Flåmsbana runs through one of Norway's most beautiful valleys between Flåm and Myrdal. The railway operates year-round, with the landscape changing throughout the seasons, and it can undoubtedly be said that Flåmsbana is one of the steepest railway lines in the world, located in Norway.
You will see rivers rushing through deep gorges, waterfalls cascading from steep mountainsides topped with snow-capped peaks, and mountain farms clinging tenaciously to the steep slopes. Starting from Flåm station, the beautiful Aurlandsfjord is just a few meters away.
The Flåm railway was built between 1923 and 1940 to provide a transportation route to the fjord from Bergen and Oslo. As one of the steepest railway lines in the world on a standard gauge track, with an elevation difference of 864 meters and an average gradient of 1:18, it stands as a testament to some of the boldest and most skilled engineering feats in Norwegian history.
The 20-kilometer-long railway line features a total of 20 tunnels, most of which were hand-dug. There is also a horseshoe-shaped tunnel that spirals in and out of the mountain.
The journey from Flåm to Myrdal takes one hour. In Myrdal, it’s worth getting off to go for a hike or to descend back to Flåm on rented bikes.
We hiked to the inner lake, watched others ziplining down, and enjoyed a nice meal up in the valley. It was a perfect half-day activity, especially since we took the last train back. During the ride, it doesn’t really matter which side you sit on, as both offer great views—so it’s worth sitting on one side on the way up and the other on the way back.
The only stop along the train journey is at the Kjosfossen waterfall, where you can get off for a few minutes to admire the powerful cascade. And if you're lucky, you might even hear Huldra singing ;)
It’s a good idea to buy tickets online during the summer, as they tend to sell out quickly. If you need to change the date, that option is also available.
Since it's difficult to capture the beauty of the route through photos and videos as a passenger, here you can find a video from the perspective of the train driver.
Be sure to add this place to your Norwegian bucket list, as it’s a must-see.
-Flåmsbana, one of the steepest railway lines in the world, is located in Norway-