Things to do with kids in Oulu

12 family-friendly places in Oulu: zoos, aquariums, playgrounds and more.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

Do
Cinema Finnkino Plaza
Elokuvateatteri Finnkino Plaza
Completed in 2007, Plaza movie theatre features one of the biggest movie screens in Finland. Most of the movies shown on theater's eight screens are original English versions and are subtitled in Finnish and Swedish, though some children's movies are dubbed in Finnish.
Admission €10.30–13, before 17:00 on weekdays €7. Add €2 for 3D movies. Ticket sets of 5 or 9 tickets are available, bringing the price per admission down to €9.90 or €9 respectively and no extra for 3D showings
Do
Cinema Star
Elokuvateatteri Star
The oldest still functioning (yet very modern) movie theatre in Oulu, Star movie theatre features 3D digital movies. Most of the movies shown on the theatre's three screens are original English versions and are subtitled in Finnish and Swedish, though some children's movies are dubbed in Finnish. Star was nominated as Finland's most disabled-friendly establishment in 2007.
Admission €7.5-10. Sets of 5 tickets are available for €37, bringing the price per admission down to €7.4 to all shows except for 3D movies, which cost extra
Do
Linnanmaa swimming pool
Linnanmaan uimahalli
The newest swimming pool, opened in 2025. Pools include fitness pool, activity pool, teaching pool and kids' pool.
Can change, usually Mon Tue Thu Fri 06:15-22:00, Wed 07:00-22:00, Sat Sun 10:00-15.15€6 for the pools
See
Northern Ostrobothnia Museum
Pohjois-Pohjanmaan Museo
Closed for renovation until 2026A great museum on the history of Northern Ostrobothnia, especially the history of Oulu. Exhibitions on four floors.
Wed-Sun 10:00-17:00Adults €6, students and seniors €4, children under 18 for free
See
Oulu Automobile Museum
Oulun Automuseo
A car museum with 40 cars and 20 motorcycles and some traffic related paraphernalia on display. A couple of really interesting vehicles like the largest car ever built in the Nordic countries (a truck for a dam company), the remains of a Ford "killed in action" during World War II and a "motorcycle" where the rider sits inside a large wheel. The car museum also has a restaurant open for lunch.
Mon-Sat 09:00-17:00, Sun 09:00-15:00 (summer, closed on Sundays in the winter)Adults €7, children €5
See
Oulu Catholic Church
Holy Family Of Nazareth Church
Said to be the prettiest church in Oulu, and definitely stands out from its surroundings.
See
Oulun Suomalaisen Yhteiskoulun Lukio
OSYK
The Finnish Co-educational Lycée of Oulu was established and opened in 1902 as a private Finnish-language lycée. It was the first co-educational upper secondary school in Oulu, a progressive learning institution at the time since both boys and girls studied in the same school. The students of today keep up the progressive spirit in the school with a wide distribution of information on gender and sexual neutrality and diversity. The school is said to have the best team spirit in Oulu. Nowadays the school also is one of the most appreciated upper secondary school in the city and it emphasizes wide-scale art education. As pretty as it is from the inside, not entering the building without a reason is appreciated since it is reserved for students doing their schoolwork. You can admire the building from the outside. The school building was finished in 1908, and the Jugend style building is a rare find in town. As well as many other buildings in Oulu, the school is said to be haunted. There is also a quarter of pretty wooden buildings and a big park with a children's traffic playground near the school.
Do
Raatti swimming pool
Raatin uimahalli
Public pool and gym. Renovated in 2010. The closest public pool to downtown. Pools include children's pool, teaching pool, two 25 meter pools and a cold-water pool.
Mon Wed–Fri 06:15–21:45, Tue 07:00–21:45, Sat Sun 08:00–20:45€5.50 for the pools or the gym, if you have an ISIC Student card, then it's €3.20
Do
Ruskotunturi
A small skiing centre in the suburbs of Oulu. Features regular slopes, children's slopes and two snowparks for freestyle skiing. You can spend a day in the winter if you are a beginner downhill skier or just want to do something physical for a day. Not exactly a skiing trip destination, since the hill is only 50 m tall and the longest slope is 390 m. In the summer, Oulu Action Park operates some activities (such as paintball and gravity races) there, but the main focus is on the skiing centre.
Buy
Shopping Centre Valkea
Kauppakeskus Valkea
A shopping centre in the heart of Oulu that opened in 2016. It offers a warm, covered street "Kesäkatu" (which is part of a public street in Oulu), and a number of shops and cafes on both sides of it. This is the place for most young people to hang out in town. Has gained a bit of a reputation for criminal activity in side and nearby the Kesäkatu street. There are security guards present 24/7. The mall hit headlines in summer 2024 for two stabbings with suspected racist motives. The police have been guarding the mall since then pretty much full-time. The incidents were definitely out of the ordinary, and the mall is not a "no go -zone" by any means. The mall is really popular and there are family events held there time to time, and during daytime it is completely safe to visit. Nevertheless, it is always good to be aware of your surroundings.
Do
Superpark Oulu
Indoor activity park for all the family. The Freestyle Hall boasts a skate and scooting park, the extremely popular AirTrack tumble track, and a range of ramps and trampolines. The Game Arena features a hockey radar, disc golf, and basketball for those with a competitive streak. The Adventure Area has climbing walls, exhilarating slides, and a pedal car track. SuperPark Oulu also has a play area called Adventure City for small children.
Mon–Fri 13:00–20:00, Sat Sun 11:00–19:00€19
Do
Vauhtipuisto
Vauhtipuisto amusement park is a family hangout, a fun park in Hietasaari area close to downtown of Oulu that is created for all children and childlike minded. Vauhtipuisto creates memorable experiences and offers a large variety of rides and attractions for the youngest members of the family and for the bit older ones. Vauhtipuisto doesn't offer as thrilling experiences as a proper amusement park, but it is a nice place to visit, especially for those with small children. Admission to the park area is free. Admission to attractions is either by individual ticket or by a wristband. The core and the main attraction of Vauhtipuisto has from the very beginning been a little playground for the little ones offering impulses for games, playful interaction and do-it-yourself activities and experiences. You can find bouncy castles, a mini train, merry-go-rounds, car tracks, mini roller coaster, fairytale track, a Kakaravaara playhouse village and many more exciting things.
June 1 - August 11 11:00-18:00€24/29. The park area is free, but the rides cost

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Oulu (CC BY-SA 4.0).