![]() ![]() She’s been known to make more than the occasional appearance at the waterfall! How on earth this railway was ever built in the days before computer-aided engineering (it opened in 1940) will surely top your list of questions as you trundle through the lush Flåm valley.Īs primarily a tourist route, the train stops midway to allow photographs at the Kjosfossen waterfall, which includes a small hydropower station that actually powers the line itself.īe wary of the Huldra, a seductive forest creature from Norse mythology who uses the power of song to tempt men to their fate. Most people visiting Flåm by ship or car will take the train up then straight back down again. The one-hour journey twists and turns over bridges and through tunnels as the train descends more than 800 metres through the Flåm valley at an average 5% gradient. ![]() The one-way trip from Myrdal (on the Bergen line) down to Flåm takes about one hour. Flåm railwayĪ big reason Flåm and the Aurlandsfjord are so accessible from the country’s two major cities is the remarkable Flåm Railway, which regularly tops the charts of world’s most beautiful railway journeys. So, in Norwegian, Flåm is pronounced more like Flom than Flamm. The sound of the ‘å' vowel is similar to the ‘or' sound in the word ‘born' in English. But ‘a' and ‘å' are two different vowels in Norwegian, and they have different sounds. That's understandable especially as many cruise lines list the destination as Flam not Flåm. Pronunciation is something that trips up many visitors to Norway! While English is spoken everywhere, pronouncing Norwegian place names properly will definitely win you some points with the locals.įlåm is often pronounced Flamm by native English speakers. Be sure of the timetables for the railway and any sightseeing trips you are hoping to take. Visiting the village outside the high season can be wonderful, but you'll need to plan more carefully. ![]() My advice? If there is a megaship (more than 3,000 passengers) due in that day, or two smaller ships, choose a different day! But if not, at least you'll be prepared. This will tell you if a cruise ship is due in port that day together with the passenger capacity (PAX). If you are planning a summer visit, I highly recommend checking out the cruise calendar on the website of Flåm Port. But that's also peak time for attractions. In the summer, it can get uncomfortably busy especially when there is a large cruise ship in port. Of course, its ease of transport does mean that Flåm is popular. For drivers, the E16 highway leads directly to Flåm from the two cities. The railway link means Flåm is one of the easiest major fjord villages for non-drivers to visit, especially from Oslo and Bergen. That's especially true when you consider its relative ease of getting there. If you want to tour the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord, Flåm makes a perfect base. Meanwhile, the village itself has the shops, cafes, restaurants and accommodation that you'll need. The Aurlandfjord is spectacular, as is the scenery surrounding the village. Well, in many ways, Flåm is the archetypal Norwegian fjord village. ![]() But for independent travellers, why should you consider visiting? The same is true for those on a Nutshell tour. If you are on a cruise ship with a planned stop in Flåm, then your decision is made for you. Nearby villages include Aurland and Undredal.ĭespite its small size and fjord side location, Flåm is on the main E16 road from Oslo to Bergen. The village is located in the west Norwegian fjords region at the end of the Aurlandsfjord, a branch of the Sognefjord. Where is Flåm in Norway?įirst things first, let's put Flåm on a map. Read on for our complete guide, including why you should visit and what to do once you arrive. My recommendation for those on a tour is to extend your stay in Flåm, preferably overnight.Ĭruise ship visitor? Consider this private Flåm shore excursion to tour the fascinating area around Flåm and make the most of your limited time in port.īut how should you spend your time in Flåm, besides the famous railway? There's more going on than you might first expect for a place so small. The same is true if you've pre-booked one of the popular ‘Norway in a Nutshell' tours from Oslo or Bergen. If you're on a Norwegian fjords itinerary, Flåm may well be one of your stops. Flåm is also one of Norway's busiest cruise ship ports, despite the village itself being home to just a few hundred permanent residents. ![]()
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