And I was planning to nap (again) on the way back to Bergen from our Gudsvangen fjord tour. What a predicament. Points against a restful train ride were a dramatic valley, waterfalls, mountainsides, and tunnels including a stop at Kjosfossen with "SPOILER ALERT" a 5-minute Huldra dance by the Norwegian Ballet School This world-renowned journey through Flåm valley is a very scenic 20-kilometer (12.6-mile) Norwegian railway that runs from Flåm to Myrdal, one of the steepest railways in the world The carriages feature nostalgic wooden interiors and large windows for optimal viewing with comfortable seating and clean restrooms. It really doesn't matter which side you're seated for maximal viewpoints but a good tip would be to sit on the less occupied front cars (farthest to walk from the terminal) as one can freely move left or right for snaps. The Flåm railway is a popular attraction and it is highly recommended to book in advance online via the Flåmsbana or the Vy (Norwegian Railways) websites read more

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A truly incredible experience. The old train is breathtaking, the stop at the waterfall is breathtaking, the scenery is breathtaking, the history is breathtaking. I have no more breath to say anymore words. read more

Flåmsbana - Public Transportation Near Me - Myrdal, 14

We were on a Celebrity cruise a couple weeks ago of the Norwegian fjords. Flam was one of the ports. We figured this was a reasonable shore excursion compared to many that were being offered at other port destinations. After reading reviews on a couple social media blogs it was revealed the best views were on the right hand side of the train. Because the cruise shore excursion had a huge block of tickets reserved the four of us did our best to get to the front of the line. It wasn't quite push & shove but there was plenty of jostling for a spot in front of the queue. And these were seniors like ourselves. We reserved a morning shore excursion time. Good thing because the train experienced engine problems returning which caused a delay for later reservations. Two cars were reserved for Celebrity. We managed to board and got seats on the right hand side. It was a round trip from Flam to Myrdal and back. 60 minutes total. To take photos we aimed our iPhones out the window. If you weren't sitting by the window good luck trying to capture a good shot. The train runs on the same track so if you're on the left hand side you'll continue on the same side. Vice versa. The train will stop at the waterfall going up to Myrdal and again returning to Flam. I recommend the train ride as long as you're on the correct side. read more

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This train route is supposed to be an engineering feat. I totally believe it. Aside from the STEM aspect, the route too is actually very scenic. Very tourist-friendly. Easy to book. Train cars are wonderfully vintage. Conveniently stops at a waterfall (comes with a surprise). So many waterfalls between Myrdal and Flam. Short enough to do a round-trip trip between Myrdal and Flam. Or vice versa. Bathrooms and food available in both stops/stations/towns. read more

If you actually need to transfer from the Olso/Bergen train to a boat in Flam harbor, this train is a great solution. We were simply riding the train round trip to enjoy the views. The stop at the waterfall was fun (but a little crowded). Otherwise, the views are nothing different than what we were able to see from our car window as we drove from Bergen to Alesund. Probably best to skip this tourist attraction unless you actually need to get from Myrdal to Flam. read more

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Having read about the extraordinary vistas on the train to Flam (called among the most scenic in the world), we were slightly underwhelmed by this journey. It is quite beautiful -- there are several lovely waterfalls along the way -- but the vistas are nothing compared to what you'll see in Flam itself, and several extremely long tunnels often block the view. A pretty trip, but plan time in Flam to enjoy it fully. read more

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We took the train to Flam and it was a great experience. It can get a bit hot in the cars however windows can go down a little. I really enjoyed the information screens that had photos and facts on the area. It was nice to see the difference of views in summer and winter. I enjoyed the scenic stop for passengers and the seats were not bad for small distance. They had enough space for luggage and gave people enough time to sit and settle. I highly recommend the trip in the train to Flam! read more

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I traveled on the famous Flamsbana during the late winter/early spring, which is low season in Norway. This meant the trains were not too crowded. The conductor was very accommodating in letting us take an earlier train to get to Bergen earlier than we planned. I love that the ride is narrated to help you make the most of the trip. There's even a five minute stop to get out for photos. National Geographic calls this one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world. I can only compare it maybe to the journey to Aguas Calientes as a close one. It's a charming old train without assigned seats with beautiful views everywhere you look. In the winter, there are frozen waterfalls, snow, and white mountaintops. I'm sure it's stunning year round. read more

