Flåm sits at the innermost end of the Aurlandsfjord, a branch of the Sognefjord — the world's longest and deepest fjord. Getting there from Bergen takes about two hours by train via Myrdal, and the journey itself is half the point. The Flåmsbana — the steep mountain railway descending from Myrdal to Flåm — is consistently rated among the world's most scenic rail journeys and drops 863 metres in just 20 kilometres. At the bottom, the village of Flåm (pop. 350) sits surrounded by mountains so steep they seem to close in from every direction.
Getting there from Bergen
The most popular route takes the Bergen Railway (Bergensbanen) east to Myrdal, then switches to the Flåmsbana mountain railway down to Flåm. Bergen to Myrdal takes about 2 hours; Myrdal to Flåm takes 55 minutes. Total journey time from Bergen: around 2 hours 50 minutes each way. An alternative is the Norway in a Nutshell ticket, which combines train, fjord ferry, and bus into a loop — you can start and finish in Bergen for a self-guided round trip. Book Flåmsbana seats in advance in summer; the train sells out.
The Flåmsbana railway
The Flåmsbana is one of the steepest standard-gauge railways in the world — 80% of the route runs at maximum gradient. The journey descends through 20 tunnels, past roaring waterfalls, and across mountain terrain that appears impassable until the next tunnel appears. The most dramatic stop is at Kjosfossen waterfall, where the train pauses for several minutes. The views from the windows are continuously spectacular. Sit on the right side going down (from Myrdal to Flåm) for the best waterfall views.
What to do in Flåm
The village is small — an afternoon is plenty of time. The Flåm Railway Museum (free) next to the station tells the story of how the railway was built through what looked like impossible terrain. The harbour has fjord cruise options, including short trips into the narrower Nærøyfjord — the most dramatic section of the entire Sognefjord system and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Kayaking on the glassy fjord water is available in summer and surprisingly easy for beginners. Most visitors eat at one of the harbour restaurants; prices are high but the setting makes up for it.
Norway in a Nutshell
The "Norway in a Nutshell" route is the classic way to combine Flåm with a fjord cruise and the Hardanger plateau in a single day. From Bergen: train to Myrdal, Flåmsbana to Flåm, ferry through Nærøyfjord to Gudvangen, bus over the mountains to Voss, train back to Bergen. The full loop takes a long day (10–12 hours) but is genuinely spectacular throughout. Book the entire route through fjordtours.com — trying to piece it together yourself is possible but adds unnecessary stress.