As the Flåm Railway slowly climbs away from the tiny village of Flåm, the landscape outside the window changes almost by the minute. Waterfalls tumble down steep mountainsides, small farms appear impossibly high above the valley, and the train disappears into one tunnel after another.
We had seen plenty of photos of the Flåm Railway before our trip, but being on the train was a completely different experience. The combination of steep mountains, waterfalls, deep valleys and the constantly changing scenery makes this one of those journeys where you keep looking out the window because you don't want to miss what comes next.
Known in Norwegian as Flåmsbana, the railway connects Flåm at the end of the Aurlandsfjord with Myrdal high in the mountains. Over roughly 20 kilometres, the train climbs around 867 metres, making the journey feel much more dramatic than its relatively short distance suggests.
So, is the Flåm Railway really worth taking? What is the journey like, where should you sit, and what should you know before going?
Here's what we discovered.
Flåm Railway at a Glance
Is the Flåm Railway Worth It?
For us, yes. But what makes the Flåm Railway worthwhile isn't simply that it has been named one of the world's most spectacular train journeys.
It's the way the landscape changes throughout the relatively short journey.
Leaving Flåm, the train begins climbing through the narrow valley. Green slopes and rushing water give way to steeper mountainsides, waterfalls and increasingly dramatic views. Then the train disappears into a tunnel and, moments later, emerges somewhere completely different.
That happens again and again.
There are 20 tunnels along the route, and many of them were built by hand when the railway was constructed. The engineering is impressive, but what really makes the journey memorable is the way those tunnels interrupt the scenery.
Every time the train emerges into daylight, passengers immediately look towards the windows to see what is waiting outside.
Even though the Flåm Railway is one of Norway's most popular tourist attractions, we never felt that the scenery itself was disappointing. If you enjoy mountain landscapes, photography or scenic train journeys, this is an experience that lives up to its reputation.
.jpg "Mountain scenery from the Flåm Railway")
What Makes the Flåm Railway So Special?
The Flåm Railway isn't a long-distance train journey. The entire route from Flåm to Myrdal is only around 20 kilometres.
What makes it remarkable is the amount of altitude packed into that short distance.
The railway climbs from sea level at Flåm to around 867 metres above sea level at Myrdal. Around 80 percent of the line has a gradient of 5.5 percent, making it one of the steepest standard-gauge railway lines in the world.
The railway was completed in 1940 and became an important connection between the fjord village of Flåm and the Bergen Railway at Myrdal. Today, however, it is the scenery that attracts most visitors.
And there is plenty to look at.
- Waterfalls dropping down the mountainsides
- Small farms high above the valley
- Rivers and streams rushing through the landscape
- Steep mountain walls
- Long hand-carved tunnels
- Changing views of the Flåm valley
What surprised us most was how quickly everything changes. You can be looking at a peaceful green valley one moment and then find yourself surrounded by bare rock and towering cliffs after passing through a tunnel.
What Is the Train Like?
The Flåm Railway trains are comfortable enough for the journey, but this isn't a luxury train experience. The real attraction is what happens outside the windows.
The carriages have large windows that make it easy to watch the landscape as the train climbs higher into the mountains. There are also some traditional details inside the carriages that give the train a slightly nostalgic feel.
During the journey, you'll quickly notice that most passengers are focused on the same thing: the view.
Cameras come out as the train approaches a waterfall, everyone looks towards the windows when the train emerges from a tunnel, and it is not unusual to see passengers moving slightly from one side of the carriage to the other when something interesting appears.
That is part of what makes the atmosphere enjoyable. The train ride itself is relatively simple, but the landscape outside keeps creating new moments.
.jpg "Inside the Flåm Railway")
Kjosfossen Waterfall: The Most Dramatic Stop
One of the most memorable moments on the Flåm Railway is the stop at Kjosfossen.
The train pauses beside the enormous waterfall, allowing passengers to get out and experience it from the viewing area next to the railway.
And this isn't a small waterfall.
Water crashes down the mountainside beside the train, creating spray and mist that make the stop feel dramatically different from the rest of the journey.
It's also one of those moments when you realise just how powerful the landscape around Flåm really is. The train may have brought you here, but for a few minutes the railway itself becomes almost secondary to the waterfall.
