The Flåm Railway is one of the steepest standard-gauge railways in the world. In just 20 kilometres it climbs 866 metres from fjord level to the mountain station at Myrdal. About 80% of the line has a gradient of 5.5% - that's 1 in 18.
Construction began in 1923 and took nearly 20 years. Of the 20 tunnels, 18 were carved out by hand. One tunnel makes a complete 180-degree turn inside the mountain. The Nåli tunnel alone took 11 years to build. When it finally opened on 1 August 1940, it was hailed as one of Norway's greatest engineering achievements.
Originally it was a practical transport link connecting Sognefjord communities to the Bergen Line. Today it's almost entirely a tourist railway, and one of Norway's most visited attractions.
The journey takes about an hour. There's a 5-minute photo stop at Kjosfossen waterfall, where during summer months ballet students perform as the mythical Huldra. Some other stops are request-only, meaning the train only stops if passengers need to get on or off.
Sit on the right side going up for the best waterfall views. The train passes Brekkefossen and Rjoandefossen before the landscape opens up near Berekvam. From there it climbs steeply through tunnels to Kjosfossen and on to Myrdal.
A return ticket from Flåm costs around 590 kroner. In summer, departures can sell out, so booking ahead is advisable. Taking the last train of the day often means fewer crowds.
