Siljan Runt circles Lake Siljan in Dalarna, bringing together lakeside settlements, views across the water and the cultural landscape of central Sweden. Sweden by Bike describes the circuit as part of the wider Siljansleden cycling network and suggests Mora as one place to begin.
A circuit through the Siljan region
Sweden by Bike describes a 156 km loop and suggests beginning in Mora. Its account takes riders towards Gesunda and Sollerön, then onwards to Leksand, Tällberg and Rättvik before returning through Vikarbyn to Mora. The itinerary offers a way to connect several communities around the lake rather than treating any one town as the sole destination.
The ride belongs to a larger landscape shaped by an ancient meteorite impact. Around Siljan, the lake and surrounding heights give the journey its geographical setting, while forests, meadows and villages provide a changing backdrop to the circuit.
Places to pause
Mora is associated with the Vasaloppet ski race and the Zorn Museum. At the southern end of the lake, Leksand is known for its midsummer traditions; farther around the circuit, Tällberg is a place to look out over Siljan and Rättvik has a long pier extending into the water.
An alternative independent account by Via Gaia describes the circuit in the opposite direction, passing Nusnäs on the way from Mora towards Rättvik. It also notes a choice near Leksand between a shorter line via Siljansnäs and a longer coastal alternative through Hjullbäck and Olsnäs. These are options in that author’s itinerary, so compare the route descriptions before choosing your own line.
Surface, signs and traffic
Sweden by Bike describes Siljan Runt as a mixture of asphalt and gravel, marked with blue Siljansleden signs. It rates its circuit intermediate and warns that some stretches follow roads with higher traffic. Allow for those shared-road sections when deciding whether the ride suits your group.
Rättvik municipality describes the wider Siljansleden cycling network as following mainly smaller roads. That network also reaches beyond Lake Siljan, so its full length and other branches should not be confused with the particular circuit described by Sweden by Bike.
Planning the ride
Choose a starting town and the stops you want to explore before dividing the circuit into manageable sections. The municipality publishes cycling map sheets and recommends saving them to a phone because coverage may not be available throughout the route.
Sweden by Bike offers its route for phone use through a membership, while Rättvik municipality provides its own maps of the wider network. Check the chosen itinerary and current local information before setting out, particularly where routes or alternatives diverge.