If trains had Tinder, the Flåm Railway would get endless right swipes.
Why? Because it is ridiculously good-looking.
This legendary railway journey, known in Norwegian as Flåmsbana, runs for around 20 kilometers between Myrdal and Flåm, dropping from the mountain station at Myrdal down towards the fjord village of Flåm. Along the way, it serves up snow-capped mountains, roaring waterfalls, deep valleys, tiny farms clinging to impossible slopes, and the kind of Norwegian scenery that makes people suddenly go very quiet — usually because their jaw has fallen into their lap.
The Flåm Railway is often described as one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world, and for once, the travel cliché is actually behaving itself. It is also one of the steepest standard-gauge railway lines in the world, which means this is not just a scenic ride. It is also a small Norwegian engineering miracle with windows.
At Best of Nordic, we love journeys like this because they show exactly what Norway does best: dramatic nature, clever logistics and scenery so cinematic that your camera may need emotional support afterwards.
A Steep Affair With Gravity
The Flåm Railway is not your average train ride.
The line climbs — or descends, depending on your direction — between Flåm by the fjord and Myrdal in the mountains, reaching around 867 meters above sea level at Myrdal. Over just 20 kilometers, that is a seriously dramatic change in altitude. In railway language, it is impressive. In normal human language, it is basically: “Who looked at this mountain and thought, yes, let’s put a train here?”
To make it happen, engineers built 20 tunnels, most of them excavated by hand. One tunnel even turns inside the mountain, because apparently Norway looked at ordinary tunnels and thought: too easy.
The result is the polite Scandinavian version of a rollercoaster. There are no loop-the-loops, no screaming teenagers and no plastic souvenir photo at the end — just mountains, waterfalls, tunnels and a quiet suspicion that Norwegian engineers are slightly braver than the rest of us.
Hold your coffee cup tight.
From Mountain Drama to Fjord Magic
The beauty of the Flåm Railway is not just that it gets you from A to B. It is that it makes the alphabet completely irrelevant.
You pass through the wild Flåm Valley, where rivers foam through ravines, waterfalls tumble down from the mountains, and wooden farms sit so high up on the slopes that you start wondering how anyone ever moved furniture in.
One of the most famous stops is Kjosfossen Waterfall, where the train pauses so passengers can step out and feel the full force of Norwegian nature. In summer, you may even spot the legendary Huldra, a seductive forest spirit from Norwegian folklore, appearing near the waterfall. It is part myth, part performance, part “did that just happen?” — which is exactly the right energy for Norway.
As the train continues towards Flåm, the landscape softens slightly, but only in the way a Viking might soften after a second waffle. Suddenly the valley opens, the fjord appears, and you arrive in Flåm, a small village sitting at the inner end of the Aurlandsfjord, a branch of the mighty Sognefjord.
And that is where the next part of the magic begins.
Train + Fjord = The Ultimate Norwegian Power Couple
The Flåm Railway is wonderful on its own. But combined with a fjord cruise, it becomes one of the great classic travel experiences in Norway.
This is the kind of journey where you can go from city life in Bergen, to deep fjords, to mountain railways, to tiny villages — all in one beautifully planned route. It is also why the Flåm Railway is a key part of the famous Norway in a Nutshell experience, which combines scenic railways, fjord landscapes and mountain routes between places like Bergen, Flåm, Myrdal and Oslo.
For many travelers, the highlight is the fjord cruise through Nærøyfjord, one of the most dramatic fjords in Norway and part of the UNESCO-listed West Norwegian Fjords together with Geirangerfjord. These fjord landscapes are famous for their steep cliffs, deep waters, waterfalls and scenery that feels almost unreal.
In other words: if the Flåm Railway is the dramatic opening scene, the fjord cruise is the orchestral soundtrack.
You can read more about why Norway’s fjords are so special in our story Where the Mountains Kiss the Sea: The Story of Norway’s Fjords — because honestly, once Norway starts showing off, it is polite to let it continue.
Three Smart Ways to Experience the Flåm Railway
There is not just one way to experience the Flåm Railway — and that is exactly why it works so beautifully in tailor-made Norway itineraries.
Depending on your route, travel pace and onward plans, we usually recommend one of three classic options.
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Option 1: Bergen back to Bergen
This is a great choice if you want Bergen as your comfortable base.
You can start and end in Bergen, combining the Flåm Railway with a scenic fjord cruise, mountain railway sections and dramatic fjord landscapes along the way. It gives you the magic of Norway’s fjords without needing to change hotels every night — always a bonus if your suitcase has already developed trust issues.
This option works especially well for leisure groups, incentive programmes and travelers who want the fjord experience as a full-day adventure from Bergen.
