If you’re an avid reader of this blog, then you’ll know how much I love train travel. Sitting back, relaxing and enjoying the landscapes fly past and change is surely the best way to see the world. In Europe, we’re lucky enough to have some great connections and some of the most scenic journeys in the world. One of these is taking the Flåmsbana up to Myrdal in Norway.
It’s a short journey; in fact, it lasts less than an hour. However, it climbs up through the mountains which make up the Flåm Valley and passes through waterfalls, ice and mesmerising views.
If you’re in Flåm this year, taking the Flåmsbana to Myrdal could be one of the best travel decisions you make. Here is why.
Taking the Flåmsbana to Myrdal | Your Quick Guide
Planning Your Journey
Where is the Flåm?
Flåm is a small town found in the midst of the Norwegian Fjords. Specifically, it is found in Aurlandsfjord, a smaller fjord which is connected to the mighty Sognefjord, the largest in Norway. Getting here is actually surprisingly easy. You can either catch the train from Bergen or Oslo and then transfer to the Flåmsbana at Myrdal, a station up in the mountains.
However, the best way to get to Flåm is via a ferry. These run regularly from Bergen and take around 5 hours. Once you arrive, you’ll be in the middle of the Flåm Valley, a sparsely populated area in Norway which also happens to be one of the prettiest.
How Long to Stay in Flåm
Flåm has a fair few things to do, but it shouldn’t take you more than 48 hours to get a feel for the place or to see/ do the main things.
Some people have suggested only staying here for the day (accommodation is quite pricey), but I disagree. I think that you need at least one night here so that you can enjoy the evening / morning without the cruise tourists disembarking on the town.
If you’re considering visiting check our my post on what to do in and around Flåm.
What is the Flåmsbana?
The Flåmsbana is a short railway which climbs from Flåm Station through to Myrdal. It was constructed in the 1940s to connect the town of Flåm to the outside world. The construction is hailed as a bit of an engineering marvel. It climbs a constant gradient of 5.5% and climbs up through 20 hand-dug tunnels to reach Myrdal.
Whilst the engineering is impressive, it is wildly-celebrated as being one of the most beautiful train journeys you can take. It runs throughout the year, meaning that you can enjoy the seasonal changes each time you visit.
Booking the Flåmsbana
Booking the Flåmsbana is relatively easy. You have a few options depending on how you are going to enter and leave Flåm.
In our 2 Week Scandinavia Interrail Itinerary we arrived in Flåm via ferry and then caught the Flåmsbana up to Myrdal before catching the connecting train to Oslo. If, like us, you have an Interrail Pass then you can use it for the journey between Myrdal and Oslo (still book seat reservations through Interrail). However, the Flåmsbana is not included with the Interrail Pass. If you book it through VY then the Interrail Pass will give you 30% off the total price leftover, giving you a price of around 245 NOK per person.
Alternatively, if you just want to take the train whilst you are staying in Flåm (maybe from a cruise), you can book a return through Norways Best for 640 NOK per person.
My Experience on the Flåmsbana
Boarding and the Carriage
Taking the Flåmsbana to Myrdal was one of the most exciting moments of the trip. Our train left relatively early at 09:00 in the morning. Flåm Station is incredibly simple; it is just a platform with one track. When you arrive they will check your tickets and you will be shown to your particular carriage and seat. This was an incredibly easy process and we were on within two minutes.
On the day that we boarded, it was cold, snowy and sunny. In all honesty it was the perfect weather for riding the Flåmsbana. After taking some much-needed photos, we boarded the train. The train itself is beautiful and the carriages date back to the 1960s, celebrating the traditional style that the railway would have had when it was first booming with tourists. The seats are classic and fold down, and the interior is mostly wooden. It definitely added to the occasion; it felt almost chalet like.
I would now like to add that the train is quite basic. Don’t expect there to be any fancy restaurants or cafés. However, you can grab a coffee from one of the nearby shops before you board.
The Initial Climb
The Flåmsbana is a slow-moving train. It has to be as it navigates plenty of twists and turns as it ascends up the mountainside. This escalated quite quickly. In fact, one moment we were right by the river which leads into the town, and the next we were surrounded by conifers, rock and snow. It felt that we were in the middle of nowhere rather quickly and that there was a fresh view every minute.
I can’t quite tell you just how impressive some of these views were. As you were weaving through the mountains you had sweeping takes on the valley, but also those of the small valleys and passes which had formed within the mountains. The Flåmsbana also comes with an audio throughout the journey which tells you about each part. This was invaluable and it made the trip seem a lot more like an experience rather than a leg of our Interrail journey.
Kjosfossen Waterfall
Along the way, there are a few places where the train will slow down to enable you to take in the view. It also happens to stop at the Kjosfossen Waterfall which is found nearer the end of your journey.
At this point of our trip the snow and ice had started to build up. In fact, the mighty Kjosfossen had completely frozen over for us. This was disappointing in some ways, but extra magical in others. The train gave us 10 minutes to take photos and to explore, but it extremely cold and icy so nobody quite managed this for the entire time.
When it is not frozen over, the Kjosfossen is arguably the main attraction of the Flåmsbana. It is one of the country’s most famous waterfalls and, at is highest point, reaches a drop of 225m. The railway is the best way to see it too.
The Final Ascent and Myrdal
The Flåmsbana weaves its way through the mountain and eventually reaches Myrdal, a small station which is found on the Bergen to Oslo line (another beautiful journey). As we were travelling in early spring, the final leg was extremely icy and featured snow which was easily a few feet deep. In just 40 minutes, we had gone from a place where it was relatively spring-like to being thrown into, what seemed like, midwinter.
I would argue that some of the best views are on this final part. There are quite a few tunnels to contend with, meaning that these views are blocked, but the higher up you go the more of the Flåm Valley you can see. If you are travelling during the colder months, the likelihood is that you’ll also be greeted with the same snowscape we were. It makes the entire journey that much more beautiful and magical, and I’d argue it’s worth coming at this time just for that. Plus, the tourist season hasn’t quite started yet and we had most of the carriage to ourselves.
Eventually, we reached Myrdal and disembarked the train. We only had a 20 minute wait before our connecting train to Oslo arrived. The station has a small café which serves quite basic coffee and a few options to eat. Other than that, there isn’t anything else here.
Top Tip: Be very careful here if it is snowy / icy. We actually saw a few people fall over on the platform here as there wasn’t much grit.
Final Thoughts | Taking the Flåmsbana to Myrdal
Taking the Flåmsbana to Myrdal is one of my favourite train journeys. Before booking, I had seen that some people argue it isn’t worth the price due to the tunnels. My advice is to completely ignore this. There are tunnels, yes, but it isn’t enough to counter the amazing views you get of the scenery around you. I’d also argue that if you love trains, the engineering behind this is worth enough in itself. In conclusion, whilst it is relatively pricey, it was easily one of the highlights of my Scandinavia Interrail and is one I’d recommend to anyone.
