15 Amazing Things To Do In Flåm + 1 Day Itinerary

Heading to Flåm and want to know what the best things to do there are?

On our recent family road trip, we spent a few days enjoying and exploring Flåm, and we absolutely loved it there! It was one of the most beautiful places we visited in Norway. Before we visited we put together a cool list of the amazing things to do in Flåm, and tried to do as many as we could in the few days we spent there. If we’ve given something a go then you’ll see our ⭐T&T⭐ “tried and tested” icon next to it.

It’s a great place to head with kids because it has a perfect selection of family-friendly activities to choose from such as boat rides, kayaking, biking, beach fun and even a zipline. And of course, as well as the adventure attractions. it has the scenic fjord cruise to Nærøyfjord which is UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We’ve also put together a few 1 day itinerary ideas to help you plan your visit. If you’re arriving on a cruise ship then you might only have a day and want to maximise your time there by picking some of the best things to do in Flåm.

Things To Do In Flåm – Trains, bikes and ziplines

1. Take a ride on the famous Flåmsbana railway ⭐T&T⭐

One of the most popular tourist attractions famous Flåm railway called the Flåmsbana. It is quite possibly one of the most beautiful train journeys in Europe with spectacular views over Flåm Valley. Along the way, the train makes a short stop at Kjosfossen Waterfall, where everyone jumps out for a quick look and a photo before the train continues up to Myrdal station.

A family are sat in a steam train. On the right is the dad in a blue t-shirt and next to him is his 3 year old son. Opposite them is the mum also in a blue top with their 1 year old son on her lap. Behind them is the train window looking out over the surrounding area. The Flam train is one of the most popular things to do there.

We decided to book the train at the last minute as we weren’t sure if we’d stop in Flåm, and we’re so pleased that we did. Taking the scenic Flåm railway and going past stunning scenery along steep mountainsides really impressed us and our boys. The surrounding area is beautiful and the novelty of a train made it even more fun.

Whilst we did enjoy it a lot, we’re glad that we only did it one way as we’re not sure that the return is as exciting. We biked down and more about that later in our post. We also loved was that the boys got some free colouring books and pencils of the Flåmsbana. It was great as we did them over the following days and it was a fun reminder of our train ride.

Key information:

the starting point is the train station in Flåm village and the line finishes at the Myrdal station
if you book a round trip then you’ll have a short stop at Myrdal station before the train makes its return trip
if you’re on a Norway in a Nutshell tour then at Myrdal station you’ll join the Bergen line which runs between Bergen and Oslo

This is a view of green mountains and in the middle of two of them is a track that has 21 hairpin bends. This is in Flam.

Top tips:

for the best views sit on the righthand side of the train (though you’ll also get some great views on the lefthand side!)
if you want to open a window then you’ll find the windows that open at the ends of the carriage
try to arrive early to get the pick of the seats. We got there 30 minutes before our departure time and got the seat on the righthand side with an open window.
book your tickets in advance during high season as it gets booked up. Our train was full when we did it in July.

2. Bike ride or hike down from Myrdal station ⭐T&T⭐

After you’ve enjoyed the Flåmsbana up the mountain to the last stop, a great way to enjoy the return trip from Myrdal station back to Flåm is to bike ride or hike back down. It’s 20km through Flåm Valley and the surrounding area and you’ll go down 860m of altitude. You’ll use the tracks that the workmen used when they built the railway The first 3km of the bike ride isn’t for the faint-hearted as this part is on gravel and you’ll go down 21 tight hairpin bends down steep mountainsides.

A woman is smiling at the camera in a grey jumper with her cycle helmet. She is standing over her bike and her 1 year old son is sat on the bike in is blue fleece with his bike helmet on. Behind them is a waterfall. This is the bike ride down from the Flam railway and is one of the popular things to do in the area.

We did the bike ride down and it was great fun! There were quite a few people on bikes and we also passed a few people hiking their way down. Both our boys loved being on our bikes as we descended and it was great fun going downhill with the scenery flying past us. We’re a family of adrenaline lovers and this train and bike combo was one of the best things we did in Norway!

If you’re not sure about the initial hairpins at the top (and they are steep), then one of the options is to hike the first 3km down and then rent a bike from the bottom of Flåm Zipline in Kardal.

