Cycling

Cycle touring

Cycle touring is cycling along established routes with infrastructure — hostels, campsites, waymarked routes. Here is how the Norwegian Public Roads Administration's 9 national cycle routes connect, what Pilegrimsleden offers by bike, and how family-friendly EuroVelo 12 actually is.

Cycle touring is a multi-day trip on established routes with infrastructure — waymarked cycle paths, hostels or campsites at suitable distances, and as a rule more tarmac than local trail. It is the low-threshold way into cycling as a multi-day destination. Unlike bikepacking — which is often about sleeping out and packing light — cycle touring is about using existing infrastructure and laying out the route to follow it.

In Norway the Norwegian Public Roads Administration (Statens vegvesen) has run a network of national cycle routes since the 1990s. There are nine route options (a tenth route, Lindesnes–Nordkapp, is reserved), which touch fourteen of the eighteen Norwegian Scenic Routes (Nasjonale turistveger). These routes are built to be safe to ride, waymarked, and within reach for ordinary cyclists — not for extreme challenges.

The national cycle routes

The Norwegian Public Roads Administration runs nine national cycle routes with a combined length of over 5,000 km. The most important:

Route 1 — Kystruta (Svinesund to Nordkapp, 4,282 km when complete — part of EuroVelo 1). Long stretches along the coast, varied conditions.

Route 2 — Kanalruta (Halden to Skien, 380 km). A classic Eastern Norway country road, through the Telemark Canal.

Route 3 — Pilegrimsruta (Halden to Trondheim, 925 km). Links the coast with the pilgrim tradition.

Route 4 — Riksgrensen (Skagerrak to Storlien, 700 km). Crosses from the coast through Telemark and Hallingdal to Sweden.

Route 5 — Numedalsruta (Larvik to Geilo, 280 km). Follows the Numedalslågen, four stave churches, classic gravel and cycle touring.

Route 6 — Sognefjellsruta (Lillehammer to Skei, 350 km). Crosses the Sognefjellet, one of the most dramatic routes.

Route 7 — Helgelandskysten (Kristiansand–Trondheim along the coast — part of EuroVelo 1). The west and south Norwegian coast.

Route 8 — Lofotruta (Bodø to Andenes, 470 km). Classic Northern Norway cycle touring.

Route 9 — Nordsjøruten / EuroVelo 12 (Svinesund to Bergen in Norway, 1,130 km of a total 7,250 km). Classic tourist cycling, well waymarked, established places to stay.

For anyone wanting to plan through-trips, the Norwegian Public Roads Administration’s website (vegvesen.no) is the official starting point. Komoot has Norwegian collections with GPX tracks for most of the routes.

EuroVelo 12 — Nordsjøruten

EuroVelo 12 is the longest waymarked cycle route in the world according to the Guinness Book of Records (listed 2003), 7,250 km in total around the North Sea. The Norwegian section is 1,130 km from Svinesund to Bergen, and crosses Østfold, Akershus, Buskerud, Vestfold, Telemark, Agder, Rogaland and Vestland.

The route opened officially in 2001 and is built for ordinary cyclists — minimal terrain challenges, plenty of infrastructure, daily stages of 50–80 km, and places to stay spread evenly along the way. Classic for both Norwegian and foreign cyclists, often completed as 2–4 weeks including the whole of Norway.

For anyone wanting to cycle EuroVelo 12 there are various section strategies:

  • The whole route in Norway (Svinesund–Bergen) in 18–24 days
  • Southern Norway to Bergen in 12–14 days
  • Weekend trips of single sections — particularly popular are the West Agder stretch and the Rogaland stretch

For a typical EuroVelo 12 trip in Norway, a gravel bike or touring bike are good choices. Tarmac dominates, but some sections have gravel. A packing system following bikepacking principles or traditional pannier racks both work.

Pilegrimsleden Gudbrandsdalsleden by bike

Pilegrimsleden Gudbrandsdalsleden is 632 km from Oslo to Trondheim by bike. Seven recommended stages, 10–14 days in total. Recommended cycling period 1 June to 1 September.

The route follows the medieval pilgrim road and uses existing infrastructure of hostels and places to stay. Pilgrim hostels have a special price level (typically NOK 200–400 per night) for walkers and cyclists, and often include simple catering.

Between Oslo and Lillehammer there are two routes: an eastern route and a western route. The western route is shorter and has more tarmac; the eastern route is longer with more gravel and natural sections. Both have their own waymarking and infrastructure.

