The Flam Railway guide

By the Viamo editorial team · Editor Terje Moy · Last updated July 2026 · 5 min read

The Flåm Railway is short — less than an hour end to end — but planning around it well makes a real difference to how much you enjoy the day. This guide focuses on the practical decisions: which ticket to buy, which departure to choose, where to sit, and how to slot the Flåmsbana into a wider Norwegian itinerary without the logistics falling apart.

Choosing your ticket type

There are three broad ways to experience the line, and they suit different kinds of traveller:

Standalone return ticket

The simplest option: buy a return ticket for the Flåmsbana itself, ride down to Flåm, spend as long as you like in the village, and ride back up. This suits travellers who are based in or near Flåm already, or who are driving and want to park at Flåm and do the round trip without continuing onward by rail.

One-way as part of a longer rail journey

If you are travelling through on the Bergen Railway, a one-way ticket down to Flåm lets you continue by fjord boat or bus rather than riding back up to Myrdal. This is the more efficient option if your onward plans take you further into the fjords rather than back toward Oslo or Bergen.

Norway in a Nutshell package

The bundled package ties together the Bergen Railway, the Flåmsbana, a fjord cruise and a connecting bus, sold as a single itinerary with connecting times worked out for you. It costs more than assembling the same legs individually, but removes the planning work and guarantees the connections are timed sensibly — worthwhile if this is your only day for the fjords and you do not want to risk a missed connection.

Choosing your departure time

The Flåmsbana runs multiple times a day, more frequently in summer than winter, and the choice of departure affects both crowding and light:

• Early departures tend to be quieter and, in summer, catch softer morning light on the waterfalls — useful if you want photographs without a packed carriage.
• Midday departures coincide with the Norway in a Nutshell package crowds and tour buses arriving at Myrdal from cruise excursions in Flåm; these trains are the most crowded.
• Late afternoon departures are calmer again and, in high summer with long daylight, still give good light for the descent.

If your schedule is flexible, avoid the late-morning window when cruise ship excursion groups tend to concentrate at Flåm and the connecting trains fill quickly.

Where to sit for the best views

Seating on the Flåmsbana is generally unreserved within your carriage, so arrive with enough buffer to choose a spot rather than boarding at the last second. The right-hand side, travelling down from Myrdal to Flåm, faces Kjossfossen waterfall during the scheduled photo stop and offers the best views of the gorge for much of the descent. Window seats matter more than usual here — the carriages have large windows, but the drama is genuinely outside rather than in the carriage itself, so a middle or aisle seat is a real downgrade on this particular line.

At Kjossfossen, most passengers can step off briefly regardless of where they are seated, so the seating side matters most for the sections of track between stops rather than the waterfall stop itself.

How much time to allow in Flåm

If you are not on a tightly timed connection, allow at least two to three hours in Flåm village. The Flåm Railway Museum is included with your train ticket and is worth 30–45 minutes; the harbour area has cafés and a small shopping area; and if the weather is good, a short walk along the fjord shore is a pleasant way to fill the gap before a connecting fjord cruise or bus. Travellers on a tight Nutshell-style connection sometimes have as little as 20–40 minutes at Flåm — check your specific itinerary's timings before assuming you will have longer.

Combining the Flåmsbana with other legs

Most visitors reach Myrdal via the Bergen Railway from either Oslo or Bergen, described in full in the Flåm Railway route guide. From Flåm, the two common onward options are a fjord cruise to Gudvangen on the Nærøyfjord, or a return trip back up to Myrdal to rejoin the Bergen Railway. Drivers touring the fjords by road sometimes use Flåm as a scenic detour, parking near the station and doing the round trip by rail before continuing their drive.

For a broader look at how the Flåmsbana compares with Europe's other great mountain and fjord railways, see the most scenic train journeys in Europe guide.

What catches first-time visitors out

Other common planning mistakes: assuming Myrdal has facilities beyond a small platform shelter (it is a remote junction with minimal services, so eat before you arrive); underestimating how cold Myrdal can be even in summer, since it sits at high altitude; and booking the standalone return ticket when a one-way ticket combined with a fjord boat would have made a more interesting day.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to book the Flåm Railway in advance?

It is strongly recommended in summer, when trains fill quickly, particularly around midday departures that connect with cruise ship excursions. In the shoulder seasons and winter, booking a day or two ahead is usually sufficient.

Which side of the train has the best views?

The right-hand side travelling from Myrdal down to Flåm faces the Kjossfossen waterfall and the more dramatic side of the gorge for much of the descent.

How long should I spend in Flåm village?

Two to three hours is comfortable if your schedule allows it, giving time for the free railway museum, the harbour area and a short walk. Some packaged itineraries allow considerably less, so check your specific connection times.

Can I do the Flåm Railway as a day trip from Bergen?

Yes. A day trip from Bergen combining the Bergen Railway to Myrdal, the Flåmsbana down to Flåm, and a return the same way (or via a fjord cruise and bus loop) is a well-established and popular itinerary, typically sold as part of the Norway in a Nutshell package.