The area around Lake Mälaren with cities such as Västerås, Enköping, Mariefred and Strängnäs is classic in the true sense of the word. To get in touch with the area's history, beautiful landscapes and all the sights of various kinds, you should of course cycle. One who has done so and at the same time both explored and revitalized the Mälardalsleden cycle path is Sweden and Norway by Bikes employee Liv Jorstad Paulsen. We asked her to share her experiences from the almost 500 km long journey.
You inventoried the entire Mälardalsleden by bike in August 2025, made alternative route choices where the road was too busy, and found hidden gems along the way. How would you describe the ambition of your cycling journey?
This was a trip where I would do a mapping of the route itself, as well as see how the experience during the trip was along the way. Initially, I have followed the signposted route, but I have also used digital maps to see where it may be wise to recommend alternative routes - especially to avoid traffic, but also where it can enhance the experience.
You live in Oslo yourself. How did you start your journey?
I started by taking the train from Oslo to Stockholm and there I rented a bike right next to Stockholm Central. It worked very smoothly to start cycling from there and the bike path out of Stockholm was a nice start. The red Mälardals signs were pretty good to follow, although some are getting old and worn. In some places there have been missing signs and then it is good to follow the updated digital map on Sweden by Bike. The traffic situation has also changed in some places since the trail was signed. I therefore chose to cycle some stretches in several variants to find possible improvements and alternative route choices.
It is a nice trail that the Swedish Cycling Society has initiated and signposted. But it was important to cycle on your own and get an idea of current, local conditions, right?
That's right and it has been an exciting "detective work". I am personally very happy with the changes we have made. It has been very valuable to go out and test how the roads are experienced as a cyclist. Even though we have done a lot of preparatory work and studied a lot of maps, you have to go out and test ride yourself. Along the way, I have also found many nice stops that are nice to share with other cyclists; such as a cozy café, a nice picnic bench, a small beach, special viewpoints and quiet forest areas without traffic. These are the kinds of things we want to share to inspire others to take the ride - and make it easy to find your way.
You do a lot of cycling yourself at home in Norway and experience different places. If you were to answer as a Norwegian citizen, with an outsider's perspective, why do you think people should cycle along the Mälardalsleden?
It is easy to cycle. It is close between communities and cities, making it easy to adapt the tour to suit everyone. Very good to combine with trains too, if you don't want to cycle all the way. But if you want to cycle the whole route, it is also easy, as it is a round trip. What makes it unique are all the beautiful castles. Especially for a Norwegian, these gems are fantastic to experience. With nice summer weather along the way, it was also lovely to take a dip in Lake Mälaren. I also think that the old towns with a lot of history, their cobbled streets and old buildings have been an experience.
How did you find the range of shops, food and accommodation?
I was lucky enough to find that several farm shops were open, and it is especially nice to buy local products from local farmers. There are also many different types of accommodation to choose from during this tour - everything from castles, inns, hotels, farm hotels to hostels. It gives a very nice variety to the trip. And for us Norwegians, it is always idyllic to cycle past the many cozy red cottages - that's Sweden for us! And then of course coffee - something you should treat yourself to when you are out on a bike ride.
What should cyclists not miss along the trail? What are your favorite places?
The many big and small experiences along the way mean a lot to create a nice trip. As a cyclist, you get very close to nature and experience the surroundings in a different way than when driving a car. Animals like horses, cows, sheep, but also deer and hares - maybe even wild boars :) Coming to Drottningholm was a great experience. So powerful and beautiful by the water and with the huge park around. Gripsholm Castle - when I came cycling and saw it from a distance, it really looked like a fairytale castle. The cobbled streets of Arboga. The wooden houses along the canal in Västerås. Experiencing the horse environment at Strömsholm - and the castle! The parks in Enköping. Places with a long history, such as Anundshög's burial mound and the many rune stones. Ekolsund Castle, located in the forest, is not to be missed. It was also very nice with all the bathing places and beach cafes on the last day.
The result of how to best cycle around Lake Mälaren via the Mälardalsleden can be seen on the digital map that can be downloaded at Sweden by Bikes website.