Outdoor Exercise

Oulu offers a large amount of free-to-use exercise and leisure activity possibilities for independent exercisers. Some popular activities include fitness tracks, beaches, and ball game fields in the summers, and ski tracks, ice rinks, and ice swimming in the winters.

There are dozens of sport centres and fields around the city. The fitness and ski track network is wide. There are multiple ice rinks; some of them free-to-use, and some need to be booked. There are official city-managed beaches and a lot of other exercise places for a multitude of sports.

Oulu is known for its cyclists. There are 900 kilometers of cycle lanes in Oulu, that is 4 metres per citizen. For lovers of nature, there are nature paths, rest areas, fishing spots, and excellent boating possibilities. Oulu is currently constructing a cross-country network for cross-country cyclists, hikers, and trail runners.

Cycling

Oulu is a beautiful city for cycling. Its cycleway network, the most extensive in Finland, covers the entire city and neighbouring municipalities.

Oulu residents are avid cyclists, and some cycle throughout the year. Winter cycling in extreme temperatures is what makes you a citizen of Oulu. As much as 20 percent of all trips in Oulu are made by bicycle, while the corresponding figure for the rest of the country is about 11. This goes to show that Oulu residents really do like to cycle.

Inline skaters, Nordic walkers, and joggers also use the cycleways regularly.

Beaches & Winter Swimming

Oulu has over 20 official beaches on the river, lake and sea fronts. During the peak summer season, lifeguards patrol the Nallikari Beach.

The winter swimming spot is located at Tuira Beach, Koskitie 58. Some more information on winter swimming.

Haukipudas

Asemakylä, Laituriranta
Inkonnokka, Inkonnokantie
Kiviniemi, Kiviniementie
Meriniemi, Hedmanssonintie 10
Niemeläntörmä, Lossitie

Kiiminki

Jäälin monttu, Takumaantie 62
Jäälinmaja Beach Rantakuja 10
Sports Centre Beach, Kisakuja 5

Oulu, Beaches south of the Oulujoki River:

Konttisenkangas Beach, Konttisentie 51
Oulunlahti Beach, Villentie
Oulunsuu Beach, Emännänpolku
Värttö Beach, Kasarmintie 53

Oulu, Beaches north of the Oulujoki River:

Kuivasjärvi Beach, Alangontie 13
Myllyoja Beach, Pääskystie 38
Nallikari Beach, Nallikarinranta
Pateniemi Beach, Valkamantie
Pyykösjärvi Beach, Kivennuoliainen
Rajahauta Beach, Rajahaudantie
Saarela Beach, Nissiläntie
Tuira Beach, Koskitie 58 - winter swimming
Valkiaisjärvi Beach, Valkiaisjärventie 440

Oulunsalo

Papinjärvi Beach, Papinjärventie
Varjakka Beach

Yli-Ii

Ahvenniementie

Ylikiiminki

Vengas Beach, Vengasrannantie

There are beach volley courts on the beaches in Nallikari, Pateniemi, Pyykösjärvi and Tuira. Outdoor volley ball courts comprise the Sarasuo court in Anander park and the Koulurinne court in Ylikiiminki. As a rule, the courts can be used free of charge.

Jogging, Cross-Country Skiing, & Hiking

Trails for cross-country skiing and hiking

Oulu has an extensive network of jogging tracks and cross-country skiing trails. In the summer, the jogging tracks throughout the city are used by joggers and walkers alike. In the winter, cross-country trails are laid for skiers.

Information on cross-country skiing trail maintenance is available via the maintenance monitoring system (in Finnish). When the box next to the name of the trail is grey, the trail is not suitable for skiing. A blue box indicates that the trail is in good condition.

Tar Trail in the Oulu River Valley

The Tar Trail is a trail featuring different types of landscape suitable for hiking in the summer and skiing in the winter.

The trail starts in Sankivaara in Oulu, runs through Muhos and Utajärvi, and ends in the hills of Rokua. Total length of the skiing trail is 94 km and that of the hiking trail 100 km.

There are lean-tos and places where you can build a fire on the way. There is also an overnight cabin for hikers in Kallioselkä. The trail is marked with orange guideposts. The municipalities along the trail are responsible for upkeep and maintenance.

Tar Trail info map (the map includes instructions in English as well).

Snowmobile trails in the Oulu region

The network of snowmobile trails in the Oulu River Valley covers the municipalities of Oulu, Utajärvi, Muhos, Tyrnävä, and Kempele. A group of local snowmobile associations has been responsible for winter maintenance since the year 2000. The group members comprise five Oulu River Valley municipalities. They also collaborate with the local group in Pudasjärvi.

Total length of the trail network is about 278 km.

Snowmobile trails (retkikartta.fi, In Finnish)

retkikartta web service is maintained by Metsähallitus (Natural Heritage Services)

Sport Centres, Fields, Ice Halls & Ice Rinks

The sports centres and fields located in different parts of the city can be used for football, volleyball, basketball, Finnish baseball, and floorball in the summer. Athletes and skateboarders can also use the sports centres and fields.

In the winter, the same areas are used by skaters and ice hockey, bandy, and rink bandy players.

Some specific times are reserved for clubs and associations at the sports centres and fields, but these facilities are open to the general public at all other times.

The only outdoor artificial ice rink in Oulu is located at the Raksila Sports Centre.

Sports centres and fields:

Castren Sports Centre
Paulaharjuntie 43, 90530 Oulu
Sports: American football, football, ice hockey, and ice skating.

