The best cycle trips around Linköping

One of the first things every student does, when they come to Linköping is buying a bike. Be it a fancy new one or a second-hand bike with a lot of character (and rust), in my opinion everybody should get one. It makes moving around Linköping so much easier and can save you a lot of money you would have to spend on bus tickets. And what’s more, the bike can also provide a great form of exercise for you, while at the same time showing you around Linköping and its surroundings. Since I love cycling, I explored quite a few places with my bike and in this post I’m going to give you my recommendations for extended bike trips around Linköping.

Tinnerö

My number one spot will always be Tinnerö. Tinnerö is a nature reserve (naturreservat in swedish) to the south of Linköping. It is very close to Campus Valla and can be reached in just about 20 minutes from Ryd. In Tinnerö you can find a big area full of beautiful nature and quiet gravel roads, that are perfect for biking. It’s easy to go for a 1 hour ride, but you can also spend a whole day exploring the nature here. I think everybody living in Linköping should check this area out at least once. One of my favorite spots are the viewing platforms around the lake “Rosenkällasjön”.

Bergs Slussar

Another worthwhile bike ride is the 12 Kilometre ride to Berg. This will take you 30 minutes to an hour, depending on your speed. Once you’re there you can find a beautiful set of locks, ascending from the lake Roxen up to the beginning of the Göta Canal. It is an interesting area to explore and the views over the lake are amazing. The bike ride there and back from Linköping is also very nice as it is completely separated from the road traffic. Just save some energy for the hill just before you arrive in Berg! 😉

Johannelundsbadet

If you prefer to go for a shorter bike excursion, you can try the ride to Jahannelundsbadet along the canal in Linköping. It will take you around half an hour and it’s a very nice ride alongside the water! In Johannelund there is a nice swimming area with BBQ facilities. A great place to spend some chill time with friends on a warm summer day!

Göta Kanal

This is a great suggestion if you want to go for a longer ride! The Göta Kanal starts in Berg and goes all the way to Motala. In total it will be around 55km of biking, which can take you around 3-4 hours. First you follow the bike path to Berg, that I already described above. Then you turn left and cycle along the canal until you reach Borensberg. From here you can follow quiet roads and bike paths until you arrive in Motala, where you can take the train back to Linköping. The train goes often (every 30 minutes to 1 hour) and it is not a problem to take your bike on the train

This is a great day of biking with nice views of the water and the typical swedish countryside. I really recommend you to take the time and try it out!