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The city has been the seat of a bishopric since 1900, and its cathedral was built in 1830–32, incorporating the remains of an earlier church destroyed in 1822. It is an important educational centre with a university and a summer university. The industries include lumber, flour, and cellulose mills, as well as shipyards, fisheries, tanneries, and a foundry. The Meri Rapids, on which the city is located, provide hydroelectric power and are also a major tourist attraction. It provides as well a gateway to the Arctic Ocean and the Barents Region.

Oulu is currently the national leader in the computing and microchip industries. In the region there are two science parks plus a technology centre. There are many research institutes and the University Hospital. The region is home to many hi-tech companies and there are currently over 10,000 people employed by the hi-tech sector. During the last century it was the centre of the world's tar industry and the city's affluence and vibrant cultural scene date from that time. Today’s cultural scene includes many museums, art galleries, the Tietomaa Science Centre and the botanical gardens. The city offers a wide variety of entertainment as well. There are many restaurants and street musicians will serenade you if you go to one of the outdoor bars in the pedestrian section of Kirkkokatu. The old buildings clustered around the riverbank are now somewhat overshadowed by the faceless office blocks of the past twenty years.

It is a city of children and young people. That might be also the reason why it is such a bustling, lively city. In the old days Oulu used to be known as a school town – nowadays it is also known as an active developer of children’s culture and for its versatile sports facilities.

Kuusamo is also worth a look. It is a quiet small town around 200 kilometres in the north, which is the perfect base for touring this very special region of contrasts. With mountains and valleys, rivers, streams and rapids, you will never find such a wild and yet peaceful natural area.

Oulu is also an important traffic node. The city has excellent connections by sea, air, land and rail. The Port of Oulu is an efficient municipal business owned by the City of Oulu. It is kept open all year round. Oulu has an international airport and there are about 15 flights to and from Helsinki each day. The flight time is about one hour. There are also direct flights to Stockholm and cargo flights to central Europe.

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