For anyone wanting to cycle all or part of Pilegrimsleden:

  • The walker’s pass (‘Olavsbrev’) can be stamped at the hostels and churches you pass. It is not compulsory, but part of the tradition.
  • Logistics — you can start from Oslo or from intermediate points (Hamar, Lillehammer, Trondheim as endpoints are logical)
  • Bike type — a gravel or touring bike is the most common; a light MTB can also work

Pilegrimsleden.no has detailed stage descriptions, hostels and practical information.

Classic shorter routes

In addition to the long national routes there are many shorter classics that are popular as weekend cycle trips:

Rallarvegen — 80–82 km Haugastøl–Flåm. A classic above all others, opened to cycling in the summer of 1974. About 25,000 cyclists a year.

Aurlandsfjellet (the Snøvegen) — 48 km Aurland–Lærdal with a highest point of 1,306 m above sea level. A spectacular fjord cycling trip, requires good fitness.

Gamle Strynefjellsvegen — 27 km Grotli–Videsæter. A Norwegian Scenic Route with classic mountain cycling character.

Lofoten by bike along the E10 — 160 km Fiskebøl–Å. A classic Northern Norway trip with a short distance and dramatic landscape.

For anyone wanting the full picture: VisitNorway and local tourist information offices have detailed route databases for their region.

The packing list — cycle touring vs bikepacking

Cycle touring as a rule has a heavier packing system than bikepacking because the infrastructure allows it:

Standard cycle touring (with panniers or a luggage rack):

  • The bike itself (touring, gravel, light MTB)
  • Pannier bags (45–55 l total)
  • Helmet
  • Cycling shoes and a change of socks
  • Clothes for each day plus a change
  • Windproof jacket and rain jacket
  • Toiletries and hygiene
  • First aid and a compression bandage
  • Multi-tool and repair kit
  • Phone with battery

For longer trips or a tent:

  • Tent or bivvy bag
  • 3-season sleeping bag
  • Sleeping mat

For cycle touring on Pilegrimsleden or EuroVelo 12 a tent is rarely necessary — hostels, campsites and simple hotels cover accommodation on every stage. That cuts the pack weight by 4–6 kg, and makes long days more comfortable.

The way in

For anyone wanting to try cycle touring:

Start with a weekend trip. Choose a short stage of a national cycle route or Pilegrimsleden. Two days with one overnight stay is enough to experience the format without committing.

Use the infrastructure. Pilgrim hostels and campsites are built so that you do not have to carry everything. It is a low-threshold way in that traditional expedition cycling is not.

Learn mechanics. Even on established routes a puncture, a slipped chain or a worn brake can occur. Mechanics on the trip goes through the basics.

Check the weather and season. Most Norwegian cycle touring has a season from May/June to September. The lowlands and coast have a longer season; mountain roads (the Snøvegen, Strynefjellsvegen) are shorter.

Season

Norwegian cycle touring season:

  • April–May — lowland routes open. Pilegrimsleden classically from 1 June
  • June–September — the core. All national routes are rideable
  • Early October — still possible in the lowlands, the autumn colour season can be worth it
  • November–April — cycle touring break

Climate change has made the season longer in the lowlands, but also made the weather more variable. Check the forecast before departure.

Family-friendly cycling

Cycle touring is the only cycling discipline that is genuinely family-friendly. With children:

  • Short daily stages (20–40 km)
  • Safe infrastructure (waymarked routes, low traffic)
  • Accommodation in a cabin or hostel (not a tent)
  • More frequent food breaks than on adult cycle trips

Classic family routes:

  • Numedalsruta — shorter stages between Larvik and Numedal
  • EuroVelo 12 — the Sørlandet coast with short daily stages and swimming stops
  • The Telemark Canal — flat, near the water, many sights
  • Around Mjøsa — a short trip for a first multi-day trip with children

For families, a tag-along bike and a child seat are categories that require their own packing planning.

Next steps

If cycle touring is new: plan a weekend trip on the nearest national route. A daily stage of 50–80 km, one overnight stay, familiar terrain. It is the easiest way in.

If you have done weekend trips and want to go further: try a longer stage of Pilegrimsleden or part of EuroVelo 12. Seven to ten days is a classic length for a first long trip.

For several weeks or whole routes: the whole of Pilegrimsleden, the whole of EuroVelo 12 in Norway, or longer international routes (the Camino de Santiago by bike, the whole of EuroVelo 12) are classic goals.

For more experimental and rougher terrain: bikepacking is the next direction.

Learn more

Text: Snuitide (2026).