Virpiniemi’s shifting sand dunes and the Baroque art of Haukipudas Church offer contrasting highlights. If you are looking for accommodation in Haukipudas, you can first decide whether landscape, water activities or culture should shape your stay.

Nature and outdoor activities in Virpiniemi

Virpiniemi features striking shifting sand dunes and hilly landscapes, creating opportunities for outdoor experiences. Meriniemi Beach is also located there. An 18-hole disc golf course adds another option; it is suitable for beginners and somewhat more experienced players. Virpiniemi therefore offers landscape, a beach and a clearly defined game as different highlights. The disc golf course provides an activity with a set format, while the beach and landscape appeal to other outdoor interests.

River and seasonal activities

The Kiiminkijoki is a Natura area and is protected under the Rapids Protection Act. In Haukipudas, you can kayak on the Kiiminkijoki. If paddling is the deciding factor for your trip, check the specific arrangements in advance. A seasonal winter idea is a cross-country ski tour to Kaasamatalan Island; check whether it is taking place on your travel dates before making firm plans. The season also matters when planning: kayaking is the water-based option, while the island tour is explicitly a winter cross-country skiing option.

Church, performance venues and cultural heritage

Haukipudas Church is a major art-historical highlight. A painting of the Last Judgment covers an entire wall in the north transept; art historians regard it as Finland’s most significant Baroque composition. The church also contains Bible-themed paintings by Mikael Toppelius, created in 1774, 1775 and 1779. The architectural surroundings are also part of its cultural significance: the area around the church is a nationally valuable built cultural landscape. The cultural theme thus extends from church art to the building’s surroundings.

Teatterikuoppa in Haukipudas offers a different kind of culture. It provides stages for various forms of performing art, including theatre, dance, music and visual arts. This performing arts offering differs from the church’s art-historical focus. You can reach Teatterikuoppa from Oulu city centre by bus route 20. The bus stop is at the intersection of Haukiputaantie and Haukiväylä; from there, it is a 2–3-minute walk to Revontie. As bus routes may change, check the timetable before setting off.

Isoniemi adds an archaeological theme to the cultural offering: it is a nationally significant archaeological VARK cultural heritage site. Church art, performing arts and archaeological heritage therefore appeal to different cultural interests.

A culinary highlight

You can sample fresh fish at Kiviniemi fishing harbour. If you want to make this a firm part of your plans, check in advance whether it will be available on your travel dates.

Discover more destinations

Nivankylä, Taivalkoski, Jokioinen, Kauhajoki, Pornainen, Möttönen, Hyytiälä, Kalajoki

For the higher-level travel overview: North Ostrobothnia.