. Once you are in Oulu, you can find information here and in the Oulu Aurora Spotters Facebook group.
While you can join a traditional Northern Lights tour, you can also go on a ‘Winter Forest Adventure in the Dark’ with Lappis. During this tour, you walk 1.1 km deep into the forest to a lean-to shelter, where you will sit around a campfire with marshmallows and hot chocolate (or the Finnish alternative: coffee and sausages).
Given that you are in the forest and away from light sources, you will be able to see the Northern Lights if the sky is clear and there is sufficient geomagnetic activity.
Sadly, there was a thick cloud cover, that even reflected the city lights of Oulu, while I did the Forest Adventure in the Dark. And while I was disappointed to once again miss out on seeing the Northern Lights, I still enjoyed sitting around the campfire. I recommend booking this specific tour if you want to go on an adventure instead of merely sitting on a bus. After all, you have a nice evening even if you do not see the sky light up.
8. Cross-Country Skiing
Cross-country skiing is the one winter activity in Oulu I did not do, but I saw one of the cross-country skiing trails and would love to do it on a return trip. After all, there are around 350 km of cross-country trails in the surrounding area including the 94 km long Tar Trail. You will find a full overview of all cross-country trails in the surrounding area and the condition of the trails here.
9. Watch the ‘Polar Bear Pitching’ Competition
The Finnish like winter swimming, but the city of Oulu takes testing this resilience to the cold to a whole new level. In an event known as the Polar Bear Pitching competition, ten entrepreneurs demonstrate their resilience and commitment while pitching their business idea to investors from a real ice hole.
It is a unique event to observe and it is incredible to see how unfazed by the cold some of the competitors are while standing in the icy water for up to 4 minutes.
I felt cold just watching them, so the participants have my deepest respect for braving the cold to pitch business ideas like virtual pre-natal support and an Airbnb-like model for garden space.
Polar Bear Pitching certainly is the coolest startup event in the world, so be sure to grab some hot chocolate and observe the competition if you happen to be in the city when the event occurs.
10. See Reindeer at Nallikari Winter Village
To me, seeing reindeer and the Finnish winter go hand in hand, so of course, I wanted to see at least one. Thankfully, it is possible to do so at Nallikari Winter Village, so you do not have to drive an hour to the nearest reindeer farm.
There are usually three reindeer at the winter village, and when I visited it, there was also an adorable baby reindeer that had been rescued by the owners. Aside from the reindeer, the winter village offers an ice labyrinth, snowmobile rides, and an indoor carousel.
It is open on the weekends from February to early April. There is no entry free, so you can see the reindeer and walk through the snow maze free of charge, but you have to pay for some activities like the reindeer sleigh ride.
11. Visit the Oulu Art Museum
If you want to escape the cold, the Oulu Art Museum is the ideal place to go as it adds another cultural component to your itinerary. The main exhibitions focus on northern contemporary art in the form of paintings and sculptures.
However, there are also collection exhibitions that feature international artists and focus on specific themes. As part of Oulu 2026, the museum will host international exhibitions that explore themes of social and ecological sustainability. You can find out more about the exhibitions on the official website.
- Opening hours: Tue – Fri 9 AM – 7 PM & Sa – Sun 11 AM – 6 PM
- Entry fee: 10€ (adults)
12. Rock on during an Air Guitar Workshop
In order to see more of the ‘wild city’ side of Oulu, you can attend an air guitar workshop. After all, the city has been hosting the Air Guitar World championships since 1996. The annual event takes place every August and international competitors perform on stage for 60 seconds.
While it might seem simple, there is an art to performing with an air guitar, and it is a lot of fun to be wild and jam to the music. And given the sentiment that “air guitar is for world peace because if you hold an air guitar, you cannot hold a gun”, it also conveys an important message. It is an invitation to be part of a ‘cultural climate change’.
If you are traveling with a group of friends, you can book an air guitar workshop with the last Finnish Air Guitar World Champion who won in 2000 here.
Things to know before visiting Oulu
How to get to Oulu?
Oulu has an international airport – throughout the day, the is a Finnair flight from Helsinki to Oulu every 1 to 2 hours. As such, you never have to wait long for your connecting flight to Oulu regardless of when you arrive in Helsinki.
However, you can also fly to Oulu from international destinations. Aside from a connection with Las Palmas, there is now also a direct Lufthansa flight from Munich. The first flight of this year-round connection was only on December 16, 2023, and there are two flights a week.
Thanks to this, it has now become more convenient to fly to Oulu from Germany. It is also a convenient option for travelers from Southern and Central Europe, as you will only have one connection instead of two. As of now, the flights are on Tuesday and Saturday.
