City break in Oulu. Active leisure ideas for Oulu - attractions, recreation and nightlife

Oulu is going to delight fans of active recreation with a variety of beautiful gardens and parks. Among them is the University of Oulu Botanical Gardens lying the shores of Lake Kuivasjarvi. It is rightly considered one of the most beautiful places in town. This garden has gathered a huge collection of exotic plants, some of which are grown in special greenhouses so available for admiring all year round. Inside the largest greenhouse, you can see coconut and banana palms, as well as lianas endemic to tropical forests.

The largest pyramidal greenhouse is 16-meter-long and outwardly resembles a huge crystal. Another greenhouse is also striking in its size, reaching 14 meters in height. This one contains a variety of citrus and olive trees. Besides, you can see with your own eyes how pineapples grow. The most favorable time to visit the Botanical Gardens is the warm season when plants typical of Finland are blooming in its open areas.

A must-visit for curious tourists is Oulu's research center called Tietomaa. This amazing family-friendly science museum is the largest of its kind in Finland. It has collected about 200 interactive exhibits, which can all be tried out and played with. The Tietomaa Science Centre is very popular with traveling families. Its visitors have a chance to find out about the latest discoveries in science, as well as sports and natural phenomena. The most extraordinary are virtual reality rooms where visitors can walk on the moon or snowboard down the world's highest mountain. Also, the science centre houses a cinema that shows fascinating popular science films every day. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The city of Oulu has an unusual symbol - the colorful PotnaPekka train, which is equally popular with kids and adults. The routes of this train pass through the most picturesque areas of the city. Such a train tour would be a great opportunity to see the most famous city attractions. One route runs along the coast of the bay, and the other is laid along the bank of the Oulujoki River.

It's a good idea to travel to Oulu in wintertime. With the advent of winter, travelers can enjoy more original entertainments. Thus, thrill-seekers will have the opportunity to go to Hailuoto Island where an ice road opens every year. On the 10-kilometer-long ice road, they hold exciting jeep tours for tourists. They will have a chance to ride powerful cars reaching speeds of over 300 km/h on the crystal-clear ice - a sea of unforgettable impressions is guaranteed. Wildlife enthusiasts will be happy to explore the island too, as this is one of the best places in Finland to watch deer in their natural habitat.

In recent years, the Kierikki Stone Age Centre has been converted into a multipurpose tourist center whose guests can enjoy many unusual entertainments. It even has a small hotel so that everyone can stay here for a few days. In the vicinity of the archaeological area, there are fascinating hiking and cycling trails. Most of the entertainment is still available to guests in the summer. In the warmer months, holidaymakers can enjoy sports and playgrounds, and even a shooting range where everyone can learn archery.

Oulu is surrounded by many beautiful forests, and some of them offer great sports and entertainment centers. In summer, Huikia Rope Adventure Park provides a wide range of attractions for both adults and children. Here you can walk on wooden and rope bridges among the trees, ride a zipline, and then have a picnic in one of the most picturesque forests in Finland. Kayaking and canoeing on local rivers are popular in summer. Such entertainment is organized by Oulu's tourist centers.

The city also has plenty of nightlife spots to offer, and many locals prefer to spend evenings in pubs. Graali Pub is very popular among beer lovers. Here you can try popular beer varieties from Finnish and foreign breweries. Among all the nightclubs presented in town, Basso stands out. This one delights its guests with a stylish design. This club often hosts live music performances and all kinds of themed entertainment programs.