The Flåm Railway is one of the world's great train rides — and one of the easiest to get slightly wrong. Book the wrong departure and you share the aisle with three cruise ships. Sit on the wrong side and you spend twenty minutes staring at rock. Buy the wrong ticket and you pay more than you needed to. This guide is the practical layer: which seat to take, when to book, what it costs, and the alternatives that cost a fraction.
The seat hack: which side to sit on
This is the single question we get asked most, and the short answer is: sit on the left-hand side travelling down from Myrdal to Flåm (which is the right-hand side if you're riding up from Flåm to Myrdal).
That side gives you the Flåmsdalen valley falling away below, the river, and the best angle on the Kjosfossen waterfall stop. The other side spends more of the journey close to the mountain wall.
Two caveats worth knowing, because the internet oversells this:
- The line criss-crosses the valley. Both sides get spectacular moments — you are not ruining your trip by sitting on the "wrong" side.
- Everyone stands up anyway. At the big viewpoints people crowd the windows and the aisle. The seat matters less than being ready to move.
The genuinely reliable trick: ride it in both directions if your itinerary allows, or take the return leg on the opposite side. You will see two different railways.
The Kjosfossen stop — be on the right platform
The train pauses about five minutes at the Kjosfossen waterfall so everyone can pile out and photograph 93 metres of falling water (and, in summer, the Huldra folklore performance on the rocks). Exit on the waterfall side and walk up the platform rather than stopping at the first spot — the crowd bunches at the doors, and the higher viewpoints are usually clear.
Flåm Railway tickets: prices and how to book
The Flåm Railway is a premium tourist railway, not a cheap commuter line, and it is priced accordingly — expect a one-way adult fare in the region of 600–800 NOK, with return tickets and combination products costing more. Prices shift by season and year, so treat that as a planning range and confirm at the point of sale.
What actually matters when booking:
- Seats are reserved. This is not a turn-up-and-hop-on service in high season.
- July and August genuinely sell out, especially mid-morning departures that line up with cruise arrivals.
- Book as soon as your date is fixed in summer. In May, June and September you can usually book a few days ahead.
- Children get substantial discounts, and family pricing makes the ride far more palatable — see our Norway with kids guide.
The money-saving alternatives
Here is the part most guides skip. You have real options:
| Option | What you get | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Flåm Railway one-way + cruise onward | Train down, boat out through the Nærøyfjord — no backtracking | The best single day in fjord country |
| Ride it as part of a guided day | Train, cruise and transfers bundled from Bergen | No planning, no missed connections |
| Skip the train, take the fjord | The Gudvangen–Flåm cruise at a fraction of the price | Tight budgets — see our local-alternative guide |
| Bergen Railway only | Oslo–Bergen main line: arguably as scenic, ordinary fares | Value per kilometre |
That last row deserves emphasis. The Bergen Railway (Oslo–Bergen) is a normal service train with minipris advance fares, and the stretch across the Hardangervidda plateau is world-class. Full detail in our Norway transport guide.
The timing hack that beats the seat hack: take the first or last departure of the day. Cruise excursions and packaged tours cluster in the middle, so the early and late trains are noticeably quieter — and the low light on the valley is better in both windows.
What to combine it with
The Flåm Railway is 20 km and about an hour. On its own that is a short day. The combinations that work:
- + Nærøyfjord cruise — the standard and best pairing; UNESCO fjord scenery on silent electric boats. See the Nærøyfjord guide.
- + Stegastein viewpoint — not included in the classic loop; worth engineering in.
- + an overnight in Flåm or Aurland — the single biggest upgrade to the experience, because you get the valley before and after the day-trippers.
If you're weighing the packaged version of all this, read our honest Norway in a Nutshell review first — the DIY version usually costs less.
Book the Flåm Railway & Nærøyfjord
The Flåm Railway & the Nærøyfjord Tour
Norway's two greatest hits in one booking — the steep Flåm Railway and a cruise through the UNESCO-listed Nærøyfjord.
Bergen: Viking Village, Nærøyfjord Cruise & Flåm Railway
A full guided day from Bergen combining a Viking village, the UNESCO Nærøyfjord cruise and the famous Flåm Railway.
Nærøyfjord, Flåm & Stegastein Viewpoint Cruise
A guided day combining a UNESCO Nærøyfjord cruise with Flåm village and the Stegastein viewpoint hanging 650 m above the Aurlandsfjord.
Viking Village, Nærøyfjord Cruise & Flåm Railway
Norway's greatest hits in one guided day — a Viking village, a UNESCO Nærøyfjord cruise and the famous Flåm Railway.
Heads up: booking through the links above supports Ritzyme at no extra cost to you. Prices and availability are set by the provider — always confirm details on the booking page.
Is the Flåm Railway worth it?
As one leg of a bigger fjord day — train down, boat out — it is emphatically worth it, and it is the most efficient hour of scenery in Norway. As a standalone out-and-back at peak price in peak July, it is a good hour that costs a lot. Ride it early, sit on the valley side, and pair it with water. That is the whole strategy.
Planning the wider trip? Start with our full Flåm Railway guide for the scenery and history, or the best fjord tours in Norway for the bigger picture.
Frequently asked questions
Which side of the Flåm Railway has the best views?
Sit on the left-hand side travelling down from Myrdal to Flåm (the right-hand side going up). That side gives you the Flåmsdalen valley, the river and the best angle on the Kjosfossen waterfall. The line criss-crosses the valley though, so both sides get spectacular moments.
How much does the Flåm Railway cost?
Expect a one-way adult fare in the region of 600–800 NOK, with returns and combination tickets costing more. Prices vary by season and year, and children get substantial discounts, so confirm current fares when booking.
Do you need to book Flåm Railway tickets in advance?
Yes in summer — seats are reserved and July and August departures sell out, particularly mid-morning trains that align with cruise arrivals. In May, June and September you can usually book a few days ahead.
What is the cheapest way to see the Flåm area?
Skip the premium railway and take the Gudvangen–Flåm cruise through the Nærøyfjord instead, or ride the ordinary Bergen Railway with advance minipris fares. Both cover world-class scenery for far less than the tourist railway.
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