🚴‍♂️ Cycling through the North: the best routes from Copenhagen to Lofoten

✈️ Cycling through the North: why bother?

If you want to experience Scandinavia not through a bus window, but with the wind in your face, the smell of the sea and the crunch of gravel under your tyres, then the route from Copenhagen to Lofoten is almost perfect. Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway are connected by ferries, trains and long cycle paths, so you can see half of the North without hardly ever getting on a plane.

In this article, you will learn how to logically plan a cycling trip through Scandinavia in 2026:
which sections to take in Denmark, which in Sweden, where to "squeeze in" Finland, and how to get to the Lofoten Islands via the Norwegian fjords. We will discuss the approximate budget, season, life hacks for trains and ferries, and several options for different levels of preparation.

Along the way, we will carefully weave in ideas for a 10-day route through Scandinavia, short segments for beginners, and more hardcore combinations for those who have long regarded the North as their big cycling stage.

🗺 How Copenhagen, Sweden, Finland, and Lofoten are connected

First, let's look at the big picture, without which it's easy to get lost in a sea of routes, national cycle paths and fancy words like "EuroVelo".

The logic of the "Copenhagen to Lofoten" route in its simplest form:

1. Denmark — start: Copenhagen → north Zealand / south Denmark.
   
2. Sweden— west coast and/or inland "green" Sweden.
   
3. Finland (optional) — a detour via Turku/Helsinki and the lake district.
   
4. Norway— fjords, mountain roads, Lofoten and a section of the Atlantic Coast Route.
   

Part of the way you will travel along official national routes, part — by train or ferry, so as not to kill your holiday with endless days of driving.

Mini map of transfers

The idea is simple: you don't have to pedal non-stop from Copenhagen to Lofoten. It is much smarter to put together a mosaic: take the most beautiful sections by bike, and cover the most boring or long stretches by train and ferry.

🕒 When to go and who needs all this anyway

Scandinavia is generally considered to be open for cycling from late May to mid-September.

● From late May to late June, the days are long and there are few tourists.

● July is the hottest and most crowded month.

● August — gradually quieter, but the water is still warm in the south.

● September is already autumn, but it's perfect for cycling in Scandinavia if you like cool weather and empty roads.

Who will enjoy it:

● beginners who are ready to cycle 40–60 km a day with frequent stops;

● those who have already cycled in Europe and want something "a little more challenging, but without going overboard";

● families with children — if you choose the right terrain and route;

● introverts who value peace and safety over nightlife.

Who might find it difficult:

● those who dislike cool weather and wind (even in summer, temperatures can drop to +12°C and it can rain);

● spontaneous travellers — during the high season, it is better to book popular routes and trains with bicycle spaces in advance;

● those who refuse to travel by train: in Norway, mountains without "railway teleports" can quickly drain your energy.

🇩🇰 Denmark: a gentle start from Copenhagen

Denmark is the perfect "warm-up" before the mountains. It's flat, bike-friendly, and not at all scary to ride, even with children.

Copenhagen has long been a "city for cyclists": hundreds of kilometres of bike lanes, "green waves" of traffic lights for speeds of 20 km/h, and the feeling that you are not a strange person with a backpack, but part of the flow.

Copenhagen → Helsingør: 70 km along the Danish Riviera

Route 9 from Copenhagen to Helsingør runs along the coast of Øresund and passes museums, beaches and quiet suburbs. It is about 70 km, which many people divide into 1-2 days: with stops for coffee, the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art and small ports.

This is a great first day:

● the surface is mainly asphalt and good cycle paths,

● the terrain is almost flat,

● it feels like a long city promenade rather than a "hike".

Helsingør is just a stone's throw from Helsingborg in Sweden — ferries run frequently, and bicycles can be placed on the deck or in specially designated areas.

Baltic Route N8: southern Denmark in a figure eight

The Baltic Sea Cycle Route (N8) is a national route in Denmark, approximately 820 km long, which loops around the south of the country and the islands. It runs along the coast, passes through the island of Funen and southern Jutland, and gives you that feeling of endless beaches, small towns and farms.

