places to visit near flam norway

22 Best Things To Do In Flam, Norway – Ideas For Every Season

It’s not a secret, that Flam (or Flåm in Norwegian) is one of the most popular fjord destinations in Norway. It’s a part of famous Norway in a Nutshell tour and a common stop for cruise ships. This doesn’t mean, that you won’t find interesting and unique things to do in Flam. In this article, I share with you all the top things to do in Flam and the area.

THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN FLAM, AURLAND, AND NÆRØYFJORD

At any time of the year, there is a lot to do in Flam and around. Whether you travel to Norway in the winter and you want to discover the magic of Norway in a Nutshell in winter , or you visit Norway in the summer to try some great outdoor adventures, you will find plenty of activities in Flam all year round.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. More details here .

WHAT TO DO IN FLAM ALL YEAR ROUND

1. take a flam fjord cruise in naeroyfjord.

One of the most popular activities is to take a Flam fjord cruise.  Flam to Gundvangen ferry (and the return one) goes  through beautiful and dramatic Nærøyfjord. The Naeroyfjord is one of the most spectacular fjords in Norway. The narrow valley cuts into the tall mountains, towering up to 1800 meters above sea level. The numerous waterfalls and colorful villages are dotting the landscape and look great from the water. In winter the views are even more breathtaking when the mountains are covered with snow.

We preferred to view the fjord from the peacefulness of our fjord-hanging cabin and from the hike in the mountains, but trying the cruise in winter might be even better than in the summer – as there won’t be many people around.

The Naeroyfjord cruise doesn’t take cars on board, but there is a shuttle bus between Aurland, Flam, and Gundvangen , that can take you back to where you started. The ferry journey takes 2-3 hours and the bus takes 20 minutes. Keep in mind, that even in the wintertime, the ferry can get booked up quite quickly, so it’s better to book it in advance.

Tip: Take something warm if you want to stay outside on the deck (recommended!). The weather in Norway can change quickly.

If you’re interested in the organized tours including Naeroyfjord cruise, Flam Railway, and more, I recommend Get Your Guide tours below:

Read more: Norway winter travel – the best road trip itinerary to experience a winter wonderland

2. Take a scenic Flam Railway train (Flåmsbana)

The Flam Railway has been named one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world and is also one of the steepest. As you can imagine, it’s a big tourist attraction in the area. The train takes you from Flåm, located at sea level, to Myrdal, located at 867 meters, and back. You can’t get from Flam to Myrdal by driving, as there is no road, so taking a train, cycling or walking is the only way. 

This train journey is the top Flam attraction and brings many tourists to the region. The round trip lasts for 2 hours, but you can also go only one way and return on foot or a bike (in the summertime) on the way back. For an easier trip, opt to travel from Flam to Myrdal by train, which climbs the biggest ascent, and come back yourself, going mainly downhill.

When traveling from Flam, the right side of the train generally has the best views. One of the trains stops before getting to Myrdal’s powerful Kjosfossen waterfall. Also, as this is one of the most popular things to do in Flam or in Norway in general, expect many tourists, especially in the summer. Or try it off-season, in winter, spring, or autumn.

You can book the tour through GetYourGuide , which includes also the ferry trip. Alternatively, you can book it as separate legs through the Norwegian railway site .

3. Visit Flam Railway Museum

For those interested in railway history, you can also visit The Flam Railway Museum , located in the old station building. It’s free to all visitors and has a display of photos, videos, and old train cars, describing the building of the world’s steepest train route.

4. Pass through the longest tunnel in the world

Lærdal Tunnel measures 24.51 kilometers and it’s the longest road tunnel in the world. The journey through it is rather dull, but it’s always something different, at least when you do it for the first time 😉 You would need to pass through it if you drive through the mountains to get to Aurland or Flåm . The journey itself is amazing!

5. Admire the view from the Stegastein viewpoint

The viewing platform, hanging 650 meters above Aurlandsfjord, makes a big impression. Stegastein viewpoint sticks out 30 meters from the mountain and provides great views to the fjord and Aurland below. The road leading to it, is the beginning of the Snow road, hair-pinning above the water. If you do a winter road trip in Norway , it’s easy to get there from Aurland by car.

6. Visit Undredal village

Populated by 100 people and 500 goats, Undredal is famous for its delicious goat cheese. In the local shop in town, you can find different varieties of cheese, including famous Norwegian brown cheese.  It’s a perfect place to buy some of the best   Norwegian souvenirs for your friends and family. Cheese production is very important for the local economy and the Undredal farms produce up to 10 900 kg of cheese per year. In the center of town, you can even find a monument of Undredal’s goat.

We bought some young matured goat cheese and goat sausage. The seller in the shop let us try different types. One of them was Gamalost , traditional Norwegian cheese made from soured cow’s milk and then cured for weeks. I wasn’t a fan.

Undredal is also home to the smallest stave church in Northern Europe. The church was closed when we arrived, but it was very tiny. You probably don’t need the big one for just 100 people in the village, as I believe the goats can wait outside 😉

I’ve heard, that the village can get very crowded in the high season, with several tour buses. I would not like to experience that. The place is very small and its charm lies in the peace and quietness of the area. I’d strongly recommend visiting it off-season for a more authentic experience.

7. Explore Viking Valley in Gudvagen

Viking Valley, Gudvangen located in the heart of the unique UNESCO-listed Norwegian fjord landscape, is the setting for the town of Njardarheimr. It brings to life the real history and culture of the Viking Age.

8. Try Flam Zipline

If you feel like trying some adventure activities, the zipline in Flam might be for you. It’s the longest zipline in Scandinavia with a span of 1,381 metres. The zipline starts at Vatnahalsenand ends up in Kårdalen, in the upper part of the Flåm Valley.

9. Try RIB Boat Safari

If you like adventure and boat trips faster than the ones on the cruise ship, try going on a RIB boat safari. These tiny rubber boats take you with fast speed to many corners of the fjord allowing for seeing a lot of places in a short amount of time.

10. Relax in the sauna

After a hike or a boat trip, relax in a spectacularly located sauna in Flam. Fjord Sauna has a wonderful view and offers a place where you can enjoy a steaming sauna and afterward take a refreshing bath in the Aurlandsfjord.

Read more:   10 perfect ideas for mountain lovers for every budget.

THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN FLAM IN THE SUMMER

11. go for a bike trip and do some cycling.

One of the most popular biking routes in this part of Norway runs from Finse to Flam. Rallarvegen , the service road built for the construction of the Bergenline, is now a popular cycling track. The route passes through some spectacular mountain areas, but it’s relatively easy to cycle. It can be broken down into stages with camping or staying in the cabins in between.

12. Go for a walk or a hike

One of the best things to do in Flam is to go hiking in the mountains around. There are waterfalls, fjords, green pastures, and wonderful views. You can try a hike to Brekkefossen waterfall , which is a nice hike from Flam. The hike is around 5km as a round trip and takes around 1.5 hours.

or one of Norway’s classic hikes through the Aurlandsdalen Valley. Around the area, you can find many of amazing hikes of Norway , with different difficulties. I can especially recommend Bakkanosi and Prest, which are supposed to provide wonderful views.

13. Have a picnic

Stop by the fjord, on one of many picnic benches and have lunch with a view.

14. Kayak on the fjord

What is a better way of experiencing a fjord landscape than from the water? If you don’t like cruises, try fjord kayaking instead.

15. Go on a SUP board on the fjord.

Last summer, I fell in love with SUP boards and it was my dream to try them on a fjord. When I finally did it on Nærøyfjord, it quickly became my favorite thing to do in the Flam area! I can highly recommend it, especially in the calm and quiet fjord waters. Buy your own SUP board (it’s inflatable), or rent one.

16. Have coffee in a train cafe

If taking a train to Flam, visiting a train museum, and riding on Flamsbana wasn’t enough to fulfill your hunger for train adventure – you can also have a coffee and a cake in a train cafe.

17. Take a scenic drive

Aurlandsfjellet is one of the 18 Norwegian Scenic Routes . It connects Aurland with Lærdalsøyrican and is a perfect road for driving in the summer when the snow melts. This 47km scenic route will take you through the mountains and next to the fjord.

THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN FLAM IN WINTER

18. hike the snow road.

Aurlandsfjellet is also called a “snow road”, because of the amount of snow falling there in winter. It can be driven in the summer. In winter, however, the Snow Road is a perfect place for winter hiking or cross-country skiing.

Going off the road into the hills will lead you to the wonderful landscape and open a view of the fjords below. You can hike with snowshoes or your own equipment. Remember to always have a map and a compass with you in the mountains. If you are not experienced in winter hiking, you can take an organized tour.

19. Go cross-country skiing

The activity that is so popular all over Norway, is also an interesting thing to do in Flam in winter.

20. Go snowmobiling

Some companies offer snowmobiling in Norway, not only far in the Arctic, like Svalbard , but also in the areas more south.

21. Take a winter trip to Bergen or to Oslo

Visit Bergen in winter with a beautiful train trip that takes only 3 hours. If you want to see the other direction of the train line and watch other stunning views, go towards Oslo, where you can find tons of things to do in Oslo in winter . The journey to the capital from Flam takes 5,5, hours.

22. Ski at Voss Resort

Voss ski resort is located only a one-hour drive from Flam. It has 11 lifts and 24 varied slopes, offering great opportunities for skiing.

Best hotels in Flam, Norway – where to stay in Flam and Aurland

The hotels in Flam get booked very quickly, especially in the high season. You can try one of these highly recommended Flam accommodations, but be sure to book quickly:

$  Brekke Gard Hostel – budget option for hotel in Flam. The hostel is located  1 km from Flåm Station and the Aurlandfjord shore. Prices for a bed start from 240 NOK. Book your stay or check the best prices in Brekke Gard Hostel here.

$$$  Flåm Marina   – This Flam hotel is located just by the Flam Marina, offering stylish rooms and amazing views of Sognefjord. Book your stay or check the best prices in Flåm Marina here .

If you want to go out of Flam and have a little bit more peace and quiet, I can recommend staying by the fjord in Aurland.

I stayed in accommodation in Aurland in the Vangsgaarden Gjestgiveri , and I loved it. It’s probably one of the most beautiful places I’ve stayed in Norway. The hotel is the oldest building in Aurland, located by the shores of Aurlandsfjord, offering stunning views of the mountains from your window and the terrace. You can either stay in the main building or rent one of the cabins by the water.   Book your stay or check the best prices in Vangsgaarden Gjestgiveri here.

Read more about Norway:

Tips on how to travel to Norway on a budget

Norway in a Nutshell in Winter

Best Norwegian gifts and souvenirs to bring back from your trip

The most interesting things to do in Bergen (indoors and outdoors)

Norway winter clothing – what to pack for Norway in winter

Have you ever been to Flam? Do you know of any other interesting things to do in Flam to add to this list? Let me know in the comments.

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Published: 2020, Updated: 2023

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Related posts:

• Discover Magical Norway in a Nutshell in winter & on your own
• Norway Winter Travel Itinerary – Magical (and Unique!) Winter Road Trip
• Best Via Ferratas in Norway + Other Adventurous Activities and Viewpoints
• 18 Ideas for Best Norwegian Gifts and Souvenirs

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Best Things to Do in Flam, Norway + 1 Day Itinerary & Tours

By Author Jurga

Posted on Last updated: April 12, 2023

Thinking of visiting Flam area in Norway and wondering what to expect and what to see and do in Flam? In this guide, we cover all the ‘musts’ – the very best things to do in Flam. Take a look!

Flam is probably one of the most visited fjord destinations in Norway. Not only it’s a popular stop for Norwegian cruises , but it’s also an important element of a very popular formula – Norway in a Nutshell.

We visited Flam by car, as part of our two-week Norway road trip . In this post, I share our experience and tell you about the best things to see and do in Flam .

In this article, I also included a suggested one day itinerary for Flam and advice on where to stay . Below you will also find some tips on how to avoid the crowds and truly enjoy this magnificent region.

TIP: If you stumbled upon this article wondering how to visit Flam as a day trip from Bergen , you may want to take a look at this highly-rated private day tour that includes a visit to Flam, Sognefjord, Gudvangen, as well as Flam Railway and/or fjord cruise. It’s not cheap, but quite a good value considering what’s included and the best price-quality tour that I was able to find. Further below in this article, you can find a few alternative suggestions.

Best Things to Do in Flam:

1. scenic flam railway – flåmsbana.

A spectacular train journey Flam – Myrdal – Flam is probably the main highlight in Flam area. Described in many publications as one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world, a ride on the Flam scenic railway is not to be missed.

The 2-hour round trip will take you through some of the most beautiful mountain scenery. In less than an hour, the train ascends 866 meters (2,841 ft) and passes beautiful valleys and countless waterfalls.

The train makes a short photo stop by the impressive Kjosfossen waterfall . All of a sudden the music starts to play and a dancer appears on the mountain, by the ruins of an old farm.

Some people will find this a mesmerizing experience, the others – a strange tourist attraction. No matter in which camp you are, you cannot help but admire the sheer power of this waterfall! And just think of it – how cool is it for a train to stop in the middle of nowhere just for you to be able to admire this spectacular waterfall.

Flam Railway practical information and tips:

• Book your Flam railway tickets in advance.
• Arrive at the station at least 20-30min before departure. The sooner you board, the more seat choice you have.
• The first and last seats of every wagon have windows that can be opened. If you are planning to take pictures, that’s the place to be.
• Sitting on the right side (departing from Flam) of the train will give you a bit better views most of the time.
• If visiting in summer, go very early in the morning or on the last train in the evening to avoid the crowds. If I were to visit Flam again, I would love to experience this beautiful place off-season. I hear that the scenic Flam railway is just spectacular in spring and autumn as well.

Flam Railway – is it worth it?

I have read lots of mixed reviews of the Flam Railway and was wondering if it’s worth it…

Some say it’s a tourist attraction. It is. Some say it’s for old people. No, it’s for everyone. Some say it’s expensive. Everything is expensive in Norway. Some say it’s one of the most beautiful train rides in the world. It certainly is!

Yes, it’s busy, it’s expensive, it’s full of tourists, and all those things. But it’s also a spectacular trip! Do you really want to miss it just because it’s popular?! Would you miss the Eiffel Tower in Paris or the Statue of Liberty in New York?

Go early in the morning, take the very first train (7.30 AM in summer), come offseason. Do whatever works best for you, but don’t miss Flam scenic railway!