Flåmsbana - Public Transportation Near Me - Myrdal, 14

I don't know if the Flåm Railway trip is the world's most beautiful railway journey, but there is a valid argument that it's among the most hyped. When I was researching my recent trip to Norway, it was the one experience that was viewed as the must-do when traipsing around the fjords. At a duration of only one hour and crowded with an international cavalcade of tourists, the extremely popular train ride traveled from Flåm to Myrdal in a way that felt more like a Disneyland-inspired ride. Jamie W. and I had tickets for a 2:10PM departure. We waited in a lengthy queue as seats were not reserved. We got lucky because we targeted the last car where we were able to snag window seats easily. The interior of the car was wood paneled which lent a vintage feel to the ride. A video played overhead showing the highlights of the trip as they occurred. It would have been more helpful if they built in some lag time to allow people to get into position to photograph. It reflected an ongoing problem where some spectacular sights darted quickly by without much opportunity to Instagram them. One exception was a five-minute stop at Kjosfossen Falls where we were free to walk off the train onto a platform to view the thundering torrent (photo: https://bit.ly/3d61Led). I heard that a blonde-bewigged woman usually sings and dances in front of the falls, but she must've been taking a herring break. When we arrived in Myrdal, we just crossed the platform to take the five-hour train to Oslo which in certain ways, was just as visually interesting. Tickets were 650 NOK one way or about $66 in US dollars. RELATED - Exploring Norway? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/3PEL4Fe read more

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The Flåm Railway has been described as one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world and is one of the leading tourist attractions in Norway. The train runs from the end of Aurlandsfjord, a tributary of the Sognefjord, up to the high mountains at Myrdal station. The journey features the finest aspects of the stunning scenery of Western Norway. This was an absolute must. The sites we're breath taking. Be sure to book your ticket in advance as the trail sells out. The make a stop at stunning waterfall, be sure to jump out a feel the shear power of it and the mist on your face. You'll see tons of country side, water falls and cute little towns. It goes through about 22 tunnels. Truly a great experience. read more

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I very recently enjoyed two consecutive rides on the Flam Railway, also known as Flamsbana. We ascended from Flam to the towering bluffs far above Myrdal. Along the way there were sparkling waterfalls galore that glinted in the sun, rushing waters flowing in rivers below, emerald green forests, lush farm lands with grazing cows, goats, and sheep, and many long tunnels. At one stop an attractive blonde woman danced in the middle of a broad gushing waterfall to piped in exotic music, ostensibly to entertain and enchant traveling tourists. Diane and I did not have to worry about scoring tickets, because we had booked a shore excursion with Holland America Line long in advance, and a railway car with plush fabric seats had been reserved for us and fellow cruise passengers. Each segment took about an hour to complete, but there were a few extra delays on account of a fire that broke out on the rails between Flam and Bergen earlier in the day of our travel. The scenic trip was quite enjoyable. Regarding rail travel, I rate it just behind the serpentine narrow gauge train trip from Skagway, Alaska to the mountainous heights above. read more

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Fabulous railway from Myrdal to Gudvangan or in reverse. The countryside and sights are amazing. The grass is so green. The train will stop at a waterfall for you to get out and take some amazing pictures. It is breathtaking. Pardon my pictures if they seem blurry. They were taken on a moving train. I highly recommend this! read more

