Ports of Call

Cruising to Flam, Norway

Flåm tourist information.

Flam, NorwayThe small village with the grand surroundings is situated innermost in the Aurlandsfjord and is home of the Flåm Railway. Flåm has a population of approximately 400 inhabitants and it is situated in Aurland municipality, which consists of Flåm, Aurland, Gudvangen and Undredal. In 1980 most of the people in Flåm were farmers, today most of the inhabitants work in the tourism industry or with the railway. Today Flåm is one of the most popular cruise harbours in Norway.

The fjord village of Flam

The fjord village of Flam is located in the inner part of the magic Sognefjord – the scenic Aurlandsfjord branch. From Flam there are fjord cruises to the UNESCO World heritage, dramatic Naeroyfjord – the narrow fjord, to the tiny fjord village of Gudvangen. In Flam you can also board the express steamer to Bergen, taking you through the magic Sognefjord, with ports of call in fjord villages such as Leikanger, Balestrand & Vik.

After the Bergen Railway was opened in 1909 Flåm became a crossroads for passengers, post and freight traveling on the trains between Oslo and Bergen and on the steamships on the fjord.

Flåmsbana railway

One of the highlights of the Norwegian fjords is the spectacular Flåmsbana railway, travelling up to Myrdal. On the outward journey, the train stops at the Kjosfossen waterfall, in front of which appears the singing and dancing Huldra (a seductive forest creature in folklore – in reality played by Norwegian students). Exit the train at the penultimate station – Vatnahalsen – and have coffee and waffles at the eponymous hotel (open all year round) before setting off back down the valley on a cycle/hiking path. This passes through Kardalfarm where further refreshments can be procured and a herd of accommodating mountain goats enjoy their few moments of photographic fame. Continue down to Berekvam station, where the train is picked up, and return to Flåm.