Highlights
- Enjoying Sweden’s first national bicycle route – The Kattegattleden
- Soaking in the sights and sounds of Helsingborg and Gothenburg
- Taking in the sea views as you ride along Sweden’s gorgeous west coast
- Countless culinary and cultural stops along the way
- The ever-changing scenery from glittering ocean to lush forests
- Indulging in some Swedish Fika
Itinerary
Hallå! Welcome to Sweden’s south-west coast, and the start of the country’s first national cycle path; the Kattegattleden. You’ll spend your first night of the tour in Helsingborg. Your hotel is well-located in the centre of town, allowing you ample opportunity to explore this beautiful, medieval town by the ocean.
- Meals: Breakfast
- Ascent: 213 Metres Approx.
After a welcome briefing with a member of the local team at 9:00am and ensuring you‘re happy with your rental bikes, you’ll be ready to set off on your Swedish adventure.
This part of the Kattegattleden offers a lovely coastal tour with staggering views of Öresund and out to Danish Zealand.
You’ll start your journey in Helsingborg, passing Sofiero Castle one of Sweden’s most beautiful castles, situated just north of the town. The route continues up towards Höganäs and out to the gorgeous, rocky landscape of the Kullahalvön peninsula. Kullaberg Nature Reserve can be found on the furthest tip of Kullahalvön, and if you have time for a detour from the path, it’s well worth a visit.
As you continue, you will soon reach Höganäs, where farm shops and tasty food are distinguishing features. Some of Skåne’s finest vineyards are also located here. If the weather allows, we’d recommend picking up some treats and enjoying a picnic along the way.
The tour continues around the beautiful, dramatic Kullahalvön peninsula, towards the 500-year-old town of Ängelholm, your destination for the day. Home to six kilometers of sandy beaches and glittering ocean, you’ll find Ängelholm perfectly located between two peninsulas, it’s a lovely natural setting for your overnight stay.
(It’s possible to shorten today’s ride to 29 Miles / 46 Kms / 140 Metres. To do this you have to leave the path, and ride approximately 6 Miles / 10 Kms on a minor road with little traffic between Höganäs and Jonstorp.)
- Meals: Breakfast
- Ascent: 322 Metres Approx.
From Ängelholm, the Kattegattleden continues along the coast before it cuts across the peninsula, into the heart of Bjäre. The climb will be gentle at first, but soon becomes steeper. You are now proceeding into a modern agricultural setting, and will gradually reach the small-scale agricultural countryside that has been breeding livestock since prehistoric times and is typical of Bjärehalvön.
After a thrilling ride down the ridge, the stretch concludes in the entertainment metropolis of Båstad. A few Kms after Båstad, you and your bikes can jump on the train to Halmstad. (Price for the train (incl. bike) approx 10-20 Euros – bike spaces on the train are limited so you may need to wait for a space.)
The standard ride to Båstad train station is 60 Kms / 322 Metres, however you can shorten the ride by skipping the Bjäre pensinsula (41 Kms / 265 Metres). If you’d like some extra miles in your wheels, you‘re welcome to ride the entire way from Ängelholm to Halmstad – Total stretch 94 Kms / 386 Metres (or 76 Kms / 329 Metres if you skip the Bjäre peninsula.)
If riding from Båstad, the route continues along one of the longest sandy beaches in Sweden and then makes a turn inland towards the nature reserves of Gullbränna and and Tönnersa. Shortly after this you will reach Halmstad and the route will take you through the city centre. A port and university town bustling with life, the town centre’s stone streets are lined with cafes and taverns, popular with locals and tourists alike. A great spot to have a cold Sofiero and a Kladdkaka (a Swedish sticky chocolate cake)
- Meals: Breakfast
- Ascent: 207 Metres Approx.
From Halmstad, you will continue riding west, towards one of the most beloved beaches of the west coast, Tylösand. The blue-flag designated Tylösand is Halmstad’s most popular beach area, and always has a great atmosphere, especially around the section of beach directly adjacent to the holiday village Tylösand. Tylösand is followed by the beaches of Frösakull, Ringenäs and Vilshärad, and after this the path turns eastwards and connects to Kustvägen, the coast road.
Along the way you’ll pass several beautiful nature reserves with unique beach meadows both before and after the charming village of Steninge. Right around Steninge beach the landscape will change from barren and stony into a lush agricultural setting, guiding you to your overnight stop of the day: Falkenberg. Falkenberg is really charming, with lovely crooked houses dotting its cobbled streets, a great setting for an evening stroll.
- Meals: Breakfast
- Ascent: 89 Metres Approx.
The route today continues through the town of Falkenberg, one of the oldest of Hallands’ medieval towns.
You’ll pass several fishing villages along the way like Lövstaviken and Glommen, and in Träslövsläge you can feast on freshly cooked seafood and delicious ice cream from the local ice cream parlour.
As you are getting closer to Varberg, the final destination of the day, you’ll pass Apelviken, a beach that attracts windsurfers from all over Europe. A short ride away the Varberg Fortress will tower before you, well worth a visit. You can bike all the way up to the fortress if you are up for a challenge. Or, make a visit to Societetsparken instead and take a well-deserved rest in the shade of the leafy trees.
- Meals: Breakfast
- Ascent: 358 Metres Approx.
North of Varberg, the scenery changes – sandy beaches become rocky cliffs and the first islands begin to appear, like Getterön, Balgö and Vendelsö. Further on you will get to a quiet stretch along the ocean and the beautiful beaches of Åsa.
Further up the route we recommend a small detour to visit Tjolöholm Castle, Sweden’s only Tudor castle, before continuing to Kungsbacka, the final stop for today and one of the largest trade centres in western Sweden.
(It’s possible today to shorten the ride to 31 Miles / 50 Kms / 207 Metres, by biking from Varberg to Åsa and then catching the train to Kungsbacka.)
Alternatively, a nice detour, away from the official Kattegattleden path is the ride out to Fjärås Bräcka, famous for its 100 standing stones at the Li grave field. The route takes you on small roads alongside fields and horse pastures until you reach Kungsbacka, This route is not sign posted so you’ll be reading an old fashioned map for this section!
- Meals: Breakfast
- Ascent: 299 Metres Approx.
This last stretch of the route runs along the Kungsbacka fjord, back towards the ocean. You’ll pass the small seaside village of Särö, where royalty and Gothenburg society used to meet for their amusement in the early twentieth century. The trail continues along cliffs, lush forests, bays and small harbours, offering plenty of places to swim or just relax.
As you approach central Gothenburg, you will pass Nya Varvet and the Klippan Culture Reserve and continue along Göta älv until you reach your final destination: the Göteborg Opera and the Lilla Bommen harbour.
Welcome to Gothenburg. Time for a celebratory Schnapps – Skål (cheers)!
If you want to get to that Schnapps a little quicker, you can shorten the ride to 25 Miles / 41 Kms / 217 Metres by skipping the Onsala peninsula.
- Meals: Breakfast
Time to say goodbye to the coast, and head off for onward journeys. Let us know if we can help organise any extra nights to extend your stay in this lovely part of the world.
There are some beautiful archipelagos off the coast of Gothenburg and we’d love to help you organise some riding here if you’d like to extend your stay. Please contact us for details!
Gallery
The Cycling
Terrain
For most of the route you’ll follow the Kattegattleden cycle path. Much of the route is traffic free, however some sections will see you riding on quiet back roads, and occasionally parallel to busier roads with traffic.
You’ll be riding on well sign-posted paved cycle paths and some sections on gravel roads.
The tour ranges from flat to slightly hilly, with some cheeky ups and downs along the way and some substantial distances to cover each day. With this in mind, we’ve graded this as a level 3 and would recommend a good level of physical fitness. We would ask that you’re comfortable with some longer days in the saddle.
Ängelholm – Halmstad is the day with the most climbs, and Falkenburg to Varberg is the most relaxed route of the week.
We recommend, and can provide, hybrid or e-bikes. The route is suitable for a gravel bike, if bringing along your own, although not suitable for a road bike. An e-bike would be a great option, and highly recommended, for those looking for a boost up those cheeky climbs and to help tick off some quick miles on some of the longer days.
For more information about riding an electric bike on our holidays please click here
Leisure Cycling Grade
Distances generally between 20-45 miles / 32-72 kms per day
For the leisure cyclist with a good level of physical fitness
May include some steeper, cheeky climbs
Possibly sections of varying terrain (eg. forest tracks, gravel paths etc).
Our grading guidelines have been carefully created based on our many years of cycling experience, as well as customer feedback from our trips. Of course, if you're still struggling to figure out where you fit on the scale, do feel free to give us a quick call and we'll be more than happy to help!
For more information about our grading system click here.
Is this suitable for you?