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"How can a train be lost? It's on rails." (Darjeeling Limited) All aboard the Flåmsbana, considered one of the most beautiful and steepest railway journeys in the world. It may not be the Orient Express, and you won't run into a bandaged Owen Wilson looking for his mother at a convent in the Himalayas, but the train will climb or descend 2,833 feet, past waterfalls, mountains, rivers, and glaciers on your way into or out of the Flam valley. At the Myrdal station you can leave your luggage Queen Sonja style at the end of the platform...just don't expect any curtsies. Luggage is loaded by rail staff onto a dedicated carriage, and then unloaded again at the end of the trip. Board quickly to keep your party seated together, but don't worry picking a side as spectacular views abound either way. Once all have boarded, a multi-language narrated video educates passengers on major landmarks. You may even learn how to say "waterfall" in five languages! The train will make a pitstop at Kjosfosse Falls--time to get off your caboose! Disembark onto a crowded platform to take photos of the impressive 93M tall falls, but don't dilly dally or you'll be left behind. Bring an umbrella or hoodie to repel waterfall spray unless you've just invented a wet hair selfie filter. Enjoy the beauty of the peaceful falls until jarring music blasts out of nowhere, cueing the appearance of a maiden dancing up high by the falls, or rather, flailing her arms about. She is Huldra, a forest spirit from Norse folklore, who lures men into the woods to seduce them. Of notable interest was that all men were accounted for on board post Norse dance recital. Should you escape Huldra, the remainder of your journey should be lovely and uneventful until you arrive in Flam to fight your way through the cruising crowds. Overall The trip was pleasant enough, but I'd recommend saving some Kroner by driving to Flam instead. Chris Harrison might call this the most dramatic train trip ever, but I still reserve that distinction for the White Pass Train in Alaska (unless Wes Anderson takes over as the Flamsbana conductor). Next up, the Bengal Lancer! read more

Flåmsbana - Public Transportation Near Me - Myrdal, 14

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Very touristy and if you book when a cruise is in port you will be fighting for a seat. They had sections that were roped off for cruise passengers getting on at different times leaving other travelers standing. It was very crowded & unorganized. We went on a warm summer day and yes the scenery is beautiful,but there are tons of tunnels so you don't really see much and when you do see a scenic view everyone rushes to stick their cameras out the windows pilling all over everybody. The 5 minutes they give you to get off and see the waterfall is a joke,as you have to rush back on. They overbooked the trains and get as many on as possible and heard you like cattle. For the price the experience was not worth it. read more

I think if you can get the EARLY train, this might be fabulous. The scenery is gorgeous. I'd been looking forward to this so much- BUT if you go with a cruise ship horde and do just the ride up and back, it sucks. You get like 15 minutes at the platform with the dancing spirit girl to take your life in your hands and try to get a picture. Good luck with that. The Chinese tourists will kill you before you get a picture without them photobombing you (or pushing you off the platform). The steps to the cars are NOT easy to climb- if you have any disability that impacts your ability to manage steps, you're going to be stuck on the train. It's a great little train and I loved the history you get on the screens- but doing it just up and back packed in like a sardine with cruise ship people is not my idea of fun. Maybe you like that sort of thing- it takes all kinds- but I did not. read more

Do it. You'll never regret it. The view is otherworldly. There is a really nice stop at a waterfall about 2/3 of the way through the trip. They pay an actor to come out and dance along to a track, pretending like they are singing. It's a weird choice at that moment. It added absolutely nothing to the stop, and it barely registered with most people, because the view was so incredible. read more

Disclaimer: If you are traveling by public transport (ferry, bus, rail, etc) through Norway, this would be a 5 star attraction for you. Do it! BUT if you have your own car (as I did), this might be one of the least interesting things you do all trip! The first warning sign I saw was when busses and busses of tourists unloaded after my wife and I boarded the train. We were hoping for a quaint train ride through gorgeous valleys, and being squeezed in with 500 tourists was not our idea of that. Then they play an informational audio loop the entire time, interspersed with cheesy reenactments by Holda dancers and music from speakers hidden in the mountain at one of the stops. The ride up is the exact same as the ride down, so if you buy two-way tickets you will see the same thing twice. Having our own car, our drive to and from the railway was more spectacular than the railway ride itself. Overall just a waste of money. read more

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The Flam railway must not be missed. It's a small local train with a lot of culture. The cars are vintage and very unique. The train will make a few stops along the way for must see picture spots (waterfalls, scenic overlook, etc.). The train will also announce on what side to look coming up for the best pictures. The seats are not assigned, but make sure you can get up and move as you will want to take pictures from both sides of the train. read more