2. Scenic Cruise of Nærøyfjord – Naeroyfjord

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Nærøyfjord is one of the most beautiful fjords of Norway. The narrow fjord is surrounded by mountains peaking up to 1800 meters (5900 ft) above sea level.

I don’t think I have ever seen so many waterfalls in my life as at Naeroyfjord! Incredible scenery, together with the picturesque little villages with colorful houses dotting the landscape, makes this one of the most scenic fjords in Norway!

The best and easiest way to truly appreciate the beauty of Naeroyfjord is from the water. There are several options, the most popular is the scenic fjord cruise from either Flam or Gudvangen.

Naeroyfjord scenic cruise practical information and tips:

• Just as with the Flam railway, book your tickets for this cruise in advance.
• In summer, there are two types of boats doing this cruise: the regular ‘old’ type boat or the new ‘Vision of the Fjords’ maritime hybrid vessel. This premium option is faster and has more viewing decks, but it’s also more expensive.
• The boats stop several times, but you cannot hop off and hop on with the same ticket. If you prefer to explore one of the villages, like Undredal, you have to enquire about separate tickets. Or visit Undredal by car, as we did.
• The Naeroyfjord scenic trip is not a car ferry, but there is a bus that can take you back to the starting point. The boat trip takes about 2-3 hours depending on the vessel, but the shuttle bus between Gudvangen and Flam takes only 20 minutes.
• Early morning or late afternoon departures are the best.

3. Viking Valley Njardarheimr in Gudvangen

The newly opened Viking Valley in Gudvangen is not a museum, but an authentic Viking village. You can meet real Vikings, learn more about their lifestyle, crafts, and history. There are regular guided tours, and it’s really interesting to meet these people who are so passionate about the Viking era that they choose to live that way today.

Make sure you talk to the Vikings. If you show some interest in what they do, you get to meet some amazing people and learn a lot.

We didn’t know what to expect of this place before our visit and thought it was some kind of a museum. But we spent almost 3 hours here and left with a feeling that we have experienced something truly unique.

I highly recommend including Viking Village in your Flam itinerary, also if visiting with kids. To me, Viking Village is one of the best things to do in Flam area!

LEARN MORE: Viking Valley Njardarheimr

Viking Valley practical information and tips:

• The Viking Valley is located in Gudvangen, just next to the little harbor where the scenic fjord cruise departs/arrives.
• Count at least 2 hours for the visit.
• Viking village is open to visitors daily from June through September.
• For more practical information check their official website .

4. Stegastein Viewpoint

A narrow road with twists and turns brings you to the Stegastein viewpoint , where on a clear day you can enjoy one of the best views of the fjords in the whole area.

It’s really nice to see, but note that Stegastein viewpoint is located about half an hour’s drive from Flam and therefore requires a car (or a guided tour ) to get there.

5. Undredal

Undredal is a tiny little village along the Naeroyfjord that in the past could only be reached by boat. Apart from the 12th-century stave church, a cafe, and some colorful houses, there isn’t actually much to see or do here. It’s an idyllic little place that you will pass by boat if you do the scenic Nærøyfjord cruise. But there are also organized tours to visit Undredal, or you can come by car and visit individually.

Honestly, I have mixed feelings about Undredal. I loved the look of the village from the water, it’s just so picturesque! And the road to the village was also nice: you pass a couple of farms specializing in goat cheese production, and the scenery is beautiful too…

However, when we visited Undredal in the afternoon, there were at least 5 buses with tourists here. And I was wondering for what. Apart from the little church, there’s really not much to see here. I think they walk to the church and then have some cheese tasting at a tiny cafe by an even tinier harbor. We expected to be able to see how they make cheese, but even that is not possible. It looked like the cruise ship companies have found a way to make money out of nothing.

Is Undredal worth it? If you have little time and have already seen Undredal from the fjord cruise, then don’t worry about going back by car – you have seen the best of it. If you have a car and have an hour to spare, sure, you can drive all the way to Undredal. Just try to go in the morning or in the evening and avoid the crowds from the cruise ships. You might have a more authentic experience than we did.

6. Flam Railway Museum

Flam Railway Museum is located at the Flam railway station and the entrance is free of charge.

It’s not a museum I would go out of my way to visit, but if you are in Flam and have 15 minutes, definitely take a look inside. It’s actually quite fascinating to learn more about the construction of this railway.

Practical information: Museum is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM.

7. Brekkefossen Waterfall Hike

If you would like to do some hiking in Flam, then Brekkkefossen waterfall is probably one of the nicest easily accessible options. You can get a map of the area at the tourist information center in Flam.

If you walk all the way, count 2-3 hours round trip. The first part is on a paved road (can also be done by car), and then there is a climb to the waterfall. Note that the climb is rather steep and you need good walking shoes. If it has been raining, expect it to be muddy.

Again, Brekkefossen is not really a must-see in Flam, but if you like hiking and want to escape the crowds, then it’s definitely a nice hike to consider. If this is the first waterfall you will see in Norway, then you will definitely be impressed. But if you have been traveling around a bit more and have seen hundreds of waterfalls by the time you get to Flam, then Brekkefossen is just an average waterfall, not more.

We didn’t climb all the way to the top – here is the view from the road where the climb starts.

More Things to Do in Flam

The above-mentioned activities are – in my opinion – the best things to see and do in Flam in one day . If you have more time, however, there are always more options.

You can go kayaking on the fjord , do more hiking , rent a bike . Biking and hiking can also be combined with the scenic Flam Railway.

In Flam village, you can also visit the Aurland Shoe shop and take a guided tour of the small factory. Supposedly, this is the only shoe factory left in Norway, and it has less than ten employees.

If you like beer, don’t miss the Aegir Brew Pub .

There is also a park and several playgrounds in Flam. Great to let your kids run off some energy.

How to Spend One Day in Flam – Itinerary & Tours

For such a small place, Flam offers quite a lot of activities. But most tourists only have one day in Flam. Here is my suggestion on how to best spend one day in Flam . The hours I suggest are based on the current summer schedule (2017).

You can change the order of the activities, but this gives you an idea of what you can see and do in Flam in one day. Also, you can do pretty much the same trip starting in Gudvangen as well.

Suggested itinerary for one day in Flam

• 8.35 AM – 10.35 AM Scenic Flam railway.
• 10.40 AM Visit Flam Railway Museum and/or Aurland shoe shop, and have a quick lunch.
• 12.00 board the Naeroyfjord cruise. Arrive in Gudvangen at 2.15 PM.
• 2.20 PM  Visit the Viking Valley in Gudvangen.
• 4.20 PM Catch a shuttle bus back to Flam.
• 4.40 PM arrive in Flam. If you have a car, drive up to Stegastein viewpoint and/or to Undredal. Alternative – hike to Brekkkefossen waterfall.
• End your day with dinner at Aegir Brew Pub.

Flam day tour from Bergen

Here are some of the best options for those of you looking to visit Flam as a day tour from Bergen:

• This private Flam day tour from Bergen covers pretty much the same itinerary as described above.
• This organized group tour is somewhat similar but doesn’t include the railway trip.
• This boat trip from Bergen to Flam and back allows you to enjoy the beautiful scenery from the boat and gives you some free time to explore Flam. That way you can also take a scenic railway trip to Myrdal and back (not included in the price) – read more info at the Flam Railway section above.

Here you can find more tours that visit Flam , from Bergen or Oslo.

Where to Stay in Flam Area

There are just three hotels in Flam, and a couple of holiday homes and apartments. It’s a very popular area, so it’s essential that you book in advance. Staying in Flam is by far the best option for exploring the region. There are also several restaurants and a small supermarket as well.

• If you are looking for a special place to stay in Flam, take a look at the historic Fretheim Hotel .
• Flåm Marina is another nice hotel and probably the best option for families.
• If you like to be in the center of the action, consider Flåmsbrygga Hotel  just next to the harbor and the railway station.

If all accommodation in Flam is fully booked or is above your budget, Gudvangen is probably the best alternative.

We stayed at Gudvangen Fjordtell and the location was fantastic. The hotel has been renovated since then and is even better now. Just take a look at this image below – I took this picture a few steps away from our hotel room. And in the evening we had this spectacular place all to ourselves!

If you have a car, you could also consider staying in Aurland , Undredal , Stalheim , or Voss . Obviously, staying further away will require more driving.

So, these are our suggestions on the best things to see and do in Flam. Have you been to Flam? Feel free to share your experience – leave a comment below.

More tips for your trip to Norway:

• What to see:   Norway Itinerary – 2 Weeks Road Trip
• Stavanger:  What to Do in Stavanger  and  Where to Stay in Stavanger and Pulpit Rock Hike
• Northern Norway: 2-week Itinerary for Northern Norway
• Lofoten: Lofoten Travel Tips & Lofoten Rorbuer & Where to Stay in Lofoten
• Tromso:  Tromso in Winter  &  Where to Stay in Tromso & Best Tours in Tromso
• Svalbard:  Svalbard Travel Guide & Tips & Svalbard in Winter
• Packing: What to Wear in Norway in Summer & What to Wear in Norway in Winter
• Budget: How Expensive is Norway and How Much Money do You Need for Your Trip
• Here you can find all our Norway articles:   Norway Travel Guide

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Sarah Lewis

Monday 25th of March 2024

I've book our fjord tickets from Gudvangen to Flam for June. Do we need to book the bus back to Gudvangen ahead of time?

Wednesday 27th of March 2024

Hi Sarah, yes, I recommend booking everything in advance.

Saturday 16th of March 2024

Thanks for the info. helped me plan my upcoming trip.

Monday 18th of March 2024

Glad to help, Navita. Enjoy Norway!

Victoria Blyke

Sunday 19th of November 2023

Jurga, We are traveling from Olso to Flam this Summer. We were thinking taking the train Oslo to Myrdal and then renting bikes to go down to Flam. But then we would be missing the Myrdal to Flam train ride you describe above. Which option is most spectacular? Don't want to miss out.

Monday 20th of November 2023

Hi Victoria, assuming you don't have a lot of luggage and can travel very light, the bike trip will likely be much more memorable. The scenery is amazing and you would be traveling slower, can stop for pictures, etc. Plus, it will definitely be less busy than on the train. That said, we personally haven't done it so I cannot compare the scenery. But from everything I read and saw, I would choose the bike ride. We couldn't do it when we visited because it was too difficult with three young kids so we took the train both ways. I realize that in your case it's one or the other since you are coming from Oslo, but don't have FOMO. Simply make a choice and embrace the experience without wondering what you may have missed. There is no way to see 'everything' anyway and the best memories usually have nothing to do with ticking the boxes. Have a great trip!

Wednesday 21st of June 2023

Hello Jurga, thank you for the wonderful post, so informative!!! My husband and I will be vising Flam with the cruise in July 2023, our first time in Norway. We have several options for tours through the cruise line. Could you please provide your suggestion on which one to take, they all seem so interesting. 1. Flam Railway - includes Railway, waterfalls, Vibmesnosi and Myrdalsberget mountains, Naali tunnel - 3.5 hours. 2. Voss Gondola- 4 hours includes Gondola, Aurlandsfjord, Gudvangen, Naroowfjord, Naroy Valley, waterfalls. 3. Naroyfjord cruise and Sognefjord - 5 hours, This one includes Stegatein viewpoint. 4. Sognefjord experience - 6.5 hours - Flam and Bergen railways, Myrdal, Voss, waterfalls, Gugvanden mountains, rivers, valley. If we had time we would have taken all of it, but we have to choose. Hope you can help.

Thursday 22nd of June 2023

@Jurga, thank you, that's what I thought as well. If we are to book it through the local tour company - do you know who may offer similar itinerary as #4? I looked at Fjordsafari and FjordTour - couldn't find any tour that would have it all. Regards Kira

Hi Kira, it's really hard to say and only you know what you'll enjoy most. For most people, Flam railway journey is the main reason to visit this region. So the last one (#4 Sognefjord experience) seems to be the best choice since it includes the railway trip (if I see it right) and covers more of the area. Hope this helps. Enjoy your trip!

Friday 17th of March 2023

Hi there! Love your guides. Wondering if you have an opinion on whether it makes a big difference (in terms of lighting) whether you do the earlier afternoon (3-5p) or later afternoon (4:30-6:30p) cruise from Flåm to Gudvangen? Obviously weather can be an issue any time, but in terms of lighting with scenery (given a good day) would you pick one of these times over the other?

Saturday 18th of March 2023

Hi Kate, if you are traveling in the summer, then it really doesn't matter which of these times you choose since the sunset (better light) is much later. It might be a bit less busy later in the day when day trippers start to leave the area. If you are traveling in other seasons, then it really depends on when exactly (at what time the sun sets).

A Local's Guide to Flam and the Aurlandsfjord region!

A Local’s Guide to the Flam Zipline, Norway

Stegastein viewpoint [a local’s guide], things to do in flam, norway [a local’s guide], a local’s travel guide to flåm and the fjord villages, things to do in gudvangen, norway [a local’s guide].

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A local’s guide to Flåm and the fjords!

This blog was created to help you make the most of your visit to the Aurlandsfjord area, and my aim is for it to be the only guide you need when visiting Flåm, Aurland, Undredal and Gudvangen. Whether you are looking for hiking guides or suggested places to stay for your fjord visit, you’ll find it here.

Flåm Travel Guide is written by a local, and I love helping travellers have the trip of a lifetime by the fjords! Through my travel blog, Fjords and Beaches, I have travelled the world and had some epic experiences, yet I always come back to the fjords and my hometown to explore.

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Travel Blog | Travel Inspiration

10 Beautiful Things To Do In Flam, Norway’s Fjord Paradise

If you long to experience the majestic beauty of Norwegian fjords, Flam (or Flåm , as it is spelled in Norwegian) is a great place to add to your Norway itinerary.  Nestled at the end of an awe-inspiring fjord, this little town packs a punch in terms of scenery and easy access to natural beauty.

Based on my memorable time there, I think there are 10 top things to do in Flam, Norway – and all of them involve spectacular fjord scenery!

Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. These are links to products or experiences I recommend and if you were to buy something after clicking on them, I might earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Any earnings go towards the upkeep of this blog, which I appreciate.

Table of Contents

Why Visit Flam?

Flam was my favourite place that I visited during my week in Norway . It is a great place to visit in Norway because it has stunning fjord scenery and is easy to get to from both Oslo and Bergen.

