Vaala
municipality in the region of Northern Ostrobothnia in Finland
Vaala is a municipality in Eastern Oulu region, Finland.
Understand
![](../I/Vaala_municipality.JPG.webp)
Vaala centre lies where the river Oulujoki starts, at Oulujärvi, which is the fifth largest lake in Finland. Niskanselkä, the part of the lake north of Manamonsalo (about a third of it) belongs to the municipality.
Get in
![](../I/Vaala_railway_station_20190730.jpg.webp)
Regional road 800 (called Vaalantie) runs through the village centre of Vaala. The nearest highway is the national road 22 between Oulu and Kajaani, passing 2 km to the north-east.
There are also trains. The 🌍 Vaala railway station in the town centre has several trains daily, but no other services.
There is a marina in the south part of the centre, at Saharanta. 1.5-m boating route from Sotkamo, 1.8-m fairway from Kajaani, 3,5-m fairway from Paltamo.
Get around
By bus
Coaches passing by can be used, see Matkahuolto.
By taxi
- Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi
See
![](../I/Kassu_Halosen_taidetalo.JPG.webp)
- 🌍 Vaala Church (Vaalan kirkko), Järvikyläntie 3 (in the centre). The church of the municipality from 1961, designed by Dag Englund. (updated Jul 2022)
- 🌍 Säräisniemi Local History Museum (Säräisniemen kotiseutumuseo), Säräisniementie 345 (a 15-km drive south of the centre). (updated Jul 2022)
- 🌍 Kassu Halonen Art House (Kassu Halosen taidetalo), Kivarinperäntie 24 (on the Manamansalo island 23 km to the south-east; 50 km by roads). (updated Jul 2022)
- 🌍 Lamminaho Farm Museum (Lamminahon tila), Lamminahontie 231 (8 km north-west of the centre). (updated Jul 2022)
Do
- 🌍 Lumman reitti, Jylhämäentie (starts across Oulujoki). A hiking trail with a length of 5.3 km. (updated Jul 2022)
- 🌍 Oulujärvi Hiking Area (Niskanselkä). 24 hr daily. Hiking and boating area including several islands and shores of Niskanselkä, including part of Manamonsalo (with camping, shelters and trails) and some islands 4 km from Vaala centre. Free. (updated Sep 2023)
- 🌍 Rokua National Park (a 20-km drive west of the centre). National park with a compact collection of glacial formations. Family-friendly trails over wooded sandhills with lichen-covered ground. Part of the northernmost UNESCO Geopark (as of 2022).
- 🌍 Saharanta Beach (Saharannan uimaranta), Saharannantie (on the shore of Lake Oulujärvi, in the south part of the centre). (updated Jul 2022)
Buy
- 🌍 S-Market Vaala, Kolehmaisentie 1 (in the centre). M–Sa 07:00 – 21:00, Su 09:00 – 21:00. A grocery store. (updated Jul 2022)
- 🌍 K-Market Tervaportti, Vaalantie 26 (in the centre). M–Sa 07:00 – 22:00, Su 09:00 – 22:00. A grocery store. (updated Jul 2022)
- 🌍 Pänikkä ja Piironki, Vaalantie 25 (in the centre), ☏ +358 44 984 6906, info@panikkajapiironki.fi. M–Th 10:00–15:00, F 10:00–17:00, Sa 10:00–14:00. A local general store. (updated Jul 2022)
Eat
- 🌍 Finlandiano Pizzeria, Vaalantie 22 (in the centre). M–Th 10:30–21:00, F 10:30–22:00, Sa 11:00–22:00, Su 12:00–21:00. (updated Jul 2022)
Drink
Sleep
- 🌍 Siitari, Vaalantie 12 (in the centre), ☏ +358 8 563-9000, info@siitari.fi. A hotel and restaurant. For one person: €49/day; for two people: €69/day. (updated Jul 2022)
- 🌍 Gasthaus Vaala, Vaalantie 13 (in the centre), ☏ +358 400-60-0345. €55/day. (updated Jul 2022)
- 🌍 Taikaloora, Haminatie 4 (at Saharanta), ☏ +358 50-587-0814. (updated Jul 2022)