Myrdal 2m to Flam 865m, Over the 20km route, over 80% of the journey is on a 55/1000 gradient, meaning that the track rises 1m for every 18m travelled, making it one of the world's steepest train journey made on normal gauge track It is an amazing skilful and daring feat of civil engineering. Work started on the line in 1923 and took 20 years to complete with almost all of the many tunnels on the line being dug out by hand. The river running the length of the valley was diverted through a series of tunnels so that the train doesn't have to cross over any bridges along its journey Myrdal, the bottom station, is located on the innermost corner of Aurlandfjord, a tributary of the Sognefjord, the world's longest fjord. Our cruise ship's entry and exit from Myrdal provided a stunning backdrop of tall cliffs punctuated by many waterfalls We booked our trip with P&O, our cruise line. The ship was able to draw alongside the quay and the train platform is about a 100m walk. It's worth getting there early to snag a seat right by one of the large picture windows of the train though you can still get a good view from anywhere Among the early highlights up the valley is the Rjoandefossen waterfall cascading down 140m At Berekvam station, you'll come across the only double tracked part of the railway, enabling trains to pass each other Further up the valley, the train will make a brief stop at the Kjosfossen waterfall, enabling guests to get off to close up photos. Not wanting to spoil the surprise, keep your eyes and ears peeled for a surprise fitting with a local legend At Flam, the train turns around and after a short stop to pick up passengers who've arrived here from other parts of Norway by train, it heads back down A must do if you're in this part of Norway read more

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I LOVE a good train ride. This was close. Sadly the train was super packed and hard to move around in to see much. It's also a short section of the Norway in a Nutshell path. That being said, it's beautiful!! You should include this one your list but know that if you go during the winter months and they run it only once a day that it will be PACKED. Beyond packed. Every seat sold and EVERYONE has their luggage. You do get to go out to see the waterfall, which was a maybe 5 minute stop but one of us had to stay behind to ensure we'd have seats when we got back. Did I mention it was packed and there aren't reserved seats? The views are awesome, if you can get a seat facing forward. Facking backward was super tough to get even a few photos of the journey and there are some awe-inspiring views to be had. If you're riding, be sure, damn sure, to buy your ticket ahead of time. You can book a Norway in a Nutshell tour yourself or through the site but when we went, late December, booking it ourselves would have been more expensive than having them book it. I hear that it can go either way from what I read in other blogs. Flam is a cute little town with a few souvenir shops, a museum and a cafe. You'll need about an hour if you'd like to visit all of that. Should you still go? Yes, just try to pick a non-peak time! read more

I have ridden the Fairbanks to Anchorage railway. It was 11 hours long across interior Alaska. It's difficult to come off that experience and be impressed by Flam railway. That being said, it's the journey that mattered, not the destination. Getting out of Bergen, I was feeling slightly reluctant about this journey via car. Voss was very pretty, as it turned out. Lots of Chinese tourists like I saw in Alaska and Sweden. It's one of those things. I think we Chinese love to travel, and as we get more experienced we don't just join tour groups any more, we like to travel alone or in smaller groups. In scenic rest stops, talking to your own countrymen/women is a bit interesting. Considering I don't nearly see that many Chinese in America. Arrive at the train station with 5 minutes to spare. I then realize there is no place to buy water. Must grab water at the souvenir shop. Train route pasts the Rallar road, steep mountains, tons of waterfalls, through 20 tunnels between the mountain and the fjord. In the span of a single hour, the train takes you from the ocean level at the Sognefjord in Flam, to the mountaintop at Myrdal mountain station on Hardangervidda, 863 meters over the ocean. It's named top 10 train ride in Europe by National Geographic. Lonely Planet voted it was the best in 2014. It goes through the UNESCO World Heritage site, one of the fjords that you lose track of, after a while. That said, the most bizarre thing is that the announcements for this ride are offered in Norwegian, English and Chinese. Perfect mandarin, to be precise. So well done that it was definitely television broadcasting level of Chinese. I found it eerie and bizarre and I kept on thinking, when did the Chinese turn into the Japanese who travel everywhere? I couldn't tell this journey apart from the Alaska train ride, as both were filled with Chinese tourists and soon things started to blend together. When the ride was over I was happy that the shop remained open for a while. I had gone overboard with my loot there but completely satisfied. Running hat, running shirt, rain hat, scarves, more winter hats, souvenir for the closed ones back at home... It's not that particularly expensive as it's reputed to be, and in that gift shop you get better selection of Norwegian goods than Bergen stores, for some strange reason. Driving home (Bergen) was tricky with a bunch of round abouts and out dated GPS in the car. I think Flam in and of itself is over rated, the train ride back from Myrdal station back to Flam is way better, as fewer tourists on board, and the most important thing about this ride is that you somehow feel like that you are in the middle of the scenic movie shoot, except the movie is in Chinese. read more

