Flåm Railway and Sognefjord Day Trip

The Flåm Railway, or Flåmsbana, is one of the most famous train rides in Norway and is often called one of the steepest railways in the world on normal tracks. It runs about twenty kilometres between the mountain station at Myrdal, around 866 metres above sea level, and the village of Flåm at the head of the Aurlandsfjord, and the journey takes about an hour. On the way the train drops through the Flåm valley past hairpin bends, waterfalls and farms clinging to the hillsides, and usually pauses at the Kjosfossen waterfall so passengers can step out for a photograph. Much of the line was cut by hand through the rock, and the gradient is steep enough that the train has several independent braking systems. From Bergen the standard route is by the Bergen Line to Myrdal, a ride of roughly two hours in itself, and the full trip to Flåm and back is a long day. A guided day tour that combines the railway with a cruise on the UNESCO-listed fjords, and a lunch in the version described, is the easiest way to organise it, because the transport connections are arranged for you.

The day tour linked below combines the Flåm Railway with a fjord cruise, and the title mentions lunch. Exact inclusions, departure times and the direction of travel vary by version, so check the tour page when you book. Some versions take you to Flåm by coach or train and bring you back by boat and road, others reverse the route, and the shorter express versions leave little time in Flåm itself.

If you want time to eat, walk to the waterfront and browse the small brewery and shops in the village, choose a version with a longer stop. The Flåm area is one of the most heavily visited parts of Norway, and cruise ships bring crowds in summer, so an early start helps.

The railway runs throughout the year, although the experience changes with the seasons. In summer the valley is green and the waterfalls are full of meltwater, and in winter the mountains around Myrdal are snow-covered, the waterfalls may freeze and the train feels like a journey through a different country. Bring warm, windproof layers whatever the season, because platforms at Myrdal are exposed.

The ride is memorable from any seat, and the best views often come from the windows that face down the valley. Norway in a Nutshell, the classic train-and-boat circuit, is sold from Bergen as a year-round day trip of about twelve hours and uses the same railway.

It is worth deciding whether you want the Flåm Railway or the Nærøyfjord and Stegastein coach tour, because both are full days and both cover similar fjord country. The railway tour is more about the engineering and the descent into the valley, and the coach tour is more about the viewpoint and the fjord boat. If you only have one day, the railway is the better choice for train lovers and families, while the Nærøyfjord tour is better for photographers.

Travellers who want a half-day fjord should look at the Mostraumen cruise instead. Whichever version you choose, give yourself a buffer, because winter weather can delay the mountain trains and the scenery is best enjoyed without a rush.