Flåm is one of several fjord villages located by the Aurlandsfjord. The Aurlandsfjord is a 29 kilometer long branch of the Sognefjord.
At Mt Beitelen, 11 kilometers from where the Aurlandsfjord starts, the Aurlandsfjord devides into two fjords; the Aurlandsfjord and the Nærøyfjord. The Aurlandsfjord continues 18 kilometers inwards to Flåm where it ends.
Visit Sognefjord
Visit Sognefjord is the official destination company for the Sognefjord area.
Hotels and accommodation in the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord area
Overview of hotels and other places where you can spend the night in the area around the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord.
Flåm by the Aurlandsfjord
Flåm is a perfect starting point for many great and fun adventures in beautiful and wild nature. Where the Aurlandsfjord ends, the Flåmsdalen Valley starts. If the Aurlandsfjord is an adventure, the Flåmsdalen Valley is an even more beautiful adventure, and both should be experienced.
It is easy to travel to Flåm. “All roads” leads to Flåm, and you can also get there by train via the Bergen Line and Flåm Railway. If you take the Flåm Railway down to Flåm, you will experience the beautiful Flåmsdalen Valley at the same time.
You can see and do a lot with Flåm as a starting point. In Flåm there are many places to eat and sleep. It is also a short distance to other beautiful fjords where you can visit idyllic fjord villages and experience beautiful and dramatic nature.
The Aulandsfjord and Nærøyfjord
The Aurlandsfjord is a 29 kilometer long branch of the 204 kilometer long Sognefjord. Along the Aurlandsfjord we have the villages Undredal, Aurland and Flåm.
At Mt Beitelen, 11 kilometers from where the Aurlandsfjord starts, the Aurlandsfjord devides into two fjords; the Aurlandsfjord and the Nærøyfjord.
The Nærøyfjord is a 17 kilometer long branch of the Aurlandsfjord and was in 2005 included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The landscape on and around the Nærøyfjord is considered to be one of the most scenic fjord areas on earth, and was added to the list due to its unique natural quality and beauty.
Fjord cruise between Bergen and Flåm by the Sognefjord
The sea voyage between Bergen and Flåm is a journey through beautiful coastal scenery with islands and reefs and along the Sognefjord and the Aurlandsfjord, two of the world’s most beautiful fjords.
This fjord cruise with Norled lasts approximately 5.5 hours. The boat stops, among other places, at Balestrand, Vik, Leikanger and Aurland. Departure points are Strandkaiterminalen in Bergen and Flåm quay in Flåm.
The fjord cruise can be taken both ways and the season is from April to October. The season may vary, see updated information about the season and timetables on Norled’s website.
Fjord Cruise on the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord
Here you will experience the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord (UNESCO World Heritage) in a fjord cruise between Flåm and Gudvangen.
The boats run on batteries that are charged with electricity from short-distance hydropower. The boat trips are both sustainable, climate-friendly and silent, which makes the trips on the fjord an even better experience.
Numerous wild and beautiful waterfalls and rivers characterize the landscape, crossing the rugged mountains and deciduous and coniferous forests on their way down to the fjords.
Beautiful villages with a sustained cultivated landscape with remainders of old farms and mountain pastures and unique cultural monuments gives a extra dimension to the dramatic natural landscape. Season: all year.
Flåm Railway – From mountain to fjord
The Flåm Railway has been named one of the ten most beautiful railways in the world. It starts at Flåm at the inner part of the Aurlandsfjord and ends at Myrdal Train Station which is part of the Bergen Railway.
This is the train journey from mountain to fjord, and many people take the train ride both ways.
The Flåm Railway is one of Norway’s most spectacular railways with its 20 tunnels and a gradient of 1 to 18 on almost 80% of the line.
The train stops at Kjosfossen Waterfall where passengers can experience and take pictures of the wild and beautiful waterfall before the train continues on to the end stations which is Myrdal on the high mountain or Flåm down by the fjord.
The Flåm Railway is also a fantastic experience in winter. It is highly recommended! Season: all year.
FjordSafari – Activities on and around the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord
FjordSafari offers guided activities, adventures and fjord excursions by RIB boat where you will get to explore the UNESCO world heritage site on and around the Aurlandsfjord and the Nærøyfjord.
The area represents an extreme, dramatic and a fantastic fjord landscape.
