Lake Mälar bike holiday

Take a first stroll through Sweden’s capital and explore some of the many sights and tourist attractions. 

Along Lake Mälar, Sweden’s third largest lake you cycle to UNESCO world cultural heritage Drottningholm Palace. Here, on the shore of the lake, the royal family grew up. Take your time to explore the beautiful palace as well as the Chinese Pavilion dating from the 18th century. You continue by a short ferry trip towards Södertälje. The small town and home of Scania is connected to the Baltic Sea through a lock in the Södertälje canal.

Today you ride on small side roads to Gripsholm Castle. It houses the national portrait collection of over 4.000 works that trace the portrait art from the 1400s and up to the present. The castle’s history goes back to the 1370s, when Bo Jonsson Grip built a castle on a promontory which, after several expansions, became Gripsholm Castle.

Mälardalsleden (Swedish for the Lake Mälar route) leads you via the Strängäs fjord to Eskilstuna. The former market place and bishop’s see welcomes you with small shops, gallerys and nice boutiques. Worth seeing is the blacksmith’s shop and museum Rademachersmedjorna, where you can watch the smiths and craftsmen at work.

Today you cross the lake! On your way to Västerås you can do a detour to Torshälla (+ 10km) to visit a sculpture park with winding alleys and art from Bo Englund, Allan Ebeling and other artists. Additionally a stroll through the old narrow streets of Torshälla with its old wooden houses is worth it. Before you reach Västerås you should visit Strömsholm palace with its cafe. The stunning palace is as Drottningholm and Gripsholm palace in possession of the royal family. Once you have reached Västerås we recommend to visit Kyrkbacken, the old town, the dome is also worth to see. 

Mälardalsleden leads you on to Enköping. The small town is located at the mouth of river Enköpingså and Europe-wide well-known for its beautiful gardens. The town plants thousands of bushes every year, which makes the townscape indeed unique. Besides that, the municipality hosts more than 180 rune stones, and you will pass some of them along your way. 

Via Mälardalsleden and an old railroad embankment you reach university city Uppsala. The fourth-biggest city in Sweden is also today’s bishop’s see. Visit the impressing cathedral, the castle and the University Coin Cabinet with its very interesting coin and medal collections. Worth seeing are moreover the botanical garden and Gamla Uppsala (Old Uppsala) with its Royal mounds (three large barrows).

Via Knivsta and Märsta you cycle along Mälardalsleden and Sverigeleden to Sigtuna. The city was founded in 980 and is, together with Lund the oldest, still existing city in Sweden. The small town can be found on coins and rune stones as it was an important administrative center in earlier times. End your day with a stroll through the main road with its small, typical Swedish houses from the 18th, 19th and 20th century.

After breakfast your bike tour ends. We are happy to extend your stay with extra nights.