Practical Information
Accommodation
There are many accommodation options, all in a short walking distance from the venue. Please note that the conference does not handle hotel bookings.
- Nordic Art Hotel Lasaretti (link)
- Scandic Oulu (link)
- Sokos Hotel Oulu (link)
- Lapland Hotels Oulu (link)
- Radisson Blu (link)
- Nallikari Holiday Village (cottages) (link)
Transportation
Oulu is a small city and it is easily walkable if you have your accommodation downtown. If you are in the suburbs, the best option is that you use public transportation (bus). If you are brave enough, you could also try to rent a bike. Oulu is one of the cities in Europe with the best cycling path network. Yes, we bike also in winter! Some hotels offer bikes to their guests.
Bus information
All information about buses including timetables, routes and tickets and fares can be found from the Public bus service website. You can download also the OSL App, that can be used to check bus routes and buy tickets.
Oulu is divided in several zones. If you are moving inside Oulu, and you use some of the minibuses, you are in the “Lähi” zone. For the rest of the buses in the Oulu area (including University campus), you will be in zone A. If you are coming from or going to the airport, you should buy an A-B ticket.
You can buy tickets in 3 different ways:
- Using the Contactless payment option in your credit card (including Google/Apple Pay). Note that you can buy only a ticket for yourself using this option.
- Using the OSL App. You can buy several tickets (even for kids) with this option.
- Pay in cash at the bus or using some of the tickets machines (there is one at the airport). Please, notice that prices are considerable more expensive than in the other two option.
Taxi information
You can pick up a taxi only for the official taxi stops located downtown and marked with Taxi signs. Taxis do not stopp while they are circulating the road. In addition, you can download the mobile app of any of the taxi companies operating in Oulu area: OTaxi, FixuTaxi, Meneva and Halpataxi. Your hotel usually also calls a taxi if you need it.
Reaching Oulu from the airport
You have two options:
- Bus number 8 and 9. Please, check the previous information about buses. The price is €4.05 if you pay using contactless payment / app or €5.80 if you pay by cash. Bus 8 is quicker than 9.
- Taxi. You can order a taxi beforehand (driver will wait for you at the exit) or you can take one of the taxis waiting outside the airport. If there are no taxis: inside the airport, there is a phone you can use to call one.
Renting a car
There are many renting car companies in Oulu area. If you are planning to rent, you can ask us because there are few regulations that you should know if you want to move in Finland by car.
Weather
Temperatures in Oulu will vary between -6°C and 2°C degrees (during conference week). All IoT’s activities will take place indoors in well-insulated facilities, so you will be able to wear your everyday clothes whenever inside any building. However, there are some necessary items that you should bring with you if you are planning to have a walk in the city centre or when commuting from your hotel to the bus:
- A Winter Coat, hat and gloves
- A warm mid-layer underneath your coat (ex. wool or polyester top)
- A thermal base layer, especially if you want to walk outdoors in the evening.
The forecast projects some snow on Thursday, but you should not worry about it. Main paths are usually cleaned very quickly.
Precaution: While salt and small stones are used daily on all private roads, parking lots, and public walkways, there could still be random patches of ice (which may make the pavement slippery at times) or fresh snow. So please do exercise caution when outdoors.
What to do in Oulu?
Shopping / Eating / Coffee
The largest local shopping mall is the Valkea Shopping Centre located at the very heart of the City centre. There, you will be able to find a selection of cafés, juice bars, supermarkets, and a nice international food court (open 9:00-21:00 (?)).
Souvenirs
If you want to buy typical souvenirs from the Oulu area, the best places can be found around the Oulu Market square. The Oulu Market Hall and the red buildings around the Market area offer a wide set of local handicraft, delicacies and other souvenirs.
Eating
Oulu offers a wide set of restaurant options. Please note that restaurants offering dinner options usually close at 9 – 10pm at the latest, so they won’t accept customers around 30 min – one hour before closing. Pizzeria – Kebab restaurants are usually open until 3:00–4:00 a.m. So are a good option if you are hungry after partying.
You can ask us if you would like to try some particular food.
Traditional local food is Salmon Soup (Lohikeitto), Rössypottu (traditional Oulu dish that combines pork, blood, potatoes and onion), Reindeer stew (poronkäristys), Squeaky Cheese (Leipäjuusto). Fish are always a good option: in addition to salmon (lohi), whitefish (siikka) or alpine trout (Neriä). If you like sweet options, you should try Sweat Cardamom bread (Pulla), or Finish Blueberry Pie (Mustikkapiirakka)
What about nightlife?
Oulu has a vibrant nightlife, especially from Wednesdays to Saturdays. Pubs and discos are open until 3.30 a.m. There are also some nice places if you would like to have just “one” beer. And of course, you should give a try to the several karaoke locals that you can find downtown.
Northern lights (Aurora Borealis)
We are monitoring the Oulu Aurora Spotters Facebook group for any updates on auroras sightings 🙂 You can also download your own. You can download some of the multiple applications available in Android and Apple Store that notifies you if there is possibility that you see an Aurora (revontulit). For instance, My Aurora Forecast.
Sightseeing
Unfortunately, many of the most important tourist attractions are right now under renovation due to Oulu2026 European Capital of Culture. You cannot visit the Oulu Library, the Tietomaa science museum or the Northern Ostrobothnia museum.
However, you will have the chance to take part in the LUMO VALOFESTIVAALI (Lumo Light Festival), which takes place from November 22 – 24. The festival spreads along the whole city and contains different artistic light installations both indoors and outdoors. One of the biggest events for families in the Oulu area.
Oulu is preparing for Christmas. Unfortunately, the decorations and Christmas market won’t be open until the beginning of December. However, there are still few places that worth a walk in Oulu:
- Nallikari beach. Located around 2 – 3 kilometres away from downtown Oulu, and located in Hietasaari island, is one of the most popular beaches in Finland. Great place for a picture in the sunset. It also offers some interesting dining options and “safari activities”.
- Oulun Tori. You should not leave Oulu without a picture with the Toripoliisi, the most famous statue in Oulu. In addition, Market Hall also worth a visit.
- Piikisaari island: Popular for being home of artists and craftsmen. Excellent blend of traditional wooden houses with industrial-like buildings. It is worth a visit.
- Oulu contemporary art museum: Northern museum of contemporary art, with a variety of exhibitions.
More information can be found from Visit Oulu website or visit the Oulu Information Office in Oulu Market hall.
Sauna
Sauna is a quintessential Finnish experience and something that you cannot miss if you are coming for the first time to Finland. Most of the accommodations will offer access to a sauna (all hotels in Oulu have a sauna for their guests). You should ask in reception, or your host, to get access to the sauna. Public swimming pools also have several saunas available for their customers. Sauna is very traditional in Finland, and it has its own rules. You can read more about it here.
What to do after the conference?
If you have some additional time after the conference, there are few options available:
- Stay in Oulu, do some shopping and visit the different installations from Lumo festival.
- Organise with some of the local companies a visit to Lapland that might include a visit to a reindeer farm, husky sledge (if weather allows it), fishing …
- Visit Santa Claus in Rovaniemi so he does not forget to bring you a Christmas present. In Rovaniemi there is also an interesting museum named Arktikum which presents Lapland history, geography and nature and introduces Sami culture.
Contact Persons
Should you have any questions about the program or about any practical matters, please don’t hesitate to contact us:
Anabela Berenguer and Iván Sánchez Milara