For a through route "to the north", there is no point in cycling the entire figure eight, but you can:

● take 2-3 stages of 60-80 km in picturesque places (for example, Funen or Sønderjylland);

● finish somewhere where it is easy to catch a train back to Copenhagen.

This is a good option if you want to treat yourself to a week-long warm prologue without mountains before the main "Copenhagen → Sweden → Norway" route.

🇸🇪 Sweden: from Kattegattleden to the Göta Canal

Sweden is almost the perfect compromise between the "sea" and "forest" north. The official national cycle routes here are well marked, divided into stages and run either along the waterfront or quiet country roads.

Kattegattleden: from Helsingborg to Gothenburg

Kattegattleden is Sweden's first national cycle route and winner of the European Cycle Route of the Year award. It runs approximately 390–400 km from Helsingborg to Gothenburg along the west coast.

Along the way:

● small fishing villages;

● beaches and wooden bathing huts;

● fjord-like landscape: cliffs, rocks and the sea literally at the roadside.

The route is divided into sections of 40-80 km with clear infrastructure: campsites, B&Bs, cafes. For many, this is their first "big" cycling week in Scandinavia.

A cycling trip through Sweden and Denmark is conveniently planned around the route Copenhagen → Helsingør → ferry → Kattegattleden → Gothenburg.

Göta Canal Trail: flat and very "Instagrammable"

Further on, you can turn inland and cycle part or all of the Göta Kanalleden — about 220 km along the historic Göta Canal. The trail follows an old towpath, mostly without cars and with almost no elevation gain.

It feels like:

● water and boats — practically all day long;

● small towns and cafés by the locks;

● perfect if you don't like mountains but want to "extend" Sweden.

The route can be easily combined with other Swedish trails, such as Vänerleden around Lake Vänern or Klarälvsbanan, a 220-kilometre trail along the Klarälven River, which runs along an old railway embankment and quiet roads.

🇫🇮 Finland: a detour through lakes and archipelagos

Finland on the Copenhagen-Lofoten cycle route is not mandatory, but it is a very enjoyable detour. From Stockholm, it is easy to take a night ferry to Turku or Helsinki, wake up in another country and arrange a couple of lake or coastal loops.

If you have already read our articles about travelling around Finland without a car, you know that there is little traffic, lots of forests, good dirt roads and very well-developed opportunities to take your bike on the train.

Saimaa and Puumala Archipelago Route

One of the most beautiful options is the Lake Saimaa region:

● Puumala Archipelago Route — approximately 60 km across islands, bridges and ridges with views of Saimaa;

● Saimaa Archipelago Route — up to 210 km if you connect several sections with bicycle ferries.

Here:

● lots of quiet asphalt and gravel roads;

● no aggressive terrain, but there are hills;

● seasonal bicycle ferries operate, which add a bit of adventure but require planning.

Cycling routes around Helsinki and along the coast

If you don't want to venture into the countryside, you can:

● take a 1-2 day trip around the capital region (reliable logistics and infrastructure);

● ride part of the coastal route towards Turku or Kotka — sections of the EV10 Eurocycle route and local trails offer good views of the archipelago and the Baltic Sea.

🇳🇴 Norway: mountains, fjords, Lofoten

Norway is the final stop on the route, and it's important not to overestimate your strength here. Mountains, serpentine roads and wind make the kilometres "harder" than in Denmark and Finland. But the reward is the views, which are the whole reason for the idea of "getting to Lofoten" in the first place.

Rallarvegen: a high-altitude classic

Rallarvegen is often called "Norway's most famous cycling route." It runs about 80–82 km from Haugastøl across the Hardangervidda plateau through Finde and Myrdal to the fjord in Flåm. This is a former construction road along the Bergenbanen railway line: gravel, views of lakes, snowfields and dramatic descents to the fjord.

The route is often as follows:

● train to Haugastøl or Finde,

● rent a bike or use your own,

● 1 day at a "cruise" pace or 2 days with an overnight stay in a guesthouse.

This is a great way to experience Norway without immediately tackling extreme mountain passes.

Mjølkevegen: pastures, farms and the "milky way"

Mjølkevegen (National Route No. 5) is one of the most beautiful rural mountain bike trails in Norway. It runs roughly from Vinstra to Gol through the Valdres Valley: pastures, mountain farms, gravel roads and views where cows are your main neighbours on the road.

It is often taken in sections — 2–4 days, connecting by bus or train. For those who dream of a real Norwegian "hytte life", this is much more authentic than just driving to a viewpoint by car.

Atlantic Coast Route and Lofoten

The Lofoten Islands lie on the Norwegian section of EuroVelo 1 — Atlantic Coast Route, which stretches along the entire west coast from North Cape to the south. The archipelago is a series of bridges, tunnels and short crossings between islands, with steep mountains rising straight out of the sea.

The most common route is as follows:

● train or bus to Bodø;

● ferry with your bicycle to Lofoten;

● 3–5 days across the archipelago with overnight stays in rorbuer (fishermen's cabins) and campsites.

It is important to remember that the weather here is more unpredictable than in Denmark or Finland, the wind can drastically change your plans, and the terrain and traffic during peak weeks require caution.

💶 Budget, difficulty and a little honesty

Scandinavia is expensive — that's nothing new. But it is precisely on a cycling trip that you can optimise a lot:

● Accommodation. Campsites in Denmark and Sweden are much cheaper than hotels; in Norway, it is worth checking the prices of huts and shared kitchens in advance.

● Food. Supermarkets are better than cafés: all countries have a good selection of ready-made salads, baked goods and hot dishes.

● Transport. Bicycles on trains and ferries are almost always cheaper than an additional flight, and a route through Norway without a car gives you more freedom to stop.

By level of difficulty:

● Denmark and most of Finland are suitable for beginners and families.

● Western Sweden and some of the inland routes are for confident enthusiasts.

● Norway (especially the mountains and Lofoten) — for those who already have an idea of what 80–100 km with elevation gain and wind is like.

🧭 How to plan your route: three practical scenarios

To avoid getting bogged down in options, it's easiest to think in terms of scenarios.

Scenario 1. "The Mild North" (10–12 days)
Denmark + Sweden without Norway.

● Copenhagen → Helsingør (route 9);

● ferry to Helsingborg;

● 5–6 days along Kattegattleden to Gothenburg;

● from there — either take the train back or make a detour to the Göta Canal.

This is the ideal option for a first trip to the region and a good candidate for that very cycling route through Finland in the future — when you want to return for the "next series".

Scenario 2. "Lakes and Fjords" (12–16 days)
Sweden + Finland + Norway.

● Kattegatleden or Göta Canal;

● ferry Stockholm → Turku or Helsinki;

● 3–4 days on the lake or coastal routes of Finland;

● night train to the north and exit to the Norwegian section (Rallarvegen / Mjølkevegen).

Scenario 3. "To Lofoten" (14+ days)
Maximum mountains and sea.

● Short prologue in Denmark/Sweden;

● train/bus to Bodø;

● Lofoten 4–6 days, possibly with sections of the Atlantic Coast Route before/after.

🌅 Scandinavia by bike: not a marathon, but a way to live slower

A trip "from Copenhagen to Lofoten" easily turns into a checklist: so many countries, kilometres, fjords, crossings. But the North is best revealed when you slow down a little: stay an extra day in a small Danish town , have a long fika in a Swedish café, go to a Finnish sauna instead of cycling another 40 km, or sit on the pier in Lofoten while the sun refuses to set.

Scandinavia is about quality, not quantity. In 2026, when southern Europe is increasingly suffering from heat and congestion, the northern cycling route is becoming not only a dream but also a very rational choice: fewer crowds, more freedom, a greater sense that you are really "here and now" and not just "flew by and forgot".

If you want, you can start small: a couple of days around Copenhagen or Helsinki, a short loop around Kattegattleden or Saimaa. And then come back for more — summer in Scandinavia by bike is rarely a "one-time" thing.

If you already have dates, a starting point or questions about specific sections, write them down in your notes: Northern routes always win when you prepare for them calmly and with plenty of time to spare.