Key information:

you can rent bikes at Flåm Bike Rental and take them up on the train with you. Or, take your own bikes if you have them. You’ll need to book your bike onto the train when you book your tickets and take it to the bike drop off zone where it’ll be loaded onto the train for you.
you can take the train up without bikes and then rent bikes at Café Rallaren at Myrdal Station or at Flåm Zipline in Kardal

A man with a beard i a grey fleece is looking at the camera with is cycle helmet on. His is stood astride his bike. One the back of his bike is his 3 year old son. They are on a track going down a mountain.

Top tips:

there are no toilets or places to buy food/drinks on the way down. Make sure to make the most of the toilets at the station before you leave and bring plenty of water and snacks!
bring clothing for all weathers because you’ll descend steep mountainsides and the weather is changeable between 870m high and sea level. For example it was sunny when we started, and drizzle towards the end, so we were glad to have packed our rain jackets
if you’re biking the hairpins at the beginning then make sure to have a short stop every now and and then. This is because as you descend your bike breaks will need to have some time to cool off (mine were smoking at points!).

3. Fly down on the Flåm Zipline and bike ride back to Flåm

Flåm Zipline is the longest zipline in the Nordic region at 1381m long, and descends 305m in height with an average speed of 100km/h. It’s one heck of a ride if you’re into high-adrenaline activities!

We (the adults) are super into ziplines and did have a bit of a regular thing going where we’d do one in each country we visited. However, now we have young kids that’s been temporarily put on hold until they’re old enough! This looked like an epic and really good fun zipline, we biked passed it on our way down from Myrdal station, the only thing is that if you ride the zipline you miss the excitement of the 21 hairpin bends on the bike ride.

You’ll get off of the train at Vatnahalsen station on the Flåmsbana railway and from there zipline down to Kardal where you pick up a bike to ride the rest of the way to Flåm.

4. Flåm railway museum ⭐T&T⭐

This is a photo of a museum. There is a green stream train facing the camera with a red underside. There are people in the museum looking at the train. The train is one of the trains that used to ride the Flam railway.

Just next to the station for the Flåmsbana railway you’ll find the Flåm railway museum. Entry is free which makes it a great place to go if you’ve got some time spare. It’s not the most sophisticated museum, however, it does have an old train at the far end of it and some fun games for the kids. If it’s rainy outside then this is a great place to visit for half an hour or so.

We stopped in to take a look and it was pretty busy when we were there. We had a fun time looking around. Cam, our 3 year old, had fun taking a look at the different tools that the construction teams used to build the railway.

Things To Do In Flåm – Explore the fjords by water

Flåm has two fjords very close by, the Aurlandsfjord or Nærøyfjord (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and one of the best ways to enjoy them is it from the water. Flåm has several great options such as scenic cruises, kayaks or rib boat rides.

5. Exploring by kayak ⭐T&T⭐

We love to kayak, and had ours with us when we visited Flåm. We launched our kayak from the beach next to the Njord Kayak Centre and headed out into the first part of Aurlandsfjord. It’s incredible to be at sea level and close to the rock walls of the fjord. You can take in the immense size of the walls, and at times even be beneath the rock under one of the overhangs. We’ve found that kayaking gave us more of a feel for the size of the fjords. You can also kayak in other fjords like the one in Olden.

A family are in a kayak and taking a selfie of themselves. At the back is the dad who is paddling the kayak, in front of his is his girlfriend who is holding the camera and wearing a blue t-shirt. She is holding their baby who is in a life jacket. Then at the very front of the image is their 3 year old son who is also in a life jacket and smiling at the camera. They are in Flam and behind them are the green mountains of the fjord. Kayaking in Flam is one of the best things to do there.

Njord Kayak Centre has a 3-hour guided kayak tour that leaves from their centre on the beach in Flåm.

6. Discover Nærøyfjord on a fjord cruise to Gudvangen

One of the most popular things to do in Flåm is to take a scenic fjord cruise from Flåm at the end of the Aurlandsfjord and into Nærøyfjord. This Nærøyfjord cruise is two hours long one way and runs between the villages of Flåm and Gudvangen. You’ll take the cruise one way and then return with the shuttle bus. On the cruise, you’ll also get a guided tour.

This is an image of an electric fjord cruiseboat that is just leaving Flam to take people into the fjord. In the background are green mountains and on the boat are people who are about to go out on the boat.

We decided against taking a scenic fjord cruise in Flåm as we’d already done a few (and had one booked a few days later in Bergen) and wanted to instead treat ourselves to the Flåmsbana railway as a bit of a change for our boys. We plan to head back to Flåm as we’d like to the zipline, so we’ll head on this cruise when we’re back!

7. Fjordsafari Rib Boat Ride

A Fjordsafari is a great way to get up close to the rock walls of the fjord, and because it’s a small boat is a faster more energetic way to get there. These small tours are great for a more personal experience as there are only 12 of you on the guided rib tour.

Things To Do In Flåm – In and around the centre of Flåm

8. Enjoy a walk around Flåm harbour and relax on the beach ⭐T&T⭐

You might be surprised that we’ve added this to the list. However, we realised that it’s actually really nice to take the time to relax in Flåm and just take in the energy and vibe of the harbour, and if it’s sunny to enjoy time on the beach. All to often as visitors we head to these beautiful fjord villages to jump on an excursion or head to an attraction, when actually it can be just as much fun to enjoy the scenery and the harbour or village itself.

A little boy in blue t-shirt and shorts is standing with his back to the camera with his feet in the water at a pebble beach. In the background of the image is the fjord in Flam as he is stood on the beach there.

This is particularly great if you have kids, and just want to burn off some energy as they can run around on the harbour and even go for a paddle or swim in the water. There’s a great little play area and you’ll meet lots of other kids and families there and on the grass by the beach. There was a cruise ship in on our second day and we spent some time enjoying the street entertainment outside the Flåm Visitor Center.

9. Visit the Flåm church ⭐T&T⭐

Flåm church is outside the village some 3km up the Flåm Valley and is an easy bike or hike from the centre. You’ll also pass it on the scenic Flåm railway as you head up to Myrdal station if you decide to take the train. The wooden church was built in the 17th century and is a beautiful building to visit if you’re interested in churches or just perhaps want some time away from the busy village. We took a short stop there on our bike ride down from Myrdal station.

10. Taste a locally made beer at Ægir Brewpub ⭐T&T⭐

11. Walk to Brekkefossen waterfall

If you’re looking for a short walk then the hiking trail from Flåm up to Brekkefossen waterfall is a good option. It’s about a 2-3 hour round trip and includes some 578 stone steps that lead up through a stunning birch forest. At the top, you’ll be rewarded with a great view of the Brekkefossen waterfall and also over Flåm.

12. Enjoy a floating sauna

We saw this great business called FjordSauna when we walked around the harbour and it such a cool idea. You can enjoy a floating sauna in the harbour which is built similarly to a boat and roped up to the harbour. You can jump in for a swim from the fjord sauna if you’re happy to brave the cooler water! We’d definitely be up for giving this a go if we didn’t have the boys with us, however, sauna’s aren’t a great idea for super young kids so we’ll save it for our next trip!

Fun fact: The world’s longest road tunnel called the Lærdal tunnel is near to Flåm and measures 24.5km long. Every 6km it has a wider area of tunnel with incredible lights that change colour – we drove it and it’s a pretty cool experience!

Things To Do In Flåm – Outside of Flåm

13. Explore Viking Valley in Gudvangen ⭐T&T⭐

A small boy in a blue spiderman t-shirt is facing the camera. A woman dressed as a Viking is holding a drum about his head. This is at Viking Valley near Flam which is one of the best things to do with kids.

Viking Valley is a fun immersive Viking village that you’ll find in Gudvangen. It’s a fantastic experience where you’ll have a chance to meet real Vikings and learn about their history, lifestyle and crafts. The Vikings living there come from all over the world for a chance to live in the Viking village.

When you enter you’ll see the houses that they live in and get a chance to interact with them all to learn more. They’re all taking part in the village life such as the chieftain in the long hall sitting on his large chair, to the kids playing in the centre or the blacksmith in the forge. You’ll also have a chance to throw an axe and try some archery. They offer a tour around the village which happens every hour and is a great way to learn about the Viking way of life.

A small boy in a blue t-shirt is helping a girl dressed as a Viking to weave a belt. She is watching him and he is concentrating.

This was a a really good fun experience for all of us, because the boys had a chance to walk around and get involved with the Vikings who were really engaging and friendly. And because it’s an immersive experience the kids were able to go and touch everything which is what young kids love to do! This is a great day trip from Flåm and one of the top things to do there.

Top tip: You could take the scenic fjord cruise from Flåm to Gudvangen. Then once you’re there head to Viking Valley for a few hours. And when you’re ready to head back you can take the shuttle bus back to Flåm.

