Detailed directions about the route can be obtained from the altimetry (last figure of the gallery), from the captions of the individual photos and from the "Google Map" at the bottom right, which can be enlarged as desired. Double clicking on the photos you can view them at the highest resolution.
Description of the route
A route which connects the Swedish capital, Stockholm, to Uppsala, home of the oldest and most prestigious Swedish university. For the most part on dedicated bike paths or bike lanes within the county of Stockholm, and along low-traffic local roads within the county of Uppsala.
Departure is from in front of the central train station of Stockholm. Head north by following the bike lane; you will cross over railroad tracks and a highway, until you reach Karolinska, the main hospital of Stockholm.
You now enter the municipality of Solna, which has effectively been absorbed into the urban fabric of Stockholm; you will skirt by the railroad tracks near the train station in Solna; and beyond the train station, the colossal structure of the Mall of Scandinavia.
You will cross through a series of green, open areas; the GPS trace indicates a recommended side-trip through the suburb of Kista (we are once again within the city limits of Stockholm), known as the Silicon Valley of Sweden, because it houses the headquarters and laboratories of large high-tech and telecommunications groups, beginning with Ericsson, the Swedish telecommunications giant. Noteworthy is the skyscraper, Victoria Tower. Shortly beyond the tower, you will cross the train tracks of the Helenelund train station, and rejoin the bike route which is now indicated by the green signage of Sverigeleden.
Continue through other suburbs of Stockholm as far as Upplands Väsby, which sort of marks the northern edge of the Stockholm metropolitan area. Then you reach the city of Märsta, the last town within the county of Stockholm; not far to the east is Arlanda Airport, the main airport in the capital and of Sweden.
Upon entering the county of Uppsala, the landscape becomes increasingly less urbanized, with agricultural and forested areas. The only city you will come across is Knivsta, where there is also a train station, the last before Uppsala.
In the end, the twin towers of the cathedral of Uppsala appear in the distance, and finally you enter the city, filled with cyclists and bicycles. Here and there, there are even double-decker bike stalls.
Uppsala is almost 60 degrees north latitude, more or less like Oslo, Helsinki and Saint Petersburg. Between June and July, the nights last about five hours, and the last glimmer of twilight seems to blend with the first glimmer of dawn, giving rise to the phenomenon of white nights, since there is practically no total darkness. This is probably the best time to visit Sweden.