Flam is 310km from Oslo and 170 km from Bergen , two major centres in southern Norway, and is reachable by train, road or boat.

Whichever way you get to Flam, its spectacular scenery will make you glad you did. Flam is situated at the end of the Aurlandsfjord branch of the Sognefjord (the ‘King of Fjords’) and it has wonderful views straight down the fjord. And it is a fantastic jumping-off point from which to explore the whole area – so it’s a great place to make your fjord base.

I couldn’t get enough of the dramatic landscape during my time in Flam and I think back to those magnificent mountains and still waters often… Naturally, most of the things to do in Flam are related to the beautiful views all around.

10 Things To Do In Flam, Norway

1. ride the scenic flam railway ( flåmsbana ).

Whether or not you arrive in Flam by train, you should definitely consider riding on the Flam Railway , or Flåmsbana , even if it is just to ride the train and then come back to Flam again!

The Flam Railway is considered one of the most scenic railways in the world – and is arguably the most famous thing to do in Flam.

The railway runs through the Flam valley between the town of Flam and the mountain station of Myrdal. It was built in 1940 and is one of the steepest railways in the world, covering a vertical distance of 864m. However, the real marvel is the scenery along the way. You’ll be treated to views of the fast-flowing Flam river, its lush valley, many dizzying mountains and breathtaking waterfalls.

The journey between Flam and Myrdal takes around an hour and includes a stop at Kjosfossen waterfall where you can get off the train to view the waterfall for a few minutes.

I loved the journey on this train – the views were really lovely and the old-fashioned carriages made the whole thing feel a little like a time warp.

You can book tickets on the main Norwegian railway site, including any connections from Bergen or Oslo , via Myrdal. For more info, check out my guide to riding the Flam Railway .

Top Tip: there are scenic views on both sides of the carriages, but they are slightly better on the right side if you’re heading from Flam to Myrdal (and on the left if you’re going from Myrdal to Flam). And if you get one of the windows that open, you’ll be able to take photographs without any reflections.

2. Enjoy A Fjord Cruise

If you’re in Flam, you really must get out on the wonderful fjord itself, and the most popular kind of boat ride is the Fjord cruise which operates between Flam and Gudvangen .

The boat offers a smooth ride along the water, with panoramic views of the magnificent Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord , which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the early morning, I was blown away by the reflection of the mountains on the silky water. I stayed out on deck the whole time, mesmerised by the scenery.

There’s a regular service that is not a tour (there’s no commentary, for example, and it makes local stops), but does have visitor-friendly features like spacious viewing platforms so you can stand on the deck to watch the mountains go by. It also pulls in close to one of the bigger waterfalls it passes. There’s plenty of comfortable seating inside, as well as a café offering food & drinks. You can do a return ticket, or you can get the boat to Gudvangen and a shuttle bus back, which is cheaper and quicker.  You can book tickets here .

Tip : If you do want to enjoy the views from the deck, do bring something warm to wear, ideally a windbreaker: even on a warm summer’s day, the speed of the boat through the fresh air will create a chill.

3. Get Speedy On A RIB Boat Safari

If you fancy something a little more adventurous and faster than the cruise boat, a fun thing to do in Flam is to do a RIB boat tour.  These super-fast boats race around the fjord, allowing you to see a lot in a shorter amount of time. Plus, they have some guided commentary to give you some context and tidbits of information about the area.

Fjordsafari is based in Flam harbour and offers regular RIB tours of the fjord. Before getting on the boat, they will suit you up in bright yellow floatation suits which will keep you safe should you accidentally end up in the water. They’ll also give you goggles to protect your eyes from the cold wind you’ll feel when out on the fjord at such speed.

I really enjoyed this experience – it was such fun to be going so fast, bouncing over the ripples from other boats when we passed them!

4. Kayak The Still Waters Of A Fjord

One of my top wishlist items for Norway was kayaking in a fjord, so I made sure to do this when I was in Flam.

Njord Kayak operates from Flam beach and they offer kayak hire and guided kayak tours.  I opted for the latter, as I was travelling solo in Norway, and while I have kayaked before, I thought it wise to go out with other people rather than alone.

I was given thorough instructions about how to kayak safely, including how to get out of the splash deck, should I go in the water.  However, as I went kayaking in summer, I didn’t need a wet suit (though they were available if I had wanted to wear one).

The tour lasts 3 hours and takes you along the left-hand side of Aurlandsfjord, going at a leisurely pace, with plenty of breaks. My arms ached a bit afterwards, but it was totally worth it!

It was so peaceful being on the water…utterly serene.

5. Marvel At The View From Stegastein

After being on the fjord itself, one of the best things to do in Flam is to get up into the mountains for a view looking down into the fjord, and the best place to do this is Stegastein Viewpoint .

This is a steel and wood structure jutting out from the mountain above Aurland, offering extensive views of Aurlandsfjord towards Flam and also out past the headland into Sognefjord.  It’s a great place to see the fjords from a different vantage point, and on my visit, I was amazed by how much snow was on top of the mountains, most of which I hadn’t been able to see from down in the valley.

If you don’t have your own car, you can take a minivan with El-Tour from Flam to Stegastein viewpoint. This gives you around 25 minutes at the viewpoint, which is likely to be enough time, as there’s just one place to get the view and not much else up there to do.

Top Tip: if you need the toilet while you’re up there, choose the cubicles nearest the cliff, because these have windows with views, too.

6. Take A Scenic Drive

If you do have your own car, Flam has some wonderful scenic drives, including winding roads between the valley and the mountains. In fact, there’s a 47km scenic route between Gamle Lærdalsøyri and Aurland called the Aurlandsfjellet scenic route . You could do the scenic route one way and return via the faster Laerdal tunnel the other way. Nb, this scenic road is normally closed in winter.

If you don’t already have a hire car, you can hire electric cars in Flam at eMobility. 

Top tip : some of the roads and bridges are single lanes, so keep your eye out for passing points when you meet vehicles going in the other direction.

7. Do Some Cycling

As well as driving, there’s plenty to tempt keen cyclists around Flam. In fact, I saw many cyclists on the steep winding road between Flam and Myrdal. I didn’t feel tempted to join them, though: I felt like I took the right option for me, enjoying the view from my train carriage, haha!

But if you do want to cycle without doing yourself in on the steep hills, you could get the Flåmsbana train to Myrdal with your bike (you need to book a bike ticket, not just a normal ticket), and then cycle back downhill to Flam. This way you can enjoy the scenery at your own pace without killing your legs!

If you want to explore Flam by bike, there are plenty of bikes for hire in the town.

8. Go Hiking

And of course, where there are mountains, there are hiking trails, and there’s plenty to see if you go hiking around Flam. A nice short hike is from Flam to the Brekkefossen waterfall , which is not far from Flam village and has a mainly paved route, with some steep steps near the waterfall.  The route is 7.4km as a round trip and takes around 1.5 hours.

You can get hiking maps from the Flam Visitor Centre.

9. Relax In A Sauna

If you’ve been active during your time in Flam, or even if you have not, you might fancy a nice relaxing sauna at the end of the day.

Fjord Sauna is a floating sauna on the dockside in Flam, just a short walk from the main harbour. Here you can relax in a baking hot Finnish sauna, with views along the fjord. And if you’re brave enough, you can do the customary plunge into the cold water of the fjord afterwards.

Now, you may have heard that many Norwegians go naked in the sauna – but in this particular sauna, swimwear is required – so don’t strip off!

10. Sit On The Shore And Enjoy The View Of The Fjord

Although there are a lot of different things to do in Flam, I highly recommend taking at least a little time to just simply enjoy the views and the peaceful atmosphere of the fjord.

There are two good spots you can do that. One is on Flam beach, slightly north of the harbour. There are a couple of picnic tables here and I saw people having BBQs on the beach.

However, my favourite spot is the other side of town, east of the harbour and the sauna. Here there’s not exactly a beach but a short stretch of shore where you can get down close to the water.  There were a couple of row boats moored here when I was there and it was very serene.

Map: Things To Do In Flam

Here’s a map of the best things to do in Flam and where you can find the right places to be.

How To Use This Map : Click the tab in the top left-hand corner of the map to view the layers. If you click the icons on the map, you can get more information about each one.  If you click the star next to the map’s title, it will be added to your Google Maps account. To view it on your phone or computer, open Google Maps, click the menu, go to ‘Your Places’ or ‘Saved’, then click Maps and you will see this map in your list.

Where to stay in Flam

Accommodation in Flam can get booked up in advance because it’s a popular destination – and a stop on the ‘Norway In a Nutshell’ tour.  I left it a little late to book my accommodation (<2 months out), so I was left with very little choice. I stayed at Heimly Pensjonat on a half-board basis. The cons were that the room was small and basic, with no air con. However, the pros were really great food for dinner and stunning views along the fjord.

Now, if you don’t want to stay in Flam at all, you can still enjoy its beautiful scenery on excursions to Flam from other places, including this tour of Nærøyfjord and Flåmsbanen from Bergen and this tour of Sognefjord and Flåm from Oslo .

Though it is a small town, it offers a lot to visitors, and you can easily fill your days there with plenty of choices of beautiful things to do in Flam. These include getting on the peaceful, still water in a variety of boats, cycling, hiking, driving and simply enjoying the stunning views. Enjoy!

And for more ideas about how to experience Norway, check out my 7-day Norway itinerary .

If you like this article, I'd be delighted if you shared it!

About The Author

Martha Knight

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4 thoughts on “10 beautiful things to do in flam, norway’s fjord paradise”.

Oh, this looks lovely and has “Carolin come and see me” written all over it! I would totally love to cycle around the fjord or take the speedboat tour. Sign me up for that. I loved your pictures and the stunning weather made everything look so incredible. I can see why it is so popular with visitors as it is a lovely stretch of nature. How many days would you recommend here? The downside is the coldness (I prefer deserts so I shall check out your Namibia post again).

Carolin | Solo Travel Story

Thanks so much for your feedback, Carolin! It really is gorgeous there, and I wish I’d spent more than the 2 days I was there. In fact, I’m writing an itinerary based on my trip and I’m suggesting 3 days in Flam because it is so gorgeous and there’s a lot to do there. I definitely had the benefit of great weather while I was there – I guess it could feel a little different if it was overcast and cold. The other downside is the big cruise ships which dock there – they can really dominate the tiny harbour and spoil the peaceful aesthetic. But You can get away from them by going out on the water 🙂

Heya, thanks for this post! You mentioned that you did not drive in Norway. How did you get to these sightseeing spots then? I have 3 days in Flam next Spring and would like to make the best out of it. For the interest of time, I thought a group tour would be nice heh.

Hi, thanks for your feedback!. I did go out on some roads around Flam on a bus trip up to the Stegastein viewpoint, but I wasn’t driving myself. 3 days in Flam sounds great – let me know what its like in Spring!

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• Places to visit
• Western Norway

Flåm - In the heart of fjord Norway

3 things to do in Flåm

• Go on a fjord adventure
• Take Flåmsbana in combination with Flåm Zipline
• Take a tour to the amazing Stegastein viewpoint

1. Small fjord village - big fjord adventures

The best things to do in Flåm

2. the flåm railway and flåm zipline.

3. Explore Stegastein

How to get to Flåm

Don't miss these nearby attractions

Flåm, Norway

Hotels in flåm.

Experience more with Norway in a Nutshell®

• Incredible scenery
• A fjord cruise on the magnificent Nærøyfjord
• The scenic Bergen Railway and the historic Flåm Railway
• The quaint villages of Flåm and Gudvangen
• Start in Oslo , Bergen , Voss , Geilo , or Flåm

Experience more with Sognefjord in a Nutshell™

• A cruise on the amazing Sognefjord
• Visit Flåm and Balestrand, two traditional villages right by the fjord
• A journey on the scenic Bergen Railway and the historic Flåm Railway
• Start in Oslo , Bergen , or Voss

Discover all our tours

Get inspired.

Norway´s famous fjords

It’s no secret that Norway is famous for its magnificent fjords. No trip to Norway would be complete without a visit to one of the world-famous fjords! We’ve put together a list of the most famous and beautiful fjords Norway has to offer, so you can plan your next trip to our fair land.

Sognefjord in a Nutshell™ highlights  

The Ledleys experienced Flåm and the famous Norwegian fjords on their visit to Norway. This is the very best experiences on the Sognefjord in a Nutshell tour.

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.

A fjord for everyone

It seems like everywhere you look in Norway, there is another amazing fjord full of dazzling sights and experiences. With over 1,100 fjords throughout the country, even most locals have not seen them all. But, when you visit Norway, going on a fjord safari is an absolute must since they are such a big part of the country’s identity.

Things to Do in Flam, Norway

Flam is famous for being the location of the Flåmsbana — the record-breaking Flam Railway. But surrounded by stunning, sublime scenery, there’s more to this mountain village than tracks and trains.

Stop for a while, and you’ll discover a historic wooden church, nearby waterfalls, interesting museums, plenty of trails to hike, and even a craft beer brewery to while away for some hours. With all this and more in store for your visit, here are some of the top things to do in Flam to get your itinerary off to a good start.

Table of Contents

14 Fun Things to Do in Flam, Norway

Take a scenic ride along the flåm railway..

Arguably one of the best things to do in Flam is to take a ride on the Flam Railway (Flåmsbana). Running for 20 kilometers between Murdal and Flam, it’s often dubbed one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world.

Winding through the mountains and traveling through twisting passes, the railway passes through 10 stations along an impressive elevation gain of 866 meters, showcasing not only the magnificent scenery but also the highly skilled engineering involved in the creation of the railway.

The line opened in 1940 and has long played an important part in connecting the region. The journey takes 50 minutes from Murdal to Flam, with the train stopping along the way to allow passengers to take pictures of the views.

Make sure to book your tickets well in advance: it’s a very popular journey and often sells out.

Learn more at the Flåm Railway Museum.

The history of Flam and its railway are intrinsically connected. The best way to learn about this fascinating route into the mountains is at Flam’s very own Railway Museum.

Here at this free-to-enter museum, you can gain an insight into just how the world’s steepest railway works. There’s also a fun souvenir shop located onsite, too.

The museum takes visitors from way back in 1924, when the construction first began on the railway, and runs through to its completion in 1940. Throughout, you’ll find out some intriguing facts; for example, that 18 of the 20 tunnels had to be constructed by hand — even more impressive when you consider that the total tunnel length is almost 5,700 meters.

