Kattegattleden: Sweden’s Scenic Cycling Route Heads for Record-Breaking Season

The Kattegattleden, Sweden’s first national cycling route, is poised for an exceptional season in 2023. Following a record-breaking year in 2022, when international visitors returned after the pandemic, indications suggest that even more Swedish and foreign tourists will be cycling the scenic coastal path this year.

Gunnar Nyström from EverTrek, a Swedish tour operator specializing in hiking and cycling trips, confirms this trend:

“Our demand for hiking and cycling trips to Sweden has increased massively and we had a record year in 2022. For 2023, sales for Kattegattleden are up more than 100% compared to the same period in 2022. As long as we can secure accommodations, and if nothing unforeseen happens, we will have a really large number of cyclists in Sweden and on Kattegattleden this year.”

The growing interest in cycling and Kattegattleden is also benefiting local businesses in Halland. KiteKalle in Halmstad is preparing for more luggage transports and bike rentals than ever before. Kalle Svensson, CEO of KiteKalle, states:

“In 2022, we carried out over 6,000 luggage transports for cycling tourists along Kattegattleden and rented out over 5,000 bicycles. Interest just keeps increasing year after year.”

Accommodation providers in Halland are also noticing the increase in cyclists. Peter Angergård, CEO of Åsa Camping, shares:

“The number of camping cyclists along Kattegattleden has seen fantastic development since its opening in 2015. We have even created a dedicated area on the campsite specifically for cycling tourists and continue to develop this. In 2022, we had hundreds of cyclists per week, and we believe there will be a continued increase in foreign cyclists in 2023.”

The success of Kattegattleden is the result of long-term collaborative efforts. Helene Andersson (C), chair of Region Halland’s Growth Committee, explains:

“The decision to develop Kattegattleden dates back to 2013 when Region Halland, together with Region Skåne and 9 municipalities, signed a declaration of intent.”

Since then, all parties have worked hard to create a beautiful, experience-rich, and traffic-safe route. Kattegattleden has now become an established and attractive path through northwestern Skåne and Halland, enabling tourism development, sustainable travel, and job creation.

The cycling season for Kattegattleden officially starts on April 15 and ends on October 15.

For more information about this stunning coastal cycling route and to plan your trip, visit the official Kattegattleden website.

Source: Visit Halland Press Release