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The scenery was outstanding but the cruise excursion felt more like a cattle car experience. Too many people were allowed to board with many pushing and shoving. Once onboard the ride was filled with some of the most beautiful scenery. read more

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The Flam Railway was alright. Going into the trip, it had been hyped by websites and guidebooks as one of the best train journeys in the world. I'm not exactly sure it lived up to that expectation. The first thing is that if you are going during the peak tourism seasons is to buy your tickets in advance! There were several trains that sold out so you wouldn't have been able to buy tickets at the last minute. Also, if you are traveling from Bergen or Oslo to Myrdal on the Norwegian trains, make sure you also purchase your tickets in advance so you can take advantage of the discounted Minipris tickets (non-refundable however). The train was crowded and it was a madhouse getting on the train. Apparently the best views from Myrdal to Flam are on the left side so everyone was scrambling to get a seat on that side of the train (despite insistence from the people working the train that there were good views on both sides). Assigned seats would have helped with this. I got shoved aside at one point trying to claim a seat. Honestly, I didn't think the views made it worth the hassle fighting for a "good" seat - if you are planning on spending some time in Flam, you'll see a bunch of the scenery. It might be more of an issue if you are just passing through and hopping straight onto the ferry. There was a stop halfway at a waterfall which was very cool - there is a 10 minute stop for you to take pictures. There is a staged dancer who appears adjacent to the waterfall - I felt it was a little bit too staged.....but tourism is a major draw for this railway so it wasn't surpising. read more

Wow, I must have hit the jackpot after reading the other reviews. My wife and I took this stunning journey on May 18th. Not only did we have warm, sunny skies but...the train was practically empty! This is truly one of the most spectacular train rides I've ever taken. After dinner in Flam, we walked around and saw three or four other couples. The place was a ghost town - loved it! read more

My girlfriend and I took the NSB from Oslo, which stopped at Myrdal. From Myrdal, we transferred over to the Flamsbana to head up to Flåm. Even though we took the early train to try to avoid the Nutshellers, the Flamsbana (circa 12:15) was still pretty crowded. We had luggage with us, and even though we were only 2 individuals, it was difficult to find seats on the train. We ended up standing the whole way, luggage in tow. You stop at a few places for a few minutes to take a few pictures. The minute you stop, it's a mad dash to be the first person to take a picture with the scenery before your picture is ruined by other strangers in the background. Of course, if you don't care about this, then relax. The scenery is great, and the air is wonderful. The views on the Flamsbana is as breathtaking as everybody says it is - which is why I gave this review 4 stars. However, I would've originally given it 3 because of our first experience with the people on our trip. Just remember that not all tourists are considerate; don't let their negative energies affect you. read more

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We did the "Flåm in a Nutshell" tour last week while visiting the area on a cruise, and this was the least exciting part of the journey (which started with an amazing Fjord cruise, continued on a bus ride past a ton of amazing scenery, and ended with two train trips (one public train and then the Flam Railway)). This train has been named one of the best rail journeys on the planet, but while it's an o.k. ride, there are also many other better train trips around the globe and many other better sightseeing opportunities around Flåm. There are definitely a couple parts of the journey that have nice views, but most of the trip pales in comparison to the other parts of the "nutshell". The stop at the waterfall is nice, but short. The inside of the train is comfortable enough, but it would be great if more windows opened to be able to take pictures and if they didn't block off 2/3 of the train for groups that then leave a large number of those seats open. There is really nothing to do in Myrdal, and you definitely don't need to go both ways on the train (one way is more than enough). If you are using the Flåm Railway as part of the nutshell tour, it's just fine. However, if you are trying to decide between it and a boat trip on the fjord, definitely choose the boat trip. read more

Be careful of tourist buses loading up the train coming from Flam. It was so crowded we didn't have seats for the hour ride. Not having assigned seats makes this a terrible experience. They also don't tell you, but large bags need to go in the cart to be loaded separately. We stood there for 40 minutes waiting for the train and nobody said anything about the bags until the train arrived. If you hate crowded tourist traps then this is not the ride for you. Boat from Flam to Bergen was much better. read more