Pay a visit to the pretty Flåm Church.

Flam Church is a charming wooden church that was completed back in 1670 and was built on the site of an even older church. Situated alongside the famous railway tracks and near the river in attractive rural surroundings, the church is a picturesque place to stop and admire the view. It’s amazing that the wooden church has survived this long.

The interior is equally as impressive, with wood carvings and paintings that reflect the natural world that encompasses the church. Sit for a while, and you’ll understand the importance of this church to the local community.

Cruise along the UNESCO-recognized Nærøyfjord

Flam is idyllically situated in the unspoiled Norwegian countryside, but it’s not just the village itself that draws visitors from far and wide. It also happens to be an ideal jumping-off point for exploring even more dramatic nature in the area, namely the Naeroyfjord — a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Naeroyfjord measures 17 kilometers long but, at its narrowest point, is a mere 250 meters across. This vast fjord, one of Norway’s many famous fjords, features skyscraping mountains topped with snow and is dotted with gushing waterfalls and rural farms that hug the rugged hillsides.

The best way to see it is from the water itself. Cruise ships often make their way up here, but there are plenty of choices that allow visitors to hop on all manner of boats that leave from Flam and head on an epic journey to Gudvangen.

Or go kayaking along the fjord for more adventure.

But exploring the fjords around Flam doesn’t have to be done on a big passenger boat. If you’re feeling a little more adventurous, then you’ll be pleased to know that you also have the opportunity to hit the water on a kayak and explore the fjord up close and personal.

There’s a selection of different tours offered; these usually take half a day to guide you around some of the impressive and intriguing natural sights that dot the fjord.

Unwind in the Fjord Sauna

After exploring the fjord (especially if you’ve done it by kayak), the best way to relax is to head for a deliciously warm sauna experience at Fjord Sauna.

Here you can sit in the heat of a wood-paneled room that literally floats on the banks of the fjord itself and soak up the surroundings of the fjord, backed by the mountains, as you unwind.

It’s the perfect way to take a moment, relax and take it all in — idyllic, in a word. If you feel up to it, you could even jump in the cold water to wake yourself up from this dreamy excursion.

Pick up freshly baked snacks from Flam Bakery.

Flam Bakery is situated close to the ferry station and just a stone’s throw from Flam train station. It’s the perfect place to pick up small (and delicious) bites to eat. A friendly, local spot; there’s plenty of choice going on here.

The selection includes everything from freshly baked bread and pastries to pizzas and sandwiches. You could also opt to eat in and enjoy a coffee with your chosen sweet or savory treat. Open every day from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; it’s a great place to swing by and pick up a snack to take away if you’re heading out for a hike.

Hike to breath-taking views of Brekkefossen Waterfall

Flam has a number of famous waterfalls just a stone’s throw from the village itself. One such, Brekkefossen, is easily accessed on a short hike from the center of Flam. Firstly, there’s a 1.5-kilometer-long trail that leads up a steep, rocky track and into the mountains overlooking the village.

After a short while (30 minutes or so), the route finally flattens out into a lush, green meadow, where you can enjoy the vista overlooking the waterfall gushing into the fjord, with the village of Flam down below.

In total, the hike takes about three hours and covers 5 kilometers, with a total climb of around 150 meters. At least a moderate level of fitness is recommended for this hike.

Glimpse another cascade in the form of Rjoandefossen.

Brekkefossen, of course, isn’t the only waterfall in striking distance of Flam. There’s also Rjoandefossen. Situated just on the outskirts of the village, it still takes around an hour to hike to (and it’s along the road) the center of town. However, it’s situated around half an hour’s walk from Flam Church; it’s possible to park here and make the trek up to the viewpoint instead.

It’s a dramatic sight, with water gushing over three cascades from a height of 241 meters; the tallest of the individual plummeting plumes of water is around 140 meters. Needless to say, this is a memorable place to visit in Flam — especially if you like waterfalls.

Enjoy lunch at Flåm Marina.

Hungry? Look no further than Flam Marina. Situated just along the fjord from the Fjord Sauna, making it a good post-soak spot, this laid-back eatery boasts a terrace where you can dine overlooking the water.

It’s an ideal lunch spot, with a number of plates, including warming fish soup, vegan burgers, and pizzas; there’s also a kid’s menu for those traveling with small children in tow.

If you want to stay in Flam a little longer than just a day, Flam Marina also doubles up as a hotel, complete with comfortable guest rooms that feature private balconies and fjord views.

Try goat’s cheese in Undredal.

The countryside surrounding Flam is dotted with almost innumerable farms and little hamlets. These rural communities make the most of the verdant hillsides in the region to graze their livestock, resulting in one of the area’s most famous products: cheese.

More specifically, this is called geitost (a type of brunost or brown cheese), and is made from goat’s milk. One place of particular note to sample this unique cheese is the small village of Undredal. Home to only around 100 people, it’s said that goats outnumber the human population by over five times. They produce over 10,000 kilograms of goat’s cheese each year at Undredal — an impressive feat.

The village itself is also charming. Undredal was only accessible by boat until 1988, so it has managed to retain much of its original character and atmosphere, making it an interesting place to explore.

Marvel at the vista from Stegastein Viewpoint

Situated a lofty 650 meters above the dramatic 29-kilometer-long Aurlandsfjord, the Stegastein Viewpoint serves up some truly incredible wide-reaching views of the landscape. It’s easy to take a trip from Flam to this viewpoint, thanks to the regular bus connection along the much-loved National Tourist Road.

Opened in 2006, Stegastein Viewpoint is a carefully designed cantilevered concrete viewing platform that juts out 30 meters from the hillside. It’s also got glass at the end, making for unobstructed views as you walk along it.

Designated parking is available nearby, but if you feel like a challenge, you can park close to Aurland Church and follow the steep trail uphill to the viewpoint instead (particularly beautiful in late spring when the sun is out).

Check out the Viking village of Njardarheimr.

Examples of the Viking heritage of Norway can be seen across the country, not least at the dedicated Viking village of Njardarheimr. Situated in Gudvangen, around a 20-minute drive from Flam (there’s also a shuttle bus that connects the two), it’s an immersive place to learn more about Norway’s Viking past.

Situated alongside Nærøyfjord, the location of the village was once important for sea trade in the region. Vikings inhabited this spot around 1,000 years ago, and visiting today allows you to be taken back to an age of trade and plunder.

With recreated buildings, activities, and actors in full Viking regalia, it’s a fun way to spend an afternoon in Flam. Make sure to come hungry, as you can opt for a Viking lunch or dinner during your trip.

Go for a beer (or two) at Aegir Brew Pub.

If you’re a fan of craft beer or in the mood for something refreshing to drink, then make your way over to Aegir Brew Pub. This local favorite is Flam’s premiere drinking establishment. Here you can sample a selection of what this local microbrewery has to offer.

It’s a cozy yet stylish spot where you can also enjoy a mouth-watering menu of equally local bites to eat. There’s even an open fire, which makes it extra hard to leave this spot once you’ve found a place to settle down.

You might also like: A Guide to the Lofoten Islands in Winter .

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Best things to do in Flåm and Gudvangen in Norway

By: Author Tracy Collins

Posted on Last updated: May 12, 2023

One of the most popular destinations for visitors to Norway is Flåm . This is a must-visit for train lovers with the Flam Railway departing from the village. Discover what else there is to do in this guide to the best things to do in Flåm and Gudvangen.

For most visitors to Norway, a trip to experience the fjords is a must. As such  Flåm and Gudvangen in the Aurland municipality are popular destinations offering a gateway to one of the most beautiful and popular fjords in western Norway – the UNESCO World Heritage  Næøryfjord an arm of the mighty Sognefjord (Norway’s longest and deepest fjord) .

Flam is also home to the famous Flåm railway often described as one of the most scenic train journeys in the world.

During my last trip to Norway, I spent a day visiting Gudvangen and Flåm with my husband who was working in the nearby village of Laerdal at the time. In this post, I will share the details of our trip from Gudvangen to Flåm as well as information about the best things to do in Flam and Gudvangen. I will also detail our one-day itinerary for Flåm and Gudvangen.

There is further information at the end of the post about how to travel from Bergen to Flam (or from Bergen to Gudvangen) to begin your Norwegian fjord adventure.

I have included accommodation options for Flam and Gudvangen though personally, I would recommend staying in the nearby town of Laerdal for a more authentic Norwegian experience .

Visiting Flam from Bergen? We recommend this Flam Full-Day Return Cruise to King of the Fjords which includes

• A scenic cruise from Bergen to Flam
• Free time to explore Flam at your own pace
• A cruise along Sognefjord, the longest fjord in Norway

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Tips for the Norwegian fjord cruise

Visit the viking village, visit the village of undredal with its 12th-century stave church, take the cruise to gudvangen along the nærøyfjord, tips for the flam railway, flåm railway museum, hire a bike and explore flåm and beyond, departing from gudvangen, departing from flam, how to travel from bergen to gudvangen, how to travel from bergen to flam (or myrdal) , how to travel from gudvangen to flam by road (is there a shuttle bus that connects the two destinations), are there private tours available to the fjords, flam and gudvangen, gudvangen accommodation options, flam accommodation options, enjoy your visit to norway.

Best things to do in Gudvangen

Gudvangen translates as “Place of the Gods” and when you stand looking out at the fjord surrounded by snow-covered mountain peaks you will understand why. The village is located at the end of the Nærøyfjord

We started our day in Gudvangen having travelled by bus from Laerdal. Depending on your itinerary Gudvangen will be the beginning or end of your day (see my itinerary later in this post)

I would suggest that you take the cruise and visit the Viking Village if you only plan to spend one day exploring this area. If you are visiting in summer and enjoy kayaking there are trips available with a guide to some of the more inaccessible parts of the fjord.

Take a cruise to Flam along the Nærøyfjord

The spectacular Nærøyfjord is a narrow fjord that is surrounded by steep mountainsides and cascading waterfalls. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and recognised as one of the most beautiful fjord landscapes in the world.

The cruise takes approximately 2 hours and arrives in Flam after travelling through the  Nærøyfjord and onto the Aurlandsfjord. Spot isolated villages along the way and lose count of waterfalls cascading down the mountain sides.

There are two types of vessels that operate along the fjord – classic passenger ferries and the new premium passenger vessels.

Although the service operates all year round there are only 2 departures daily from Flam and Gudvangen during the winter months and the type of vessel used (classic or premium is not predefined).

The premium passenger vessels have been introduced since we took the trip and look absolutely fantastic (and are environmentally friendly too)

• If you are visiting in the summer months it is essential to book your cruise tickets in advance . We traveled in winter and had no problem turning up on the day but I would still check the availability of tickets and book in advance when organising your Norwegian itinerary.
• As mentioned above there are now two different boats taking the cruise and in the summer months you can choose which option you would prefer.

The Viking Village  enables visitors to experience the history and lives of Vikings through its living village of Njardarheimr.

In Viking times over 600 people lived in Gudvangen (less than 100 live there today) so take the opportunity to find out about life in the area for the Vikings who have called it home for over one thousand years.

There are lots of activities  to keep adults and children occupied and the village is open all year round.

Check out their website for more information about opening times and costs.

You will find stave churches across Norway from Bergen to Undredal to Laerdal. There are 28 stave churches remaining in Norway and they are worth visiting to appreciate the beautiful design.

The church in Undredal is the smallest of the stave churches in Norway and only seats 40 people! You can travel to Undredal by car or bus from Gudvangen as you will only see it from the boat as you sail the fjord (the boats do not stop)

Best things to do in Flåm

If you are wondering what to do in Flam there are quite a few options for your itinerary.

TIP – If you have arrived in Flam after catching the cruise in Gudvangen make sure you check out the best things to do in Flam below. If you start your day in Flam make sure you experience the Flam railway before hopping on the cruise to Gudvangen!

If you start your day in Flam you will take the cruise along the Naeroyfjord to Gudvangen. I would suggest taking the train first before hopping on the cruise ship as there are things to do and see in Gudvangen too as detailed above.

The Flåmsbana – scenic Flåm railway

The Flåm Railway is often described as one of the most scenic train journeys in the world. In fact, in 2014 it was named the most scenic train journey in the world by Lonely Planet.

The Flam railway is one of Norway’s top tourist attractions and in my view, no visitor to Flam should miss the opportunity to view some of the most magnificent mountain scenery Norway has to offer.

The train takes 2 hours to travel the return journey from Flam to Myrdal with the line cutting through deep gorges with steep mountainsides and numerous waterfalls along the way. The 20 km line incorporates 20 tunnels and one bridge and has an average gradient of 1 in 18.

There is one stop along the route at the Kjosfassen waterfall  so be prepared with your camera!

We took the trip in winter and as we neared the top snow fell all around us which made the trip even more magical.

As a train journey enthusiast, I have taken many of the recognised most beautiful train journeys in Europe and the world and I would definitely include the Flam to Myrdal rail trip in my top ten. It is quite touristy but absolutely worth doing!

• I would recommend purchasing tickets for the Flam railway in advance, especially in the summer (and cruise ship) season.
• We travelled in winter so the trip was quieter and less busy than the summer months. If possible I would recommend traveling during the cooler months. I would advise checking when the cruise ships are due into Flam if you are visiting in summer and also booking seats for the first trip of the day.
• If your trip on the Flamsbana is an extension to your Bergen to Oslo train trip buy tickets from the Norwegian State Railway website.
• Useful website – Flam Tourist Office

I am married to a man who worked as a railway engineer for 25 years so a visit to the Flam railway museum was a must.

You can learn more about the history of the Flam railway and how it was built over a period of 20 years. If this is something of interest I would recommend popping into this free museum.

If you wish to spend more time in Flam there are other options open to visitors including bike rental (pedal or electric) . We cycled a lot when we were in Norway even in winter and there are some great cycle trips to take from Flam.

About 20 minutes from Flam is the famous Brekkefossen waterfall which is easily accessible on foot or by bicycle.

YOU MAY ENJOY – Books to read before you visit Norway

One day in Flam and Gudvangen – Itinerary

We only spent one day in Flam and saw a lot during that time (it was also winter so darker much earlier in the day). If you are planning to spend one day in Flam over the summer months it will be quite easy to organise your itinerary to see the best of Flam and Gudvangen.

You can start your day in Flam or Gudvangen and these are my suggested one-day itineraries for Flam and Gudvangen in the summer months depending on your starting point! The first itinerary is pretty much our day except we caught a bus back to Laerdal from Flam.

