Bike rides in Tromsø - short day tours from 10km to ca 50 km
The nature of the Troms is varied with many opportunities for different cycling adventures. You can discover everything from quiet country roads (both sealed and gravel) where you ride in the forest, open mountainous areas, and narrow coastal roads around the fjords. You can even take a ferry to the outer islands, which inspire idyllic island-hopping bike trips.
You can extend many trips or make them shorter by taking a bus, speedboat or ferry part of the way.
There are many opportunities for both shorter and longer day cycle trips starting in Tromsø. Tromsø island, the Troms valley and Kvaløysletta offer a good network of trails both for mountain and road cycling outside of the road traffic. They vary from paved flat bikeways, and broad gravel bike/walking paths adapted for city bikes, to the narrow and hilly trails where you can challenge yourself on mountain bikes (also in Tromsø!).
If you cross the Tromsø Bridge you can cycle up the Tromsdalen valley, take the cable car up and ride a mountain bike on different routes on Fløya and also ride down to the town again.
Staying on Tromsøya island you can enjoy various bikeways and bike trails on the top of Tromsøya island (a distance of 11 km in a straight line from south to north, many trails connected create a much longer network) and it is also a pleasure to cycle around (approximately 25 km - 2 hours at a relaxed pace). There is a beautiful beach on the south part of the island just 3,5 km from our rental centre and a trip there with a visit to the Tromsø Museum situated nearby makes a great plan for a few hours in the city.
Several various destinations can be chosen if you decide to cycle west from the city towards Kvaløya island.
There is a bikeway along the coast to Kaldfjord, (it is also possible to get there by bus 42 with one/two bikes on board) and from there cycle towards Håkøya island, Tromvik or Sommarøya or just a few kilometres to the "end of the road" on Kvaløysletta. This way you find yourself in the wilder parts of the island without cycling a long way. This trip demonstrates the vicinity of Tromsø and the route from Tromsø to Kaldfjord is very charming.
Below you can see a few examples of shorter trips in the vicinity of Tromsø (distances one way).
- Tromsø – Kaldfiord: 15 km, 144 meters elevation or 18,5 km 56 m elevation if cycled around the southern part of Tromsøya. At Eidkjosen, you can visit Eide Handel, one of the oldest grocery stores in the region. They have a cafe and pizza restuarant where you can enjoy a hot lunch or dinner (very reasonably priced too) and ice cream on those warmer days. The shop is locally well known for selling local produce, including whale and reindeer.
- Tromsø - Ersfjordbotn 20 km and 200 meters elevation or 25 km and 100 m elevation if cycled around the southern part of Tromsøya. At the destination, you must visit Bryggejentene and try their famous carrot cake.
- Tromsø – Olavsvern, 17 km, 100 meters elevation, very easy and pleasant ride with the midnight sun. On this route, you leave the city very fast to enjoy tranquil countryside roads with low traffic. Along the way you pass several local farms, among them Widding Gård where you can buy locally produced eggs and vegetables on the spot.