Oulu is a city on the west coast of Finland, facing on to the Gulf of Bothnia, 377 miles north of Helsinki via Highway 4. Its busy harbour stands at the mouth of the River Oulujoki and the airport is nine miles southwest. Visitors hiring a car in Oulu can explore the surrounding area of lakes, forests, bays and islands. In summer, people swim at the Nallikari resort where there's a spa hotel, wave pool and outdoor sandy beach. On the island of Hailuoto You'll find the Kätkävaaran Luotokeskus resort area and a baby reindeer park and Varjakka is a pretty old seaside village on the south side of the Oulunselka Bay.
Oulu was rebuilt in a grid pattern with grand neo-classical buildings following a fire in 1822. If you hire a car in this university and cathedral city today, you can tour all the attractions. The highlights include the cream-coloured cathedral itself, Tietomaa interactive science centre, the old brick indoor market, the views from Linnansaari Observatory and the twin-towered city hall. Hupisaaret Park includes attractive riverside areas, while the Rotuaari pedestrianised shopping is ice-free all year because of an underground heating system.