Since moving to Finland, Oulu has become one of those cities we have visited several times.
Sometimes we go there because we have something specific to do.
Sometimes we pass through.
And sometimes we simply take the opportunity to explore a little more of the city while we are already there.
Oulu is one of the larger cities in northern Finland, so compared with where we live, there are definitely more shops, restaurants, museums, and places to visit.
Over time, we have slowly discovered a few places that became part of our Oulu visits.
We visited a beautiful cathedral, explored an automobile museum filled with vintage vehicles, walked around Oulu Market Square, stopped at a playground for our little one, and of course, made one of our usual stops at an Asian grocery store.
Nothing too complicated.
Just another simple family trip around Finland.
Here are some of the places we visited in Oulu.
1. Oulu Cathedral
One of the beautiful landmarks we visited was Oulu Cathedral, or Oulun tuomiokirkko in Finnish.
The cathedral immediately caught our attention because of its beautiful architecture.
It stands in the centre of Oulu and has been part of the city’s history for centuries.
An earlier cathedral on the site was damaged in the great Oulu fire of 1822. The present cathedral was completed in 1832 following the Neoclassical designs of architect C. L. Engel.
Walking inside felt peaceful.
Whenever we visit churches during our travels, I always find myself looking around at the architecture and thinking about how many people have gathered and prayed there throughout the years.
The high ceilings, traditional interior, and quiet atmosphere made Oulu Cathedral worth visiting.
It was one of those places where we did not need to spend several hours.
We simply went inside, looked around, appreciated the beauty of the church, and took a few photographs to remember the visit.
2. Oulu Automobile Museum
Another place that surprised us was the Oulu Automobile Museum, or Oulun Automuseo.
At first, I expected it to be mostly about old cars.
And yes, there were plenty of those.
But there was actually much more to see.
The museum has been operating at its current location since 1986 and has more than 60 vehicles, with some dating back to the 1910s. Its collection includes cars, motorcycles and mopeds, engines, miniature models, photographs, and other memorabilia.
The museum itself was not extremely large, which I actually liked.
You could walk around without feeling overwhelmed, but there were still enough interesting things to keep us looking from one display to another.
We saw vintage cars.
Old motorcycles.
Boats and engines.
Different gadgets and devices.
And one display that especially caught our attention included an older Nokia mobile phone.
Seeing it made us stop for a moment.
Nokia is such a familiar name, especially for those of us who grew up during the years when Nokia phones seemed to be everywhere.
Seeing older technology displayed alongside vintage vehicles was a nice reminder of how quickly technology has changed.
The adults enjoyed looking at the older vehicles, but the museum was also interesting for our little one because there were so many different things to see.
Sometimes small museums are the ones that surprise you the most.
3. Oulu Market Square, Market Hall and Toripolliisi
Another place we enjoyed walking around was Oulu Market Square, or Oulun Kauppatori.
The area has that relaxed market atmosphere where you can walk around without needing a strict plan.
There are cafés, restaurants, small shops, handicrafts, and the historic Oulu Market Hall.
Inside the Market Hall, we found food stalls and merchants selling different products.
It felt like one of those places where you could stop for something to eat while also browsing local items.
The Market Square has long been an important meeting and trading place in Oulu, and the area still includes market cafés, restaurants, handicraft shops, and the traditional Market Hall.
But one of the most recognizable things outside is probably the famous:
Toripolliisi
The name basically means Market Square Policeman.
And yes, there is a large police statue standing near the Market Hall.
The statue commemorates the real market policemen who once maintained order around Oulu Market Square.
Market policemen worked there from 1906 until 1979, and the bronze Toripolliisi statue was erected in 1987. It was designed by sculptor Kaarlo Mikkonen and has since become one of Oulu’s best-known symbols.
Naturally, we had to take pictures with it.
Sometimes a simple statue becomes one of the most memorable landmarks of a city.
And if you have visited Oulu, there is a good chance you have a Toripolliisi photo somewhere too.
4. A Playground Stop for Our Little One
When you travel with a child, sightseeing does not always mean churches, museums, and historic landmarks.
Sometimes the most important attraction of the day is:
A playground.
While exploring Oulu, we passed by one and, of course, our little one immediately wanted to stop.
So we did.
One thing we appreciate about living in Finland is the number of public playgrounds available for children.
The ones we have visited are generally clean, organized, and designed with different types of play equipment.
For a child who has already spent time walking around with adults, stopping at a playground is also a nice break.
She could run.
Play.
Climb.
5. Our Usual Stop at Aasia Market
There is one more place that has slowly become part of our Oulu routine.
