Situated in Northern Ostrobothnia, Nivala is a cosy rural town with friendly inhabitants, farmlands and leisure activities. Try a hiking trip, or take a look around the local museums. Memories of Nivala’s best-known inhabitant, President Kyösti Kallio, can be found throughout the town. A journey to Nivala is also a journey into the spirit of Ostrobothnia, with its love of its countryside and the great outdoors.
Visit the Kyösti and Kalervo Kallio Museum to get to know the works of the presidential father and his sculptor son. The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday during the summer season, and is otherwise accessible by prior arrangement. You can also admire the handiwork of Kalervo Kallio in the Statue of Heroes sculpture, which commemorates Finland’s twentieth-century wars with Russia, at Nivala Church.
Continue your tour of Nivala with the Katvala Museum of Local History and Culture, open during the summer months. The outdoor area has a collection of old regional buildings of different types. Nivala Week, held every July, offers a host of events for both locals and visitors.
Sports and entertainment for your holiday in Nivala are provided by the entertainment venue Tuiskula and sports centre Uikko. Built in 1925, Tuiskula has a legendary reputation for its world-class performers and events. Uikko combines exercise with fun with a bowling alley, swimming pools and a gym. Those looking for natural relaxation should visit the Stonecutter’s Nature Path on the southwestern side of Pidisjärvi Lake.
Nivala is an excellent location if you want to spend some time in the great outdoors, or try out some fishing on the rivers of Ostrobothnia. You can organise an active and inexpensive holiday in Nivala by using the fishing opportunities offered by Malisjoki River and Kalajoki River, and for golfers, Nivalan Seudun Golf is a full-length course.
Nivala is easy to reach by car, as highway 27 from Kalajoki to Iisalmi and highway 28 from Kokkola to Kajaani intersect at Nivala. You can also travel by train from Iisalmi or Ylivieska.