Their slogan is BOAT – HIKE – BIKE – SNOW, and they give you experiences that you will remember for the rest of your life.
Season: The activities and excursions can be done all year round, but they vary between summer and winter excursions.
Fjordsplorer – Rent an Electric Bike
Rent an electric bicycle and explore the area around Aurland and Flåm from the seat of a bicycle. There are two stations you can rent bikes from, one station in Aurland and one in Flåm. There are options for both charging and renting bicycles at these stations. From an electric bicycle you come into close contact with nature in a sustainable way.
Flåm Valley
The Flåm Valley is a beautiful small adventure. The valley between Myrdal (866.8 masl) and Flåm by the Aurlandsfjord is 18 kilometer long. The valley is narrow and the mountains are steep, and there are waterfalls and rivers wherever you turn around.
Flåm Valley is a great place for hiking and biking. Flåm Zipline sends you off at over 100 kilometers per hour, you are just hanging in a thin steel wire high above the valley.
Rallarvegen ends in the Flåm Valley, and you can take the train up and down the Flåm Valley with Flåm Railway. Brekkefossen Waterfall is a popular hiking goal in the Flåm Valley.
The waterfalls in the Flåmsdalen Valley
Flåmsdalen Valley runs between Myrdal (866.8 m) and Flåm down by the Aurlandsfjord. Along the valley there are waterfalls, rivers and rapids everywhere you turn. Here you will find information about a few of the waterfalls in Flåmsdalen.
Rjoandefossen is a striking waterfall in Flåmsdalen. The waterfall plunges down the valley on the opposite side of the Flåm Railway, you can see Rjoandefossen from the railway on the southern side of the 424 meter long Furuberget tunnel. Rjoandefossen has a total drop of over 300 meters with the highest vertical drop of 147 meters.
The Flåm Railway is one of Norway’s most spectacular railways with its 20 tunnels and a gradient of 1 to 18 on almost 80% of the line. The train stops at Kjosfossen Waterfall where passengers can experience and take pictures of the wild and beautiful waterfall before the train continues on to the end stations which is Myrdal on the high mountain or Flåm down by the fjord. From the train on the Flåm railway there is a great view of the steep mountain sides and the many waterfalls that plunge into the valley.
Just below Rallarrosa Stølsysteri, where Flåm Zipline tour ends, you will find Kårdalsfossen, one of the striking waterfalls in Flåmsdalen. You can walk or cycle across the bridge that crosses Flåmselvi river at the top of Kårdalsfossen. After cycling down the hill, you can see Kårdalsfossen again, this time from below.
Brekkefossen Waterfall, not far from Flåm, is a popular hiking goal. A nice trail has been made up to the viewpoint under Brekkefossen. The first part of the trail is a gravel road, then there are 578 steps of stone that go up to the viewpoint Raokjen. FjordSafari organizes guided tours from Flåm to the viewpoint below Brekkefossen. The first part of the hike is about two kilometers long and goes on the road along the Flåmselvi river from Flåm to Brekkevegen, then the rest of the hike goes along the trail up to Raokjen. The trail is 1.3 kilometers long with an ascent of 170 metres. From Raokjen there is a great view down to Flåm and to the inner part of the Aurlandsfjord.
Flåm Zipline – The longest zipline in Norway
Take the Flåm Railway from Flåm to Vatnahalsen Station or Bergensbanen Railway from Oslo or Bergen to Myrdal Station. From Vatnahalsen it is only a couple of minutes to walk to Flåm Zipline. From Myrdal Station it is 1.5 kilometers to walk.
When you have finished the zipline, you can rent a bike and cycle down the Flåmsdalen Valley to Flåm. Remember to book everything in advance (package with train, zipline and bike rental).
An autumn trip to Flåm by the Aurlandsfjord
One evening in October, I boarded the train at Oslo Central Station. I was going to take the train along Bergen Railway to Myrdal. Finally, I was going to experience the Flåmsdalen valley, the Aurlandsfjord and the Nærøyfjord in autumn colours again. It had been far too long since the last time.
I joined a fjord cruise on the Aurlandsfjord and the Nærøyfjord. Never have I seen these fjords more beautiful than this day. Here are some words that I got from a tourist who was on the same boat trip. He posted the comment on a timelapse video I made from that fjord cruise:
– My girlfriend and I were on this cruise that day and it was truly a magical morning. The water was like glass and the rising sun kept changing the mountain views all around us as we silently glided through the fjord.
