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Voykit pocket guide · Finland
Alavieska
Skip Alavieska unless you need a quiet stopover on the Kalajoki–Ylivieska route: half a day for the church and a meal, no overnight needed.
Alavieska is a small municipality in the Southern Oulu region, best known as a rest point on Highway 27 between Kalajoki and Ylivieska. Its main sight is the white plastered brick church finished in 1948. Most travellers pass through in under an hour.
- Country
- Finland
- Best months
- Jun–Aug
- Avoid
- Nov–Mar (cold, dark, limited services)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR, €). Cards and phone payments are accepted almost everywhere.
- Daily spend
- Budget €50–80 excl. bed · Mid €80–120 excl. bed · High €120+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- EU roaming applies.
- Emergency
- Police, Fire, Ambulance 112 · Medical helpline 116 117
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · European two-pin; UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: Not expected; round up for great service.; Café and bar: Nothing.; Taxi: Nothing expected.; Guides: Optional.
- Water
- Tap water is excellent.
- Toilets
- Free in libraries, malls and many stations; some charge €1 by card.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Lunch at Lounas & Bar Lissu | €12–18 |
| Pizza at Lounas & Bar Lissu | €10–15 |
| Coffee | €3–5 |
| Beer at a bar | €5–8 |
| Petrol (95 E10), per litre | €1.80–2.20 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- KOK · Kokkola-Pietarsaari Airport
- About 80 km (50 mi) south-west; bus or car via Highway 27About 50 mi (80 km) south-west; bus or car via Highway 27
- OUL · Oulu Airport
- About 130 km (81 mi) north; bus or car via Highway 27 and E8About 81 mi (130 km) north; bus or car via Highway 27 and E8
Typical fares
- Bus Kokkola → Alavieska
- about €10–15, about 50 min (check)
- Taxi Alavieska → Ylivieska
- €25–35
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Car is the only practical option. Buses on the Kokkola–Kalajoki–Ylivieska line stop in Alavieska but are infrequent.
See and do
Known for
- Alavieska church (1948)
- Lounas & Bar Lissu lunch and pizza
- Linnakallio guestrooms and campsite
- Highway 27 stopover
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Kalajoki | Car via Highway 27, about 20 min | About 20 min |
| Ylivieska | Car via Highway 27, about 15 min | About 15 min |
| Kokkola | Car via Highway 27, about 50 min | About 50 min |
Sleep
- Highway 27 area
- SEO Motel Alavieska and Linnakallio guestrooms are both near the highway; car needed.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Heihay |
| Thank you | Kiitoskee-tos |
| Excuse me / Sorry | Anteeksiahn-tek-see |
| Where is the bus stop? | Missä on bussipysäkki?mis-sa on bus-si-pyu-sak-ki |
| How much does this cost? | Paljonko tämä maksaa?pal-yon-ko ta-ma mak-saa |
| Do you speak English? | Puhutko englantia?pu-hut-ko eng-lan-tia |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Firm handshake, eye contact, short and direct; avoid: Hugs and long small talk with strangers
- Silence: Let pauses be pauses; avoid: Filling every quiet moment
- Sauna: Shower first, ask before throwing water on the stones; avoid: Swimsuits in nude-only saunas, or nudity in mixed ones marked otherwise
- Home visit: Shoes off; bring flowers or pastries; avoid: Keeping shoes on indoors
- Personal space: Keep a metre's distance in queues; avoid: Sitting next to a stranger when other seats are free
- Promises: Mean what you say; Finns will; avoid: Polite 'let's meet sometime' you do not intend
Scams and watch-outs
- Services are limited: check opening hours for Lounas & Bar Lissu before relying on it for a meal.
- Winter driving conditions: Highway 27 can be icy; winter tyres required Dec–Feb.
- No bank or ATM in the town centre; bring cash or use card (widely accepted).
Very safe. The main risks are winter road conditions and limited services outside summer.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Alavieska yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Alavieska church (1948)
- Lounas & Bar Lissu lunch and pizza
- Linnakallio guestrooms and campsite
- Highway 27 stopover
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Alavieska official tourism page: www.alavieska.fi/vapaa-aika/matkailu
- Wikivoyage: Alavieska, revision 5046666 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5046666
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/alavieska). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.