Sweden

[GS TRV]

Sweden?


Anyone been there? I'll have the possibility to go there in August - anyone have any suuggestions? I'll be riding from Naples in S.Italy so it'll be a run of about 2.500 km to get there. It's the bit from N. Italy to Sweden that I'm particularly interested in.

Any advice would be welcome.

 

[YoYo]

I'd recommend the Alps (difficult to avoid where you're coming from ), Allgau, then driving north through Schwartszwald (Black Forest). From there, follow the French/German borders to the Eifel area, go either through Luxemburg, or stay on the German side.

After that, the pleasure is somewhat diminished, as you'll have to go throught the flatlands of Europe to reach Sweden. Are you ferrying, or driving the whole way? Where in Sweden will you go, as this will affect how much time you can take for the trip up. Be aware that the distance from south Sweden to north Sweden is the same as the distance from Rome to south Sweden. Most people tend to underestimate this...

 

[Bødkerman]

sweden

Take the train from Bolzano (I think!) to Hamburg, ride up through Denmark, then go into Sweden either thru Copenhagn or up thru Jutland and into Norway or Sweden by ferry.

Great bike only camping in Jutland run by MC Touring.

Coops

 

[Kropotkin]

I'd recommend the Alps (difficult to avoid where you're coming from ), Allgau, then driving north through Schwartszwald (Black Forest). From there, follow the French/German borders to the Eifel area, go either through Luxemburg, or stay on the German side.

Good route. Go through Luxemburg (filling up on very cheap petrol), then ride up through the Ardennes in Belgium, up to Maastricht, then back in to Germany for the rest of the way up. Germany just east of the Dutch border is quite pretty, if not spectacular.

But the train is definitely a good alternative, skipping lots of boring bits.

 

[GS TRV]

Update - I'll be staying in Orebro and in total I'll have 18 days from start to finish.

Train? I'm not so sure I much prefer just nailing it on the m/way rather than waiting on trains etc. Thought about fastest m/way route to get there and then do some travelling around when i arrive (and recover).

Ta for the route advice - sounds good.

Q. To get to from Germany to Sweden - is it boat/ bridge train or what?

Plus - is it possible to do in 48 hrs - Naples - Sweden?

 

[Kropotkin]

Germany - Sweden: Boat, from Puttgarden, I believe.

Denmark - Sweden: Boat, or bridge (very spectacular and expensive) Oresund Bridge

 

[YoYo]

Update - I'll be staying in Orebro and in total I'll have 18 days from start to finish.

Train? I'm not so sure I much prefer just nailing it on the m/way rather than waiting on trains etc. Thought about fastest m/way route to get there and then do some travelling around when i arrive (and recover).

Ta for the route advice - sounds good.

Q. To get to from Germany to Sweden - is it boat/ bridge train or what?

Plus - is it possible to do in 48 hrs - Naples - Sweden?

Örebro ain't too far north, about the latitude of Stockholm. Still makes 700 km or so from the south, so I'd count one day just for that. 48h to Sweden, or to Örebro??? Either way it sounds a bit suicidal... I got the impression that you wanted a leisurly, nice ride up, hence my recommended route. If you're in a hurry, then it's the Brenner pass motorway, Autobahn to Puttgarden, motorway throgh Denmark and then you're in Sweden.

To get there you have plenty of choice, ferry or bridges, or a combination. Ferries to Sweden go from Helsingör (Elsinore, Denmark), Travemünde, Rostock, Swinoujscie (Poland), etc. If you get seasick you could instead drive up to north Germany into Jutland, at Kolding there is a bridge to Fyn, at the other side of the island a toll bridge to Sealand, and finally another toll bridge between Copenhagen and Malmö.

When in Sweden I'd recommend the E4, especially the part north of Husqvarna (Huskvarna), along lake Vättern. At Ödeshög, leave the motorway and keep following the lake, nice bike roads, (at least 15 years ago when I lived there.) For culture, the Rökstenen could be worth a detour (largest runestone in the world), and there is always Vadstena with it's castle and monastery. Founded by St. Birgitta, the only Swedish saint... The rest of us are small devils!

 

[YoYo]

Germany - Sweden: Boat, from Puttgarden, I believe.

Denmark - Sweden: Boat, or bridge (very spectacular and expensive) Oresund Bridge

The boats from Puttgarden only go to Rödby in Denmark, if I'm not mistaken... It could be worth looking into the TT line from Travemünde to Trelleborg, get a cabin and sleep on the boat. This way you'll arrive early in the morning in Sweden, and will have saved a hotel night with no advancement during the night. Quickest way, objectively, is Puttgarden - Rödby + the bridge in Copenhagen.

 

[GS TRV]

Thanks guys! Excellent advise. Maybe I'll take it easier on the way up and enjoy the ride.

One q. - what's the temp like? At present in Naples it's 35* so I'll probably need some heavier gear for the trip. How cold does it get ?

 

[YoYo]

Thanks guys! Excellent advise. Maybe I'll take it easier on the way up and enjoy the ride.

One q. - what's the temp like? At present in Naples it's 35* so I'll probably need some heavier gear for the trip. How cold does it get ?

Tough one. The evenings and nights are invariably cool, but the daytime temperature sways wildly depending on the conditions. Sometimes you can clock the highest temperatures in Europe during the summer, flirting with 40°, sometimes the polar winds sweep in and you'll have 12 - 15° in July... Normally, summer temps are around 20-25° during the day. However, the Atlantic is close, bring the rain gear!

 

[verona]

Hi Trev,

Jay here (Verona). I see from your post you are now in Naples, its a little out of our way for rideouts!! We are now in Verona, on your way through to Sweden you are welcome to pop in for a glass or two of Valpolicella as this is the region we are living in. Another suggestion would be to go via the Nurberg Ring, personally I think its a must.

Hope all goes well.

Jay