Flåm & Sognefjord

In the heart of Sognefjord, the world's longest and deepest fjord: ride the Flåm Railway, cruise the UNESCO-listed Nærøyfjord and see medieval stave churches.

Flåm lies in the municipality of Aurland in Vestland county, western Norway, at the head of the Aurlandsfjord, an arm of Sognefjord, the longest and deepest fjord in the world. It is the core of the 'Norway in a Nutshell' route. This village of a few hundred people combines a mountain railway, fjord cruises, hiking and cycling, and the nearby Nærøyfjord is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Season: May–Sep has the most departures and the longest daylight, and waterfalls run strongest in Jun–Jul; snowy roads and mountain trails usually open only after June. In winter, boats and trains still run and the snow has its own charm, but many attractions and restaurants are closed.

Areas to explore: ① Flåm village: the Flåm Railway, the railway museum, Brekkefossen waterfall and the Ægir Brewery; ② Around the Aurlandsfjord: the Stegastein viewpoint, the Snow Road, the cheese village of Undredal, Otternes farms and the Aurland valley; ③ Nærøyfjord: cruise to Gudvangen, the Viking Valley, Stalheim and Tvindefossen waterfall, and the Voss Gondola; ④ To the east: the Lærdal Tunnel, Borgund Stave Church and the old town of Lærdalsøyri; ⑤ North shore of Sognefjord: Urnes Stave Church, Balestrand and Hopperstad Stave Church in Vik.

Getting there: Take a train from Oslo or Bergen to Myrdal and change to the Flåm Railway for the descent, or take a fast boat direct from Bergen; if driving, use the E16. We suggest 2–3 days. Lodging in the village is limited and must be booked early in peak season; on cruise-ship days it gets very crowded, so visit popular sights early.

Top sights

Sognefjord & Nærøyfjord – Norway's longest and deepest fjord, the Sognefjord. Its branch, the Nærøyfjord, narrows to just 250 m with cliffs over 1,000 m high. It is…
Flåm Railway – One of the steepest standard-gauge railways in the world. In under an hour, it climbs from sea level at Flåm to 866 m at Myrdal, passing 20…
Stegastein Viewpoint – A timber-and-steel viewing platform cantilevered 650 m above the Aurlandsfjord. It is Flåm's most classic overlook of the fjord.
Borgund Stave Church – Norway's best-preserved medieval stave church, built around 1180. Its tiered roof, decorated with dragon heads, is instantly recognizable.
Urnes Stave Church – Norway's oldest stave church, built around 1130. Its fine wood carvings in the 'Urnes style,' featuring animals, earned it a place on the W…
Undredal – A tiny village on the fjord where goats are raised for cheese. With only about a hundred residents, it has the smallest stave church still…
Viking Valley Gudvangen – A reconstructed Viking village at the head of the Nærøyfjord, where costumed 'villagers' demonstrate crafts and everyday life.
Myrdal Station & Rallarvegen – Myrdal Station, where the mountain railway meets the Bergen line, and the starting point of the classic 'Navvies' Road' bike ride downhill…
Kjosfossen – A large waterfall along the Flåm Railway, where the train stops for about five minutes. In summer, a Huldra dances by the falls.
Flåm Railway Museum – A free railway museum beside Flåm Station that tells the story of how this, the steepest standard-gauge railway in the world, was built.
Ægir Brewery & Pub – A craft brewery and pub shaped like a Viking longhouse, serving tasting flights and Nordic dishes. A favorite evening spot in Flåm.
Brekkefossen – A waterfall above the village of Flåm. A steep stone-step trail takes about 30 to 45 minutes to reach a viewpoint overlooking Flåm Fjord an…
Aurlandsdalen Valley Hike – A classic river valley trail known as 'Norway's Grand Canyon,' running downhill past waterfalls, gorges, and mountain farms.
Otternes Farm – An old cluster of farm buildings on the hillside between Flåm and Aurland, with 27 wooden houses dating from the 17th to 19th centuries ove…
Lærdal Tunnel – At 24.5 km, the world's longest road tunnel, with three caverns lit in blue and yellow to help relieve driver fatigue.
Lærdalsøyri Old Town – A well-preserved old town of 18th- and 19th-century wooden houses, with about 160 colorful buildings and a Norwegian wild salmon centre.
Stalheim & Nærøydalen – A terrace at the century-old Stalheim Hotel overlooks the Nærøy Valley, and the nearby serpentine road with 13 sharp bends is one of Northe…
Tvindefossen – A stepped waterfall beside the E16 highway, dropping about 150 meters. You can see it simply by pulling over, and it is a standard stop on…
Balestrand – An artists' town in the middle of the Sognefjord, where a Swiss-style wooden hotel and a small English-style wooden church stand by the wat…
Hopperstad Stave Church – An ancient wooden stave church in the village of Vik, built around 1130 and restored in the 19th century to its medieval appearance.
Kjelfossen – A multi-tier waterfall on the cliffs at the Gudvangen end of the fjord, with a total drop of about 700 meters. Visible from the Nærøyfjord…

Where to eat

Ægir Viking Brewpub – A Viking longhouse-style brewpub that cooks with its own beer. The Ægir Viking platter with a beer tasting set is proba…
Fretheim Hotel Arven Restaurant – The main restaurant of the century-old Fretheim Hotel, serving buffet or à la carte dinners built around West Norwegian…
Flåm Marina Restaurant – A waterside restaurant away from the station crowds, best known for its saffron fish soup, with fjord-view seating.
Flåm Bakeri – A handmade bakery by the marina that sells fresh-baked sweet buns, sandwiches and cakes. It's an affordable way to tide…
Bakkastova Café – A wooden café on the hill behind Fretheim Hotel, with a terrace overlooking the fjord and village, serving stews, reind…

Itineraries

Norway in a Nutshell: Oslo to Bergen – Travel from Oslo to Flåm via the scenic mountain railway, cruise the Nærøyfjord, and arrive in Bergen—no driving requir…
Western Fjords Grand Loop: 13-Day Self-Drive Itinerary – A self-drive loop from Bergen covering the Sognefjord, Geirangerfjord, Atlantic Ocean Road, and Hjørundfjord.