14. Visit the fjord village of Undredal

Undredal is a small waterfront village on the banks of the Aurlandsfjord just 10 minutes from Flåm by either car or boat. The incredible thing is that until the 1980’s the village was only accessible by boat which is how it’s managed to retain its small village charm. However, it’s no longer the quiet village it once was, and whilst there it still gets it’s fair few tourists it’s less busy than Flåm. The main few reasons that people tend to visit are:

its less busy than Flåm
it has the smallest Stave Church in Scandinavia
it’s got more goats than inhabitants and is famous for it’s brown goats cheese
it has some great hikes nearby

15. Head up to to the Stegastein Viewpoint

The Stegastein Viewpoint is 650 metres above Aurlandsfjord and offers spectacular views over the fjord and the surrounding area. It’s about a 20 minute drive from Flåm, and at the top you’ll be rewarded with an incredible panoramic view. However, it’s important to note that in the peak season it can take up to an hour to get there because the road is tight and there is limited parking. You can also visit it as part of sightseeing tour if you don’t fancy the drive!

The photo is of the Stegastein Viewpoint which is one of the best things to do in Flam to get a view of the fjord.

We decided not to head up to the Stegastein Viewpoint as we’d been in Geiranger the previous few days and had visited several awesome viewing platforms there over the Geirangerfjord. However, we’ve heard it’s amazing so we’ll keep it on our bucket list for our next visit!

One Day Itinerary In Flåm – A Few Ideas

We know how precious your time can be when you’re visiting somewhere new especially if you’re visiting on a cruise ship and have limited time to spend exploring. We like to give inspiration based on what we think would work really well, as different people will often enjoy different aspects of a town or village. Hopefully we’ve given you some inspiration to get your Flåm travel plans kick-started!

1 Day Itinerary in Flåm – Flåmsbana railway and explore Nærøyfjord

Morning – Take the first train up on the Flåmsbana, then either make a return trip or bike/hike back to Flåm. If you have time, take the walk up to Brekkefossen waterfall.

Lunchtime – Explore Flåm, enjoy a visit to the Flåm Railway Museum and have lunch at Flåm Bakery.

Afternoon – Discover the UNESCO World Heritage Area of Nærøyfjord either on a scenic fjord cruise and return by shuttle bus to Flåm, or by rib boat.

1 Day Itinerary in Flåm – Perfect for families

Morning – Enjoy a Nærøyfjord cruise to Gudvangen and head to Viking Valley to immerse yourselves in one the best Viking experiences in Norway.

Lunchtime – Have lunch like a Viking at Viking Valley. Then take the shuttle bus back to Flåm for some beach time and play in the playground.

Afternoon – Ride on an afternoon Flåmsbana train on a return trip ticket with your tired kids!

1 Day Itinerary in Flåm – For adventure seekers

Morning – Take the first Flåmsbana train up. Then either bike down from the top (hitting the 21 hairpin bends), or fly down on the Flåm Zipline and bike from there.

Lunchtime – Grab some lunch at one of the delicious street food vendors in the centre of Flåm, you’ll need an energy top up!

Afternoon – Kayak through either Aurlandsfjord or Nærøyfjord with Njord Kayak Centre. Finish with a beer at Ægir Brewpub to celebrate a great day of activity!

The photo is of the back of a little boy as he looks out over the front of a blue inflatable kayak. In the background if the fjord. They are kayaking out from the beach in Flam.

Norway In A Nutshell Tour

A lot of people decide to take the Norway In A Nutshell Tour as a first step to discovering Norway. It starts in Bergen and then passes through Flåm and onto Oslo. You can then leave Norway by flying out of Oslo. There’s lots to do in Oslo, you can get most of the main Olso attractions done in one day. If you’re travelling to Oslo with kids, then there are loads of fun things to do there with them. We’d highly recommend visiting Oslo!

Final Thoughts On Amazing Things To Do In Flåm

We had an incredible few days in Flåm, it really was one of the best places we visited on our road trip through Norway. There are so many great things to do in Flåm, whether you’re wanting to take it easy and enjoy a Nærøyfjord cruise. Or, be an adventure seeker and high speed it down on a bike from the top of the Flåmsbana train.

It’s got spectacular scenery plus one of the most beautiful train rides in Europe and is a top choice for families, couples and solo travellers. We really hope that you have a fantastic stay there and make the most of everything that Flåm has to offer. We have a feeling that because we enjoyed it so much that we’ll be back there soon, and might even see you there!