12–15 June 2006 ::: Oulu, Finland

University of Oulu, Microelectronics and Materials Physics Laboratories

Practical Information

OULU

Oulu is located in the northern part of the Baltic Sea, about 200 km from the Arctic Circle. It has an image as an active city that is prosperous for business, and has also good public services, safe atmosphere and diverse natural environment. With an interdisciplinary university, many public and private research institutes and international corporations, Oulu is a university, science and technology city. The 129 000 inhabitants of Oulu celebrated the 400th anniversary of their city in 2005.

The four seasons are distinctive in the nature and the city as well. The dark and cold winter changes into light, mild summer nights. In June, the sun sets only for a couple of hours. E.g. on 15 June the sun sets at 0.15 and rises at 2.22. The difference between winter and summer temperatures can be as much as 50ºC. The average temperature in Oulu in June is around 13,6º C and during daytime a few degrees above.


PASSPORT AND VISA

Foreign visitors entering Finland must have valid passports. Nationals of some countries are required to present a visa, while others are granted access to the country without visa. For furhter information, please contact your travel agent or the local consular office in your country.


LANGUAGE

The language of the conference is English.


TRANSPORTATION

Airlines

When arriving in Helsinki-Vantaa airport, Finnair´s 55-minute connecting flight to Oulunsalo Airport is one possibility to take. Blue1 has also several flights daily between Helsinki and Oulu. In addition, SAS has flights daily from Stockholm or Copenhagen through Helsinki to Oulu. For further information on fares and schedules, please visit Finnair, Blue1, or SAS.

Train

In case of travelling by train, first you need to take a Finnair bus to Helsinki centre, leaving every 20 minutes from the Helsinki-Vantaa airport. The bus goes directly to the Helsinki railway station (cca EUR 5, time: ~30 min.) From Helsinki to Oulu, there are seven trains a day (cca. 60 EUR, time: ~7 hours). For timetables, prices and tickets, please visit the website of Finnish Railways. If you have taken the train from Helsinki you will be arriving in downtown Oulu.

Bus

Bus number 19 runs between Oulunsalo Airport and Oulu city centre. The route goes via the University of Oulu, every 20 minutes on weekdays and once an hour on the weekends. The last bus leaves from Oulu Airport every day at 01.15. Here you can check out the timetable for bus number 19.

Oulunsalo, Airport - Downtown Oulu - Linnanmaa (University)

Linnanmaa (University) - Downtown Oulu - Oulunsalo, Airport

The distance between the city centre and the University of Oulu in Linnanmaa is cca. 5,5 km/10-15 minutes by bus. There will be a free transportation available between the hotels and the conference venue twice a day, according to the conference schedule. In addition, there are several bus connections during the day between the city centre and the university.

Downtown - Linnanmaa (University)

Linnanmaa (University)- Downtown

Stopping on request at all bus stops along the way. A single ticket in the area of the city costs EUR 2,60, at night (23-04 h) the fares a doubled. You can change busses within 1 hour of the purchase of the ticket.


Taxi(Taksi)

The trip from the airport to downtown Oulu (15,3 km) takes about 20 minutes and costs around EUR 20-30 depending on the number of passengers and time of the day.


Car rental

The following companies have rental services at Oulu Airport: Avis, Budget, Hertz, Europcar Interrent, Scandia Rent, Transvell. If you choose to rent a car, we recommend you to have a look at the Oulu parking guide.


ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES

The electric current in Finland is 220V, 50Hz.


POST OFFICES AND MAIL

Post offices are open on weekdays from 9.00-18.00. The main post office in the city centre has longer opening hours. Stamped mail can be dropped in yellow mail boxes for collection. Stamps are available at post offices, bookstores and kiosks.


MONEY AND BANKING

The Finnish monetary unit is Euro (EUR), divided into 100 cents (100 senttiä). Bank notes are for EUR 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500. Coins are for 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents and EUR 1 and 2. In Finland the 1 and 2 cent coins are not in circulation.


There are numerous   ATM´s in the city centre, which give 24 hour service. Credit cards such as American Express, Diner´s Club, Eurocard, Mastercard and Visa are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants, department stores and even some taxis.

Banks are open weekdays usually from 9.30-16.30 if you would like to change cash.

SAMPO-PANKKI, Kirkkokatu 13

OULUN OSUUSPANKKI, Isokatu 14

NORDEA, Kirkkokatu 6

HANDELSBANKEN, Kirkkokatu 31


TELEPHONE

To call directly from Finland, dial: 990, 994, 999 or 00 + country code, + area code, + phone number. To call to Finland, dial: +358 (country code), + are code, + phone number.


TIME DIFFERENCE

Time in Finland is 2 hours ahead of GMT.


RECREATION

For free-time activities we recommend you to visit the following places:



RESTAURANTS / CAFÉS / BARS

Here you will find a LIST of Oulu´s restaurants, bars, pubs and cafés.


TIPPING

Tipping is not compulsory in Finland and the serviceis automatically included in most of the restaurant bills. Tips in Finland are usually given when eating out in restaurants, but it is not very common when e.g buying a drink or paying your taxi driver.


SHOPPING

The opening hours of shops vary. Most department stores and grocery stores are open from 9.00 to 21.00 during weekdays and from 9.00 to 18.00 on Saturdays. Larger department stores remain also open on Sundays, usually 12.00-18.00.
Book stores,clothes shops etc. are open from 9.00 to 18.00 weekdays and from 9.00 to 14.00 on Saturdays.

Alkoholic beverages can be bought only in state-owned  shops. ALKO shops are open from 9.00-20.00 on weekdays and from 9.00-18.00 on Saturdays. Medium strong beer, light beer and cider is sold in grocery stores.

If you would be interested in buying some culinary specialities, like reindeer ham, salmon or good Finnish bread, visit the Market Hall (Kauppahalli), located close to the city centre, which is open Monday-Friday 8-18, Saturday 8-15. On the market place you can also find different warehouses selling traditional products from Lapland, gifts and handicrafts. Famous Finnish glassware and pottery products are sold in the city centre (Stockmann, Pentik) as well. In addition, Finnish Kalevala jewelry is available in many stores on the pedestrian street of Oulu (Rotuaari). A list of gift shops is available HERE.

 

KIOSKS

  

Kiosks are usually open later than other stores. They are a bit more expensive but you can easily find phone cards, magazines, snacks etc. there. You can find these small booths in all residential areas.


TOURIST INFORMATION

Oulu City Tourist Office
Uusikatu 26, P.O.Box 32
FIN-90015 Oulun Kaupunki

Open: Mon-Fri:9.00-16.00
Tel: +358 8 5584 1330
Fax: +358 8 5584 2099
Website: www.oulutourism.fi
Email: touristinfo@ouka.fi


HEALTH CARE

Oulu University Hospital
Phone: (08)315-2011
Address: Kajaanintie 50, 90220 Oulu

University Pharmacy
Isokatu 27, 90100 Oulu
Open: Mon-Sun 8.00-23.00


LIBRARY SERVICES

Oulu City Library
Kaarlenväylä 2, 90015 Oulu
Website: www.ouka.fi/kirjasto/english/index.html


University Library
90014 Oulu University
Open: Mon-Thu 9-19, Fri 9-17, Sat 10-15.


FOR HELP

FinnPlace Dictionary