During the summer season, the stop may also feature the Huldra performance associated with the waterfall and Norwegian folklore. The exact programme can vary, so it is worth checking the current information when planning your trip.
We found the combination of the roaring water, mist, mountains and train waiting beside the platform particularly memorable.
.jpg "Kjosfossen waterfall on the Flåm Railway")
Which Side of the Flåm Railway Has the Best Views?
This is one of the most common questions when planning the journey.
Flåm to Myrdal
For the journey from Flåm to Myrdal, the right side of the train is often recommended for some of the best views of the valley, waterfalls and mountains.
Myrdal to Flåm
On the return journey from Myrdal to Flåm, the left side can offer some of the better perspectives.
However, don't worry too much if you don't get the “perfect” side.
The scenery changes constantly and appears on both sides of the train. You'll also pass through tunnels, curves and sections where the view changes so quickly that there is no single side that guarantees the best scenery for the entire journey.
If photography is important to you, try to choose a window seat and keep your camera ready. Reflections can sometimes make photographs more difficult, particularly when the carriage is bright inside.
And don't spend the entire journey looking through your camera. Some of the best moments are the ones you simply watch through the window.
.jpg "Flåm Railway at Myrdal station")
Flåm to Myrdal or a Return Journey?
The classic experience is to travel from Flåm to Myrdal and back again.
The journey in each direction takes roughly an hour, so a return trip gives you around two hours on the railway, excluding the time spent at Myrdal.
At Myrdal, you can step off the train and take in the very different mountain environment before continuing back towards Flåm.
The return journey also gives you another opportunity to see the scenery from a different perspective. If you manage to sit on a different side of the train on the way back, you'll notice views that you may have missed during the first journey.
For visitors travelling through Norway by train, Myrdal is particularly useful because it connects with the Bergen Railway, which links the Oslo and Bergen areas.
That means the Flåm Railway can be more than just a tourist excursion. It can also form part of a wider journey through Norway.
How Long Does the Flåm Railway Take?
The journey itself is relatively short:
- Flåm to Myrdal: about 1 hour
- Myrdal to Flåm: about 1 hour
- Return journey: roughly 2 hours of train travel
The exact schedule and stopping times can vary, so check the current timetable when planning your day.
Because the railway is relatively short, it is easy to combine with other activities around Flåm. Many visitors combine it with a fjord cruise, a visit to the village itself, or other activities in the Aurlandsfjord area.
Tips for Taking the Flåm Railway
Tickets can be booked through the official Norway's Best website, which also provides current departure information and availability.
Our Experience on the Flåm Railway
We took the Flåm Railway on a clear day, which made the mountain scenery even more impressive.
What stood out most was the scale of the landscape. Photos can show you a waterfall or a mountain valley, but they don't really communicate how steep the terrain feels when you're sitting inside the train and watching the mountains rise above you.
The constant transitions were another highlight.
One moment we were looking at green slopes and a river. Then the train entered a tunnel, everything went dark, and a few moments later we were suddenly looking at another waterfall or a completely different section of the valley.
Kjosfossen was particularly memorable. Getting out of the train beside the roaring waterfall and feeling the spray in the air made the stop feel much more dramatic than simply seeing a waterfall from a train window.
And although the journey is relatively short, it never felt boring. There was always something else appearing outside the window.
That is probably the best way to describe the Flåm Railway: the scenery keeps giving you a reason to look up.
Is the Flåm Railway Worth Adding to a Norway Trip?
If your Norway itinerary brings you anywhere near Flåm, the Flåm Railway is an experience worth considering.
It isn't simply about getting from one station to another. The railway turns the journey itself into the attraction.
You travel from the fjord landscape around Flåm into the mountains above it, passing waterfalls, farms, rivers, tunnels and steep valleys along the way. The combination of scenery and engineering is what makes the route so memorable.
For us, it became one of the highlights of our time in Norway.
It is touristy, certainly, and during the busiest periods you will be sharing the train with plenty of other visitors. But once the train starts climbing and the landscape begins unfolding outside the windows, that becomes much less important.
You simply find yourself looking out. And then another waterfall appears, and another view that makes you reach for the camera.
That is what makes the Flåm Railway such a memorable way to experience Norway.