Is Flåm, Norway Worth Visiting?

Recently, I had the incredible opportunity to visit Norway. One of the stops on our itinerary was Flåm, a small village nestled at the end of Aurlandsfjord, an arm of the 204-km-long Sognefjord in Western Norway. Our Norwegian adventure began in Bergen, where we rented an electric car for the approximately three-hour drive to Flåm. Norway's infrastructure for electric vehicles is excellent, and we encountered no issues—impressive, considering it was our first time renting and driving an EV.

View from Stegastein View Point Near Flam

The Scenic Drive to Flåm Norway

The drive itself was spectacular, featuring numerous waterfalls and tunnels, making it one of the most scenic road trips I have taken. This experience has made me eager to return to Norway and drive the entire length of the country—its natural beauty is simply unparalleled.

If you're a fan of waterfalls, I highly recommend renting a car and embarking on this drive.

Flåm is a popular stop for cruise ships, with near-daily visits during the summer months. It is also the starting point for the Flåm Railway, often touted as one of the most scenic train rides in the world. However, as an independent traveler (not part of a cruise), would I recommend visiting Flåm? The answer: it depends. Read on to find out why.

The Beauty of Flåm

Flåm is undeniably beautiful. It's a small town surrounded by breathtaking fjords. Everywhere you look, it's a postcard-perfect moment. The village is quaint. The downside is that it is a cruise stop, and you will see massive cruise ships docked there almost every day in the summer. Some of these cruise ships carry thousands of people, quickly overwhelming the town.

Where to Stay

We stayed at the Flåmsbrygga Hotel, which I highly recommend if you're staying overnight. While the hotel itself is fairly standard, it was clean, and the staff were excellent. The best part was its unbeatable location, and waking up to views of the fjord was a highlight of the trip. Although the breakfast buffet was nothing fancy, enjoying coffee on the balcony while overlooking the fjord made up for it.

Another option in town is the Fretheim Hotel.

The Nærøyfjord Cruise Experience

Another popular activity in Flåm is the Nærøyfjord cruise, a two-hour journey through one of Norway’s famous fjords, ending in the village of Gudvangen. Nærøyfjord is a UNESCO World Heritage site, known for its towering cliffs, misty waterfalls, and charming small farms perched on the mountainsides. On a clear day, the experience is said to be absolutely magical.

Unfortunately, we weren’t so lucky with the weather. Thick fog rolled in, obscuring much of the scenery and making it difficult to fully appreciate the fjord’s grandeur. However, there were still moments when the mist parted, revealing dramatic cliffs and waterfalls tumbling down the mountainsides.

One of the most interesting aspects of the cruise was the ship itself—it was fully electric. Gliding silently through the fjord without the usual hum of an engine was a unique experience, allowing us to fully immerse ourselves in the peaceful surroundings.

Other than the weather, which no one can control, we did experience another issue. We had pre-booked a bus back to Flåm, but upon arriving in Gudvangen, we discovered that it was overbooked and had already left. The staff offered little assistance, and we were left scrambling to find an alternative way back, causing us to miss our dinner reservation. This was frustrating, so I highly recommend going to the bus immediately after docking to secure a seat before they fill up.

Would I recommend the Nærøyfjord cruise? If the weather is clear, absolutely. I can imagine that on a sunny day, the views would be breathtaking. But given Norway’s unpredictable weather, it’s best to keep expectations flexible and take the cruise on a sunny day.

The Flåm Railway – Overhyped or Worth It?

The Flåm Railway, or Flåmsbana, is frequently listed as one of the world’s most scenic train rides. It covers a 20.2 km (12.6 miles) journey between Flåm and Myrdal, climbing nearly 865 meters (2,838 feet) in elevation along the way. The train ride takes about an hour each way and features stunning mountain scenery, deep valleys, and multiple waterfalls—including the famous Kjosfossen, where the train makes a brief stop for passengers to admire the cascading water.

To be honest, I found the Flåm Railway to be a bit of a letdown. While it is marketed as "one of the most scenic train rides in the world," I believe this is an exaggeration. The train ride does offer beautiful views, including waterfalls, but Norway is full of stunning waterfalls, many of which we saw on our drive from Bergen to Flåm. In my opinion, the scenery was more impressive from the roadside lookouts. If you're visiting Flåm as part of a cruise and want a simple excursion, the train is a fine option—but if you have the chance, renting a car provides a much better experience.

Dining in Flåm

One of the highlights of our stay was dining at Ægir BrewPub, which is associated with our hotel. We ate there twice and were thoroughly impressed. I tried the beer sampler, which was paired with food, offering a great introduction to locally brewed Norwegian beers. The cozy atmosphere and solid food made it the perfect spot after a long day of exploring. This place gets very busy, so reservations are recommended. Be sure to enjoy a pint at the pub on the main floor before heading up to the restaurant.

Stegastein Viewpoint

Just outside of Flåm is the Stegastein Viewpoint. This viewpoint sits 650 meters above Aurlandsfjord and offers stunning panoramic views. The drive up is a bit winding, but that only adds to the adventure. There are also buses that will take you to the site, or you can purchase a ticket with a local tour. The views are fantastic, and I highly recommend the stop. We drove up, and it was an enjoyable 30-minute drive (17 km). You can also stop at the Aurlandsvangen Viewpoint on the way up, which offers another great view of the fjord and is less busy.

Lærdal Tunnel

At 15.3 miles (24.5 km), this is the longest road tunnel in the world. Driving through it was a unique experience, though visually, it's just another tunnel. However, the sheer engineering feat of creating such a long tunnel makes it worth experiencing at least once.

Tips for Visiting Flåm

Flåm is very popular with cruise ships, which can make the town feel crowded, especially when a large vessel carrying thousands of passengers docks. Since the town is somewhat designed around cruise visitors, it can lose some of its charm during peak times. If you prefer a quieter experience, I recommend checking the cruise schedule (available on Flåm Port's website) and planning your visit around smaller cruise ship arrivals or, even better, no cruise days.

Final Verdict: Is Flåm Worth Visiting?

Yes, but with some caveats. Flåm is a fantastic stopover to enjoy the scenery, experience the incredible fjord landscapes, and marvel at Norway's engineering feats like the Lærdal Tunnel. However, I would skip the fjord cruise unless the weather is good and would not go out of my way for the Flåm Railway, which I found to be overhyped.