Cycling vacations in Sweden

Go Nordic on a cycling vacation and youll be placing your pedals in some seriously stunning landscapes. While there are hardcore mountain bike tracks to be found, our cycling vacations in Sweden instead focus on following quiet roads and family-friendly cycling trails, many of which start on Stockholms doorstep and make their way through the Stockholm Archipelago or rural Srmland.

For the most part youll go at a laid-back pace allowing you plenty of time to take in your surroundings; and Swedens tradition of allemansrtten - the right to roam - means that youre free to explore wherever you wish. Self-guided trips mean maximum flexibility, so you can mix cycling with other outdoorsy activities, whether you want to glide along the local lakes in a canoe or hike along forest trails. While youre at it you can look out for roaming roe deer and red squirrels, while eagles and osprey are often to be seen soaring overhead.

What do cycling vacations in Sweden entail?

Our Sweden cycling vacations are all tailor made, allowing you the freedom to tweak your itinerary to suit the needs of you and your traveling companions. They’re also self guided, so you pedal out independently each day with back-up in the form of a briefing, detailed maps, route notes and 24-hour emergency support, as well as luggage transfers and pre-arranged bookings in small, personal guesthouses and B&Bs. These vacations follow a point-to-point route, staying in different accommodation every day or so, allowing you to soak up a wide range of landscapes.

How fit do I need to be?

Cycling tours in Sweden are more about taking in the scenery at a leisurely pace than pushing hard on the pedals to race through the countryside. The terrain, particularly on Stockholms archipelago, is easy going and the tracks are safe and traffic-free, making this part of Sweden an ideal destination for family cycling vacations. Youll spend most of your time on well-marked, flat cycle paths and quiet, sometimes narrow roads, with gentle hills providing some short climbs, but not a mountain in sight. Distances are manageable, ranging between 20km and 60km a day, and youre free to take numerous breaks whether for wild swimming, sightseeing or lakeside picnicking.

All that being said, you may be in for a surprise if you dont get a little practice in before you leave home. Our cycling vacations in Sweden might be relatively easy but spending entire days in the saddle is not recommended for total novices.

Where to cycle in Sweden?

While there are challenging bike trails up and down the country, some of the most forgiving cycling routes are clustered around Stockholm. Our tours take place either in bucolic Srmland, famed for its lakes, forests and pretty villages, all conveniently spread out just south of Stockholm, or in the Stockholm Archipelago, whose 24,000 islands lie right on the capitals doorstep and stretch some 80km east into the Baltic Sea.
Particular highlights include Mariefreid, a vibrant village on the shores of Lake Mlaren thats bursting with fairytale historic buildings; and Stendrren Nature Reserve, a pretty spot on the Srmland Archipelago reached by biking through evergreen forests, meadows and lakes, where a series of small bare rock islands are linked by suspension bridges.

And then theres Stockholm itself, a fantastically bikeable city with plentiful cycle lanes and parking spots. A particular gem is the Ecopark - a massive green space at the citys heart, its home to deer and moose, a handful of museums, a royal palace, and, most importantly, plenty of lakes, streams and canals to pedal alongside.

Our top trip

Sweden cycling vacation self guided

Sweden cycling vacation self guided

Cycle through a landscape of countryside and culture

From SKr 11995 9 days ex flights
Small group travel:
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Sweden or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help.

Practicalities

All of our cycling trips kick off in Stockholm, and include accommodation, bike hire (including helmets though feel free to bring your own), and everything else youll need to cycle independently. All youll need to bring are a pair of sturdy shoes suitable for cycling as well as waterproofs and layers for peeling on an off in tune with the weather.

Best time to go on a Sweden cycling vacation

Pedalling through the snow during a Swedish winter is obviously a big no-no when it comes to cycling vacations in Sweden and the trails at this time are more suited to snowshoers and cross-country skiers. Head here in the summer instead, when temperatures are mild and there are long days of daylight and sun. Most trips run from May to September. Stockholm can get busy in July and August but either side of the peak months and you should have a lovely time.
Written by Nana Luckham
Photo credits: [Page banner: Frank and Helena] [Intro: Nikolay Semenov] [What do cycling vacations in Sweden entail?: Nikolay Semenov] [Where to cycle in Sweden?: TS Eriksson] [Best time to go on a Sweden cycling vacation: Maria Eklind]