Flam is a beautiful place but I feel that the train journey is overhyped. The journey is lovely in a way in seeing the mountains and waterfalls and the main one that is half way up in where you get a stop off for approx. 10 minutes to take photos from outside of the train. I must admit the main waterfall is impressive and large and gushing fall of water so worth going on the train for that alone. The problem though I feel with the train journey is that there are too many tunnels that you go through. Best side on train is most definitely the right hand side (heading forward) as more picturesque as the left hand side is mainly the mountain side. So my advice would be if you are going to do the train sit on the right hand side (heading forward) and make sure to get one of the windows that you can pull down to open so you are not shooting with your camera through glass. However some people don't like it if you stand up at the window with that in mind you can always stand at the entrance / exit and use the pull down window on the door instead (some have it) but as you can imagine people hog these so you have to be quick. So my advice would be if you are fit and love to cycle or hike then maybe do that up the mountain instead this way you will get unobstructed views from tunnels that you go through when on train, people won't get in your way and you can take it at your pleasure / time the views. read more

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This great train ride has to be one of the best and most scenic ones in the world. It voyages up from town though the mountains and past waterfalls. You might even see goats on the way. The trains are historic cars that are wonderfully restored. read more

It's supposed to be the most scenic route in Norway, and it's a tourist attraction it seems. I wasn't overly impressed by it, although it is quite pretty. We also passed by this huge waterfall on the way. It's just mostly green, mountains, valleys, and waterfalls. The ride is pretty short too, as it stops along the way because it is, after all, public transportation! read more

I never thought being on a railway could be fun! The train is very comfortable; clearly designed for tourists. Along the way, there are fantastic views, plenty of areas to take pictures, and like someone else said, you can stop and get out in some of the places, and see/feel some fantastic sights. read more

Ahh this place is so beautiful it exceeded my expectations! The flåm train has old style car units and comfortable seats. The large windows and slow speed the train travels at allows guests to enjoy the view outside on both sides. The train makes many stops along its journey up the mountain and has an automated recorder playing along the journey to narrate the different locations the train is arriving at. Fun and worth your time/money! read more

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The most beautiful train ride in Norway by far. It's expensive, but worth every penny. One way it takes about one hour. Make sure you get a seat by the window, but both sides are great for sights and photographing, so it doesn't matter which side you choose. read more

Flåmsbana - Public Transportation Near Me - Myrdal, 14

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WOW!!! The scenery on the Flåmsbana Railway is simply breathtaking. The train line runs from Myrdal-Flåm. The seats are very nice, and the Flåm Railway passes by many beautiful spots. The Flåm valley can also be seen. Additionally, there is one stop at the waterfalls. If you are going in the winter, it may be iced over, which is a magnificent view. If you plan on visiting Flåm, you need to travel on the Flåmsbana Railway!!! read more

Terrible railway, very touristy and cheesy. The cars are packed like cattle with the worst kinds of tourists, by far our worst experience in Norway. read more

Right, I don't know where to start with this place. Whether you are a rail enthusiast or not you will be amazed by the engineering of this railway line and the amazing views along the route. Starting at 2m above sea level you take the railway up the mountain (yes up the mountain!) to Myrdal around 865m above sea level! The views on the way are some of the most magnificient natural views you will ever see taking in some of Norways wild rivers and waterfalls and general splendor. On the way up you are given the opportunity to stop and get out to take some pictures/stretch your legs etc. I wont tell you what you will see when you stop as it will ruin the surprise but I can say it is definetly worth it! At the top at Myrdal we had some time to get some pictures etc and then we came back down again. If you are travelling on the Bergen railway to elsewhere in Norway you can change at Myrdal. The full length of the route, Flam - Myrdal, is about 20km and at some points it feels like you are actually travelling vertically! Quite an experience. All I can say is you won't be disappointed - it is definetly worth the effort to get there. Price to travel is fair. But note Norway is generally an expensive place so most things will cost a bit. Food in the immediate vicinity is pricey but its a tourist attraction so is like anywhere. Can't complain really. Overall a very very very enjoyable experience. read more