Aasia Market.
Whenever we visit Oulu, we often stop by this Asian grocery store.
The Oulu branch is located on Asemakatu, right in the city centre.
For us, visiting an Asian market is always exciting because we can find ingredients and products that are not always easy to buy where we live.
We especially like checking the frozen section and seafood selection.
Sometimes we find familiar ingredients from the Philippines.
Other times we discover products from other Asian countries that we want to try.
During one of our visits, we bought some Asian seafood to bring home.
It may not sound like a tourist attraction, but for us, it has become one of those practical stops that makes a trip to Oulu even better.
Since we do not have many Asian grocery options close to home, we usually take advantage of being in a bigger city.
So whenever we visit Oulu?
There is a good chance that Aasia Market is somewhere on the itinerary.
A Simple Family Day in Oulu
Our visits to Oulu are usually not about following a long list of famous attractions.
We simply explore whatever fits our schedule.
Sometimes that means visiting a museum.
Sometimes it is walking around the Market Square.
Sometimes it is stopping at a church.
And sometimes it is grocery shopping and letting our little one spend time at a playground.
That is probably what our travels around Finland look like most of the time.
Not every trip needs to be a major vacation.
Sometimes simply visiting another Finnish city, discovering something new, eating somewhere different, and spending the day together already feels like a nice little getaway.
Oulu has become one of those places we know we will probably visit again.
And each time, there will probably be something else for us to discover.
More From Our Journey to Finland
Exploring cities like Oulu has slowly become part of our life since moving to Finland.
Before these small family trips began, there was first the much bigger journey that brought us here.
You can also read:
Moving to Finland: Why It Wasn’t Part of Our Original Plan
How We Actually Got to Finland: Our Recruitment and Residence Permit Journey
From Dubai to Finland: Our Adventure in Migration
Little by little, we continue discovering more of the country we now call home.
Important Note: This post is based on our personal visits to Oulu. Museum opening hours, entrance fees, market schedules, shop hours, and other visitor information may change over time. Always check the official websites before planning your visit.
“Sometimes discovering a place is simply about enjoying the little stops along the way.”
“The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.”
- Psalm 24:1 (KJV)
Our visits to Oulu have been simple family trips, but each one has given us another little memory from our life in Finland. There is still plenty of Oulu left for us to explore.
Sources & Useful Links
◆ Visit Oulu – Oulu Cathedral
https://visitoulu.fi/en/product/oulun-tuomiokirkko/
◆ Oulu Automobile Museum
https://oulunautomuseo.fi/
◆ Visit Oulu – Oulu Market Square
https://visitoulu.fi/en/oulu-in-one-day/
◆ Visit Oulu – Toripolliisi
https://visitoulu.fi/en/product/toripolliisi/
◆ Aasia Market
https://www.aasiamarket.fi/
The automobile museum sounds like a fun stop, especially with the old Nokia phone bringing back memories! I smiled at the playground break, too. Sometimes those simple stops are what make a family outing enjoyable for everyone.
This is such a fantastic town to explore. The museum looks neat, and I’d love to shop in the market.
he Oulu Automobile Museum would be my first stop, especially seeing the old Nokia phone alongside the vintage vehicles. It’s amazing how much technology has changed in just a few decades!
Oh, fun! I would love to explore the market square. I always enjoy large spaces with multiple merchants and artisans like that!
Oulu sounds like an amazing place! I’d love to see all of these spots. I think I’d go to the cathedral and the car museum first.
It sounds like you have been having fun exploring places in your new home. Oulu sounds wonderful, I would love to visit the Cathedral and also the market. I am also partial to Asian supermarkets – love them!!!
Finland looks like such a fun country to explore! How lucky you are to live there. I will certainly keep these places in mind when I visit!
I’ve never been to Finland, but it looks amazing! And that cathedral definitely caught my attention too. What a beautiful place. I’d love to see it in person!
Oulu seems like an interesting destination to visit in Finland; I was pleasantly surprised by the exhibition at the car museum, and the park for children looks quite entertaining. It’s also great that you can find seafood and ingredients at the Asian market that remind you of the Philippines.
Oulu sounds like a great place to be in Finland, I would def love to visit here someday! The exhibition, park for kids and the market, everything looks amazing!
After reading about all the work you put into making it to Finland, I’m so please to see you enjoying what it has to offer. I like the way you can take your time, and connect with the various places. Living in a place is so different to traveling. You get to find the best spots! We look forward to hearing more from Finland and maybe making a trip ourselves one day.