Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Cycling
Sweden is perfect for cycling, particularly in Skåne and Gotland. It's an excellent way to
look for prehistoric sites, rune stones and quiet spots for free camping. The cycling season
is from May to September in the south, and July and August in the north.
You can cycle on all roads except motorways (marked by a green sign with two lanes
and a bridge on it) and roads for motor vehicles only (green sign with a car symbol). High-
ways often have a hard shoulder, which keeps cyclists well clear of motor vehicles. Sec-
ondary roads are mostly quiet and safe by European standards, and many roads have ded-
icated cycle lanes.
You can take a bicycle on some regional trains and buses. Long-distance buses usually
don't accept bicycles; Sveriges Järnväg (SJ) allows them only if they're foldable and can
be carried as hand luggage. Bikes are transported free on some ferries.
You can hire bicycles from campgrounds, hostels, bike workshops and sports shops; the
cost is usually around Skr150 a day or Skr500 a week.
Some country areas, towns and cities have special cycle routes; contact local tourist of-
fices for information and maps. Kustlinjen (591km) runs from Öregrund (Uppland) south-
wards along the Baltic coast to Västervik, and Skånespåret (800km) is a fine network of
cycle routes. The well-signposted 2600km-long Sverigeleden extends from Helsingborg in
the south to Karesuando in the north, and links points of interest with suitable roads
(mostly with an asphalt surface) and bicycle paths.
Brochures and maps are available from
Svenska Cykelsällskapet
(Swedish Cycling As-
sociation;
08-751 6204;
www.svenska-cykelsallskapet.se
)
.
ADRENALINE JUNKIES
One of the fastest-growing activities for summer is downhill mountain biking. The sport
takes over ski resorts after the snow melts; fully armoured, riders carry their sturdy little
bikes up the hill on chairlifts, then barrel down along rough mountain trails at dizzying
speeds.
Åre Bike Park
is the mother lode, with 35km of slopes, 17 trails and a potential
vertical drop of almost 900m. Multiday packages are available.
