How do I do the Flåm Railway from Oslo?

The standard approach is the Norway in a Nutshell route: Bergen Railway from Oslo to Myrdal (about 5 hours), then the Flåmsbana branch line down to Flåm (about 55 minutes), then a Nærøyfjord cruise to Gudvangen, bus to Voss, and train back to Bergen or Oslo. The full circular route from Oslo and back takes 2 days. A one-way Oslo-Bergen version via Flåm takes one long day or overnight.

How long is the Flåm Railway?

The Flåmsbana is 20.2 km long, running from Myrdal (866 m above sea level) down to Flåm village at sea level on the Aurlandsfjord. The journey takes approximately 55 minutes in each direction. The average gradient is 1:18, making it one of the steepest standard-gauge railways in the world.

Where does the Flåm Railway start and end?

The Flåm Railway starts at Myrdal station, which is on the Bergen Railway (Bergensbanen) main line. It descends to Flåm village at the head of the Aurlandsfjord, a branch of the Sognefjord. There are 20 stations in total, but most are request stops for hikers.

How much does the Flåm Railway cost?

A single Myrdal-Flåm ticket costs approximately NOK 450-550 per adult (~USD 48-59) as a standalone booking. As part of a Norway in a Nutshell package, it is bundled with the Bergen Railway, Nærøyfjord cruise, and Voss-Bergen bus. Book through Vy (Norwegian railways) or Fjord Tours.

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

Not comfortably as a pure day trip. Oslo to Myrdal on the Bergen Railway takes about 5 hours; the Flåmsbana down to Flåm is 55 minutes; returning from Flåm to Oslo the same way takes another 6 hours. This is theoretically a day trip but a very long one (13+ hours). Most visitors either spend a night in Flåm or Bergen or do the Norway in a Nutshell route across 2 days.

What is the most scenic part of the Flåm Railway?

The stretch between Myrdal and Vatnahalsen is the highest and most dramatic, crossing the Myrdal plateau before the steep descent begins. The Kjossfossen waterfall — where the train stops briefly for photos — is the most photographed moment. The lower valley (Flåmsdalen) is deeply green and forested, with the valley walls rising steeply on both sides.

Flåm Railway guide 2026: Flåmsbana, tickets, how to do it from Oslo

What the Flåm Railway actually is

The Flåmsbana is a 20.2 km branch railway line running from Myrdal station (866 m above sea level on the Hardangervidda plateau) down to the village of Flåm at sea level on the Aurlandsfjord. It descends 866 metres in 20 kilometres — an average gradient of 1:18, making it one of the steepest adhesion railways in the world. Standard gauge, normal trains, no rack-and-pinion system: the braking system is what makes it possible.

Construction took 20 years (1923-1940), during which workers used dynamite to create 20 tunnels totalling nearly 6 km of the 20 km route. At the time of completion it was considered an engineering marvel. It still is.

The railway serves a practical purpose for local residents, but its primary role today is tourism: approximately 500,000 passengers per year ride the Flåmsbana, making it one of Norway’s most visited attractions.

The journey from Oslo

Standard route via the Bergen Railway

The most common way to reach the Flåmsbana from Oslo is via the Bergen Railway (Bergensbanen). Trains from Oslo S (Oslo Central Station) to Myrdal take approximately 5 hours 10 minutes to 5 hours 30 minutes. The Bergen Railway is itself one of the world’s great train journeys (covered in our Oslo to Bergen train guide), so the journey to Myrdal is not dead time — it is the first half of the scenic experience.

At Myrdal, you transfer to the Flåmsbana. The connection time is usually 10-30 minutes; check your ticket for the specific transfer.

Tickets: Vy (Norwegian state railways) sells Bergen Railway tickets. The Flåmsbana is operated separately by Flåm AS / Fjord Tours. You need separate tickets for each segment, or book a Norway in a Nutshell package that bundles everything.

One-way Oslo to Bergen via Flåm: Oslo → Myrdal (Bergen Railway) → Flåm (Flåmsbana) → Gudvangen (Nærøyfjord cruise) → Voss (express bus) → Bergen (local train). This is the Norway in a Nutshell route done one-way. It takes a full day and is spectacular.

Direct private day trip from Oslo

For visitors wanting to see the Flåmsbana specifically without committing to the full Norway in a Nutshell, a private guided day trip from Oslo to Flåm is available. This uses a combination of train and car/minibus, covering approximately 550 km return in a long day. It allows more flexibility at Flåm itself (lunch at Aegir Bryggeri, the local craft brewery; time by the fjord) but involves a lot of travel.

The Flåmsbana journey: what to see

Departure from Myrdal

Myrdal station sits on the Hardangervidda plateau, a high-altitude landscape of lakes, snow (even in summer at the highest points), and sparse vegetation. In June, patches of snow are still visible around the platform. In winter, the plateau can be completely white. The connection between the modern train from Oslo and the local Flåmsbana train happens at this small mountain station.

The descent begins

Almost immediately after departure from Myrdal, the railway begins its dramatic descent. The train curves in tight arcs, passing through short tunnels and over bridges, with the valley walls rising sharply on both sides. The engineering is visible everywhere: retaining walls, avalanche sheds, drainage channels cut into the rock.

