The Flåm Railway - one of the world's best train journeys

Lonely Planet named it the best train journey in the world. Norway's Flåm Railway is a truly unique experience of breathtaking nature and quaint fjord villages. "It's so powerful and dramatic," says Audrey Olson, who experienced the train journey as part of the Sognefjord in a Nutshell tour.

Updated: Oct 15, 2025By: The Fjord Tours team

Family of six poses in front of misty waterfall with green cliffs and no-smoking sign.

Where is the Flåm Railway?

The family wanted to experience the best of Norway, but only had a couple of days.

When they discovered that the Nutshell tours bring visitors to the most iconic highlights, with seamless transportation, they were sold. They were happy to find a tour they could truly make their own.

“I like the fact that you can do it in a day, or in 2 days or 3 days. And you also get inspiration on where you can stay and what you can eat,” says Audrey.

Passengers board green Flåmsbana train at snowy mountain station with cyclists. — Audrey and her family boarding the historic Flåm Railway

Instagram-friendly fjord landscapes

The Flåm Railway runs between Myrdal station, located at 867 meters above sea level, and Flåm, a village that is all the way down by the Aurlandsfjord. The trip takes about 1 hour.

On its way, the train winds its way past snow-capped mountains, lush forests, rushing rivers, and waterfalls cascading off steep cliffs. The Instagram-friendly highlights never seem to end.

“It´s so powerful. And I was surprised at how the landscapes changed so dramatically. There was also a lot more snow than I would have thought,” says Audrey.

Audrey's family has Norwegian roots and had long dreamed of a booking a vacation to Norway. Seeing the beautiful scenery from which their ancestors once emigrated was an emotional experience.

Passenger snaps photo of green valley with river and cliffs through train window. — Lean back, relax and find your camera.

Powerful waterfalls and fairytale creatures

One of the indisputable highlights of the family’s Sognefjord in a Nutshell™ tour was the beautiful waterfalls that gush down the mountainsides as the snow melts in the mountains in spring and summer.

There is even a stop at one of the biggest waterfalls on the Flåm Railway, Kjosfossen. Here, the family stepped off the train to experience the waterfall up close. So close, in fact, that a few drops sprayed gently down on them.

Smiling girl with messy hair stands on wooden platform among cheerful crowd. — Feel the breeze from the mighty Kjosfossen waterfall

This experience was especially memorable for Audrey's son, Graydon. Far up on the mountainside, he saw a forest creature which Norwegian children encounter in fairy tales.

The mythical creature lives inside the mountain singing songs. She looks like an angel, but underneath her beautiful dress she has a tail.

"I was told this creature is called a huldra. She stood up there on the mountainside singing beautifully, trying to lure us to her." says Graydon.

Person in red outfit stands on mossy cliff near misty waterfall in green gorge. — Huldra is a seductive forest creature in Scandinavian folklore.

An impressive feat of engineering

It took almost 20 years to build the railway. This is perhaps not surprising as 18 of its 20 tunnels were built by hand. Winding its way through the mountains, the railway is an impressive feat of engineering.

The Flåm Railway runs through green valley by river, snowy peaks in background. — The Flåm Railway is on many people´s bucket list.

Moreover, it brings you very close to some of the very best nature Norway can offer. National Geographic has named this train trip one of the ten most beautiful in Europe.

Step back in time on a historic train

The Flåm Railway is truly a historic train, something which is reflected in its original interiors. As the unspoiled nature and traditional farms glide past your window, you get the sense of travelling back in time.

Boy with cap and big blue backpack smiles inside warm wooden train car with family. — Graydon Olson was surprised of the historic interior on board.

“The train car was so cool. I had never been in one like it before.” says Audrey.

From your window, you can see historic mountain farms clinging to steep hills. Many were built long before the advent of the railway. Audrey's mother, Lynette, was particularly interested in Norwegian farm life.

“The little houses were just tucked in there. We are from a small place, and we have a lot of farming in Duluth. It was very interesting to see how they do it in Norway,” she says.

Colorful houses and kindergarten at mountain base with tall waterfall behind. — The list of things to see between Flåm and Myrdal is long.

Sip a Viking brew by the fjord in Flåm

The Olson family completed their Sognefjord in a Nutshell tour in two days, adding an overnight stay in Flåm, a quaint village on the Aurlandsfjord. Flåm offers excellent activities that make it well worth spending some extra time there.

“We just wanted to explore the place. We love the culture in Norway, and we wanted to go into the smaller towns and meet the local people,” Audrey says.

In Flåm, you can sample local craft beer with a Viking plank at the Ægir brewery and restaurant, fly along Northern Europe's longest zipline, kayak on the fjords, and more. How about experiencing nature up close on a RIB boat cruise on the UNESCO-listed Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord?

Smiling family takes selfie at mountain station with other travelers and snowy peaks. — The Olson family went home to Minnesota with great memories from Flåm and the Flåm Railway.

Make the Nutshell tour your own

You can experience the Flåm Railway on several of our Nutshell tours, which take you to the very best that Norway has to offer.

You can choose to take the tour in a day or add activities and overnight accommodation. You can even choose the start and end point of your tour to fit your travel plans. All in one easy booking!

People at Stegastein viewpoint over fjord, golden light on cliffs and water.

Discover all our tours

Whether you're daydreaming about Norway or ready to book your ticket now, it’s always great to explore your options. The journey starts here with our collections of top tours.

Find a tour

Top things to do in Flåm

Flåm offers a wealth of activities throughout the year. Book an exciting activity as part of your Nutshell tour or as a stand-alone booking. Here are our handpicked favorites: