Cycling the Scenic Kattegattleden: Tips and Gems from Kungsbacka to Helsingborg

If you're considering cycling this trail that runs from Gothenburg in the north to Helsingborg in the south, you've come to the right place. I'll share my summer adventure and give you tips on everything from where you can camp, scenic viewpoints, and other gems you shouldn't miss.

Most scenic camping site in Förslöv, just before Ängelholm

I shared this experience with a friend and we started cycling from Kungsbacka all the way down to Helsingborg. 360 km. I heard that the first part from Gothenburg to Kungsbacka is mostly industrial and not very interesting from a naturalistic perspective, but I'd love to hear about your experiences.

Day 1 - 75,7 km (Kungsbacka to Varberg)

We took the train to Kungsbacka and started cycling at 11 AM. We stopped for a coffee break at Djäknegårdens Honung Butik & Café, just south of Kungsbacka in Åsa. It's a super cozy place that I highly recommend making a stop at. There’s a lovely outdoor seating area with a view of the meadow. When we arrived, they had a freshly baked toscakaka, which they served with cream and coffee. They have their own honey production, which they sell with various flavorings, ranging from strawberries to licorice. Very exciting combinations.

Honey production of Djäknegårdens Honung Butik & Café

Just before that, near the café, is Tjolöholm Castle. The castle is in the British "Arts and Crafts" style and was built between 1898-1904 by the young architect Lars Israel Wahlman. You can visit the castle and garden on your own or on a guided tour. There are a restaurant and two cafés as well as an area next to the castle with a swimming pier between June and August. Kattegattleden does not pass by the castle, so you will need to take a different route to get there. We thought we would pass the castle because we saw signs along the road we were cycling, but later realized that was not the case. I visited the castle on an earlier occasion and would definitely recommend spending a couple of hours there.

At 3 PM, we stopped by the water in Bua, a small locality in the municipality of Varberg, where we had our lunch. Then we continued cycling towards Varberg. There is a lookout tower just before entering the town, and it's worth going up there. We arrived in Varberg around 6 PM and ate at a restaurant in the city center. Go to Fästningsterrassen and see the view from there. The prices are very high, so I wouldn't recommend having dinner there, but you can always have a drink or order something small to share or just go up to take pictures as we did :)

View from Fästningsterrassen

We camped in Apelviken, right on the coast in a small forest near the first campsite as you enter the area. There is a small center right next to the campsite with a small grocery store, café, surf center, and toilets. We even managed to take a shower there. If you have the chance, buy what you need for breakfast the next day from a grocery store along the way, as the prices in the local store were almost twice as high.

Camping site in Apelviken, close to Varberg.

I would say that day 1 was the hardest due to the distance. For those without earlier experience of cycling long distances, I would recommend cycling in one-hour intervals, as we did, and stopping regularly to stretch and rest a bit. It was sunny but very windy, which also made it harder to cycle at a higher speed. As for the first night in tent, I would say it went well. It rained during the night, but we managed without any leaks. The tent is from Decathlon. The bag that the tent comes in could be more practical for packing since it takes up unnecessary space. But, the tent itself is spacious and comfortable to sleep in. Decathlon has unfortunately closed down in Sweden, so I can't give a link, but the model is the M100 for 3 people. I'm sure you can find something similar.

We were directed to camp at that spot by a man we asked on the beach. There are usually many surfers camping in the area, so it was perfectly fine. It was a beautiful location with enough protection from wind and rain provided by the trees there.

Day 2 - 39 km (Varberg to Falkenberg)

Day 3 - 57 km (Falkenberg to Halmstad)

Day 4 - 41 km (Halmstad to Ängelholm)

Day 5 - 36 km (Ängelholm to Domsten)

Day 6 - 11 km (Domsten to Helsingborg)/ exploring Helsingør

Day 7 (Back to Gothenburg)

General summarizing thoughts

There’s probably no better way to discover a country. We got to see so much. If you take the train, it goes by too quickly, and you don’t get a true sense of the whole journey. You likely miss out on many hidden gems. Hiking certainly has its advantages, but it limits the distances you can cover, and we would never have been able to see as much as we did. Sweden is more beautiful than I ever imagined. Having a tent and sleeping bags with you makes the adventure so much more exciting. You can stop whenever you feel like it, and it allows you to do things on your own terms. Stop for a swim, grab a bite to eat, or just enjoy the view without any rush. So my tip is definitely bike the Kattegattleden, and feel free to share if you’ve found any of my experiences helpful or if you have thoughts and feedback to give. Pass it on, and enjoy the adventure!

Thinking about doing this and you have questions or simply wondering over something? Maybe you want to do it together? Contact me :)