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Kajaani

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Kajaani main street in January.
Kajaani main street in January.

Kajaani (Swedish Kajana) is a town and municipality in Finland.

It is located in the province of Oulu and is the capital of the Kainuu region. It is located southeast of Oulujärvi (Lake Oulu), which drains to the Gulf of Bothnia along the Oulujoki (river Oulu).

[edit] Understand

Kajaani is a typical small and quiescent former industrial city.

For the most of the tourists, Kajaani is a stop on a way to Vuokatti skiing centre, which is located 40 kilometres east from the city. Because Kajaani is still the largest city (36 000 inhabitants) in Kainuu, there are more shopping opportunities than in Vuokatti. Especially Russian tourists, who stay in Vuokatti, are common sight in the shops of Kajaani during winter season.

[edit] Talk

Like in most of Finland, the English language is widely known, as is Swedish, since they are compulsory languages in Finnish comprehensive schools. Since Kainuu region neighbours Russia, that language is in important position as residents from both countries visit each other and co-operate together. Some residents can also speak German and French also.

Local strong Finnish dialect adds extra wovels to words. Due to this, local english may be in some cases hard to understand. For same reason: I´f youre capable to speak and listen some basics of Finnish language, be prepared that understanding elder people talk may be hard.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By car

Highway no.5 goes through Kajaani, highway no.6 comes to the town from Loviisa, highway no.22 comes to Kajaani from Oulu, and highway no.28 comes from Kokkola. Roads are well maintained and taken good care of overall. They are also quite safe and peaceful to drive. Within smaller local roads you are able to get to know the peaceful nature and easygoing atmosphere of the area.

Driving everywhere in the town area is easy, as the city government has tried and tries to ease traffic by building roudabouts, improving intersections and streets general. There are minor weekday rushs in the mornings and afternoons, when residents head to work and home from there, however they usually don't last long. Finding park space is not usually a problem, but you may have to search little longer during those "rush moments".

Improving the town centre is starting sometime shortly, including a new bridge over the Kajaani River, converting some streets to pedestrian-oriented, possibly more underground parking and and otherwise improving the downtown more comfortable.

Overall in the whole Kainuu region (and Finland generally) your own car is more than handy way to get to know the places, also because long distances (and the weaker public transport) but not just because of that. Landscapes are magnificent and it's so relaxing to drive around in almost empty roads. Just remember those few common things (see article Finland and get around by Car section) and you'll enjoy driving!

Moose alert! If you are continuing your trip towards north or east from Kajaani, be careful of elks and reindeers that may run out of nowhere to the road. Be cautious particulary in dusk and dawn, if you´re driving trough vastly inhabited areas

[edit] By plane

Finnair serves 3 flights a day from Helsinki. Kajaani airport (IATA:KAJ) locates 7 kilometres northwest from Kajaani city centre. There is local bus number 4 links between the airport and the centre. There is also a taxi stand at the aiport.

Be aware that Finnair is planning to quit daily flights in march 2012. If you have booked flight to march or later, contact to your travel agency for further information.

[edit] By train

There are many trains every day from Helsinki via Kuopio or Oulu. Kajaani train station locates near the centre within walk distance. For more information [1]

[edit] By bus

There is a bus everyday from Helsinki. 3-4 buses a day from Oulu and Joensuu. And several more from Kuopio. For more information [2]

[edit] Get around

City centre and main attractions, like the castle, can be easily reached by walking.

Maps and more information about the city and Kainuu region can be found from Kajaani-Info. Info is located next to the town hall (address Pohjolankatu 13). Tourist information is also availaible in the VisitKajaani website: [3]

[edit] See and Do

  • Kajaani Art Museum (Kajaanin taidemuseo), Linnankatu 14 (In front of the 2nd town hall), ☎ (08)61552599, [4]. Sun-Frid 10-17, Wed 10-20 (closed Sat). This small, two-story art museum in the middle of downtown Kajaani exhibits a wide variety of art, in medium, content and theme. Photography, videography, installation art, and more can be found here. Exhibits change about 6 times a year. They also offer workshops, lectures, and performances (in Finnish, of course). There is little to no English available here, but that's rarely an issue. (Take a Finn with you if you'd like a more detailed description of each piece of art.) The museum is in front of the historic, yellow town hall (which features a clock tower). Just look for the nondescript, white-gray building with the word Taidemuseo on it. 2 euros (free on Wed).  edit
  • Kajaani Castle (Kajaanin linna), middle of the Ammankoski bridge (Follow the river or Ahontie road). This 17th century ruin of Kajaani castle (fortress is a more likely term) doesn't offer much more than the experience of walking through the ruins of a 400-year-old castle. There are a few plaques placed around the castle (in English, as well as others) that detail its history and the placement and purpose of the original rooms. 15 to 20 minutes is plenty of time to explore the castle and its grounds. For more information: [5] Free.  edit

Naturally Lake Oulujarvi [[6]], tel +50 340 3013, info@naturally.fi Naturally Lake Oulujarvi provides outdoor activities for small groups all around the year at the area. In summer time you can experience with us kayaking, hiking, fishing and wildelife watching. In winter time we offer snowshoe trips, cross country skiing winter fishing and snowmobile tours.