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Option 2: Bergen to Oslo
This is one of the most elegant ways to travel across Norway.
Start in Bergen, enjoy the fjord cruise and the Flåm Railway, then continue by train across the mountains towards Oslo. This route gives you a fantastic contrast between Norway’s west coast fjords and the capital city — from waterfalls and mountain valleys to museums, restaurants and urban Nordic culture.
For many travelers, this feels like the perfect “Norway in motion” itinerary: scenic, practical and far more memorable than simply flying between cities.
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Option 3: Oslo to Bergen
This is the same beautiful journey in reverse — but with a very different rhythm.
Starting in Oslo allows you to begin with Norway’s capital before heading west across the mountains, connecting to the Flåm Railway and continuing into fjord country before arriving in Bergen. It is a brilliant option if your international flights, cruise departure or wider Nordic program naturally begin in Oslo.
And honestly, ending in Bergen after the mountains and fjords feels rather poetic. Norway does enjoy a dramatic finale.
For extra inspiration, you can also watch the journey from your sofa first. Norway famously loves slow TV, and in our story about Norway Slow TV, you can even find the full Flåmsbana slow TV experience — perfect for anyone who wants to test their love of scenic railways before doing the real thing.
Not sure which route is best for you? You are always welcome to ask Best of Nordic for advice. We can help you choose the option that best fits your travel dates, group size, pace, hotel plans and onward journey — because with Norway, the “best” route is usually the one that fits your itinerary, not someone else’s spreadsheet.
Best Seat on the Flåm Railway?
Everyone wants to know this. And fair enough. When nature is this dramatic, seat strategy suddenly feels like an Olympic discipline.
If you are travelling down from Myrdal to Flåm, many travelers prefer the right-hand side for some of the best waterfall and valley views. Going uphill from Flåm to Myrdal, the opposite side can naturally become more attractive. That said, the train moves through tunnels, curves and changing scenery, so you are unlikely to feel cheated wherever you sit.
The best advice? Keep your camera ready, but do not spend the whole ride staring through a screen. Norway has gone to a lot of trouble to look this spectacular. It would be rude not to actually look at it.
Practical Tips for Riding the Flåm Railway
The Flåm Railway is world-famous, and for good reason. That also means it can get busy, especially in the summer season.
Book early if you are travelling between June and August, or if you are planning for a group. Seats can sell out quickly, and the best itineraries are not always the ones you can patch together at the last minute.
Pack layers, even in summer. Myrdal is in the mountains, and the weather there can feel very different from the fjord climate in Flåm. You might start the day needing a jacket and end it feeling like you have accidentally wandered into a Nordic postcard with sunshine.
And most importantly: combine smart. The real magic is not just the train or the fjord cruise, but how the pieces fit together. Timing matters. Connections matter. Luggage matters. Lunch matters. And yes, for groups, snacks also matter more than people admit.
That is where local planning makes a difference.
Why Go With Best of Nordic?
Because we do not do cookie-cutter Norway.
We create tailor-made Nordic travel experiences for groups, incentives, conferences, leisure travelers and high-end programs where the details actually matter. The Flåm Railway is not just a ticket. It is part of a bigger travel rhythm: where you sleep, how you transfer, when you cruise, where you eat, and how the day feels from beginning to end.
Want a luxury version with boutique hotels, private transfers and gourmet dining in Bergen? We can arrange it.
Need smooth logistics for a larger group, including luggage handling, timing, local assistance and realistic transfers? That is exactly the kind of thing we love solving.
Want to combine the Flåm Railway with Oslo, Bergen, fjord cruises, local food experiences, cultural visits or scenic rail journeys across Norway? We can build the full program around your group, your pace and your purpose.
And if you are planning a corporate or incentive trip, Norway is more than beautiful scenery. It is also a destination with strong infrastructure, punctual transport and experiences that feel genuinely memorable. You can also explore why the region works so well for business travel in our story Which Nordic Country Is Best to Visit for Business Travel? or dive into our take on Why Choose Best of Nordic for Your Next MICE or Incentive Trip?.
Time to Ride the Fairy-Tale Rails
The Flåm Railway is not just transport.
It is a story told in mountains, tunnels, waterfalls and fjords — with you sitting by the window, pretending not to take 400 photos of the same valley.
Combine it with a fjord cruise, a night in Bergen, and a carefully planned route through Norway’s most iconic landscapes, and you have one of the most unforgettable journeys in the Nordics.
At Best of Nordic, we arrange the full experience: train tickets, fjord cruises, hotels, private transfers, group logistics, local experiences and all the tiny details that turn a scenic trip into a seamless journey.
Norway brings the drama.