Guided Kayak Trips on the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord
The Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord are great to explore from a kayak.
You can join guided kayak-trips both in Flåm at the inner part of the Aurlandsfjord and in Gudvangen at the inner part of the Nærøyfjord.
- Guided Kayak trips on the Nærøyfjord and Aurlandsfjord – Start from Gudvangen
- Guided Kayak trips on the Nærøyfjord and Aurlandsfjord – Start from Flåm
NOTE – For safety reasons, we recommend you to join a guided kayak trip if you are going to paddle kayak on the fjords. Here are some good advices on how you can be safer when kayaking on the fjords and during other activities and when traveling in Norway and Western Norway in general.
Season Kayak: Summer, check with the guide companies when they offer guiding. Seasons mentioned on this website are approximately dates.
Fjord Sauna on the fjord outside Flåm
Enjoy the heat in a sauna on the Aurlandsfjord and jump into the fresh water in the Aurlandsfjord. FJORD SAUNA is a floating sauna that is heated with electricity when it is at the quay and with wood when it is out on the fjord.
Season Floating Sauna: All year
Cycling Rallarvegen from mountain to fjord
One of the finest and most popular cycle roads in Norway is the 82-kilometer long Rallarvegen (the Navvie`s Road) running from the high mountains to the fjord.
The most popular part of the cycle route is from Finse, at 1222 masl, to Flåm down by the Aurlandsfjord.
Otternes farmyard between Aurland and Flåm
Inbetween the two idyllic fjord villages Aurland and Flåm you will find Otternes farmyard, approximately four kilometers from Flåm and five kilometers from Aurland.
Otternes farmyard is a cluster of 27 old buildings from the 1700s. The farmyard originally consisted of four farms. At most, more than 60 people lived in the farmyard, including those who lived near by and worked on the farms.
The view towards the Aurlandsfjord and to Flåm from the farmyard is fantastic. Look south and you see the innermost part of the Aurlandsfjord towards Flåm. In the other direction you will see out the Aurlandsfjord towards the mountains which encircle Aurland.
Stegastein Viewpoint above the Aurlandsfjord
Stegastein Viewpoint is part of the Aurlandsfjellet National Tourist Route, 650 meters above Aurland and the Aurlandsfjord. Great view from the viewpoint towards the Aurlandsfjord and the surrounding mountains. Stegastein Viewpoint is a wooden platform, made of of glulam, which juts 30 meters out from the mountainside by the Aurlandsfjellet National Tourist Route. The panorama-view, 650 meters above Aurland and the Aurlandsfjord, is one of the best views in the fjords.
At Flåm you can rent a small electric car, and you can experience Stegastein Viewpoint and the area around Flåm and Aurland. The electric car is an urban two-seater which is fun and easy to drive, and the GPS-guide will supply you with loads of interesting things along the way. Season: Summer, check Norway´s Best website.
You can also join a sightseeing bus from Flåm to Stegastein Viewpoint. Departures at Flåm and Aurland. The tour will take one to two hours.
Undredal by the Aurlandsfjord
Undredal is an idyllic little village down by the Aurlandsfjord which is known for the many goats and the local white and brown goat’s cheese.
The movie Frozen I is inspired by this small village, with the surrounding steep mountains rising straight up from the fjord.
Undredal Stave Church in Undredal is Norway’s smallest church. In Undredal you will also find what is believed to be the smallest fire station in Europe.
You do not need to go hiking or onto a fjord adventure when visiting Undredal.
Many people just want so see and experience this beautiful village and the fjord from land, to buy some goat cheese from Underdalsbui and to learn about the tradition of goat’s cheese and farming in Undredal with tasting at Undredal Bryggje/Café.
Winter Fjord Cruise from Flåm
It is easy to understand why more and more people discover how beautiful and exotic the Norwegian Fjords are during winter.
The fjords is a great playground for those who want to ski, go snow-shoe hiking, take a winter-cruise or join a RIB-boat on the fjords or just take in the cold, crispy air and enjoy the beautiful winter-landscape.
On the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord, you can do a Fjord Cruise all year round, and it is possible to experience it from Oslo or from Bergen, in one day.
Flåm Railway in Winter
The Flåm Railway is also a fantastic experience in winter. It is strongly recommended to experience this train ride when the snow has covered the mountains and the valley and when the waterfalls have frozen into ice.