At the highest section, the view opens across the upper valley — a U-shaped glacial trough with waterfalls descending from the rim. This is some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in Norway.

Kjossfossen waterfall stop

The train stops for approximately 5 minutes at Kjossfossen, a 225-metre waterfall on the right side of the descent. Passengers disembark and photograph the falls from a dedicated platform. In summer, a theatrical tradition has a figure dressed as a Huldra (a Norwegian forest spirit) appear on a rock above the falls — it is a piece of tourist theatre, but it is well-staged and the waterfall itself is genuinely impressive regardless.

Photography note: Kjossfossen is backlit in afternoon sun; morning departures from Myrdal give better light on the falls. The platform fills quickly when the train stops; position yourself at the front of the train car for the best exit and access.

Flåmdalen valley

The lower third of the descent runs through Flåmdalen — the Flåm valley — a narrow, deeply forested valley with the Flåmselva river running through it. The vegetation changes dramatically from the bare plateau: dense birch and spruce forest, wild flowers, and in autumn, startling colour. The valley walls are steep enough that the small farms visible on the slopes look improbable.

Several stations in this section are request stops for hikers; the Flåmsbana is also a walking destination, with the valley trail from Myrdal to Flåm taking approximately 5-6 hours.

Arrival at Flåm

Flåm village is at the head of the Aurlandsfjord — a branch of the Nærøyfjord — and it is a small, scenic settlement that handles its 500,000 annual visitors with varying degrees of grace. The pier, the craft brewery (Aegir Bryggeri, which has an excellent menu), and the Flåm Railway Museum are the main attractions.

The Flåm Railway Museum at the station is free, well-presented, and explains the engineering history of the line. It takes about 30-45 minutes and gives valuable context for the journey you just completed.

Norway in a Nutshell: what it is and how it uses the Flåmsbana

The Norway in a Nutshell route is the most popular packaged scenic route in Norway. It combines:

Bergen Railway Oslo to Myrdal (5+ hours)
Flåmsbana Myrdal to Flåm (55 minutes)
Nærøyfjord cruise Flåm to Gudvangen (2 hours) — the most dramatic fjord in Norway
Express bus Gudvangen to Voss (1 hour, steep road)
Local train Voss to Bergen (1 hour)

The full route one-way takes approximately 10-12 hours from Oslo to Bergen. It can be done as a self-guided booking (buying each segment separately through Vy and Fjord Tours) or as a packaged tour.

For complete details on the route, options, and whether to do it DIY or packaged, see our Norway in a Nutshell guide.

Practical information

Booking the Flåmsbana: Tickets are available through Fjord Tours (fjordtours.com) as part of a Norway in a Nutshell package, or directly through the Flåm Railway website. The Bergen Railway segment is booked through Vy (vy.no).

Season: The Flåmsbana runs year-round but has the most frequent departures May-September. Winter services are reduced. Myrdal can be snowy and cold in winter; Flåm at sea level stays milder.

Crowds: July is the busiest month; trains can be full. Book seats well in advance for July and August. May, June, and September are excellent alternatives with fewer passengers.

The return journey: Many visitors go down on the Flåmsbana and continue on the Norway in a Nutshell route rather than going back up to Myrdal. If you are returning the same way, you will need a return Flåmsbana ticket (the journey up is the same price, and the views are different looking the other way).

Getting around in Flåm: Flåm village is small enough to walk entirely. Bicycle hire is available for the valley if you want to explore further.

For more on the full Oslo-Bergen journey, see our Oslo to Bergen train guide and Bergen Railway scenic guide. For day-trip planning, see Bergen from Oslo.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the Flåm Railway?
The Flåmsbana is 20.2 km long, running from Myrdal (866 m above sea level) down to Flåm village at sea level on the Aurlandsfjord. The journey takes approximately 55 minutes in each direction. The average gradient is 1:18, making it one of the steepest standard-gauge railways in the world.
Where does the Flåm Railway start and end?
The Flåm Railway starts at Myrdal station, which is on the Bergen Railway (Bergensbanen) main line. It descends to Flåm village at the head of the Aurlandsfjord, a branch of the Sognefjord. There are 20 stations in total, but most are request stops for hikers.
How much does the Flåm Railway cost?
A single Myrdal-Flåm ticket costs approximately NOK 450-550 per adult (~USD 48-59) as a standalone booking. As part of a Norway in a Nutshell package, it is bundled with the Bergen Railway, Nærøyfjord cruise, and Voss-Bergen bus. Book through Vy (Norwegian railways) or Fjord Tours.
Can I do the Flåm Railway as a day trip from Oslo?
Not comfortably as a pure day trip. Oslo to Myrdal on the Bergen Railway takes about 5 hours; the Flåmsbana down to Flåm is 55 minutes; returning from Flåm to Oslo the same way takes another 6 hours. This is theoretically a day trip but a very long one (13+ hours). Most visitors either spend a night in Flåm or Bergen or do the Norway in a Nutshell route across 2 days.
What is the most scenic part of the Flåm Railway?
The stretch between Myrdal and Vatnahalsen is the highest and most dramatic, crossing the Myrdal plateau before the steep descent begins. The Kjossfossen waterfall — where the train stops briefly for photos — is the most photographed moment. The lower valley (Flåmsdalen) is deeply green and forested, with the valley walls rising steeply on both sides.