Sports & Leisure

Getting in touch with water couldnÿt be any easier in Oulu. During a single weekend youÿll have plenty of time to go swimming on Nallikari beach and do a few laps in the local pool. And why not take a picnic at Hupisaaret afterwards? Just be sure to bring a big enough blanket that you can roll over to your side and let the water out of your ear without attracting too much attention.

Beaches
Swimming! There are 17 official swimming beaches in Oulu. Out of these, Tuiranranta, Kuusisaari, Värttö, and Korkeasaari are located near the beach. Nallikari is a bit further away, but well worth a walk. Youÿll find one youÿll like, we can guarantee that.

Ice Swimming
Now, look at that, a whole in the ice! What are you waiting for? Jump in! You can take part in this wintry sport, known to kick your circulation into high gear, at the Tuira beach on the Oulu River, right here in the city centre. Thereÿs a dressing booth for swimmers plus showers and dressing rooms at the outdoor swimming poolÿs maintenance building.

Swimming Pools
Indoor swimmingÿs available too, of course. There are two public swimming pools in Oulu: the Raati swimming pool and the Oulu swimming pool in Raksila. The Oulu swimming pool is one of the largest in Finland. It has an eight-lane 50-metre pool, a six-lane exercise pool and a therapy pool with water massage equipment. For children, thereÿre shallow training pools and a larger pool with a 35-metre long slide. In addition to the pool department, the building houses a gym, an exercise room, and judo and boxing rooms.
 
Spa
The Oulun Eden Holiday Club is a genuine paradise for water lovers. The versatile spa offers plenty of water fun for kids, along with many types of relaxing treatments for the adults. Itÿs located at Hietasaari right next to Nallikari beach.Holiday Club Oulun Eden
 
Sailing and Boating
Coming by boat is another great way of getting to Oulu. The Meritulli guest harbour, located right around the city centre at the shore of the market square, has service buildings for boaters and sells fuel. The harbour is deep and wide to also accommodate larger boats.
 
Wind Surfing
Wind surfing is a sport you canÿt enjoy in many places in Finland ? Nallikari beach being one of the pleasant surprises. Check the windÿs direction and speed, and head out to Nallikari!Nallikari
 
Biking
Keep those pedals moving, thereÿs plenty of biking to do! And come to think of it, plenty of bike routes here, as well. In fact, Oulu has the most extensive bike and walkway network in Finland. You can basically get everywhere by bike, and the distances arenÿt too bad either.Bicycle routesBicycle mapOuluGo Audio Guide
 
Ice Hockey, Rink Bandy, and Skating
Oulu is a true hockey town. And why wouldnÿt it be? After all, the local Oulun Kärpät hockey team has been making a habit of bringing the Finnish Championship Cup home in the spring time. The games are played at the Raksila arena in Oulu. In the winter, the dozens of sports fields in Oulu offer a great opportunity for anybody to lace up those skates for some skating, hockey, or rink bandy.City of Oulu, sports and exerciseOulun Kärpät

Skiing
Can you ski 70 kilometres in day? Thereÿre plenty of well-lit ski tracks all over Oulu. These skiing tracks are an impressive 70 kilometres long when put together. In addition to the lighted tracks, you can ski on both the ice of the Oulu River and the sea. You can see the skiing maps online at Ski tracks
Finnish baseball
Pesäpallo is the Finnish form of baseball, a popular summer sport. You can see the games of the local Oulun Lippo at Ouluÿs ball park in Raksila. For more information on the games, head to Oulun Lippo
Running and Hiking in Nature
Hikers will find plenty of various hiking trails and exercise and other trails in Oulu, ranging from a kilometre to 10 kilometres in length. On the nature trails you can admire the plants and birds. Those wanting more information should seek out the theme trails that showcase the merging of forest industry and game husbandry.Hiking trails
 
Ouluhalli Sports Hall
There seems to be no limit to the amount of various sports the easily excitable human mind has conjured up. You could say that the Ouluhalli is the temple of these urges to exercise. It has 12 volleyball courts, football, and pesäpallo courts, and a running track around it all. You can also take part in varies track and field sports from long jump to shot put, gymnastics, and hone your muscles at the gym.
 
Tennis Courts
If getting that serve just right is what gets you happy, Oulu will make you happy indeed. In the summer time, you can play tennis at the outdoor fields of the Lintula sports centre and the Korkeasaari tennis courts in Pikisaari. All year round, you can also play at the Ouluhalli, Nallikari, and Hukka Sports Centre in Heinäpää.
 
Golf
Ever golfed at night? You guessed it, Oulu is the place to do that, as well. The northern nightless night gives you a perfect excuse to golf throughout the night in the summer.
The worldÿs northernmost 36-hole golf centre is located in Sankivaara, and includes a driving range, two putting greens, and a chipping area. That should be plenty of challenges for players of all skill levels. The courts are built around the beautiful nature of Sanginjoki, the typical surroundings being coniferous forests and forest ponds.
 
Virpiniemi Golf, built near the sea among beautiful dunes, is located a mere 20 kilometres from Oulu, in Haukiputaaÿs Kello Kiviniemi.
 
Kayaks and Canoes
How about moving down the river at your pace? Itÿs easy to visit Oulu by kayaking or canoeing from the sea or the river, as well.
 
Formula Centre
When youÿve read all the poems and finished with your cross stitching, letÿs move on to business: we want speed! The Formula Centre has everything you could want for a fast-paced hobby. Do some cart racing on the indoor track or go on, grab that gear and engage in some urban warfare in the Megazone laser combat game. Game on!
 
Vauhtipuisto
Carnival feeling and plenty of speed! Thatÿs what Vauhtipuisto /Speed Park/ is. Children and those with childlike minds will love the speed of the dune buggies, bumper cars or the carousel. Enjoy a bit of gaming at the arcades and relax on the train theatre for a breather. Vauhtipuisto

Bowling
Ever tried cosmic bowling? At the Oulu bowling alley in Heinäpää, youÿll find 24 lanes and 9 pool tables. On a couple of nights every week the bowling alley will fire up the neon lights for some exciting cosmic bowling. And for some outdoors fun, donÿt miss the 18-hole mini-golf course! 

Fishing
Sure, fish tales can be fun. But in Oulu you donÿt have to invent your own tales ? going fishing couldnÿt be easier. For some good catches, try out the Oulu River and its delta, the Sanginjoki, Koiteli at Kiiminki and of course the sea itself right there outside of Oulu.

You can get a fishing permit easily using your mobile phone. http://oulu.ouka.fi/tekninen/Julkaisut/Esitteet/vapakalastus2007.pdf 
 
Shooting Ranges
Lock and load! For shooters, youÿll find the best ranges at the Hiekkavaara shooting range, Sankivaara biathlon track, and the Fire Departmentÿs shooting range in Raksila.
 
Other

o       Indoor games
o       Berry and mushroom picking
o       Frisbee Golf
o       Skateboarding
o       Gyms
o       Motor Sports Areas
o       Horseback Riding