Friluft Sweden
- Vacation Home on a Lake in Central Sweden
- Accommodates up to 6 people, with a kayak and canoe
- Outdoor activities available upon request
- Attractive in all seasons
- Moose, bears, bald eagles, and the Northern Lights
8-Day Cycling Tour of Smaland: Through the Forests and Towns of Astrid Lindgren
Inhoudsopgave
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Discover Fairytale Sweden by Bike
Cycling in Smaland is the purest way to discover Sweden. Rolling landscapes, deep forests, wooden houses, and the scent of pine. As soon as you start cycling through Smaland, you’ll understand why this region was such a great source of inspiration for Astrid Lindgren, author of the Pippi Longstocking books and Emil, among others.
We describe an eight-day cycling vacation through Smaland, a tribute to nature and nostalgia. Of course, you can also simply follow the cycling route on your own. You can also take the trip independently but in an organized manner, arranged by a local travel specialist. Accommodations with breakfast, a packed lunch, and dinner are included. See below for more information on how to book this trip.
Cycling Highlights in Smaland
- Individual bike tour
- 8 days / 7 nights
- Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner, and coffee included
- Luggage Transport
- Good 3- and 4-star hotels
- No experience is necessary, but a reasonable level of fitness is recommended
- A hybrid trip involving about 315 km of cycling and 5 km of hiking (up to 65 km of cycling per day)
Day 1: Welcome to Ullinge–Eksjö on Lake Södra Wixen
Your adventure begins in Ullinge; the hotel is located on the shore of the lake. If you’ve rented a bike, it will arrive today. After checking in, you can take a short ride along the water. In the evening, you’ll have dinner at a cozy pub.
Day 2: From the wooden town of Eksjö to Mariannelund
You’ll cycle out of Ullinge and take back roads to the charming wooden town of Eksjö. It’s the perfect place to stop for a cup of coffee or a stroll among the 17th-century houses.
After Eksjö, you’ll follow the Astrid Lindgren Trail, which winds through the Småland countryside. Today’s destination is Mariannelund, where you’ll check in at Pensionat Solhöjden. Your luggage will already be waiting for you, and the evening will end with dinner in the guesthouse’s dining room.
Distance: approx. 63 kilometers
Day 3: The Astrid Lindgren Trail
In Mariannelund, you can visit Filmbyn Smaland. Here, Astrid Lindgren’s films come to life again. Want to learn more about Lindgren? Then book a guided bike tour with Cykla i Filmlandskapet. This route takes you to filming locations from the movie adaptations of Astrid Lindgren’s stories.
If you’d rather explore the area on your own, you’ll find some great routes here.
Once you arrive in Vimmerby, check in at the charming Karaktärshotellet, where you can enjoy the evening in peace and quiet. You’ll be staying here for two nights, so unpack your things and relax.
Distance: approx. 30 km (+ 5 km for a guided tour)
Day 4: A Day in the World of Astrid Lindgren
Today you can choose between cycling and culture—or both. Visit Astrid Lindgren’s Näs, the place where it all began. Or explore Astrid Lindgren’s World, where the stories come to life. If you’d like to cycle more, there’s a longer route to Katthult, Bullerbyn, and Lönneberga—classic locations from Astrid’s fairy-tale world.
Day 5: Through the heart of Smaland to Wallby Säteri
After a relaxing morning in Vimmerby, you’ll continue south through the rolling countryside of Småland. You’ll leave the Astrid Lindgren Trail and follow winding roads past farms with stone fences, lakes, and meadows. Feel free to bring your swimsuit; there are several perfect spots for swimming along the way.
At Wallby Säteri, you can enjoy the lakeside sauna, the peaceful garden, and dinner at the manor house’s restaurant. You’ll stay in small, charming cottages on the farm, with the lake right next door.
Distance: approx. 60 km
Day 6: Relaxation, hiking, and the charm of Wallby
Today is a relaxing day. After a hearty breakfast buffet, you can go for a short bike ride, take a walk, or simply enjoy the surroundings. The evening ends with another dinner, and you’ll get ready for the final day of cycling on the trip. In the morning, your luggage will be picked up, and you’ll cycle back to Ullinge at your own pace.
Day 7: Back through the Smaland countryside
The final day of cycling offers another taste of Småland’s natural beauty: forests, open meadows, and lakes. The route takes you through Vetlanda and along small roads toward Björköby, where you can take a break at the small zoo and the café. Back in Ullinge, a well-deserved sauna awaits, and perhaps one last dip in the lake before dinner.
A perfect way to wrap up a week full of nature, culture, and fantastic experiences.
Distance: approx. 55 km
Day 8: End of the Smaland cycling tour
After breakfast, pack your things. If you rented a bike, leave it at the hotel. From here, you can continue your trip on your own or head back home.
Practical Tips & Sustainable Cycling in Smaland
- Trip duration: 8 days / 7 nights
- Distance: approx. 210 km
- Includes: overnight stay with breakfast, 2-course dinners, luggage transport, and the Ride with GPS app with route and guidance
- Starting point: Eksjö (Ullinge Värsthus)
- Difficulty: moderate; manageable for someone in average physical condition
- Price: €1,985 per person (SEK 2.1900) based on double occupancy
- The trip does not include bicycles, but you can rent bicycles or e-bikes (approx. €220 for a touring bike and approx. €355 for an e-bike)
- Transfers and guides are not included but can be booked upon request
- This trip is a textbook example of slow travel: local food, small-scale accommodations, tours led by local guides, and getting around by bike.
Overnight Stays for Cyclists in Smaland
- Hotel Ullinge
- Pensionat Solhöjden
- Character Hotel
- Wallby Säteri
If these are not available, you will stay at comparable hotels.
How do you get to Eksjö–Ullinge?
Ullinge is about 1,100 kilometers by car from the Netherlands. You take the ferry and drive through Denmark.
Cycling in Smaland on the map
Offerte aanvragen Fietsreis Smaland
Als je een offerte aanvraagt, sturen we deze door naar de lokale partner en bevestigen zij direct aan jou indien akkoord. Je betaalt dezelfde prijs als wanneer je direct reserveert. Verdere afhandeling van de reservering en betaling regel je met de lokale leverancier (met wie wij goed contact en afspraken hebben). Wij blijven altijd beschikbaar voor mogelijke vragen.
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Read here about a wonderful winter adventure in Sweden.
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Over de auteur
Met een passie voor reizen en fotografie én meer dan 30 jaar ervaring in de reisbranche, deel ik graag mijn bijzondere natuur-reistips. Reizen is heerlijk en belangrijk, je ontmoet nieuwe mensen en culturen en het opent je blik op de wereld.
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Laat je inspireren
Ben je op zoek naar de mooiste wandel- en fietsroutes? Of wil je informatie over reizen met de trein of advies voor de mooiste roadtrips door de natuur. Laat je inspireren voor je volgende reis in het groen; ideeën om je eigen reis te plannen of te kiezen voor een georganiseerde reis.