The Flåm Railway experience

Its name may literally translate to “a plain between steep mountains,” but the tiny village of Flåm, at the innermost part of Aurlandsfjord, is also synonymous with something else: the Flåm Railway!

One of the world’s most exciting train trips, frequently making the “top scenic rides” lists of magazines such as the Lonely Planet and the National Geographic, the Flåm Railway will take you from fjord level to the Myrdal mountains, crossing spectacular landscapes along the way. Whether you’re staying in Flåm for a few days or just for a few hours, this train ride is an absolute must on your to-do list!

Here’s what you need to know about the Flåm Railway experience!

Hop aboard the ‘40s for an unforgettable journey

The Flåm Railway (Flåmsbana, in Norwegian) is more than a train: it’s a time capsule, transporting you back to the 1940s when the wagons and infrastructure were first built. Still maintaining its original look, with a deep green color outside that meshes beautifully with the terrain as the train climbs up the mountains and mid century modern seating inside, the Flåm Railway will make you want to take a lot of pictures before you even embark on it!

Yet, it’s the journey itself that will take your breath away. In just one hour, you will get from fjord-level to a 867-meter altitude, as the train will take you from the Flåm station all the way up to the mountains of Myrdal, in what is considered “the world’s steepest train ride.” Yet, despite the 5% gradient that you’ll be experiencing for about 80% of the trip, the train moves slow enough for you to be able to enjoy the ride… and take many photos and videos. You’ll also be passing through 20 tunnels — some of which were excavated by hand, back in the day, and one of them took 11 years to build!

The interior of the train carriage of the Flåm Railway is contemporary from the year it was built. Photo by Fjord Norway

Don’t go chasing waterfalls: the train stops for them!

Which brings us to the most important part of this 20 km ride: the view from your train compartment windows. No matter which time of year you visit Flåm, you’ll be enchanted by the ever-changing terrain that includes winding rivers snaking through gorges, cascading waterfalls emerging from snow-capped mountain sides, and the Flåm valley with its farms and its historical church. It’s like a sampler of Norwegian nature and fjord living, all from the comfort of your seat!

Speaking of cascading waterfalls, one of the most breathtaking ones you will encounter along your trip is Kjossfossen. The 93-meter tall waterfall is so powerful, its roaring waters sound like thunder up close — and don’t worry, you will have the chance to experience it up close, as the Flåm Railway stops for five minutes there. You’ll have the chance to disembark (everyone does) and take pictures and videos from the Kjossfossen viewing platform before the train continues to Myrdal. You’ll realize why this particular waterfall is traditionally thought to be the home of the Huldra, the sirens of Old Norse myths who lured passing men with their songs…

The view along the journey is enchanting. Photo by Christine Baglo | Visit Norway

Once you reach the Myrdal mountains…

Despite it being one of the most scenic routes in the world, the Flåm Railway is not, in fact, a tourist train: it’s part of the railway line that connects Oslo to Bergen, it just happens to be an extremely picturesque part! But what this means is that, once you reach the mountainous Myrdal, you have several options regarding what to do next, also depending on the time of year.

If it’s winter, you could bring your skis on board from Flåm and go skiing in Myrdal, while in the summer months you could opt to bring your bike on board and take the Rallarvegen cycling route back down. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, you could disembark at Vatnahalsen and try the Flåm Zipline — it’s the longest in all of Scandinavia!

If you’re leaving Flåm behind, you can hop on the Bergen line and continue your journey. Of course, the most popular option is to take a return trip back to Flåm… in which case you can enjoy a coffee and some pancakes at the station cafe as you wait. The journey back may be the same, but the differences in lighting, angle and perspective will make it feel like a whole new experience.

Myrdal Mountain Station is the highest point on the train journey. Photo by Fjord Norway

Making the trip last longer

Just came back from your return trip and you’re not ready to let go of the Flåm Railway yet? It’s a great time to hop into the small but impressive Flåm Railway Museum, right next to the Flåm station: here, you can listen to an audiovisual guided tour that will help you learn more about how this feat of architecture was built back in the day, despite the era’s many challenges. The entrance is free and the tour doesn’t last more than a half hour, so it’s a great way to finish your trip. Oh, and don’t forget to buy a souvenir or two from the adjacent memorabilia shop!

Just be aware that the museum is usually open until 5pm, so if you’re planning on an afternoon return trip to Myrdal and back, it’s best to visit the museum first, before you depart.