Spend an hour or two visiting the Viking Village/browsing the shop/taking beautiful photographs/taking selfies with the troll statues before catching the 11:30 Premium Vessel to Flam.

Arrive in Flam at 13.30 – have lunch on the boat while enjoying the scenery along the way.

13:30 – 14:20 – have a look around Flam (shop/cafe/museum)

14:40 – hop on the Flamsbana service and return to Myrdal

16:30 – arrive back in Flam and catch the shuttlebus back to Gudvangen

I would start your day with the Flam railway – 7.30 or 8.35 are the earliest departures.

Arrive back in Flam at around 10:35

Have a quick look around Flam (shop/cafe/museum)

Catch the 11:00 Premium Vessel to Gudvangen

Arrive in Gudvangen at 13:00

Have lunch either on the boat or at the cafe in Gudvangen

14:00 – visit the Viking Village for an hour or two before catching the shuttle back to Flam

FAQs – Planning your visit to Flåm and Gudvangen

How to travel to flam and gudvangen from bergen.

There are a number of options available to travel from Bergen to Gudvangen.

• Hiring a car in Bergen and driving the 150 kms from Bergen to Gudvangen (a drive of just over 2 hours)
• Taking a train from Bergen to Voss on the Bergen to Oslo line and then jumping on the Nettbus from Voss to Gudvangen.
• Again hiring a car and driving to Flam is possible and takes about 2 hours 30 minutes.
• Taking the train! Myrdal is the last (or first) stop on the Flam railway. It is therefore possible to travel from Bergen to Myrdal on the Bergen to Oslo train line and change trains at Myrdal onto the Flamsbana.
• Yes, there is a shuttle bus which you can book ! If you plan to leave your car in Gudvangen or Flam the bus connects to the cruise so you can easily plan to take a round trip departing from either point.

If you prefer to take a tour to cover all the places mentioned in this post I would recommend booking with Get Your Guide who are my tour company of choice.

• Bergen: Guided Full-Day Tour to Nærøyfjord & Flåmsbanen

Embark on a 1-day tour of Norwegian countryside which takes you through some of the most beautiful sceneries. Experience the Nærøyfjord, one of the narrowest fjords in the world and travel by road, rail, and water while admiring the panoramic views.

CLICK FOR PRICES AND AVAILABILITY

• Private Fjord Cruise and Flåm Railway

Take a legendary tour through some of the most beautiful landscapes in Norway. This private guided day tour includes a premium Nærøyfjord cruise and visits to both the Flåm and Bergen railways.

Where to stay in Gudvangen, Flam and Laerdal

Depending on where you start your fjord adventure you may wish to spend a night or two in Gudvangen or Flam. Either have great accommodation options and as I detailed above it is easy to travel the 20 kms between the two destinations via road either by car or bus.

If you would like to escape the tourists in Flam and experience a more authentic Norwegian experience why not take the bus (or drive) to the beautiful village of Laerdal?

Laerdal is only 42 kms from Flam and takes approximately 40 minutes by road. You also experience the famous Laerdal tunnel if you opt to stay there which really does bring home just how isolated these villages must have been before the roads and tunnels were built.

You can find out more about visiting Laerdal in my dedicated article to the town.

I recommend the following accommodation options in each of the destinations.

There are 3 accommodation options in Gudvangen.

If you are on a budget consider the camping or budget hotel options  both of which have excellent reviews.

Alternatively, the Gudvangen Fjordtell and Apartments offer a rather unique option with skylights and hide covers on the beds. We took a look at this option when we were in Gudvangen and would recommend it for a stay in a phenomenal location with a true Viking feel!

Click here to check out prices and book a stay at the Gudvangen Fjordtell.

Flam offers more accommodation options and I have selected the following:

BUDGET – the Flåm Hostel offers private or shared bathroom facilities, free parking and is close to the train station and ferry terminal.

Check here for prices and to book a stay at the Flåm Hostel

MID-RANGE – the Flåm Marina & Apartments offer well-equipped and comfortable apartments next to the marina in Flam. Ideal for couples or families.

Check here for prices and to book a stay at the Flåm Marina & Apartments 

LUXURY – the Fretheim Hotel offers elegant and comfortable surroundings for those seeking a more luxurious option.

Check here for prices and to book a stay at the Fretheim Hotel

In Laerdal I highly recommend booking a stay at Lærdal Ferie- og Fritidspark . This is where my husband lived when he was working in Laerdal and the cabins are well furnished and equipped.

Stroll from your cabin to the nearby fjord and keep a look out for the northern lights on dark winter evenings!

Staying in Laerdal will also give you time to explore all this beautiful village has to offer and is slightly off the beaten path for those who seek more authentic travel experiences.

This option is perfect for families and couples with larger cabins available.

Click here for prices and to book a stay at the Lærdal Ferie- og Fritidspark

This itinerary and guide to visiting Flam and Gudvangen will have provided lots of practical information to help plan your trip. Norway is a stunning country with some amazing places to visit.

There are further posts below that I have written about Norway and other Scandinavian countries. Please take a look as some of those may also be useful to you now and in the future.

• Best Scandinavian and Nordic Noir on Netflix
• Icelandic shows and movies on Netflix
• Books to read before visiting Norway
• Best Norwegian TV shows to watch on Netflix

Happy travels!

Fun things to do in Flåm, Norway

The beautiful Norwegian village of Flåm sits on the shores of the Aurlandsfjord, overlooked by towering snow-clad mountains. 

It’s a tiny place with less than 500 full-time inhabitants, but welcomes around 450,000 visitors each year – almost 1000 for every resident! 

Many of them arrive on cruise ships or via the dramatic Flåmsbana Railway , one of the steepest standard-gauge railways in the world.

Quick take: our 3 favourite activities in Flåm

• Flåm railway : Norway’s best train ride by far , the ultimate mountain railway switchbacks its way down a steep valley to the fjord past wooded slopes, gushing rivers and waterfalls. 
• Fjord safari : Take a small RIB ride through the Aurlandsfjord , so you can see thundering waterfalls and mountain-climbing goats up close, and look out for seals and porpoises in the water too. 
• Stegastein Viewpoint: For the best views over Flåm, the fjords and towering mountainside, walk out onto the modernist Stegastein Viewpoint , that juts 30 metres out from the mountainside above the fjord 650 metres below.

Another reason it’s so popular is because Flåm is one of the highlights on the Norway in a Nutshell tour, which you can do as part of an organised trip or on a cheaper, DIY version of the tour .

Then there’s the stunning scenery, the fresh clean air and excellent range of activities that include kayaking, hiking in the mountains, boat trips on the fjords and mountain biking.

But which activities are best, and which should you choose to get the most out of your time in Flåm? Here we go!

Fjord cruises Train journeys Hikes   Bike rides Cultural sites Kayaking   Ziplining   Chilling out  Eating and drinking Where to stay

Fjord cruises

There are plenty of options for fjord cruises from Flåm. One of the most popular is the quiet electric boat that cruises through the stunning Aurlandsfjord and the Unesco-listed Nærøyfjord, Europe’s narrowest fjord, to Gudvangen. 

Alternatively, you can take the slightly cheaper ferry from Flåm to Gudvangen . Both take around two hours, and you can either do the return trip by boat or come back by bus, a 20-minute trip. 

And if you want a longer trip, you can cruise all the way from Flåm to Bergen along the scenic Sognefjord, the longest fjord in Norway, a journey of around 5 hours, 30 minutes.

Train journeys 

Norway’s top train journey (and some even say one of the world’s best rail trips), the Flåm Railway runs from Myrdal high up in the mountains down the steep and meandering valley to Flåm at the bottom, on the shores of the Aurlandsfjord.

The journey takes under an hour, as the train switchbacks down the mountain valley, past forests, gushing waterfalls and craggy cliffs.

Chances are you’ll arrive in Flåm this way, but if you don’t it’s worth doing the trip anyway just for the fun of it – see our guide for more on the Flåmsbana.

Flåm is a also great place for hikes. One of the most popular is the walk to the Brekkefossen waterfall, with a drop of 625 metres into a large pool. 

From here, you get lovely views back over Flåm and the fjord. It’s not a very long hike (about 5km round-walk), but the final bit up to the waterfall is steep, so we wouldn’t recommend it unless you have a decent level of fitness. 

Another good option is to take the train up to Myrdal then to walk back down the valley. It’s a beautiful walk of about 13 miles (downhill all the way!) and can be done in around five hours.

If you’re up for a more challenging walk, we like this guided hike to the Aurlandsdalen Valley for its wild, untouched atmosphere and rugged mountainscapes.

Known as the “Grand Canyon of Norway”, it’s a landscape of canyons and gorges, rivers and waterfalls, and unspoilt mountain villages.

Bike rides 

One of the region’s best bike rides is along the Rallarvegen Road, an old navigational road built during the construction of the railway, and now a popular cycle route.

It runs for 50 miles from Haugastøl to Flåm, through beautiful landscapes, and takes a good seven hours to cycle.  

If this a bit too challenging, you can just do the final downhill section, by taking the train from Flåm to Myrdal Station, where you can rent bikes from Café Rallaren and cycle back down.

You can leave the bike at Flåm station, where it will be picked up and taken back up to Myrdal.

Cultural sites

Although Flåm is small there are a few sites around the village that are worth exploring.

Flåm’s pretty 17th-century wooden church lies a couple of miles from the waterfront in what was the old village centre. 

The walk there is pretty, and if the church is open you can look inside at the impressive painted wall art. 

And if you want to learn more about the Flåmsbana railway, its construction and its impact on the local community, we suggest you drop into the Flåm Railway Museum in the old train station. It’s free to enter and has an old engine on display inside.

Kayaking  

In summer, kayaking is a lovely way to explore the fjord – it’s peaceful, quiet and gives you a real sense of connection with the water and the towering mountains above.

You also may get to see seals and porpoises while you’re paddling.

From May to September, Njord runs guided kayak trips that give you two to three hours out on the water. Or you can rent your own kayak or SUP and stay as long as you like.

We also really love this three-day kayak adventure , where you head off in kayaks with all your gear and spend two nights camping beside the water, cooking on a campfire and paddling around the fjord.

Ziplining  

The ultimate thrill for adrenaline-junkies is the Flåm Zipline . At 1.4km long, it’s northern Europe’s longest zipline and reaches speeds of around 60mph (it feels a LOT faster than 60mph when you’re actually hanging there!).

The zipline runs from Vatnahalsen down the valley to Kardalen, giving stunning views over the tree-tops, the river and switchback road down the valley. 

Vatnahalsen is the stop before Myrdal on the Flåmsbana, so you can get the train to top of the zipwire. From Kardalen, at the bottom, it’s a beautiful 3–4 hour walk down the valley back to Flåm, or you can rent a bike at the kiosk and cycle back. 

Alternatively, you can rent a bike at Myrdal and bring it with you on the zipwire!

Chilling out 

After all those adventurous activities, we recommend something more relaxing, like a sauna.

And where better than on a floating sauna on the fjord?

The sauna has large glass windows so you can take in the view while you steam and of course there’s a ladder into the water in case you feel like taking a bracing dip as well.

Eating and drinking 

If you’re looking for a tasty pastry, a sandwich or freshly-baked bread, aim for the Flåm Bakeri .

It has tables out front so you can watch the comings and goings on the waterfront, the cinnamon buns are delicious and it makes good pizzas to take out. 

And we also really like the Ægir Brew Pub , for its locally made craft beers and Viking-inspired menu.

Built to resemble a Viking stave church, the buzzy beer hall’s most popular dish is the Viking plank which pairs beers with dishes such as slow-cooked venison and salmon tartare. 

Look out too for the local delicacy, a traditional Norwegian svele, a type of fat savoury pancake served with local goat’s cheese.

Where to stay

It’s definitely worth staying overnight in Flåm, so you get to experience the village once all the tourists have gone home and the cruise ships have left port. Here are some of our favourite places to stay.

Stay in a tiny house

We love this cosy cabin , which may be small but has everything you need for a comfortable stay. With tables and chairs on its own terrace by the river, it’s about a mile up the valley from the waterfront. 

Flåmsbrygga Hotel 

Our top choice in Flåm, if your budget can stretch to it, this comfortable hotel is right in the thick of things, with good-sized rooms, some of which have a balcony overlooking the fjord. The staff are friendly and the Ægir Brew Pub is right next door. 

The Brekke Gard Hostel

Just a mile up the valley, this good-value hostel has simple but clean double and twin rooms plus dorms, all with shared bathrooms. There’s a communal kitchen and plenty of outdoor space to play, so we think it’s a good choice for families.

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7 Incredible Things To Do In Flam, Norway

• Post author By Melissa
• Post date March 28, 2024
• 8 Comments on 7 Incredible Things To Do In Flam, Norway

Flam is one of the most visited areas of Norway, and at first glance it’s easy to see why. Nestled between tall, steep mountains and sitting ever so photogenically on the shore of the Aurlandsfjord , this small yet magnificent village looks like a postcard from heaven.

People visit Flam for the scenery, but there is much more to the village than incredible photo opportunities. There are a lot of things to do in Flam, whether you are visiting with your kids, or are on an adventure-seekers trip.

The village, known as Flåm in Norwegian, is one of the main stops for large fjord cruises as well as those who purchase the popular self-guided tourist package Norway in a Nutshell .

Because of this, the village of just 350 residents welcomes nearly 450,000 tourists each year.

From hiking to taking a ride on one of the world’s most scenic railways, you’ll have plenty to keep you entertained for one day in Flam or several more.

This guide to the best things to do in Flam includes the must-see places in Flam and best Flam activities for families and visitors to this majestic Norway village.

BOOK YOUR SELF-GUIDED NORWAY IN A NUTSHELL TOUR FROM OSLO TO FLAM AND BERGEN NOW .

Best things to do in Flam in one day

Many people visit Flam as a day trip from Bergen , or as a quick stop on a fjord cruise. But if you spend a night in the tiny town or visit when there is not a cruise docked, you can avoid the crowds and have the jaw-dropping scenery all to yourself.

If visiting Flam in a day, you may not be able to see and do everything.

For a small town that serves as a brief stopping point for those traveling across Norway, there are a lot of great things to do in Flam.

Here are some of the best activities in and around Flam, Norway.

Take a ride on the Flam Railway

Taking a ride on the scenic Flam Railway is perhaps one of the most popular things to do in Flam, Norway. It is considered one of the most beautiful train rides in the world, and the views do not disappoint.

