Mälarsee Rundtour

Take a first stroll through Sweden’s capital and explore some of the many sights and tourist attractions. In the evening a welcome briefing and bike fitting (if booked) takes place.

Skirting along Lake Mälar, Sweden’s third largest lake you cycle on an ancient trade route that has existed since the Viking Age. On the way, you pass the World Heritage listed Drottningholm Palace. Here, right on the shore of the lake, the royal family grew up. The Chinese Pavilion dating from the 18th century is worth a visit too. You continue by short ferry trip in direction Södertälje. At Sturehov, at Eastern Lake Mälar, it’s time for a late lunch. Södertälje, home of Scania is located South of Stockholm where the lake is connected to the Baltic Sea through the lock in 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 his-tory goes back to the 1370s, when Bo Jonsson Grip built a castle on a promontory which, after several expansions became Gripsholm Castle. Overnight stay in Mariefred or continuation to Strängnäs.

The Mälardalsleden (swedish for the Lake Mälar route) leads you via the Strängäs fjord to Eskilstuna. The former marketplace 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 crafts-men at work.

Today starts with a transfer / train ride via Lake Mälar to Västerås. Visit Kyrkbacken, the car-free old town before you continue by bike. Also, the dome is well worth seeing. You stay overnight either in En-köping, known for its great gardens, Ekolsund with castle from 17th century or Bålsta, where art and comic aficionados shall stop by at Åbergs Museum to see a fabulous collection of cartoons and art.

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 Sverige-leden to Sigtuna. Enjoy your evening in the charming small town in one of the numerous restaurants.

Enjoy Sigtuna with its cafes, galleries and shops before you return with your boat M/S Evert Taube to Stockholm in the afternoon (du-ration 2 hours, arrival ca. 6.30pm, runs from end of June till mid of August, in low season you return by transfer or train ride to Stock-holm). Your last evening in Stockholm ends with a stroll back from the pier. Visit one of the numerous restaurants to review your bike week while having a delicious dinner with a good glass of wine or beer before you return to your hotel.