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Hanhikivi Guide 2015

42 Oulu economic region leisure The Oulu economic region has plenty of leisure activities and services to offer. You can enjoy nature, for example, at the most valuable bird watching spot in Finland, the Liminganlahti wetlands, or at the Koiteli rapids. The national landscape of Hailuoto is located just a short ferry ride away. Exercise opportunities and tourism Oulu is a city of cycling and there are over 700 kilometres of cycle paths in the area. The region has around ten sports halls, four ice stadiums and four swimming halls. There are around 250 active sports clubs you can join. There are dozens of locations for outdoor sports: Ball game and sports fields, trails and beaches. Nallikari is a large and popular tourist resort. It is located at the scenic Hietasaari, just a stone’s throw from Oulu city centre. Nallikari is known for its kilometre-long sandy beach, but the year-round activities are not limited to the seaside. Summer activities include beach tennis and volleyball, mini golf, pony rides at Hietasaari’s Ponipiha or kite boarding. Nallikari’s Winter Village offers something for everyone with a tube slide, sleigh rides and snow volleyball. Nallisport provides versatile indoor ball game options. The Virpiniemi recreation and sports centre has versatile premises. The area has excellent surroundings for outdoor sports, the services of a sports institute, a nationally acclaimed golf course, an area for animal sports, a campsite and a harbour for visiting boats. Virpiniemi has a variety of activities available all year round. In winter, the activities include snowshoeing, sledding, snow football, snow Frisbee and skiing and in summer, ball sports, frisbee golf and athletics. Other popular winter sports include skating, skiing and ice swimming. Spectators at the Raksila Sport Centre can see sports performed at the highest national level in the swimming pool, ice stadium, artificial ice rink, Finnish baseball stadium and Ouluhalli. Cultural services Theatre-goers can enjoy shows at Oulu City Theatre, Oulu Workers’ Theatre and several amateur societies. Music events and operators include Qstock, Elojazz, Mieskuoro Huutajat choir, the Air Guitar World Championships and the Oulu Sinfonia orchestra. Art institutions include the Oulu Museum of Art OMA, the Northern Ostrobothnia Museum and private art galleries. One must not forget Oulu’s dance groups, the culture house Valve, and libraries, of which there are 30 in the region. Shopping Oulu city centre’s boutiques offer international and local design and the Rotuaari pedestrian zone is a meeting point for the locals. The Market Hall, Market Square and numerous cafés offer you a taste of local treats. There are numerous other shopping centres around Oulu. Restaurants Oulu’s restaurants include favourite chains, international flavours (for example, Russian, Italian, Greek and Japanese cuisine) and local delicacies. Oulu also has restaurants that focus on organic products and locally-produced food. Villa Victor Multicultural Centre Villa Victor provides activities for immigrants and Finns in Oulu. These activities include Finnish courses, information events on important issues in daily life and international cultural and thematic events. Oulu Guide www.issuu.com/businessoulu Welcome to Oulu Guide www.issuu.com/businessoulu Info Bank – basic information for immigrants about Oulu www.infopankki.fi/en/oulu Villa Victor Multicultural Centre www.ouka.fi/oulu/villavictor-english Oulu Culture Services www.ouka.fi/oulu/english/culture-and-library Sports facilities www.ouka.fi/oulu/english/sports-and-exercise Events www.visitoulu.fi Additional Information www.businessoulu.com/en/


Hanhikivi Guide 2015
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