Winding through the majestic mountains of central Norway and passing by countless waterfalls, the 2-hour, round-trip train ride on the Flam Railway is worth every penny.

The train stops for about 5 minutes at the Kjosfossen waterfall .

Passengers can get out and take photos of the massive waterfall and even feel the mist on their face. Soon after you step off the train onto the viewing platform, a beautiful Norwegian folk song starts playing loudly for all to hear.

A woman cloaked in red emerges from the forest and begins to dance atop a cliff near the waterfall. Some tourists find the performance strange and possibly a bit cheesy, but we watched in awe. The song itself is captivating.

You can find video of it here .

The story of the Flam Railway Waterfall Dancer

The dancing woman at the Kjosfossen waterfall is the most memorable part of the Flam Railway experience. Although the woman is actually a student at the local dance school, through her dance she tells the old Norwegian folk legend of the Huldra .

A Huldra is a beautiful forest spirit that lures men into the woods to seduce them. In Norwegian folklore, the Huldra is stunningly beautiful although from behind she has the tail of a cow or fox.

There are several variations of the story of the Huldra. Some versions of the Norwegian folk story describe the Huldras intentions as to simply seduce men so she can gain freedom and become human, but other stories are a bit more sinister.

Some legends say the Huldra must steal the man’s soul in order to gain her humanity.

If the second story is more enticing or entertaining to believe, then the woman atop the cliff at the Kjosfossen waterfall would actually be luring men to their death. Be careful guys!

Tips for taking the Flam Railway tour

Sit on the left side of the train if coming from the popular Scandinavian city of Oslo via Myrdal . If coming from the opposite direction from Flam, you’ll want to try to sit on the right side.

Make sure you book your tickets in advance as the train ride fills up fast, particularly during the high season for tourism.

The good news for those who purchase the self-guided Norway in a Nutshell that takes you from Oslo to Bergen by way of Flam, your package comes with your Flam Railway tickets. But if you are catching the rail tour from Flam, you will want to arrive at least 20 minutes early.

Visit the small Flam Railway Museum next to the railway station. It is free to visit and tells the story of how the steepest railway in the world was built.

Kayak through the fjord

Adventure-seekers or those who simply want to experience the beauty of nature can enjoy a kayaking tour through the Norway fjords .

Paddling through the peaceful fjord on a three-hour long guided tour feels perfectly serene.

Although the fjord is extremely deep, the surface is smooth, so this isn’t extreme kayaking. You might even see Norwegian wildlife on your up-close and personal scenic journey through the fjord.

Take in the scenery aboard a Norwegian fjord cruise

If you prefer to sit back and relax without having to pick up a paddle, then opt for a fjord cruise instead.

The Nærøyfjord is considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is one of the main reasons people visit Flam.

The fjord cruise takes you through narrow channels surrounded by steep mountains with cascading waterfalls. The fjord cruise travels from Flam to Gudvangen and is probably one of the most beautiful places we’ve ever traveled. It takes approximately 3 hours.

You have the option to stay seated inside the climate controlled ferry and view the sites through the seat-to-ceiling windows or step out onto the deck to capture the perfect photo.

The modern boat has bathrooms and a snack bar on board, as well, both of which are necessary when traveling with kids.

Tips for taking a fjord cruise in Norway

Just as with the Flam Railway, you’ll want to book your tickets in advance for the fjord cruise if you did not purchase a packaged transportation deal.

They also recommend arriving thirty minutes in advance.

We took the first departure of the morning and it wasn’t crowded at all.

You can take a bus ride back to Flam after taking the fjord cruise, or continue onto Bergen as part of the Norway in a Nutshell package . If traveling on, there is plenty of places to store luggage aboard the boat.

Sample goat cheese in Undredal

Just a twenty minute bus ride from the town of Flam, the charming village of Undredal is worth the short trip if you have more than one day in Flam. There are a lot of quaint villages and small towns in Norway similar to Undredal.

Undredal, Norway is known for its incredible goat cheese. So it’s no wonder that one of the most popular activities in the small village would be to sample and buy locally produced goat cheese.

You can also learn about the process and tradition of cheese making in Undredal at Eldhuset . The village also has a cute stave church, although it is not as notable or iconic as some of the other stave churches throughout Norway.

Take a waterfall hike

Only secondary to the fjords, Flam is known for the many waterfalls surrounding the small village.

Brekkefossen is perhaps the easiest waterfall hike in Flam and one of the most beautiful. The entrance to the trail that leads to Brekkefossen is about a 10-15 minute walk from the train station and the main area of Flam.

The first part of the hike involves natural stairs. The second half is more of a dirt trail and series of switchbacks.

When you get to the top you have a beautiful view of Flam’s Brekkefossen waterfall. You can continue hiking and walk down toward the base of the waterfall, as well.

Although you might lose your breath a few times, and you’ll definitely get a cardio workout, the Brekkefossen waterfall hike would probably be rated an easy hike in Flam.

We were able to do it with our 3-year-old, who walked some of it and rode on our shoulders during other parts of the hike. If traveling with young children, you might also consider bringing a child carrier or a baby carrier for travel .

I’d recommend packing a picnic and sitting down to enjoy the grassy area at the top. The views of the waterfall, the village, and the fjord are worth the hike.

Walk out over the fjord

For 360 views of one of the best fjords in Norway, take the 30-minute drive to the Stegastein viewing platform outside of Flam.

The platform extends out 650 meters above the Aurlandsfjord . The road to Stegastein is narrow and windy, but you can book a tour and you won’t have to worry about driving it yourself!

Visit a Viking Village

Viking history is one of the most fascinating facts about Norway, Iceland , and the Nordic countries in general. And in the Viking Village in Gudvangen , just a boat ride down the fjord from Flam, you can learn what it was like to be a Viking centuries ago.

The experience takes you back more than a thousand years. You’ll get to enjoy a Viking feast, try your hand at archery and ax throwing, and see what life was like in a real Viking Village.

Feel like splurging?

This highly-rated private tour from Bergen takes you to Gudvangen, Flam, the Stgastein viewing platform, and along the famous Flam Railway. You’ll get to experience many of the best things to do in Flam on a private guided 11-hour tour.

Where to stay in Flam, Norway

Although it is a small village, there are a few hotels, apartments, hostels, and even camping sites in Flam, Norway, so you can find lodging options for every budget. We decided to stay at Brekke Apartments .

If visiting Flam as part of the Norway in a Nutshell tour and arriving from Oslo by train, the apartments are roughly a 10-minute walk from the train station. The Brekke Apartments are on the edge of town near the base of the Brekkefossen waterfall.

At check-in we were given towels and sheets to make up the bed and the pull out sofa. Although we did have to dress the beds, which is more typical in hostels than hotels or rental apartments, the accommodations were clean and spacious, and we enjoyed our stay.

Traveling with a child we typically prefer apartments over hotels , and Brekke Apartments is a great place to stay, especially if you plan to spend more than one day in Flam, Norway.

If you prefer hotels or just don’t want to make the short trek to Brekke Apartments, there are several options, like Fretheim Hotel and Flamsbrygga Hotel , located right on the fjord.

CHECK ALL LODGING OPTIONS IN FLAM, COMPARE HOTELS, AND READ REVIEWS HERE . READY TO BOOK A HOTEL? FIND THE BEST RATES AND BOOK YOUR STAY NOW .

Is one day in Flam, Norway enough?

Most people spend one day in Flam as part of the widely popular Norway in a Nutshell tour, a large cruise, or even just a day trip. Some people stay for a night in Flam, but only a few stay longer.

Although it is a very small village, I recommend spending a couple of days in Flam to really experience the fjords and enjoy this incredible area of Norway.

We felt more relaxed and in touch with nature in Flam than perhaps we ever have anywhere in the world.

Our Scandinavian itinerary started in Copenhagen, Denmark , journeyed up the West Sweden coast , and took us across Norway, from Oslo to Bergen . But Flam truly blew us away by its beauty and its tranquility.

Traveling with kids – especially babies or toddlers – is hard. It rarely feels like a vacation . But in Flam, we were able to truly relax. There is something about the natural beauty of this area that puts you at ease and soothes the soul.

Even our 3-year-old seemed to appreciate and benefit from the natural surroundings of Flam.

With so many things to do in Flam, and such beautiful scenery surrounding the village, Flam is not only worth visiting, it is worth spending extra time!

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Have you been to Flam, Norway? What are some of your favorite things to do in Flam? We’d love to hear from you. Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

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8 comments on “7 Incredible Things To Do In Flam, Norway”

What a wonderful post! I’m in the process now of booking a trip to Norway and I’m looking at all the options of what to do and see. For the fjords alone, Flam looks incredible. As you said, it looks like the perfect place to take a breather and just relax. Definitely going to include Flam in my travel plans. Thanks for sharing!

This post makes me want to pack my bags right away!! My friend and I decided to go hiking in Norway this year, but not where and which route. I’ll show her this post – hope it wins her over too!!

There are so many great hikes in Norway. We wanted to do some of the more challenging hikes, but those will have to wait until our daughter is older.

Such an awesome post. Flam looks stunning, breathtaking. I’d love to revisit Norway. We visited pre-kids and loved it.

Almost everyone we met were traveling without kids. It is such a child-friendly destination, I was surprised by the lack of children. Perhaps it is different during the summer when kids are out of school.

Great read! Norway is the last part of Scandinavia that I haven’t visited yet and Flam is definitely will be on my bucket list now

It’s beautiful! Make it happen. 🙂

We took the train here one year from Oslo – cool waterfalls to 🙂

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My First Trip to Norway, With A.I. as a Guide

Can artificial intelligence devise a bucket-list vacation that checks all the boxes: culture, nature, hotels and transportation? Our reporter put three virtual assistants to the test.

By Ceylan Yeğinsu

The assignment was clear: Test how well artificial intelligence could plan a trip to Norway, a place I’d never been. So I did none of my usual obsessive online research and instead asked three A.I. planners to create a four-day itinerary. None of them, alas, mentioned the saunas or the salmon.

Two assistants were, however, eager to learn more about me in order to tailor their initially generic recommendations, which they had spewed out within seconds. Vacay , a personalized travel planning tool, presented me with a list of questions, while Mindtrip , a new A.I. travel assistant, invited me to take a quiz. (ChatGPT, the third assistant, asked nothing.)

Vacay’s and Mindtrip’s questions were similar: Are you traveling solo? What’s your budget? Do you prefer hotels or Airbnbs? Would you rather explore the great outdoors or pursue a cultural experience?

Eventually, my chat sessions yielded what seemed like well-rounded itineraries, starting with one day in Oslo and moving on to the fjord region. Eventually, I locked down a trip that would combine the assistants’ information and go beyond a predictable list of sites.

This time around, my virtual planners were far more sophisticated than the simple ChatGPT interface I used last year on a trip to Milan. Though it offered more detailed suggestions for Norway, I ended up ditching ChatGPT in the travel-planning stage after it repeatedly crashed.

Vacay’s premium service, which starts at $9.99 per month, included in-depth suggestions and booking links, while Mindtrip, which is currently free, provided photos, Google reviews and maps. During the trip itself, each delivered instantaneous information by text and always asked if more specific details were needed. Sadly, only ChatGPT offered a phone app, whose information I found to be outdated (the $20-per-month premium version is more current).

I’m not alone when it comes to turning to A.I. for help: Around 70 percent of Americans are either using or planning to use A.I. for travel planning, according to a recent survey conducted by the Harris Poll on behalf of the personal finance app Moneylion, while 71 percent said using A.I. would most likely be easier than planning trips on one’s own.

I decided to find out for myself in Norway.

A whirlwind day in Oslo

After I landed at Oslo Airport, all three assistants directed me to the Flytoget Airport Express Train , which got me to town in 20 minutes. I was delighted to find my hotel adjacent to the central railway station.

Choosing accommodations had not been easy. I was looking for a midrange boutique hotel, and the A.I. assistants generated many options with little overlap. I went with Hotel Amerikalinjen , Vacay’s recommendation, which it described as “a vibrant and unique boutique hotel in the heart of Oslo.” Its location was the main draw, but overall the hotel exceeded my expectations, blending comfort and style with the 20th-century charm of its building, which once housed the headquarters of the Norwegian America Line shipping company.

For the one-day Oslo itinerary, the assistants were in agreement, packing in the city’s top sights, including the Vigeland Sculpture Park, the Royal Palace , the Nobel Peace Center, Akershus Fortress and the Munch Museum. I shared my location and asked each assistant to restructure the itineraries to start from my hotel. But when I gave in to my own research instincts and pulled up Google Maps, I saw that the order they suggested didn’t make sense, so I plotted my own path.

By the time I got to Frogner Park at midday, I had already covered half of the sights, and after walking past more than 200 sculptures by the Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland, I was happy to sit down and admire his granite monolith of entwined humans.

For lunch, the assistants recommended high-end restaurants in the bustling waterfront neighborhood of Aker Brygge . But I wanted a quick bite in a more relaxed atmosphere, so I ditched A.I. and walked to the end of the promenade, where I stumbled upon the Salmon , a cozy establishment where I started with salmon sashimi that melted in my mouth and finished with a perfectly grilled fillet. How had my assistants not mentioned this place?

Next on my list was the Nobel Peace Center, the Opera House and the Munch Museum. The assistants had not recommended prebooking tickets, but fortunately, I had done so, learning, in the process, that the Peace Center was closed, a crucial bit of information that A.I. did not relay.

It was chilly for mid-June, and as I walked along the harbor promenade toward the Munch Museum, I spotted small floating saunas, which my assistants had not included. I went back to the ChatGPT phone app for recommendations. Even though I was eager to try a floating sauna, where people warmed themselves and then plunged straight into the frigid waters of the Oslofjord, I took ChatGPT’s suggestion and booked the Salt sauna, which is where I headed after spending a few hours at the Munch Museum, with its extensive works by the Norwegian artist and its sweeping views of Oslo’s harbor.

At the Salt cultural complex , a large pyramidal structure on the water, I was relieved that swimsuits were a requirement. In Scandinavia, saunas are usually taken naked , and earlier, I had asked ChatGPT for the etiquette at Salt, but it failed to give me a definitive answer. After sweating it out with around 30 strangers in Salt’s main sauna, I dipped into a cold-water barrel tub and then tried the smaller sauna options, which were hotter and quieter. It was the perfect ending to a long day.

