Sweden

Coastal Kattegattleden

Self-Guided Leisure Bike Tour

Grade

1
2
3
4
5

Duration

8 days

Prices from

$1,680 P.P.

E-BIKE HIRE AVAILABLE

This tour is well-suited to both normal bikes and pedal assist e-bikes and you can choose to hire either when you book your tour with us. Confident cyclists will enjoy the boost from a battery for those cheeky climbs, and with less effort required on the bike, you’ll have more energy at the end of the day for off-the-bike activities.

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Join us on this brand new tour of Sweden's picturesque south-west Coast. The route takes you along the Kattegattleden (pronounced kat-i-gat-led-in), Sweden's first national cycle path. Stretching an impressive 390 km, the cycle route is the perfect setting for a relaxed coastal adventure, taking in the sights and sounds of this peaceful part of Sweden.
Starting in Helsingborg, a city home to relaxed waterfront restaurants and bustling cobbled streets perfect for wandering, your route will take you north over 6 days of riding, to Gothenburg, Sweden’s second-largest city and the centre of the west coast, where you will be able to enjoy its relaxed atmosphere and laid back cafe culture.
Along the way you'll be riding along Sweden’s gorgeous coastline, through charming fishing villages and small port towns. As the week goes on and you edge closer and closer to Gothenburg you'll notice your surroundings changing with each pedal stroke, with scenic cliffs, lush forests, sheltered bays and quaint harbours filling the views. 
Cafés and restaurants are dotted throughout, and so there are plenty of places to take a break and take in your surroundings.
Whether that's packing up a picnic and heading to one of the sandy beaches nearby, or dining al fresco with a cheeky Schnapps, you'll always find somewhere to take a break and fuel up for the rest of the ride. 
On reaching Gothenburg, you can stop for a fika (the Swedish custom of enjoying a coffee and some nibbles with friends) and celebrate riding the length of the Kattegattleden. 
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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

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Itinerary

Day 1
Arrive into Helsingborg

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.

Day 2
Helsingborg - Ängelholm
39 Miles / 62 Kms Approx.
Ascent: 213 Metres Approx.
  • 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.)

Day 3
Ängelholm - Halmstad
37 Miles / 60 Kms Approx.
Ascent: 322 Metres Approx.
  • 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)

Day 4
Halmstad - Falkenberg
35 Miles / 57 Kms Approx.
Ascent: 207 Metres Approx.
  • 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.

Day 5
Falkenberg - Varberg
24 Miles / 39 Kms Approx.
Ascent: 89 Metres Approx.
  • 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.

Day 6
Varberg - Kungsbacka
45 Miles / 72 Kms Approx.
Ascent: 358 Metres Approx.
  • 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!

Day 7
Kungsbacka - Gothenburg
39 Miles / 63 Kms Approx.
Ascent: 299 Metres Approx.
  • 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.

Day 8
Departure Day
  • 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!

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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

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Leisure Cycling Grade

1
2
3
4
5
Grade 3 : Moderate

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.

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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.

Select a date to view prices and book
Start Date
End Date
Duration
Price p.p.
Start Date
Return Date
--/--/----
Duration
8 days
Price
$1,680.00

Whats Included Tick

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 Cross

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

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The Essentials

Travel Options

For this tour we ask that you make your own way to your hotel in Helsingborg on arrival and onwards from Gothenburg at the end of the trip. We’d ask that you aim to arrive before 17.00 if possible.

The most convenient airport for this trip is Copenhagen (CPH). From Copenhagen airport you can travel by train to Helsingborg (regular direct trains that generally take just over an hour). From the station, the hotel is just a short walk away.

Alternatively, a nice option if you have the time is to catch the train up through Denmark to Helsingor, and cross over to Helsingborg by boat.

If travelling with your own bikes, you can take bikes onboard ”Öresundståg” trains, but not on train company ‘SJ‘. Bikes are subject to space availability, but there are frequent departures. You can check details here and here

For the return journey you can catch the train from Gothenburg to Helsingborg, and then onto Copenhagen airport from there. Please ensure you allow for travel time to the airport before making any travel arrangements.

Alternatively you can fly into Gothenburg-Landvetter airport (GOT), from where you can catch the airport bus to Gothenburg’s main train station, and jump on a train to Helsingborg from there.

If travelling from the US, you may need an overnight flight and or expect multiple travel days.

Please check with Skedaddle before making any travel arrangements, so that we can ensure they fit in with the holiday schedule.

Accommodation

As with all of our trips we aim to use accommodation which showcases the style and hospitality of the area you are visiting. We always have comfort and convenience in mind when selecting such places.

For this tour you’ll be staying in a selection of 3 and 4* hotels. Some larger chains in the bigger towns, but also a range of smaller, family run hotels as well. All hotels are accustomed to cyclists and will greet you with a warm welcome on arrival.

Bike Hire

If you don’t have a suitable bike or would like to avoid bringing your own, we have bikes available to rent.

Hybrid rental bikes are generally Cube Nature Allroad. These touring bikes have an aluminium frame (frames with a high cross bar, and those with a lower cross bar are available, height dependent), with 24 gears and disc brakes.

E-bikes will typically be Cube Touring Hybrid One 500, Cube Nuride or Scott SUB Tour e-ride 30 unisex. E-bikes will have 7-8 gears depending on which bike is being rented to you.

All bikes come with a pannier rack and one pannier bag (2 if requested), a water bottle cage, a phone mount (not waterproof), a lock and one repair kit per two bikes incl. pump, spare tube, tyre levers and a multi-tool. E-bikes and some touring bikes will have an air-tag attached.

Helmets can be provided on request, but we’d always recommend bringing your own along.

You are welcome to bring along your own saddles / and or pedals, if preferred.

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