Vaala

Until 1954, the municipality's main seat was on the Säräisniemi village. Vaala's current centre ( Vaalan kirkonkylä ) 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

Regional road 800 (called

By Plane

By Train

Regional road 800 (called

By Car / Road

By bus

Coaches passing by can be used, see

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 Jun 2025 )

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 )

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.

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 )

Cafes and bars in the town centre serve coffee, wine, and local beverages. Regional wines and spirits are worth sampling.

Siitari ,

Vaalantie 12

( in the centre ),

☏

+358 8 563-9000 ,

[email protected] .

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 )

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 ,

[email protected] .

M–Th 10:00–15:00, F 10:00–17:00, Sa 10:00–14:00 .

A local general store.

( updated Jul 2022 )

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