Myrdal to Flam Trains

The distance from Myrdal to Flam by train is 18 kilometres (approximately 11 miles), making it one of the shortest rail journeys in Europe, yet arguably the most spectacular. The Flam Railway descends 867 metres from the mountain station of Myrdal, located high on the wild highlands of southern Norway, all the way down to Flam at just 2 metres above sea level at the head of the Aurlandsfjord, packing a greater change in altitude, scenery, and sheer drama into those 18 kilometres than most railway lines manage in ten times the distance. It is one of the world's steepest standard-gauge railways, with an average gradient of 5.5 per cent, and the engineering required to make it possible, including 20 tunnels of which 18 were carved entirely by hand, took 17 years to complete. For a journey of this length, there is simply no equivalent anywhere in the world.

A journey on the Flam Railway takes approximately 55 minutes from Myrdal to Flam, with the train stopping at 8 stations along the route and running every day of the year. With 9 average daily departures, the first train leaving Myrdal at 08:17 and the last at 19:35, the timetable is generous enough to accommodate travellers arriving on different connections from the Bergen Line throughout the day. The train makes a dedicated 5-minute stop at Kjosfossen waterfall, where passengers are invited to step off onto a viewing platform directly facing the 93-metre cascade, and during summer months this stop includes a folklore performance featuring the Huldra, a mythical forest creature from Norwegian legend, who appears from the rocks and spray beside the waterfall as music plays through speakers built into the cliff face. The 55-minute journey time is a deliberate and considered pace, unhurried enough to allow the landscape to register properly rather than flash past before the camera is even raised.

Tickets on the Myrdal to Flam route start from $87 when booked in advance, reflecting the Flam Railway's status as one of Norway's most celebrated tourist experiences rather than a standard commuter service. Tickets can normally be purchased up to 120 days before departure, and Eurail and Interrail pass holders with an active travel day are entitled to a 30% discount on ordinary single tickets, making pass travel a worthwhile consideration for visitors incorporating the Flam Railway into a broader Scandinavian rail itinerary. Booking 30 to 60 days in advance is strongly recommended for summer travel, as last-minute tickets frequently sell out during June, July, and August, particularly on days when cruise ships are docked at Flam, which can significantly increase demand on the most popular morning and midday departures. Tickets are most easily purchased through the official Vy website or app, and booking online ahead of arrival in Norway is a far more reliable strategy than hoping to buy on the day. 

The Flam Railway consistently ranks among the world's most breathtaking train journeys. National Geographic Traveler named it one of Europe's 10 best train rides, while Lonely Planet has crowned it the world's best train journey. In the 55 minutes between Myrdal and Flam, the train passes through rivers cutting through deep ravines, waterfalls tumbling down precipitous mountainsides, white peaks with small farms clinging to steep slopes, and lush valley floors that transition from alpine meadow to fjordside village as the train descends. The Flamsbana train is powered entirely by hydroelectric energy, making it one of the most environmentally friendly railways in the world, drawing electricity from local power stations fed by the very waterfalls and rivers visible from the window, adding a satisfying circularity to the experience. The honest verdict from the vast majority of travellers who make this journey is simple: it lives up to the hype, and then some. 

This is one of the most practical and most searched questions about the Flam Railway, and the answer is worth knowing before you board. When travelling from Myrdal down to Flam, sit on the left-hand side of the train for the best river, waterfall, and valley views during the descent, as this side faces the most dramatic sections of the route including the approach to Kjosfossen. For the Kjosfossen waterfall stop itself, the right side when travelling from Flam to Myrdal gives the most direct views of the cascade, though since all passengers step off the train onto the viewing platform during the stop, the side you are seated on matters less at that moment than the window seat itself. To guarantee a window seat, arrive at the station 20 to 30 minutes before departure, particularly in peak season when the trains fill quickly with cruise ship passengers and summer tourists. For those doing a round trip, the ideal approach is to sit on one side heading down and switch for the return, ensuring the full panorama of both sides of the valley is covered across the two journeys.