Oulu is the largest Arctic city in Northern Finland, and in winter it turns into something rare: a real city right beside a frozen sea. When the Gulf of Bothnia freezes, the water in front of Nallikari becomes a vast white landscape of snow and ice that you can walk, fish, cycle and snowshoe across, all about 15 minutes from the city centre. No long wilderness transfer, no queues, and often still space around Christmas when Lapland is fully booked.
We are Nallikari Safaris, a local team based on Nallikari beach. Here is our honest guide to the best things to do in Oulu in winter, and how to book each one.
1. Go ice fishing on the frozen sea
Our most popular winter experience. Walk out onto the frozen sea, drill your own hole through the ice, and watch fish rise on a sonar screen. You usually catch perch, and beginners and children are welcome, everything is taught and included. It is one of the most authentic things you can do on a winter morning in Oulu.
From €99 per person, 2 hours. 👉 Book Arctic Sea Ice Fishing
2. Watch the Northern Lights over the frozen sea
Oulu sits at about 65°N, so the aurora is a genuine winter possibility here. On our Arctic Northern Lights Camp you walk onto the sea ice to a fire-warmed tent camp, gather around the campfire, and watch the northern sky with a local guide. The aurora can never be guaranteed anywhere, so we build the whole evening around the frozen sea itself, meaning the night is worth it whatever the sky does.
From €99 per person, 2 hours. 👉 Book the Arctic Northern Lights Camp
3. Meet reindeer at a family farm
A calm, personal reindeer visit near Oulu, not a crowded herd. Meet, feed and photograph friendly reindeer at a small family-run Christmas tree farm, then warm up with glögi and pastries by an open fire. Transport from Oulu is included, and the experience runs right through the festive season.
From €169 per person, 3 hours. 👉 Book Oulu Reindeers & Christmas Trees
4. Sauna and ice swimming on the sea ice
The most Finnish way to end a winter day. A wood-heated tent sauna warms up on the frozen sea in front of Nallikari, and when you feel ready you can take a dip in an ice hole cut into shallow water beside it. The ice swim is always optional, and the sauna evening is just as good if you prefer to stay warm.
From €69 per person, 2 hours. 👉 Book the Frozen Sea Tent Sauna & Ice Swimming
5. Snowshoe across the frozen sea
An easy, guided winter walk on the sea ice and through the snowy landscapes of Hietasaari. The route is flat and beginner-friendly, and along the way your guide builds a campfire on the ice for hot drinks. A relaxed way to get out into Arctic nature without any experience.
From €85 per person, 2 hours. 👉 Book the Arctic Sea Snowshoe Experience
6. Ride a fatbike on the frozen sea
Fatbikes have wide, low-pressure tyres that roll over snow and ice, so you can cycle where a normal bike can't, including out onto the frozen sea. Join a guided sea-ice ride, or rent a fatbike from our shop and explore Nallikari, Pikisaari and the coast at your own pace.
Guided rides from our weekly program, or rent from our shop. 👉 See guided bike experiences · 👉 Rent equipment in Nallikari
7. Rent gear and explore on your own
If you would rather head out independently, our rental shop in Nallikari has fatbikes, snowshoes, sliding snowshoes and warm winter clothing. It is the easy way to enjoy the frozen sea and coastal trails on your own schedule.
Make a full winter day of it
The best part of winter in Oulu is that everything is close together, so you can combine several experiences in a single day. Start the morning with ice fishing on the frozen sea, meet reindeer in the afternoon, warm up in the tent sauna in the evening, and finish around a campfire under the northern sky. Our weekly departures are scheduled through the day to make this easy.
Good to know before you come
Season: most winter experiences run from late December to the end of March, and Northern Lights tours from October onwards.
Getting here: Nallikari is about 15 minutes from Oulu city centre, with bus number 15 running roughly every 30 minutes and free parking in the area.
What's included: guided experiences include warm thermal clothing (overalls, boots, gloves and a hat), so you just dress in your own layers underneath.
In English: all experiences are guided in English by trained local guides.
Guaranteed departures: our public weekly tours run on selected dates, so you can join even as a solo traveller or a couple.
Planning a group?
Every experience is also available as a private trip for your group, team or clients, for groups from 6 up to 100 people. We work with tour operators, DMCs and travel agencies with commissionable rates.
👉 See private experiences for groups & tour operators
Ready to experience the best of winter in Oulu? Nallikari Safaris is a Sustainable Travel Finland certified, award-winning local team guiding visitors across the frozen sea all winter long.
