Oulu Airport: where to stay, areas and recommended hotels

Oulu airport is Finland's second busiest after Helsinki, about 15 km south-west of the city centre: with scheduled buses and taxis taking 20-40 minutes, the centre remains almost always the most convenient choice for those who want restaurants, shops and the Oulujoki riverside within walking distance. Only for very early morning flights or layovers of a few hours, when every transfer minute counts, is it worth staying somewhere designed specifically for its closeness to the terminal.

Oulu centre

City centre · Bus lines 8 and 9 take 30-40 minutes (about 3-5 euros) from the centre; taxi takes 15-20 minutes (about 25-45 euros) for the roughly 15 km that separate the airport from the city.

Best for: Those who want the harbour market, restaurants and the railway station within walking distance, with direct buses to the airport.

Pros

The harbour market (Kauppatori) and the Oulujoki river are walkable from the central hotels
Railway station a few minutes' walk from several hotels, handy for combining train and plane

Cons

Airport buses are infrequent outside peak hours: with early morning flights a taxi is needed
In the city centre at weekends there is traffic and noise from nightlife venues

Recommended hotels in this area

Radisson Blu Hotel, Oulu: On the riverside, 3 minutes on foot from the Kauppatori market and the Valve Cultural Centre; gym, sauna and free bicycles for guests.
Scandic Oulu Station: 4 minutes on foot from the central station and Oulu cathedral; indoor pool, sauna and a buffet breakfast flagged as a strong point by reviews.

See more hotels in this area →

Airport area

A few minutes from the Oulunsalo terminal, along the same access road to the airport.

Best for: Very early morning flights or layovers of a few hours, when you would rather not face the 15 km and 20-40 minute transfer to the centre.

Pros

No 15 km transfer to face before a very early morning flight
A cheaper alternative to central hotel rooms for a single layover night

Cons

Residential area of Oulunsalo, with no restaurants or shops within walking distance
For an evening in the centre you still need 20-30 minutes by car or taxi

Recommended hotels in this area

Lentokenttästudio, Oulu Airport studio: A studio whose very name recalls its closeness to the Oulunsalo terminal, designed for those who want to stay a step from check-in before a very early morning flight.

See more hotels in this area →