Ystad - a charming medieval town
Cycle past rapeseed fields in Skåne
Vikings at Foteviken Museum
Discover the fascinating Viking history while basking in the scenic beauty of Skåne with our 5-day cycling package. Follow the Viking trails, witness charming small towns, stunning sea views, relish fresh air, savor delectable cuisine, and more. Whether you're a seasoned cyclist, a family with kids, or a Viking enthusiast, this package is designed to cater to your preferences.
This exciting cycling tour takes you from Simrishamn in the east to Höllviken in the west, with an unforgettable stop at Foteviken Viking Village. There are also many opportunities to tailor the cycling package to your own needs, such as adding a bike guide who will accompany you throughout the tour or taking a guided tour in the footsteps of Wallander in Ystad. The tour is available from April to October, so there are plenty of opportunities to find a date that suits you. From the cycling package's endpoint in Höllviken, you can either return to Simrishamn using public transportation or pre-book a private transfer for extra comfort on your journey back.
Presentation image: Foteviken Museum
Simrishamn, dating back to the 12th century, is known for its pastel-colored houses with beautifully carved doors. Walking among these houses on a sunny summer day, one might catch a whiff of roses. South of Simrishamn lie the two Simris stones made of sandstone from the 11th century. Discovered in the churchyard wall during a restoration in 1716, the stones were carved in the Uppland style despite Skåne being under Danish rule at the time.
Cycle along the sea and past picturesque fishing villages Brantevik and Skillinge. Make sure to stop at Sandhammaren's long, fine-grained and white sandy beach which has been voted Sweden's finest beach multiple times.
You'll spend the night at Ejagården Bed&Breakfast, located in beautiful surroundings near the sea and within walking distance to Kåseberga.
One of the highlights of the day is a visit to the magnificent Ales Stones, Sweden's largest preserved stone ship setting, located in the picturesque fishing village of Kåseberga. The setting consists of 59 standing stones, is 67 meters long, 19 meters wide, and offers a breathtaking view of the sea. After the visit, take a stroll down to Kåseberga harbor and treat yourself to a smoked herring sandwich.
Head towards the charming medieval town of Ystad, with its cobblestone streets and over 300 half-timbered houses, some very colorful. The oldest preserved building in town is the S:ta Maria Church from the 1200s. Every night, the Tornväktarens copper horn sounds from the tower as a sign that all is calm in the city, a tradition dating back to the 1600s. Also, visit the Monastery and Per Helsas Gård.
You, who enjoy crime novels, surely know that Ystad is the hometown of Kurt Wallander, Henning Mankell's creation that was portrayed in 12 books and filmed in several adaptations. In Ystad, you have the opportunity to take a guided tour in Wallander's footsteps and learn more about Mankell's life and work. An exciting and unique experience for all crime fiction enthusiasts!
The hotel where you will spend the night is housed in a charming 19th-century building in the heart of Ystad.
We leave Ystad behind and cycle westward along the coast. Enjoy the sea breeze and endless ocean views before turning inland and cycling through rolling fields of grain and crops. The landscape you're looking out over may have once belonged to the Danish Viking king Harald Bluetooth, who conquered parts of southern Skåne in the late 970s. By the way, it was he who brought Christianity to the region.
The overnight stay will be as picturesque as it is colorful at Sydkustens at Pillehill in Östra Vemmenhög. Their slogan "Good locally produced food, wine to die for" says it all about what they stand for. The cozy environment is a feast for the eyes, with comfortable beds and a breathtaking view.
When Tullstorp's old parish church was demolished in 1846, the Tullstorp stone was removed from the wall and instead placed lying on its side in the northern church wall. It was probably at this time that it was broken in two. Today, the runestone stands exposed in the cemetery. The stone depicts, among other things, a warship. The journey in the footsteps of the Vikings continues. On the way to Smygehuk, you pass Jordberga where you can see another runestone, namely the Källstorp stone, which is dated to 1000-1050 AD. It is the only runestone in Skåne that tells about a bridge construction (as is known, Skåne and Denmark were eventually connected by a bridge, but it was not inaugurated until 2000).
Take a look at Sweden's southernmost point - Smygehuk. Enjoy a cup of coffee and take a dip in the sea. Don't miss Famntaget, the statue in the harbor that is said to have been modeled after the grandmother of actress Uma Thurman.
The final destination for the day is the city named after the so-called "trelleborgs," which were large ring fortresses with earthworks. In Skåne, it was none other than the well-known Harald Bluetooth who built them to gain control. You will spend the night in another charming accommodation.
Along the cycling route, you'll find more traces of Vikings. In Fuglie village, there are two runestones, one of which stands on a mound in a garden about thirty meters north of the cemetery. It is said that several attempts have been made to move the stone, but it always returns to the same place.
In the final destination of Höllviken, you'll find Foteviken - a complete Viking town built with materials and techniques from the past, with 23 different buildings from the late Viking Age to the early Middle Ages. In addition, there is an eleven-meter-long Viking ship reconstructed after archaeological finds in the bay at Foteviken.
If you want transportation back to Simrishamn, you can use public transport (bus and train) with a transfer via Malmö (Hyllie). The journey takes about 2 hours and there are departures approximately once an hour. The price is 122 SEK/adult, 72 SEK/child (7-19 years), and 67 SEK/bike. Alternatively, you can also pre-book a private transfer for approximately 1000 SEK/person (including bike and luggage) between Höllviken and Simrishamn.
Booking fee SEK 1,000 is paid via invoice no later than 10 days after received confirmation (deducted at final payment). The remaining amount is paid no later than 30 days before the start of the trip.
Free cancellation up to 30 days before the start date.
50% refund 29-15 days before start date.
No refund 14 days before the start date.
If you yourself or a close relative become ill with covid-19 or if the Public Health Authority advises against travel, a full refund applies until the day before the start date.
No one has said that the directions were incorrect, but we will certainly take note and re-scout the tour before the 2020 season.
We appreciate your feedback about the warm rooms and will pass it along to our partners. The Sydkustleden was inaugurated in June 2019 and has a 2-year period to meet all the criteria to be classified as a national cycle route, including safety requirements. We understand that the safety of the route is a priority, and we are actively working on finding solutions such as changing the route or adding a parallel cycle path.