Waterfalls, lush valleys, raging waters

Each of my assistants had different ideas on how to reach the fjord region. ChatGPT suggested taking a seven-hour train ride and then immediately embarking on a two-hour fjord cruise, which sounded exhausting. Mindtrip suggested taking a short flight to Bergen, known as the “gateway to the fjords,” and setting out on a cruise the next day, which was perhaps more efficient, but would also mean missing one of the most scenic train rides in the world. Vacay also recommended a train ride.

After conversing with the assistants, I decided on a shorter train journey (six hours) that would deliver me to Naeroyfjord , a UNESCO World Heritage site with lush valleys and thundering waterfalls. But to figure out the logistics for transport and accommodation, I needed live train timetables, which I found on my own, and information on hotel availability that none of the assistants had.

At this point, I was desperate for human guidance to navigate the region’s expensive and limited accommodations. This is where the pictures and reviews on Mindtrip were useful, helping me to understand that I would be paying premium prices for the spectacular setting of a mediocre hotel.

The train ride from Oslo to Myrdal was breathtaking: rolling hills, mountain villages, fjords, waterfalls. But nothing prepared me for the majestic one-hour Flam railway ride that followed. Vacay had described it as an “engineering marvel” with a breathtakingly steep descent as it passes picturesque villages, dramatic mountains, raging rivers and pounding waterfalls, complete with a dance performance featuring a mythological spirit known as a huldra.

The next morning I boarded a Naeroyfjord cruise, recommended by Vacay, on an electric, 400-person vessel. I was surprised by the serenity of the fjord. Later I learned from a tour guide that I had been lucky to visit when there were no large cruise ships. It was hard to imagine an ocean liner maneuvering through the narrow, windy fjord, but when I asked ChatGPT, it told me 150 to 220 cruise ships squeezed through the fjord each year, a detail that I felt the travel assistants should warn travelers about.

The cruise ended in the village of Gudvangen, where rain made me cancel a hike to a waterfall and instead try my hand at ax-throwing in the Viking Village Njardarheim. The assistants had told me that there were buses that left town every four hours, a time frame that had worked with my original hiking plan, but now I was stuck. Thankfully, I took note of the A.I. disclaimers to check all information and found an alternative shuttle bus.

On my way to Bergen, I decided to stop in the town of Voss, famous for extreme sports like skydiving and spectacular nature. All the A.I.-suggested hotels were booked, but a Google search led me to the lakeside Elva hotel , which had delicious farm-to-table food. I suspect it didn’t make the A.I. shortlist because it was new.

I ended my trip in Bergen, which, despite being Norway’s second-largest city, maintains a small-town charm with its colorful wooden houses and cobblestone streets. With only half a day to explore, I followed Mindtrip’s short itinerary, starting with a hearty lunch of fish and chips at the bustling waterfront fish market and ending with a funicular ride up Mount Floyen for panoramic views of the city and fjords. The A.I. dinner suggestion at the Colonialen was perfect: cozy vibe, live jazz and locally sourced dishes.

The bottom line

None of the A.I. programs were perfect, but they did complement one another, allowing me to streamline my travel decisions.

Overall, Mindtrip — with its polished, dynamic interface that allowed me to cross-check details with maps, links and reviews — was my favorite. While it gave some good recommendations, Mindtrip needed more prompting than Vacay, which offered a wider variety of suggestions in more detail. Unfortunately, Vacay doesn’t save chat history, which I discovered halfway into my planning after closing the website’s tab on my browser.

The biggest drawback was the absence of phone apps for Mindtrip and Vacay, which led me to rely on ChatGPT’s basic A.I. assistant when I needed on-the-spot guidance. Mindtrip, I’ve since learned, is planning to debut an app in September.

Still, there were times when I desperately craved the human touch. Before setting out on a trip, I always contact friends and colleagues for recommendations. This time, as part of the A.I. experiment, I refrained from reaching out to a Norwegian friend until after my trip, only to find out that we had both been in Oslo at the same time.

That’s one element of travel that I doubt A.I. will ever master: serendipity.

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

Ceylan Yeginsu is a travel reporter for The Times who frequently writes about the cruise industry and Europe, where she is based. More about Ceylan Yeğinsu

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The Most Beautiful Places In Norway to Visit

N orway only offers two reasons to stay away (the dark, cold winters and the cost) and approximately 563,967 reasons to visit. This incredible country has so many amazing places and beautiful landscapes that make wearing long underwear and paying $9 for a hot chocolate worth it!

I loved my recent visit to Norway and totally fell in love with the country. The people, the culture, the food, and especially the landscape! Everywhere you look in Norway is another beautiful scene…it almost hurts your eyeballs to take it all in.

Some of the most beautiful places in Norway are its 50,000 islands and the towering cliffs and mountains that line dramatic fjords. Glaciers, waterfalls, and 48 national parks also make up the epic natural Norway scenery.

But let’s not forget the towns and cities! There are eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, some of which are in lively cities like the capital Oslo, and the colorful fishing villages lying north of the Arctic Circle.

Don’t ask, “What is the most beautiful place in Norway?” but instead say, “How many beautiful places can I visit on my Norway trip?” This guide covers all the prettiest places from the southern tip to Svalbard, so you can check out as many as possible!

1. Hamnøy in the Lofoten Islands

If you’ve spent at least 30 minutes on Instagram in your life, you’ll have seen pictures of the Lofoten Islands. Many regard this archipelago as the most beautiful place in Norway!

The Lofoten Islands are located north of the Arctic Circle in the Atlantic Ocean and south of Tromsø on Norway’s western coast. It’s a great place to experience the midnight sun or the stunning Northern Lights. But you need to know exactly where to go in Norway so you can capture the most iconic vistas, and the Lofoten Islands is a big place.

For the most iconic shot of Lofoten’s red Rorbus (traditional wooden houses) then you need to head to Hamnøy Bridge. This historic fishing village sits in front of the striking Svolværgeita pinnacle and this dramatic scenery looks even more magical in the snow.

There are lots of scenic fishing villages in Lofoten, so see as many as possible! Luckily, there’s a road that extends over several bridges connecting the village of Å in south Lofoten to the mainland.

2. Atlanterhavsveien (The Atlantic Road)

Norway has done an incredible job connecting its thousands of islands with roads and bridges. Instead of being an eyesore and ruining the best Norway scenic places, they’ve become some of the most beautiful and best places to visit in Norway.

One of the top bridges to check out is the Storseisundet Bridge. This road is so far west that it crosses the Atlantic Ocean. Hence the name, The Atlantic Road!

Driving across this road is the closest you’ll come to feeling like you’re driving on water.

The closest city to The Atlantic Road is Trondheim so this is the ideal location to fly into and hire a rental car. It takes around four hours to the Storseisundet Bridge, but it’s worth the drive which has scenic views too.

3. Bygdøy Peninsula in Oslo

Visiting this Scandinavian country for the first time or a short time and wondering where to visit in Norway? Easy, stick to the Norwegian capital of Oslo!

Norway has tons of vibrant cities, but Oslo is the easiest to reach for international travelers. This southern city boasts the most cultural attractions like the Royal Palace, the National Gallery, and the Oslo Opera House.

Without a doubt, the most beautiful part of this picturesque city is the Bygdøy peninsula. From spring to fall, it’s covered in lush greenery and thick woodland so it’s the perfect place to ride bikes or take a walk.

You’ll also find a lot of Norway must-visit historic centers on this peninsula, like the open-air Norwegian Museum of Cultural History and the Viking Ship Museum. They display three, real 9th-century Viking ships which you won’t want to miss.

4. Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock)

In the warmer months, Norway becomes a popular hiking destination thanks to its dramatic mountains and cliffs. Therefore, one of the most beautiful places in Norway in summer for hiking trails is Preikestolen or, in English, Pulpit Rock.

Pulpit Rock is an 82×82 ft/25x25m flat-top cliff towering approximately 604 ft/184m above Lysefjord in Western Norway. It was christened (pun intended) with the name Pulpit Rock because it looks exactly like a Preacher’s pulpit.

The hike Pulpit Rock starts in Jørpeland and is around 5 mile/8km out and back trail. It’s a fairly strenuous uphill climb on the way there, so the whole trip takes most hikers around four to five hours.

As long as you’re not afraid of heights, the views across the fjord of the grassy, rocky mountains are incredible! It’s no wonder Pulpit Rock is one of the top places to go in Norway.

5. Bryggen Hanseatic Wharf in Bergen

Because it’s located in Western Norway and surrounded by fjords, many travelers think that Bergen is the most beautiful place in Norway just in terms of cities. It’s difficult to disagree once you’ve visited this beautiful city for yourself, especially the Bryggen Hanseatic Wharf.

Bryggen dates back to the Middle Ages, approximately 1070 AD. These wooden buildings in Bergen’s Old Town next to the harbor were commercial buildings used for trading purposes. While they’ve been rebuilt over the centuries due to fires and other damage, they’re important enough to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

They’re picturesque as well as historic! Each building that lines this part of the harbor has a white or earth-toned facade often with green window frames. Today, these buildings are shops and restaurants.

Looking for other cool places in Norway? Bergen has many more popular attractions. Take the funicular up Mount Fløyen, one of Bergen’s surrounding mountains, for panoramic views of the city.

6. Geirangerfjord

It’s impossible to list the most beautiful Norway sights to see without talking about its famous fjords. If you’re not sure what ‘fjord’ means, it’s a long, deep, and narrow body of coastal water that reaches far inland.

There are lots of countries besides Norway that have fjords, but let’s face it, they’re not as good nor as prolific. There are around 1,190 Norwegian fjords, after all! But if you can just visit one, make it Geirangerfjord.

Geirangerfjord is one of two southwestern fjords (the other will appear on this later!) that have the honor of being a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It measures 9.5 miles/15 km long and 853 ft/260m deep and it’s surrounded by majestic mountains covered in lush greenery and cascading waterfalls.

The Seven Sisters Waterfall, made up of seven streams that flow down the jagged rocks, is one of the best sights. It’s a popular place for boat cruises because you can only appreciate the scale of Geirangerfjord and the beauty of the Seven Sisters Falls from the water.

7. Trolltunga

Trolltunga is one of the most famous places in Norway not just because of its beauty, but because of its name. It translates to ‘troll tongue’ in English and trolls are a popular figure in Nordic folklore and Norse mythology.

Located in the southwest part of the country, it’s one of the most beautiful places in Norway to hike. It’s less crowded than Preikestolen, but the hiking trails are much more strenuous.

It’s a 17-mile/28-km hike (yes, you read that right) and you can camp at a site near Trolltunga. Some hikers even complete the entire out-and-back route in a day! Natural wonders like Trolltunga are worth the effort.

This precipice juts out around 2,296 ft/700 m above the scenic Ringedalsvatnet Lake so, again, it offers sensational views as long as you don’t mind heights!

8. Longyearbyen in Svalbard

Ah, Svalbard. This Norwegian archipelago is twice the size of Belgium and floats midway between the North Pole and Norway in the middle of the Arctic Ocean.

It’s safely inside the Arctic Circle, that’s for sure! While it’s far from the easiest place to get to, there’s no denying that Svalbard offers first-rate Norway scenery and wildlife.

Enjoy incredible displays of the Northern Lights in winter and midnight sun in the summer months. These frozen islands are also home to polar bears, arctic foxes, and majestic reindeer.

You can go dog sledding (it’s often the only non-mechanical way to get around) and even visit museums in the old coal-mining town of Longyearbyen. Their North Pole Expeditions Museum and the Svalbard Museum are fascinating.

As the entrance town to Geirangerfjord, you can easily tick off two of the best places to see in Norway at once! Ålesund is another example of the amazing scenery you can find on Norway’s west coast.

Although founded in the mid-19th century, Ålesund tragically succumbed to a huge fire in 1904 that destroyed most of the town. The area was completely rebuilt at the turn of the century and it is this Art Nouveau architecture that gives the town its distinctive, beautiful skyline.

You can enjoy kayaking in the bay during the warmer months and cross-country skiing through town in the winter. Ålesund is the ideal place to visit if you’re seeking alternatives to the big cities (by Norwegian standards) of Oslo and Bergen.

10. Jotunheimen National Park

Some of the most beautiful places in Norway are its expansive national parks. But many of them are hard to reach! Luckily, Jotunheimen National Park is centrally located and one of the best and most scenic places to visit.

Jotunheimen National Park is home to Galdhøpiggen and Glittertind, the highest peaks in Norway, Scandinavia, and Northern Europe.

They tower an incredible 8,100 ft/2,469 m and 8,045 ft/2,452m, respectively, above sea level. But you don’t need to climb strenuous hiking trails for impressive vistas in Jotunheimen National Park.

The Besseggen Ridge is one of the most iconic photo spots in the park. Its scenic trails straddle between the Bessvatnet and Gjende lakes so you can enjoy 360-degree views.

11. Flåmbana Train

Although it’s a small mountain town, Flåm is one top Norway best places to see. It’s located in southwestern Norway nestled at the end point of the Aurlandsfjord.

From Flåm, you can look out onto the fjord, but you can also explore the mountain ranges behind via a unique form of transport. Vintage trains! The Flåmsbana rides a train line from Flåm through the deep valleys to Myrdal Station high on the peaks.

See Kjosfossen Falls and the jet-black Flåm Church from out of your train window.

12. Trollstigen Road in Åndalsnes

Aside from The Atlantic Road, there are tons of other beautiful Norway places to visit and to drive along! Named ‘the trolls ladder’ in English, Trollsrigen Road in Åndalsnes has some of the narrowest hairpin turns and steep switchbacks of any road in Europe.

Located halfway between Bergen and Trondheim, the Trollstigen Road should only be attempted by confident, competent drivers. And only when it’s not slicked with snow!

But there’s no denying that this mountain pass is an epic drive and the views from the Trollstigen Utsiktpunkt observation deck are incredible.

13. Reine in the Lofoten Islands

Since the Lofoten Islands are already at the top of this what-to-see in Norway list, you should check out some other beautiful scenery while you’re there!

Reine is one of the most beautiful spots in Norway. This is thanks to its charming fishing village with red houses and the mountainous landscape framing the village.

One of the best tips when you’re visiting Reine is to check out the night sky, no matter what time of year you visit. Walk out to Reine Lighthouse to get the most amazing view of the stars over the island.

