Nallikari Beach

Nallikari is the beach of Oulu, on the island of Hietasaari a short ride from the centre, and it is unusually good for a city on this latitude: a broad stretch of pale sand on the Gulf of Bothnia with shallow water, a promenade, a campsite, a spa hotel and a lighthouse-shaped restaurant at the point. Oulu is a cycling city and the beach is reached along a shore path used year round. In winter the sea freezes solid enough that the beach becomes a starting point for walking, skating and skiing out onto the ice, with marked routes to nearby islands, which is as much a part of local life here as the summer swimming.

What you actually see

• Pale sand and shallow water - the beach itself in summer.
• The frozen sea in winter - marked routes out onto the ice.
• The shore promenade - the cycling and walking route from the city.
• The lighthouse-shaped restaurant - the landmark at the point.

When to go

June to August for the beach and February to March for the ice. Half a day. Ice routes are marked and monitored but conditions must be checked before going out.

Honest expectations

The swimming season is short and the water is cold. Winter ice is only safe on marked and monitored routes; going off them is dangerous. The area is developed with a campsite and hotel rather than wild. Summer weekends are busy.

Nearby

Oulu city centre is east; Hailuoto lies west across the water.