To get to the city center from the airport, you can take bus line 8 or 9, catch a taxi, or rent a car. Car rental companies at Oulu Airport include Sixt, Avis, Budget Rent A Car, Europcar, and Scandia Rent.
If you are already in Finland and want to include Oulu in your trip itinerary, you can also take the train or bus to Oulu from locations all over Finland.
Getting around in Oulu: Once you are in Oulu, you can get around by bus or taxi. To get to Nallikari, you have to take bus line 15.
Where to Stay in Oulu?
If you want to do all kinds of winter activities on the frozen sea, I recommend staying in Nallikari instead of in the city center. Once a camping area, Nallikari Holiday Village kept getting extended, and aside from staying in one of the 28 small cottages or 24 modern villas, you can also stay in the new Nallikari Aalto Apartment Hotel.
Located right at the beach, the hotel is a prime location for activities on the frozen sea and only a short walk away from the winter village.
Each apartment comes with a fully equipped kitchen and even a washing machine. The Superior apartments also have a private sauna, and the suite has a jacuzzi. If you stay in a standard apartment, you can book the sauna of the Holiday Village.
If you do not want to book guided tours (and know what you are doing), you can rent fat bikes, cross-country skis, snowshoes, and kicksleds at the Nallikari Holiday Village reception (even if you do not stay at the aparthotel or in Nallikari Holiday Village).
If you prefer to stay near the city center of Oulu, I recommend the Lapland Hotel.
What is the best time to visit Oulu in winter?
While the first snow tends to fall in October, it is not until January that you can safely do all kinds of winter activities in Oulu on the frozen sea. As such, the best time to visit Oulu in winter is from January to March.
If you want to dance on the ice at the Frozen People festival like I did, you should plan your trip around the beginning of March.
How cold does Oulu get in winter?
Oulu is located about 200 km south of the Arctic Circle, so you can expect winter in Oulu to be freezing cold. Hereby, January is the coldest month and while the average temperature is around -7°C, temperatures can drop to -30°C. If you want to have a better understanding of what the weather can be like in winter, you can find a complete record of the temperatures in January here.
When I visited Oulu in late February, the temperatures were unusually ‘warm’ for the month at around 0°C. In fact, locals even described it as ‘spring weather’. A week before I flew there, it was -20°C, and after I left, the temperatures dropped again.
Once the first snow of the winter has fallen, the area usually has a permanent snow cover until May. You can check the snow depth and weather here.
What to pack when visiting Oulu in winter?
Given the winter temperatures in Oulu, you might find yourself wondering what to pack and wear when you plan to visit the city in the colder months. But thankfully, you likely already have (nearly) everything you will need, as it is best to dress like an onion and wear layers.
While in Oulu, I wore a thermal base layer, a fleece sweater, a fleece jacket (as a removable layer), and my ski jacket alongside cross-country skiing pants. And given that I spent a lot of time on the frozen sea, I bought a pair of Baffin Chloe winter boots, as they are waterproof and keep your feet warm even if it’s -40°C.
Alternatively, you can oftentimes also rent winter overalls and snow boots from tour operators when you book any kind of frozen adventure in Oulu with them.
And of course, you should not forget to pack a hat, gloves, and a winter buff scarf.
Is Oulu worth visiting in winter?
Given the vast range of things to do and the unique events like the Frozen People festival, Oulu is more than worth visiting in winter. Especially, if you want to combine outdoor adventures with culture.
I would love to return to Oulu for more winter adventures, but I also want to come back in summer to see and do everything the city and surrounding area have to offer once the region has taken off its snow cape.
Having experienced the city, I am convinced you will end up feeling the same way. I recommend scheduling one of your trips to Northern Finland in 2026 when there are a lot of events as part of Oulu 2026.
More about Northern Europe
If you are planning a trip to Oulu, you might also be interested in these travel guides:
Weekend Getaways in Europe
Preikestolen Hike, Norway
Which of these things to do in Oulu are you looking forward to the most?
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Wow, what a place to visit!
I visited Hensinki for business and absolutely loved the city in June – 22 hours of light. I would love to experience the “darker side” of Finland in the winter. Snow sculpting sounds fun.
Are the sliding snowshoes actually snowshoes or touring skis that have skins? Just curious. From the pictures this looks like skis. Either way, this sounds like a fun tour that you took.
Finland has been on our list for awhile. We actually were headed there when the world shut down 4 years ago. I love the ideas in this post. We will get there hopefully in 2025!
Whoooaa! The Polar Bear Pitching competition is something. What a cool event. Hats off to the participants.