Can You Bring Your Bike on the Train in Sweden?

Pausing at a barn in Sweden

Before bike touring in Sweden and Norway, I struggled to figure out if I could bring a bike on a train in Sweden. Although Jon and I planned to bike the entire 450 miles from Stockholm to Åre, we were on a tight schedule and wanted it as an option in case weather, mechanical issues, or anything else threw a wrench in our bike tour. We also hadn’t planned our return trip and, because bikes generally aren’t allowed on Swedish trains, ended up returning south through Norway so we could cut out a few days of biking and return to Stockholm in time for our flight home.

While I never found a definitive answer before leaving, on the ground we learned that while generally, no, you can’t bring a bike on a train in Sweden, there are some exceptions.

Trains Between Norway and Sweden

Trondheim, Norway

Norwegian train lines (VY) let you bring a bike on board, though you generally have to book a spot for it in advance—especially on more popular routes. This means you can bring a bike on a train operating between Norway and Sweden, so long as it’s operated by VY, and not the Swedish train operator, SJ.

VY doesn’t have many major routes from Norway to Sweden, but you can catch a train from Oslo to Gothenberg. And, actually, the bike route from Gothenberg to Stockholm is said to be one of the best in the country (we sadly didn’t have the time to try it out). When booking, either book directly on VY’s website or look for “VY” instead of “SJ” on the train tickets if you’re using a third-party booking platform.

In our case, we wanted to go from Oslo to Stockholm, but only Swedish trains operate that route. So, we actually ended up getting a train to Ørebro, then biked the remaining 150 miles, so we could save some time on our return trip.

Some Regional, Commuter Trains Allow Bikes

Norwegian train

While bikes are absolutely not allowed on long-distance trains, some local, commuter trains will allow bikes. In general, you’ll have to travel outside of rush hour, which is roughly 6-9am and 3-6pm.

During our trip, we brought our bikes on a commuter train from Uppsala to Gävle during a downpour, and on another commuter train between Östersund and Järpen. We also cut across into Trondheim from Duved with a Swedish commuter train and then a change to a Norwegian one.

Öresundståg Trains Allow Bikes

According to Routes North, "bikes are allowed on Öresundståg trains in southern Sweden". This website confirms that "bicycles are conveyed" on these lines—though, again, we mostly cycled in the north and never had a chance to confirm this ourselves.

When in Doubt, Take a Bus

Biking in northern Sweden in June

For long-distance routes, you’ll have a better chance transporting your bike on a bus. For example, you can take a bus from Oslo to Stockholm and stow your bike in the luggage compartment underneath. Depending on the route, you may have to take your wheels off to fit it underneath.

No matter what, bike touring in Sweden is an adventure. While you won’t be able to take a train across long distances with your bike, at the very least trains and busses can usually help you get to the next closest city if a bad mechanical issue or weather gets in your way.