Although you may not cycle everyday, you do keep yourself relatively fit and maybe enjoy an afternoon out on your bike at the weekend. Your preference is perhaps for flatter terrain but you don’t mind tackling some hills, and the occasional steep climb if you can take it at your own pace. For those happy to tackle some ups and downs, and possibly some sections of varying terrain (eg. forest tracks, gravel paths etc) we’d recommend our grade 3 trips. We’d generally expect those on a Grade 3 trip to have a decent level of physical fitness and be comfortable with some longer days in the saddle.
For more information about the grading of this holiday in particular, please check out the terrain section which will give you some specifics of what to expect on this tour.
Dates & Prices
The season prices below are per person. Daily departures are available between and inclusive of the stated dates.
2025 01 May – 30 Sep
Season 1 – $1680 01 May – 20 Jun and 01 – 30 Sep
Season 2 – $1920 21 Jun – 31 Aug
Worth noting! Some cafes / restaurants only open during the Swedish summer holiday season (July – second week of August). If travelling earlier in the season (May/June) or towards the end of August, into Sept, we’d recommend stocking up on supplies from a supermarket, and making sure you have snacks, plenty to drink, and / or a picnic with you on each ride. You’ll find some places operate throughout the year, but earlier / later in the season options can be limited, so worth being prepared!
Secure Your Holiday With A Deposit
Book now with a $375 deposit and nothing more to pay until 60 days before departure. Choose a date to start your booking and see all prices, including bike hire and single room supplements.
Whats Included
A) Accommodation (shared twin / double en suite rooms) in 3 and 4* hotels
B) Meals as per the itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
C) Local representative (with welcome meeting)
D) Detailed route notes and maps
E) GPX files on request
F) Luggage transfers
G) Financial Protection through ABTOT
What's not Included
A) Bike rental (available if required)
B) Flights and charges for travelling with your bike (if applicable)
C) Meals not stated in the itinerary
D) Single room (available if required)
E) Travel insurance
F) Personal clothing and equipment
G) Personal expenditure (souvenirs, bar bills, hotel facilities etc)
H) Entrance fees to museums and other attractions en route
I) Travel to first hotel on arrival day
J) Travel from final hotel on departure day
The Essentials
News, Reviews & Stories
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Reviews
Sarah, SurreyLoved each day for different reasons!We thoroughly enjoyed each day for different reasons! The easy ride from Falkenberg to Varberg brought an unexpected highlight when we came across an old cottage in Morup that was the former home of Swedish sculptor, Axel Andersson. It has been turned into a tiny living museum by the local historical society and downstairs it is still furnished just as it was when Andersson lived there. The upstairs houses all the furnishings and artefacts from the old school that was situated in the building before Andersson bought it as his home. As a bonus, the old lady running the “museum” has one room as a little cafe with coffee, home made cakes and sandwiches which we ate in the very pretty garden! Definitely recommended!
Simon, SurreyA great holiday!Overall a great holiday with the route well signposted and the Swedes very helpful. Would highly recommend it.
Rebecca, LondonAn exceptional service from SkedaddleThis is our third Skedaddle holiday in a year and we had a very enjoyable time despite the weather! The bikes were excellent touring bikes and provided in a brand new condition. The repair kit proved invaluable when we had our first Skeddadle puncture on Cycle day 5 from a rogue staple. We had no problems fixing it with the tools provided and Gunnar sent a new spare inner to await us at the next hotel stop. The service from Skedaddle has been seamless and all the hotels provided a friendly service. The hotel in Varberg was exceptional with its amazing spa and rooftop pools!
David, RenfrewExcellent holiday!My favourite days were the first and second days riding along the coast and into beautiful countryside.
The service was excellent. Our luggage was always waiting for us at the hotels and we received so much helpful information prior to our trip.
Dermot, AyrshireOur first time with electric bikesDay 2, Angelholm to Halmstad, was our favourite. We choose the longer option as a challenge and to utilise the capability of the ebikes, which generally we were impressed with.
It was our first time with electric bikes and were impressed, especially with the fact that the motor managed to negate the strong headwinds.
Caroline, DurhamA seamless serviceFavourite day was the longest day! This was the stretch from Angelholm to Halmstad. A couple of beautiful beaches, a couple of hills and satisfyingly tired limbs at the end of the day.
We received very responsive and helpful pre-trip information from the sales team, including a helpful heads-up about the weather just before we arrived. A seamless service – much appreciated.
Setting up the Ride with GPS app was a bit of a faff but once we were in it was really helpful. Great that the bikes had the fixings for the mobile phone. Everything was made really simple – we didn’t get lost once…