Sweden

Sweden is a very large country where it is pleasant to cycle. The south is flatter and less sparsely populated than the center and north. There are also more roads in the south. The coastal regions are also usually busier than the rest of the country. It is important to choose the right roads for a bike ride. Major thoroughfares with their rushing freight traffic can be annoying. Other roads are excellent.

Many holiday cyclists in Sweden are on their way to the North Cape or on the way back. Many try to drive through Sweden as quickly as possible and then opt for the A45, A4 or other busy roads. Unfortunately, they often do not get a positive impression of Sweden because of this. That is unfortunate and unfair.

Sweden consists for the most part of lakes and coniferous forest and is hilly and flat. Many cyclists are very pleased with the tranquility. In the south a lot of land has been cultivated and you mainly cycle between rolling fields, but if you go more to the north the country becomes desolate. Sweden is a large country, cycling from north to south takes about three weeks.

Northern Sweden is rough, unspoilt and sparsely populated. This area covers almost half of Sweden. You will find extensive forests, inaccessible wetlands, mountains, fjords and islands. So you can cycle for days without meeting anyone. So plan your purchases well.

Central Sweden is a low plain with some hill areas and large lakes. The southern part has a rolling landscape, is most visited by tourists and is therefore busier than the northern regions.

Swedes are fairly self-contained, but if you make contact they are hospitable and helpful. They are sporty. Cyclists are treated with respect.

Communication is fine in English with half a word of Swedish. Sometimes you can also use German.

People from EU, Canada, Japan and USA don't need a visa. All other people need a Schengen visa to visit this country. You can find more information here https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/tourist-schengen-visa/. The visa is valid for 90 days, and allows you to travel through all Schengen countries.

Sweden is a safe country. Cycling alone is not a problem. Just pay close attention to your bicycle, because bicycle theft does occur!

Supermarkets

Only shops (supermarkets) in the somewhat larger cities. But almost everything is available here. Many of these supermarkets are open from 7am to 9pm, sometimes longer and even on Saturdays and Sundays. Some "big" villages have a small local shop. The choice and opening times are more limited here.

Keep in mind that there may be several tens of kilometers between two shopping cities/villages. Especially in the sparsely populated areas (70 km is no exception to the next shop). Alcoholic drinks above 3% are available in special stores.

Restaurants

Eating out is very expensive. If you cook for yourself, it's okay. Pizzerias can be found in many small villages. Don't skip the small conditories: the coffee and pastries are excellent.

A tip from Arjan Giling: "In many restaurants, inns and hotels, lunches are served from 11.30 am to 2.30 pm, for 5.5 - 8 euros you can have excellent food with salad, drink and main meal, coffee at the end. okay with you."

John: "In large cities it is often difficult to get into a cafe during the evening as a -23 year old. This is still possible in the student area, but in many larger cafes this is not possible. Especially on Thursdays there is often an outside bouncer who is inexorable."

Drinkable water

The tap water is of the best quality. In the far north you can also drink from streams.

In the summer there are many midges (the annoying little flies). Mosquitoes are mainly found in the north of Sweden. If you travel through the woods in the summer, make sure you have mosquito repellent with you. However, do not expect miracles from using those remedies. The best remedy against the mosquitoes is to choose the right season, i.e. early spring, autumn, or if you like cold, winter. A cap with a mosquito net is very comfortable.

Best time to cycle

The best cycling time is from early June to mid-September. Sweden has a continental climate with harsh winters and beautiful summers. It is a lot drier and warmer than neighboring Norway. In the south, the influence of the ocean is noticeable and it rains more often here. It hardly ever rains for days on end. It can cool down quite a bit at night.