Haukipudas Sports Centre
Jokelantie 17-19, Haukipudas
Sports: football, Finnish baseball, athletics, beach volley, tennis, skateboarding, frisbee golf, ice hockey, bandy, ice-skating

Heinäpää Sports Centre
Nuottasaarentie 12, 90440 Oulu
Sports: football, skateboarding, athletics, cross-country skiing, ice hockey, bandy, and snow boarding.

Hiironen Sports Park
Urheilupuistontie, 90250 Oulu
Sports: fitness, frisbee golf, athletics, and cross-country skiing.

Hollihaka Sports Park
Hollihaka park
Sports: fitness, parkour, and skateboarding.

Hovinsuo Sports Park
Hintankuja 3, 90650 Oulu
Sports: skateboarding, football, Finnish baseball, athletics, ice hockey, cross-country skiing, and ice skating.

Kaakkuri Sports Centre
Kaakonpojankuja 10, 90420 Oulu
Sports: football, Finnish baseball, cross-country skiing, ice hockey, and ice skating.

Kaakkuri Sports Area
Pirttilammentie, 90420 Oulu
Kaakkuri Sports Area is a 50-hectare outdoor sports area located on location of the former motor sports centre in Oulu.
Sports: outdoor fitness, hiking, skiing, mountain biking, radio-controlled cars, rollerblading and drones.

Kello Sports Centre
Kiviniementie 67, 90820 Kello
Includes a sandy artificial turf field, ice rink and a grass field.

Kiiminkipuisto Sports Centre
Urheilutie, 90900 Kiiminki
Sports: football, baseball, tennis, long jump, ice skating.

Kuusisaari Sports Park
Raatintie 7, 90100 Oulu
Sports: fitness, pump track, beach volley, and jogging/walking track.

Lintula Sports Centre
Kaislakuja, 90160 Oulu
Sports: football, Finnish baseball, bandy, ice hockey, tennis, and athletics.

Maikkula Sports Centre
Niemirannantie 9, 90240 Oulu
Sports: football, Finnish baseball, ice hockey, and athletics.

Niittyaro Sports Centre
Kaarnatie, 90560 Oulu
Sports: Finnish baseball, skateboarding, cricket, speed-skating, and ice skating.

Pateniemi Sports Centre
Sahantie, 90800 Oulu
Sports: football, American football, athletics, ice hockey, and ice skating.

Pitkäkangas Sports Centre
Pellonpääntie, 90460 Oulunsalo
Sports: football and Finnish baseball

Raatti Sports Centre
Raatintie 2, 90100 Oulu
Sports: athletics, football, Finnish baseball, and ice skating.

Talvikkipuisto Sports Centre
Tervakukkatie 54, 90580 Oulu
Sports: football, ice hockey, ice skating, skateboarding, and athletics.

Raksila Sports Centre:
A collection of exercise facilities around the Raksila region. Includes: Oulu Swimming Pool, Oulu Hall, Finnish Baseball Stadium, Oulu Ice Hall, and Oulu Artificial Ice Rink.

Finnish Baseball Stadium
Ylioppilaantie, 90100 Oulu
Sports: Finnish baseball, cross-country skiing, and ice skating.

Firestation Shooting Range
Pikkukankaantie 2, 90100 Oulu
Sports: airgun disciplines and small-bore rifle/pistol training.

Firestation Exercise Hall
Pikkukankaantie 2, 90100 Oulu
The facilities are mainly meant for floorball and Finnish baseball training.

Oulu Hall (Ouluhalli)
Ylioppilaantie 4, 90100 Oulu
Sports: football, basketball, volleyball, Finnish baseball, badminton, floorball, athletics, gym training, gymnastics, apparatus gymnastics, and American football.

Oulu Ice Hall (Oulun jäähalli)
Teuvo Pakkalan katu 11, 90100 Oulu
Sports: ice hockey, bandy, and figure skating

Oulunsalo Sports Centre
Koulutie, 90460 Oulunsalo
Sports: Finnish baseball, athletics, tennis, ice skating and ice hockey.

Oulu Swimming Pool (Oulun uimahalli)
Pikkukankaantie 3, 90100 Oulu
As well as the pool area, there is a fitness gym, exercise gym, and facilities for judo and boxing.

Raksila Artificial Ice Rink
Teuvo Pakkalan katu, 90100 Oulu
Sports: bandy, ice skating, basketball, and rollerskating.

Yli-Ii Sport Centre
Tulisijantie, 91200 Yli-Ii
Sports: athletics, ice hockey, skateboarding, tennis and Finnish baseball

You can find outdoor ice rinks on this page (in Finnish)

Outdoor Exercise

Cycling

Beaches & Winter Swimming

Haukipudas

Kiiminki

Oulu, Beaches south of the Oulujoki River:

Oulu, Beaches north of the Oulujoki River:

Oulunsalo

Yli-Ii

Ylikiiminki

Jogging, Cross-Country Skiing, & Hiking

Sport Centres, Fields, Ice Halls & Ice Rinks

City of Oulu, Finland

Oulu in your language

See also

Outdoor Exercise

Cycling

Beaches & Winter Swimming

Haukipudas

Kiiminki

Oulu, Beaches south of the Oulujoki River:

Oulu, Beaches north of the Oulujoki River:

Oulunsalo

Yli-Ii

Ylikiiminki

Jogging, Cross-Country Skiing, & Hiking

Sport Centres, Fields, Ice Halls & Ice Rinks

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