14. Stetinden Mountain

One of the top must-see Norway sites when driving along the northwest coast near the Lofoten archipelago is Stetinden Mountain. This is an unusual, obelisk-shaped peak that stands alone on the mountain range like a Norweigan version of the Matterhorn.

It’s unlikely that you’ll want to climb this mountain as you’ll need first-rate ropes climbing skills! But it’s still one of the best places to visit in Norway because the view of Stetinden from the road is beautiful.

Stop at Stetind Parkplass viewpoint on the 827 before entering the tunnel. It just goes to show this incredible country offers spectacular views even when you least expect them!

15. Runde Island

There are so many scenic islands off the southwest coast of the Scandinavian peninsula! One of the absolute best places to visit in Norway is Runde Island.

Visitors flock to Runde because a huge number of sea birds like to call this small island covered in lush greenery home. Depending on the season, you can find gannets, shags, guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes, fulmars, skua, and, most importantly, puffins!

There are boat tours from Runde Harbor where you can spot puffins from mid-April to early August. Runde Lighthouse and the small inland lakes are just a couple of other beautiful spots on the island you should check out.

16. Trondheim

Often overlooked, Trondheim is one of the top must-see places in Norway. Especially if you want to visit a Norwegian city! It overlooks the Trondheim Fjord with the Old Town on one side of the River Nidelva and newer areas sprawling outwards.

Trondheim’s Old Town dates back to the 11th century. The Nidaros Cathedral is a 13th-century Gothic church that houses crown jewels with a stunning rose window. It was built on the site where Viking king Olaf II was crowned, and it marks the end of the St. Olav’s Way pilgrimage.

There are also quirkier attractions like Rockheim, an exhibit on Norwegian pop music, on the harbor. There’s a lot more beauty to Trondheim than you might have expected!

17. Jostedalsbreen Glacier National Park

Glaciers are some of the most scenic places in Norway, with its 1,600 glaciers covering almost 1% of the country’s mainland. Jostedalsbreen is the biggest glacier in continental Europe so seeing it in person is a great reason to visit Norway!

As you’d expect in a Norwegian national park with a huge glacier, there is so much natural beauty in Jostedalsbreen. It has waterfalls, scenic hikes, turquoise glacial lakes, and much more.

Many visitors like the 3.3-mile/5.3-km out-and-back Briksdalsbreen Glacier Hike which is one section of the larger Jostedalsbreen Glacier. Volefossen is a beautiful waterfall you can see from the trail too.

18. Sognefjord

Looking like a location in The Lord of the Rings , Sognefjord is the longest and deepest of all the breathtaking fjords in the country. It’s one of the most beautiful places in Norway to take a cruise through!

You’ll find this fjord just north of Bergen. Along the banks of Sognefjord are areas of dense woodland but also lots of waterfalls and towns.

If taking a sauna and jumping into one of Norway’s icy, deep fjords is on your bucket list then you can do exactly that in Sognefjord! Check out spots like Fyrig Sauna Skei or Fjord Sauna AS.

19. Lillehammer

Norway is known for its long, snowy winters. Of course, one of the prettiest places in Norway has to be a ski resort town like Lillehammer!

Sitting on the northern tip of Mjøsa, Norway’s largest lake, Lillehammer offers ice fishing, bobsleigh, luge, and ski jumping as well as slopes. It was the host of the 1994 Winter Olympics, after all.

Take the train up to Hafjell Alpinsenter for the best ski slopes in the area. It’s still worth visiting in summer thanks to its trails for hiking and biking.

There’s no question that Tromsø is one of the most beautiful places in northern Norway. As the largest city, it’s northern Norway’s unofficial capital and one of only 10 cities with a population of over 30,000 living in the Arctic Circle.

Tromsø is mostly located on an island and boasts streets of quaint traditional wooden buildings as well as state-of-the-art modern structures.

The Arctic Cathedral is a striking place of worship constructed out of concrete in the 1960s. Tromsø is, unsurprisingly, also home to a lot of notable ‘northernmost’ cultural institutions.

Of course, Tromsø is also a great place to witness the Northern Lights in winter and the midnight sun in summer. Although the cityscape is impressive, nothing beats Mother Nature!

Want to visit the most beautiful places in Norway off the beaten path? Look no further than Stryn, a small idyllic village close to Jostedalsbreen National Park.

Stryn shares the name of the river that runs through it from Lake Oppstrynsvatnet to Innvikfjorden.

You can check out small, secluded sandy beaches just outside of Stryn like Muristranda and Søtekjelda. The panoramic viewpoint on the 613 road to Stryn makes a great road trip stop, too!

22. Skudeneshavn

At the southernmost tip of the Island of Karmøy, Skudeneshavn looks as pretty as a picture with rows of white wooden houses with orange roofs. It’s absolutely the kind of place you expect to see when you visit Norway!

Though it began life as a modest fishing village, Skudeneshavn grew into a successful herring port in the 19th century. Many buildings in Gamle Skudeneshavn, the Old Town, have been preserved from this era.

If you’re looking for coastal Norway best destinations, you couldn’t find many places more beautiful than Skudeneshavn.

23. Nærøyfjord

Along with Geirangerfjord, Nærøyfjord is the second western fjord in a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Riverboat cruises are popular here because it’s such a narrow fjord surrounded by towering mountains.

It’s absolutely one of the most beautiful places to visit in Norway!

The steep, crystalline rock walls on either side of Nærøyfjord extend way below sea level. There’s even more beauty here than you can see.

24. Folgefonna National Park

Folgefonna National Park is one of the most beautiful places in Norway. It boasts one of the country’s largest glaciers which flows into waterfalls and glacial lakes.

Not only is it one of the best Norway beautiful places, but it’s also a great place for skiing and hiking. Check out Fonna Glacier Ski Resort or Fjellhaugen Skisenter to hit the slopes.

Most travelers agree that Mount Bondhusdalen has the most spectacular views in the region. And don’t forget, entry to every single Norway national park is free! Yes, all 48!

25. Fredrikstad

Fredrikstad is one of three fortress towns built in Norway, and the only one still standing. It’s the best place to visit in Norway if you want to learn about the country’s military history as well as visit a beautiful spot!

Originally built in 1663, the star-shaped fort is now called Fredrikstad Museum and it’s at the heart of the Old Town.

Learn about the only war the fortress was used in (the 1814 Swedish-Norwegian War). Don’t forget to check out the traditional stores and stroll along quaint cobbled streets that run parallel through this important part of history.

26. Mjelle Beach in Bodø

With a coastline as long as Norway’s, you might expect there to be tons of beaches! Due to the mountainous fjords, they are few and far between.

That’s why Mjelle Beach is so special and one of the most beautiful places to visit in Norway.

Mjelle Beach is a rocky, white/pink sand beach (with some soft areas!) tucked into a bay in northern Norway. When you visit Mjelle Beach, you can feel the remoteness and magic of this place.

27. Nordfjordeid

Nordfjordeid is a town on one of the tips of Nordfjord, around 170 miles/275 km north of Bergen. While the town itself has some pretty buildings like the Eid Kyrkje, the reason why it’s one of the Norway best places to visit is because of the water.

Not only is Nordfjordeid on the banks of a fjord but it also sits on the banks of the Eidselva River. This river bends and turns every which way until it finally flows into Hornindalsvatn Lake.

You can go kayaking, trout fishing, and hiking in this lush, scenic area which is one of the most beautiful places in Norway.

28. Hardangervidda National Park

As one of the most beautiful places in Southern Norway and the country’s largest national park, there are lots of natural wonders to explore in Hardangervidda!

Nykkjesøyfossen and Vøringfossen waterfalls are among the most stunning sights in the park, but it is also an ideal place to go hiking and skiing. This landscape has a high, wide plateau which is perfect for those not keen on steep slopes!

There are lots of hut-to-hut trails in Hardangervidda. Just watch you don’t ski into one of the many herds of reindeer or elk.

29. Drammen

Only 26.5 miles/43 km southwest of Oslo, this is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Norway that would make a great day trip from the capital city.

Drammen rests at the end of Drammensfjorden and straddles the River Drammenselva. Having such a wide river through the center of the city means locals often fish, hike, and swim in the heart of Drammen!

It’s won awards for having the best city development in Europe, so don’t be surprised if you want to move here after visiting.

Molde is a city on Norway’s expansive western coast and rests on the Fannefjord. It’s one of the nicest places in Norway because of its mountain views.

In fact, the Molde Panorama is a must-visit if you’re in the area!

Walk approximately an hour or drive 10 minutes into the mountains behind the city. Not only will you get spectacular views of Molde, but you’ll also see across the fjord and be able to see 222 mountains in your eyeline.

31. Nordenskjøld Land National Park in Svalbard

While most of the national parks in Svalbard will be incredibly hard to reach as a tourist, Nordenskjøld Land National Park is one that you can. It’s fairly close to Longyearbyen and it is definitely one of the most beautiful places to visit in Norway.

Due to Svalbard’s location in the Arctic, Nordenskjøld Land is snowed over year-round. Join a tour of snowmobilers so you don’t get lost, and enjoy riding around the ice caves and mountains. Just watch out for the polar bears!

Somewhere as remote and north as Nordenskjøld Land National Park is, of course, a great place to catch the Northern Lights too.

Gausta is a gorgeous little ski town up in the mountains a few hours from Oslo. We stayed at the Gaustablikk Resort, complete with floating saunas, comfy beds, and incredible views!

33. Hardangerfjord

All 111 miles/178 km in length, Hardangerfjord is the second-longest fjord in the country and one of the most beautiful places to visit in Norway.

It’s less than a two-hour drive from Bergen to the dramatic fjords of this region. You could absolutely take a city break in Bergen and enjoy a side trip to Hardangerfjord!

Take a boat cruise or book a sauna on the banks of the fjord. Plunging into the icy water after a long steam is all the rage.

34. Rondane National Park

The Norwegian government established Rondane National Park as the country’s first national park in 1962. Compared to some of the glacial parks, this part is fairly pint-sized but it’s packed with ski slopes, hiking trails, and some of the top must-see sights in Norway.

Rondane National Park is in southern Norway and boasts 10 modest peaks standing over 6,500 ft/2,000 m.

Some highlights of Rondane National Park include the cute wooden Peer Gynt Hytta cottages, Lake Rondvatnet, and Sohlbergplassen Viewpoint.

35. Stavanger

One of the most beautiful places in south Norway, Stavanger dates back to the 12th century and is one of the country’s oldest cities. While the Norwegian Petroleum Museum sits in the city’s modern port, the rest of Stavanger couldn’t be more different.

Stavanger is located on Norway’s west coast near the southern tip. Because it’s so southerly, it’s one of the best places to visit during the summer months because there’s a chance the weather will be warm!

Gamle Stavanger, the historic center, is the prettiest area with lots of preserved 18th and 19th century cottages.

36. Nigardsbreen Glacier

Part of Jostedalsbreen National Park, Nigardsbreen is a low-level glacier. As one of the most beautiful places to visit in Norway and one of the most accessible glaciers, it’s well worth visiting.

Join a tour group to cruise along Lake Nigardsbrevatnet before walking on the glacier itself.

You won’t regret seeing the bright blues of the glacial lake and visiting such an important landform!

37. Aurlandsfjord

For over 200 years, people have lived in the hills surrounding the majestic Aurlandsfjord, one of the most beautiful places in Norway.

This epic fjord is a fantastic place for watersports like kayaking and fishing. You can either book an excursion with a tour guide or just rent the equipment and DIY.

It’s also a popular fjord for cruise tours because it has deep valleys and majestic mountains. It’s just as beautiful covered in snow as it is covered in lush, green trees!

38. Senja Island

Just north of the Lofoten archipelago and Tromsø, Senja Island is the country’s second-largest island. It’s one of the best places in Norway to visit for sandy beaches, picturesque fishing villages, hiking, and swimming.

Yes, even somewhere as far north as Senja Island has some of the best beaches in Norway! Check out Ersfjordstranda in a huge bay on the north coast of the island. Bøstranda is another place to visit for white, untouched sands and pristine natural beauty.

Hamn is an active fishing village, with a row of unique black wooden cottages along the coastline. Another is Mefjordvær which has small waterfalls running through the town and traditional multi-colored homes.

Located far into the Arctic Circle, few places like Senja Island exist.

39. Nusfjord in the Lofoten Islands

Let’s throw one last stunning fishing village in the Lofoten Islands on this list of the most beautiful places to visit in Norway, shall we? After all, its popularity means this archipelago is one of the easiest parts of northern Norway to reach!

Nusfjord is known for being one of the most brightly-colored fishing villages with sunshine-yellow houses. Some of the buildings are part of an open-air museum where you can head inside and what a fisherman’s workshop and local stories would have looked like in decades gone by.

Some of the best panoramic vistas of Nusfjord can be seen from the Lighthouse (it’s comically short!) or from behind the village up the hill.

Since Nusfjord is in the Arctic Circle, it’s also an ideal place to visit in winter in the hopes of seeing the Northern Lights. Or visit in the height of summer to watch the sun never set!

40. Saltfjellet–Svartisen National Park

Although the cities and fishing villages are incredibly picturesque, the country’s natural attractions are among the most beautiful places in Norway.

Two final glaciers to add to your itinerary are Saltfjellet and Svartisen which have their own national park. They’re surrounded by scenic glacial lakes which are popular for salmon fishing.

Some highlights to check out in Saltfjellet–Svartisen National Park are the Marble Castle rock formation next to the River Glomåga, Grønligrotta and Setergrotta limestone caverns, and Helgelandsbukken mountain.

The valley of Rjukan is lovely, but if you take the gondola up to the top of the mountain, that’s where the real beauty is! The valley is so deep, that in the winter, they use mirrrors to reflect sunlight down into the valley. But before that, villagers would retreat to their cabins on top of the mountain to take in some vitamin D.

42. Trollskogen

Trollskogen, also known as the troll forest sits just above the city of Oslo. You can take the funicular up the mountain to explore the forest, which was the inspiration for the troll forest in the movie Frozen . And I can totally see why…so many moss covered rocks that look like they could be trolls hiding in the forest. There are several trails you can take through the forest.

Add the Most Beautiful Places in Norway to Your Bucket List

Packed with UNESCO World Heritage Sites and the most incredible coastline in Northern Europe, it’s hard to narrow down the most beautiful places in Norway to just one list!

But with such stunning natural landscapes and postcard-perfect towns and cities, you’ll never regret witnessing the beauty of Norway with your own eyes.

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