Welcome to the Island of Hailuoto
The Pearl of the Gulf of Bothnia

Take a break from your everyday hurry and come to Hailuoto! This Nordic Island welcomes you to enjoy its clean and fresh nature, tasty food, sandy beaches and friendly people. Coming to Hailuoto by ferry is easy and the sea trip is unforgettable, and the nearby Oulu Airport has various international flight connections. Hailuoto also offers unique locations for small conferences and events.

Beautiful nature and sunny summers

Hailuoto is one of the 27 national landscapes of Finland - the only one municipality as a whole to be on the list.

The largest island of The Northern Gulf of Bothnia welcomes travelers to spend a holiday by the sea in its peaceful landscape. Because of the island’s exceptionally unique, rich, and unspoiled nature, it provides unforgettable and refreshing experiences all year round.

Hailuoto enjoys longer summers with higher average of sunny days than the mainland.

The Gulf of Bothnia and Hailuoto are created by the Ice Age

Thousands of years ago, Scandinavia was covered by a layer of ice two kilometres thick. When the ice melted, it created an amazing environment: the gulf and sand dunes. The influence of the ice age can still be seen: land masses continue rising from the sea about one centimetre per year. The ice was so heavy that it weighed the continental shelf down and thus the Gulf of Bothnia was born. Hailuoto has literally risen from the sea during the past 2000 years. That phenomenon is still going on and one day Hailuoto will be part of the mainland.

Sea, sand, forest, birds and seals

Sand, water and wind have created beautiful sandy beaches and dunes. Many of them are free for anyone to enjoy. Sea water is clean and you can swim and sunbathe while enjoying the silence. The pine forests are typical flora including idyllic country side with old wooden buildings and fields.

Hailuoto is an important area for a vast variety of birds. Swans, cranes, geese, ducks, coots, eagles, hawks and many small and waterfowl birds. Also some rare species can be seen from bird watching towers or beaches. In spring, you can see also some grey seals on the ice/sea. There is space for anyone.

Clean air, water and tasty food

Travellers are also welcome to enjoy the hiking routes, beaches, bird watching towers, forests and sea. Hailuoto has clean natural groundwater without chemicals. Also, air is pure: breathing pure air is luxury for many people who live in big cities. In Hailuoto we make a lot of food from our local and organic sources. Fish from the pure sea, berries, mushrooms and herbs from pure forests.

Local entrepreneurs can arrange wilderness trips and dining for example smoked/glowed/baked salmon, whitefish, bass or baltic herring. Salmon or whitefish soup with local rye bred and potatoes is famous for its taste. Small group can take mini cruises with local fishermen's boats and experience the net fishing or see the seals.

Arctic winter is cold with a lot of snow and ice

In winter the island offers very eccentric and special surroundings for a holiday. A lot of snow and thick ice on the sea offers many inspiring adventure surroundings. For groups can be arranged for example ice fishing, snow mobile, husky safari, driving/walking on the ice or skiing. After activities sitting on fire on dark and cold polar night is experience to remember. On Spring/March-April sun is shining brightly and reflects beautifully from white snow. Spending time outdoors is refreshing.

Sauna

Sauna is a crucial part of Finnish culture. Spend a day outside in snowy and icy nature and, you relax on smooth and warm steam of sauna and afterwards enjoy local fish, game and other delicacies. The hotel, cottages and other accommodation all have saunas.

Services and accommodation

Single travellers and groups will find suitable accommodation of different sizes and in various locations. There are cottages, hotel, camping site and countryside accommodation. All the basic general services like bank, cash automat, pharmacist, health care centre, schools, garage&gas station, library, taxi and grocery stores. Restaurants and cafés offer meals and drinks. Local hand craft tradition is strong and there are two shops. Hailuoto has fascinating surroundings for small conferences, wellness day events, adventure events or school camp trips. Local entrepreneurs offer services and guiding with excellent local knowledge.