Quiet back roads, the right to roam and summer temperatures that are just right are three things that make German Uppsala student Heinrich Herwig enjoy cycling in Sweden. In fact, he thinks Sweden is a perfect destination for tourists and he uses Sweden by Bike to find sights during his tours. If there is one thing he sees as an advantage in his home country, it is the possibility to take his bike with him on the train.
Heinrich Herwig is a 26-year-old cycling enthusiast from Germany who now lives in Sweden. He has a passion for cycling, running, hiking and other outdoor activities. The trips to the Nordic countries motivated him to study in Uppsala, and discover that it is a city that really favors an active lifestyle. By bike, he has explored most of Uppsala County. Last year, he and his good friend Sven cycled around Sweden's largest lake, Vänern. His ambition for the future is to live and work in Sweden for the foreseeable future. Right now, he is looking for a job after graduating from the Master's program in Industrial Management and Innovation at Uppsala University. He would like to work in a forward-looking company that works with sustainable technologies and strives to make a positive impact on society and the environment.
You like cycling in Sweden on your vacation. Can you tell us why?
There are many reasons why cycling in Sweden is so enjoyable. Because Sweden is not so densely populated, the smaller roads are quite quiet. Sometimes it is impossible to avoid cycling on roads with car traffic. Even then, I generally feel very safe because the drivers are very respectful and keep a safe distance. The nature is really beautiful and with the bike you can enjoy it at a more relaxed pace. There are so many opportunities for hiking here, and with the bike you can easily reach these places. For me as a student, it's great to be able to take advantage of the right of public access to camp in the forest or by a lake. The large number of rest huts that can be used free of charge also makes bikepacking easier. Finally, I like the mild summers here in Sweden. Especially for people like me, who want to be outside all day, the long days and not too high temperatures are very beneficial.
Is there anything better or worse in Sweden compared to cycling in Germany?
In Germany, it is easier to bring the bike on the train, so it is possible to start from different places without needing a car. In the Mälardal region of Sweden, close to Stockholm and Uppsala, it is quite easy to bring the bike on the train between different cities. But if I want to take the bike further north or south in Sweden, my options are quite limited. Another advantage that Germany has is that there are many long rivers like the Elbe, Danube and Rhine with very beautiful and beginner-friendly bike paths along them. However, this also means that there is a lot more cycling tourism there and a higher demand for accommodation.
Sweden offers quieter, smaller cycle routes in the countryside. Despite this, there is a lot to see, and with the right of public access, cyclists have more choice in terms of where they can camp, and thus can also choose more according to their own preferences how long stages they want. When it comes to cycling infrastructure in some cities, it definitely feels like Sweden is a step ahead compared to Germany. For example, traffic in Uppsala is much more oriented towards bikes than cars, making it very convenient for cyclists. And for those who want to explore Sweden during the colder months of the year, cycle paths and roads are very well maintained.
What do you think could attract German cycling tourists to Sweden?
An advantageous factor for German cycling tourists is the relatively short journey to southern Sweden from northern Germany. Many tourists can thus travel to Sweden by motorhome and bring their bikes, which allows them to enjoy the cycle routes here. While cycling around Lake Vänern, we also had very good contact with other international cycling tourists, bike shop owners and people along the route. Everyone was very helpful when you needed support.
Sweden offers so many different cycling routes along the coast, by large lakes, in mountainous terrain, along canals, on islands and in the vast north of the country. This, combined with charming small towns, good food and a fascinating history, makes Sweden a perfect destination for tourists. Everyone can find something to suit their taste.
As a cyclist, how do you use the information on swedenbybike.com?
For me as a student, it's great to have access to bike routes throughout Sweden via swedenbybike.com. Especially when I'm looking for things to discover in a specific area, it's great to have the map feature and be able to choose bike routes based on their location. Also the destinations section provides good information about many cities and places. There I have already gotten a lot of inspiration, not only for bike tours. On my trip around Lake Vänern I used swedenbybike.com to navigate and plan our stages.