[edit] Events

  • Kajaanin Poetry Week, [7]. Annual poetry festival spreads all around the town in July. In 2012, week will be held in 4.-8.th of July.  edit
  • Kajaani Market Street, Kauppakatu. Main street of Kajaani is closed from traffic for one week in July. At that time the street is taken over by stalls selling local products, food and clothes. Dates change every year, but street is usually organised same time as the Poetry Week (see above).  edit

[edit][add listing] Buy

  • Taito Shop Kainuun Pirtti, Brahenkatu 3, ☎ +35840 534 7851, [8]. Mon-Fri 9AM - 17PM, Sat 9AM - 14PM. Traditional handicrafts and knit garments. Arranges handicraft courses.  edit
  • Kauppapaikka 18, Kauppakatu 18. Small shopping centre in the center of the city. Few international chains, like H&M and Benetton. In same builing you can also find a bank, ATM, cosy cafe and a fast food restaurant.  edit

[edit][add listing] Eat

  • Ravintola Sirius, Brahenkatu 5, ☎ (08) 612 2087, [9]. Mon-Fri 10.30 AM-5 PM. Tasty, no-nonsense Finnish food with a good wine list. Main dishes €6.5-14, fixed menu a little more. Restaurant is on a beautiful site next to river. (64.228665,27.733097) edit
  • Ravintola Ranch, Kauppakatu 26, 87100 Kajaani, ☎ (08) 636 696, [10]. Mon: 10.30 – 14.30, Tu: 10.30 – 20.00, Wed: 10.30 – 22.00, Thu: 10.30 – 22.00, Fri: 10.30 – 23.00, Sat: 12.00 – 23.00, Sun: 14.00 – 20.00. As implied by the restaurant's name, the food is influenced heavily by sort of "wild-west", texas or mexico thing or such. Delicious hamburgers, steaks, french fries and wedges can be found on menu, and restaurant also haves daily lunch. Place is decorated in wooden style of old "wild west" saloons.  edit
  • Mantan Grilli-Kioski, Sudenpolku 15, ☎ (08) 6141 515 (), [11]. Mon-Fri 10.00 AM - 11.30 PM, Sat-Sun 11.00 AM - 11.30 PM. Famous local hambuger-grill. Big take-away dishes of kebab and fries, but location is rather far away from the city center. €5-9.  edit
  • Pekka Heikkinen, Välikatu 7, ☎ (08) 617 890 (), [12]. Legendary bakery that has been awarded for its quality rye bread. Factory shop offers also baked goods. Small cafe inside.  edit

[edit][add listing] Drink

  • Pitkä Taneli, Linnankatu 21, ☎ (08) 010 7637010 (). Mon-Tue and Sun 9AM - 12PM, Wed-Thu 9AM - 2AM, Fri-Sat 9AM - 3AM. The most famous pub in Kajaani. 40-year old pub gathers both young and old people to sing karaoke during weekends.  edit
  • Onnela, Linnankatu 18, ☎ (08) 0207759485 (), [13]. Wed, Fri and Sat 10PM - 04AM. Onnela (transl. "Place of happiness") is largest nightclub in Kajaani. DJ:s play Top-40 hits and finnish classics. Targeted to young adults, but older folks have started to hang around after few other clubs have been closed.  edit
  • Club96, Kauppakatu 26, ☎ (08) 636 696 (), [14]. Fri-Sat 10PM - 04AM. Club96 attracts just-turned-eighteen clubbers. Trendy dance & hip-hop music.  edit
  • Balls, Lönnrotinkatu 5, ☎ +35844 358 6411, [15]. Sun-Tue 11AM - 02AM, Wed-Sat 11AM - 03AM. Local rock´n´roll fans stare their half empty pints in this place, that offers rock and metal gigs at weekends.  edit

[edit][add listing] Sleep

  • Karolineburg Manor House Hotel, Karoliinantie 4, 87200 Kajaani, ☎ +358 8 613 1291, [19].  edit

[edit] Stay safe

Kajaani is a very safe city.

Passage between Kauppakatu and Välikatu may be little restless during weekend nights when bars close their doors at 2AM/3AM and drunken local people wander out.

[edit] Get out

  • Paltaniemi, (9 kilometres nortwest from the city center). Paltaniemi is a picturesque rural village right next to aiport. The view is dominated by Paltaniemi Church and long fields. Paltaniemi is also the birthplace of Finnish poet Eino Leino and his home has been turned into a museum-cafe. Families gather to Paltaniemi Beach on hot summer days. Although Paltaniemi is offically a neighbourhood of Kajaani, you´ll need a bike or car to reach the place. Buses move far apart. For more information [23]  edit
  • Vuokatti, (40km east from Kajaani), [24]. Vuokatti is a ski- ja spa-resort in the municipality of Sotkamo. Vuokatti offers 13 slopes for downhill skiing and extensive network of ski tracks. Daily bus connection from Kajaani.  edit
  • Kuhmo, (100km east from Kajaani), [25]. Small city of Kuhmo offers a chance to meet wildlife. Travel agencies arrange bear watching tours. City draws also classical music artists to participate in Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival every July. For more information about the festival: [26]  edit
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