About Flåm
Set at the innermost end of the Aurlandsfjord, a branch of Norway’s vast Sognefjord, Flåm is surrounded by steep mountains, valleys and waterfalls. Its position deep within Fjord Norway makes it an excellent base for experiencing a very different side of the country from the Arctic landscapes farther north.
Although small, Flåm is one of Norway’s recognised fjord destinations and can be visited throughout the year. Winter brings snow to the surrounding mountains and a quieter character to the landscape, while the fjords themselves remain accessible. For Aurora Zone travellers, Flåm adds another dimension to a wider Norway holiday, combining the Arctic experiences of Northern Norway with the fjords and mountain scenery for which the west of the country is known.
The Flåm Railway and Norwegian fjords
One of the principal reasons to visit is the Flåm Railway, which connects the village with Myrdal on the main Bergen Line. Over the course of around an hour, the railway climbs from the fjord to Myrdal at 867 metres above sea level, passing through the Flåm Valley, alongside waterfalls and through 20 tunnels.
The railway provides a particularly memorable way to experience the scale of the surrounding landscape and also connects Flåm with rail journeys towards both Bergen and Oslo. It operates year-round, so winter visitors can see the valley and mountains transformed by snow as the train makes its way between the fjord and the high mountain plateau.
Fjords and Nærøyfjord
Flåm also provides easy access to two of western Norway’s defining landscapes: the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord. The narrow Nærøyfjord forms part of the UNESCO-listed West Norwegian Fjords and can be explored by boat from the Flåm area throughout the year.
Here, mountains rise sharply from the water and small communities sit along the shoreline, creating a very different experience from Norway’s towns and cities. Fjord cruises can be combined naturally with the Flåm Railway, making it possible to experience both the waterways and mountain landscapes within the same journey. It is this combination of rail, fjords and winter scenery that makes Flåm particularly worthwhile as part of a longer Norwegian adventure.
Flåm and the Northern Lights
Flåm is not one of Norway’s principal Northern Lights destinations, so we would not position a holiday here primarily around Aurora hunting. Instead, it works particularly well as part of a wider journey that combines Norway’s fjords with dedicated Northern Lights experiences farther north.
This gives you the opportunity to experience two very different sides of Norway in one holiday: searching the Arctic skies in Northern Norway before travelling south into a landscape of fjords, mountain railways and traditional waterside communities. The Aurora Zone currently features Flåm within a multi-destination Norway itinerary rather than as a standalone Northern Lights holiday.