In winter, the days are shorter and it is worth remembering that it can be dark when the earliest and latest departures on the Flåm Railway depart.
Below you can see a video with scenes from the Bergen Line and the Flåm Railway where you finally see the boat from The Fjords leaves Flåm and sails out on a fjord cruise on the Aurlandsfjord and the Nærøyfjord. This was filmed in winter, during the blue hour in January.
Eat and drink in Flåm
Sights, experiences and activities are not the same without good food and drinks. We recommend these places to eat and drink in Flåm. Video by Flåmsbrygga.
Flåm Bakery on the pier has a large selection of fresh baked goods, great coffee and homemade take away pizza.
Ægir Restaurant is located on Flåmsbrygga. They serve first-class food. Here you can eat and drink like a Viking.
Flåm Marina is located only a few minutes walk along shoreline from the Flåm Railway station. At Flåm Marina you can enjoy your meal with the best Fjord View there is.
Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord – What to See and Do
Flåm, Aurland and Gudvangen are perfect starting points for experiences in and around the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord, two of the world’s most beautiful and dramatic fjords. On 14 July 2005, the Nærøyfjord together with the Geirangerfjord became part of our common UNESCO’s world heritage.
From Flåm you can take part in a fjord safari or a fjord cruise on the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord. You can take this fjord cruise as a round trip (both ways) or one way combined with bus between Flåm and Gudvangen. See the great view from Stegastein viewpoint, 650 meters above Aurland. Taste the local goat’s cheese in Undredal or in Skjerdal, two villages by the Aurlandsfjord.
Flåm Railway is the train journey from mountain to fjord, perhaps the most beautiful railway in the world. You can combine this train journey with cycling along Rallarvegen which goes from the high mountains via Flåmsdalen Valley to Flåm. Aurlandsdalen Valley is one of Norway’s most popular hikes. The lower part of Aurlandsdalen, which is also the most popular, starts from Østerbø and ends at Vassbygdi in Aurland.
The Flåm Valley is a beautiful adventure. The valley between Myrdal (866.8 masl) and Flåm by the Aurlandsfjord is 18 kilometer long. The valley is narrow and the mountains are steep, and there are waterfalls and rivers wherever you turn around. Flåm Valley is a great place for hiking and biking. Flåm Zipline sends you off at over 100 kilometers per hour, you are just hanging in a thin steel wire high above the valley.
By the Nærøyfjord, we have the small villages of Gudvangen, Bakka, Styvi and Dyrdal. Styvi is the only place without permanent inhabitants during the winter, and is together with Dyrdal without road connection. Gudvangen is one of two ports where the iconic ferry trip along the inner part of the Sognefjord departs and arrives. Visit the Viking village Njardarheimr in Gudvangen and experience the history and culture of the Viking Age.
The Nærøyfjord and Aurlandsfjord are both part of the 204 kilometer long Sognefjord which is located in the northern part of the county of Vestland, in the middle of Western Norway.
Hotels and accommodation in the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord area
Overview of hotels and other places where you can spend the night in the area around the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord.
Sakte – Stay and Explore the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord
“Sakte” is a collaboration between companies that provide adventures, accommodation, dining and short-travelled food- and products. “Sakte” are located in the area around the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord and is an offer for those who want to contribute to a sustainable society in the world heritage area.
How to travel to the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord area
It is easy to travel to Flåm and Aurland, the Aurlandsfjord and the Nærøyfjord. Almost “all roads” go to Flåm and Aurland, and you can also travel there by train, bus and boat. It is only a short distance between the two neighboring villages of Flåm and Aurland.
You can start this fjord adventure by train from Oslo or Bergen to Myrdal station. Then you get to experience the Bergen Railway between Oslo and Bergen and Flåm Railway, one of Norway’s most spectacular railway lines, from Myrdal station to Flåm, which is located down by the Aurlandsfjord. If you take Flåm Railway, you get to experience the beautiful Flåmsdalen valley at the same time.
The nearest airport is Sogndal Airport at Haukåsen near Kaupanger. Most flights that go to and from Sogndal Airport come from and go to Oslo and Bergen. From the airport to Flåm, it is 70 kilometers by road, including a wonderful crossing of the Sognefjord by ferry. There are bus connections between Flåm, Sogndal and Bergen.