Turkansaaren ulkomuseo
An open-air museum on the islands of the Oulujoki river, where visitors can explore old buildings, tar burning, salmon fishing and lumber-camp life.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Turkansaari open-air museum is located on the islands of the Oulujoki river, and the museum turned one hundred years old in 2025. The buildings on the islands and their yards present the region’s livelihoods: farming, salmon fishing, tar burning, lumber-camp and log-driving work, as well as traditional folk skills and beliefs.
The yard of the Ylikärppä house takes visitors to the peasant life of the early 20th century, and the Yli-Juurus house is furnished to depict the same period. The Juurus farm was an important estate on the Oulujoki for centuries. At the Parttuainen forest-camp manor, visitors can experience the post-war period and the everyday life of lumber-camp workers.
The church was built in 1694, according to a date found in a wall beam, originally for fishermen. It is still in use, and celebrations and services are held there in summer. The summer programme includes, among others, the Midsummer celebrations, the traditional July weekend and the Muksut museossa (Kids at the Museum) days.
Highlights
- Church from 1694
- Yli-Juurus house and the Ylikärppä yard
- Parttuainen forest-camp manor and lumber-camp life
- Vekaravintti, a hands-on exhibition space for children
- Café Turkansaari and salmon soup lunch
Permanent exhibitions
- Yli-Juuruksen talo – The house is furnished to depict life in the early 20th century, and the multi-stage history of the Juurus farm sheds light on life along the Oulujoki.
- Kirkko – The church from 1694, originally built for fishermen, is still in use, and celebrations and services are held there in summer.
- Vekaravintti – The children’s hands-on space presents children’s everyday life in the 1940s and 1950s, and visitors may touch the objects and play.
- Founded
- 1925
- Operated by
- Oulun kaupunki (Oulun museo- ja tiedekeskus)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €12 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €9pensioners, students and unemployed people |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Free admission for under-18s. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Entry for a personal assistant is free of charge. |
| Groups (10+ people) | €9 per personGroups of more than 10 people: adults €9, and pensioners, students and unemployed people €6 per person. |
| Event fee on event days | €2Added to the admission ticket price, also with Museokortti; does not apply to Kaikukortti holders or children under one. |
Admission is free with the national Museokortti (Finnish Museum Card) and the Kaikukortti; on event days an event fee is charged. Tickets are sold at the museum’s ticket desk. Visitors can call in at the café without visiting the museum, and entry to the café is free except on event days. Payment methods: bank and credit cards, cash, Epassi and Edenred’s Virike card.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The Turkansaari open-air museum is partly barrier-free. The main routes of the museum area, the forest path on Siikasaari and the route to the tar boats are barrier-free, but smaller paths may be rooty. The church and the Ylikärppä house (café building) are barrier-free; some buildings can only be looked into from outside. The area has one accessible indoor toilet and several outdoor privies, which are not barrier-free. Parking spaces for people with reduced mobility are reserved in the corner of the car park nearest Turkansaari, and if necessary a car can be driven to the island.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
- Baby changing facilities
Vekaravintti is a hands-on exhibition space for children, where in the school classroom, the shop and the rooms of a home almost everything may be touched and playing is allowed. Muksut museossa days are held in summer. The accessible indoor toilet has a changing table and a potty, and the outdoor privies also have a potty.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Turkansaari th E · 1.5 km
Oulu public transport line 41 stops at the Turkansaari th E stop (about 1.5 km from the museum area), and line 40 at the Sanginsuun koulu E stop (about 3.2 km).
By car
Parking available · 200 m to the entrance
The car park is on the southern bank of the Oulujoki, with space for cars and larger vehicles. The walk from the car park to Turkansaari is about 200 metres. Camping in the car park is prohibited.
To reach Turkansaari, drive on Kainuuntie (main road 22) and follow the Turkansaarentie signs. From the centre, it is possible to cycle almost the whole way on cycle paths. The final sections of Turkansaarentie and Sanginsaarentie are unpaved.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
Café Turkansaari operates in the museum area and offers lunch, pastries, ice cream and drinks. The Kirstu museum shop sells, among other things, sweets, knitting and crochet kits and soaps.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
The church can be booked for family celebrations for €152. Small private events can be held in the café and in the old cowshed.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | A guided tour (60–90 minutes) can be booked for groups, and the price includes the admission ticket. A short introduction in the church takes 20 minutes. Kindergarten and school groups have their own offering. By boat, landing is possible only at the jetty on the south-west shore, during museum opening hours. |
