Cycling holidays with children
- on Sweden´s most beautiful routes

Borensberg to Berg (and Linköping)

This classic cycling tour along the Göta Canal is perfect for a cycling holiday with children. The route, which is about 20 kilometres, starts in Borensberg, where you can rent bicycles, and then continues eastwards. After just a few kilometres, you’ll pass an old glassworks that is now a hostel and café. Other lovely places to visit along the way include Brunneby Musteri & Gårdsbutik, Ljung’s west side, and of course Cloetta’s factory shop in Ljungsbro, which is a real family favourite!

In Berg, you have the option to stay in a cabin, glamping tent, or hostel. Alternatively, you can cycle 15 km into Linköping, where there’s a large selection of both hotels and restaurants.

Stay an extra day in Linköping and explore everything the city has to offer. With activities like LasseMaja’s mystery house, Gamla Linköping, the Air Force Museum, and the Östergötland Museum, there’s plenty of choice!

When you’ve had your fill of the city, you can either cycle back or take the boat M/S Wasa Lejon from Berg to Borensberg.

Map and route description

Söderköping to Mem

The Söderköping to Mem route is beginner-friendly and perfect for tackling with children. It’s best suited for those who can arrive by car and bring their own bicycles.

Start your cycling holiday in Söderköping and cycle eastwards. After 5 km, you’ll reach Mem, the Göta Canal's gateway to the Baltic Sea. Take the opportunity to stop for lunch or a snack here before turning around and cycling back to Söderköping! Along the way, you can enjoy watching the boats and locks, something that children usually find very exciting.

Back in Söderköping, you can finish the day with a delicious ice cream at Smultronstället, Sweden’s largest ice cream restaurant. Take a stroll through the charming streets where the Madicken films were shot. There’s also a playground by the Söderköping lock that the children will love!

If you still have surplus energy, it’s highly recommended to take the stairs up to the viewing point on Ramunderberget to enjoy a fantastic view of the town.

Can’t get enough of Söderköping and the Göta Canal? Extend the adventure by staying overnight! There are several restaurants and accommodation options by the canal harbour. We recommend Slussen Rum right by the Söderköping lock, or the classic Söderköpings Brunn, which also offers a spa.

The next day, you can explore the Göta Canal from the water by taking a tour on one of the passenger boats in the harbour. The boats offer both shorter and longer trips, perfect for the whole family.

Map & route description

Sjötorp to Norrkvarn

Mini holiday by bicycle for the whole family! The route from Sjötorp to Norrkvarn offers just the right amount of cycling and exciting adventures, perfect for a cycling holiday with children.

Start the day by renting bicycles in Sjötorp before you cycle eastwards towards Norrkvarn.

Along the car-free towpath, there are several cosy rest areas where you can stop for snacks and drinks. Take the time to enjoy the breaks and wave to the passing boats!

After 9 km, you’ll reach Norrkvarn, where Norrqvarn Hotell & Konferens offers unique accommodation in either a glamping tent or a tree stump. Explore all that Norrkvarn has to offer, including a mini canal for the children and a cultural trail that tells the story of Norrkvarn.

Back in Sjötorp, don’t miss the Canal and Maritime Museum at Café Baltzar, where you can learn about the Göta Canal and shipping on Lake Vänern, and try your hand at being a captain in an old ship’s wheelhouse.

Also, take the opportunity to visit the playground by the Vänern beach, perfect for play and swimming. Or why not stay an extra day? The hostel Perssons i Backen is available for accommodation.

Map & route description

Rent a bicycle along the Göta Canal!

To make your cycling holiday along the Göta Canal as convenient as possible, several bicycle rental companies offer both adult and children’s bicycles. You can avoid the hassle of transporting bicycles by renting one with all the necessary accessories. Many rental places also offer the option of picking up and dropping off bicycles at different locations.

Cycle helmet

Protect what’s most important – wear a helmet!

It’s important to protect your head in case of an accident. Wearing a cycle helmet can protect you and your family from serious injuries.

Remember that it’s mandatory for children under 15 to wear a helmet. It’s also important that you wear a helmet too. Especially when cycling with children, they look up to you!

Make sure to buy a helmet that fits and meets the correct standards. There are several tests you can look at to find helmets that suit you and your family.

It’s also possible to rent helmets from bicycle rental shops along the Göta Canal!

Bicycle trailer

A bicycle trailer is an excellent option that can be used from one year of age. A bicycle trailer is also useful if you need to transport more than one child or extra luggage.

The trailer must meet certain quality and safety requirements, including having a working brake and not being loaded beyond its maximum capacity.

Don’t forget that the child must wear a helmet even in the bicycle trailer!

Sjötorp’s bicycle rental offers bicycle trailers!

Bicycle seat

It’s fine for a child to ride on the bicycle in a bicycle seat once they can sit steadily on their own, usually around 9 months old. It’s up to you to assess whether your child is ready to sit in the bicycle seat.

There are different types of bicycle seats, with the main difference being where they are mounted. The most important thing is that the bicycle seat meets the required quality and safety standards.

Children´s bicycle

From about the age of eight, most children can handle cycling on different types of roads. The most important thing is that your child has control of the bicycle and enjoys cycling.

Your child's bicycle should be equipped with lights front and rear, reflectors front and rear as well as on the sides of the wheels, a lock, a bell, and a chain guard. Make sure to bring the child along when testing the bicycle to ensure it’s the right size.

Along the Göta Canal, there are several bicycle rental companies that offer children’s bicycles!

Cargo bicycle

A cargo bicycle is a good option when you want to transport one or more children. You can transport children in a cargo bicycle from infancy if the correct baby seat is fitted.

There are different models of cargo bicycles, with two, three, or four wheels. They can also vary in seating capacity, with some cargo bicycles able to carry as many as six children.

Keep in mind that the cargo bicycle must meet certain quality and safety standards, such as having sturdy front legs to prevent tipping when children are getting in and out of the bicycle. It’s also very important that the bicycle’s brakes work properly, as they wear out faster than on a regular bicycle due to the extra weight.

The bicycle rental shop at Glasbruket in Borensberg offers cargo bicycles!

1. Plan your cycling holiday well in advance! This reduces stress and gives you plenty of time to explore what you want to do. Don’t forget to book rooms if you’re staying one or more nights.
2. Make sure the bicycles are serviced and ready for the holiday.
3. Adapt the routes to what the children can manage. Often 5-10 km is a reasonable distance for a child to cycle in a day.
4. It’s not always easy to plan with children, so make sure to allow plenty of time so you don’t have to rush.
5. Take frequent breaks! Children can lose patience quickly, so make sure not to cycle for too long before stopping. Take regular breaks and enjoy the journey!
6. Refill your water bottles every time you get the chance.
7. Protect yourself from the weather and sun. Use sunscreen, drink plenty of water, and make sure to consume enough salt.
8. If the child is riding in a bicycle trailer or cargo bicycle, it’s a good idea to prepare some entertainment to keep them occupied during the day.
9. Make sure to cycle safely! Many routes along the Göta Canal are car-free, which are preferable when cycling with children.
10. Last but not least – have fun and enjoy a wonderful cycling holiday with the family! There’s so much to discover by cycling in Sweden with children!