When people tell me they’re planning a trip to Norway, I always recommend flying into Bergen instead of Oslo. Yes, I’m probably biased because I live in Bergen, but I think all Norwegians will agree that Bergen is a lot more beautiful than Oslo. But more importantly for you, visiting Bergen also gives you access to some of Norway’s most incredible fjords.
I’ve shared all of my favorite fjords in Norway here, and of those the most beautiful fjords near Bergen are Hardangerfjord and Sognefjord.
Sognefjord is Norway’s longest and deepest fjord, cutting its way over 200 kilometers inland. And one of the most beautiful spots along Sognefjord is the small Norwegian village of Flåm!
Flåm has become a popular base from which to explore Sognefjord not only for the idyllic views, but also for its easy access to both Bergen and the surrounding area. You can get to Flåm from Bergen by public transport, including train, boat, and bus, as well as by rental car and private tour. Each offers a slightly different experience and cost.
I’ve also shared my guide to Bergen here and where to stay in Bergen here. I’ve also shared the best day trips from Bergen here.
And if you plan on spending a night or two in Flåm, I recommend staying at the Fretheim Hotel. And while you’re in Flåm book a session at the floating sauna just a short walk from the hotel!
Train from Bergen to Flåm
One of the easiest and most scenic ways to get from Bergen to Flåm is by train. The train leaves from downtown Bergen (Bergen Station) and then you’ll change trains in Myrdal to take the famous Flåm Railway for the rest of the journey to Flåm.
The journey from Bergen to Myrdal takes two hours, and from Myrdal to Flåm takes one hour. You’ll have plenty of time to change trains in Myrdal and Myrdal is tiny, so switching trains here is incredibly easy.
You can book the train on the Vy website. The train from Bergen to Flåm usually starts at 779 kroner if you book well in advance. You can book your train ticket up to 90 days in advance, and the price goes up as more tickets are sold, so I always try to book my trains as close to 90 days in advance as possible.
The Flåm Railway is one of Norway’s most popular tourist attractions, and many tour operators sell marked up round trip Flåm Railway tickets from Flåm. Instead of booking through these tour operators, I recommend booking directly on the train company’s website for the lowest price.
NB The Vy website also sells bus tickets, so make sure that you are booking the train journey! The train will go from Bergen to Myrdal, and then from Myrdal to Flåm. Vy also offers a train from Bergen to Voss and then a bus from Voss to Flåm. This route is often a bit cheaper, however I strongly suggest booking the train journey instead, as the train from Myrdal to Flåm is so special.
Boat from Bergen to Flåm & The Fjords
Everyone who visits me in Bergen asks if it’s possible to take a boat from Bergen to the fjords. And the answer is yes! There are lots of express boats leaving from Bergen that take you to different fjords in the region. This definitely isn’t the fastest way to get from Bergen to the fjords, but it’s certainly beautiful.
You can also take a boat from Bergen all the way to Flåm during the spring/summer season from April until the end of October. The express boat takes 5.5 hours, departing Bergen at 8:00 and arriving in Flåm at 13:40, and one way costs 1060 kroner. A roundtrip ticket costs 1592 kroner, so be sure to book roundtrip if you’ll be returning to Bergen.
You can book the Bergen Flåm express boat here. The boat leaves from the city center at the Bergen Strandkaiterminalen here.
If you want to extend your journey a bit, I highly recommend stopping for a night or two along Sognefjord. The boat stops at several towns and villages that are actually much more scenic than Flåm.
Flåm is such a popular destination because of the Flåm Railway, however if you’re looking to stay somewhere beautiful on Sognefjord I would recommend staying in Balestrand. The Kviknes Hotel in Balestrand is actually one of my favorite hotels in all of Norway! I’ve written about visiting Balestrand here.
You could also take the train from Bergen to Flåm to experience the Flåm Railway and then spend a night in Flåm. Then you could get the boat from Flåm to Balestrand and spend a night or two there before returning by boat to Bergen.
Driving from Bergen to Flåm
I love that Bergen is so well connected to Sognefjord by public transport, however it’s worth noting that Bergen to Flåm is one of the most popular tourist routes in Norway, so if you’re visiting in the summer the trains, boats and buses will be packed.
And of course if you’re taking public transport, you’ll have to stick to the public transport routes. The trains, boats and buses usually only go once or twice a day, so it’s difficult to get off the main route and explore.
So if you want to stray from the tourist crowds and explore more of the area around Flåm, I recommend renting a car in Bergen. While Flåm has become a popular destination because of the Flåm Railway, I actually think there are much prettier spots along Sognefjord worth visiting. Plus if you’re traveling by car, you can explore both the mountains and fjords around Bergen and Flåm.
And driving is also the fastest way to get from Bergen to Flåm. The drive from Bergen to Flåm takes about 2.5 hours.
If you choose to rent a car in Bergen, definitely book your rental car as far in advance as possible, as prices go up significantly as cars book up. Rental cars in Bergen usually cost about 500 kroner a day, but in the summer they can be 2000 kroner/day or more. So book early! You can compare prices and book your rental car here.
Driving in Norway is quite easy as there’s not too much traffic, but some roads can be narrow and winding. I’ve shared my tips for driving in Norway here.
The best part about driving from Bergen to Flåm is that you can explore the surrounding area. You should definitely also drive to the neighboring village of Aurland and up to the famous Stegastein viewpoint.
If you have time, I also highly recommend driving around Sognefjord and stopping in Luster, Fjærland, and Balestrand.
I’ve shared a complete guide to taking a road trip from Bergen to Flåm and the rest of Sognefjord here.
Or if you want to drive along the Flåm railway route, you can drive up from Flåm towards Myrdal. The road does get really narrow at the end and you can’t actually drive all the way to Myrdal. But if you want, you can hike the last few kilometers, which will take you up the famous Rallarvegen road, which is especially popular amongst cyclists.
This is also where the Flåm Zipline is! I did this hike this summer (2022) and then spent the night at the top at the Vatnahalsen Hotel, which can actually only be reached by hiking or by train. I loved staying here, and it was so cool to arrive here by hiking instead of by car! Plus they are dog friendly, so I was able to stay here with Alfie!
Bus from Bergen to Flåm
Finally, the cheapest way to get from Bergen to Flåm is by bus (unless you are several people traveling together, in which case renting a car might be cheaper).
To be honest, I really hate the bus from Bergen to Flåm. The roads wind so much that I always get incredibly car sick here. Even some of my friends who usually never get carsick have struggled a bit on the roads in Western Norway, so unless you’re the type of person who can read in a car with no issues, I would hesitate to take long distance buses here.
But if you have a strong stomach the bus is probably quite enjoyable! There’s a direct bus from Bergen to Flåm that takes about 3 hours and costs about 250 kroner. The bus itself is very nice, with WiFi, power outlets at every seat, and a toilet. You can book your bus ticket at Nor-way.no.
Bergen to Flåm Tour
As taking public transport between Bergen and Flåm is so easy, the only reason I would recommend taking a tour instead would be to have a guide. It can be interesting to travel with a guide, as you can learn more about the area as well as Norwegian history and culture.
Fjord Tours sells a popular Norway in a Nutshell tour, which is simply a collection of public transport tickets that have been marked up in price and do not include a guide. If you want to do Norway in a Nutshell, I explain here how to book Norway in a Nutshell independently to save a lot of money.
And if you do want to travel with a guide, this guided tour from Bergen to Flåm takes you by bus from Bergen and then along the Flåm Railway and a boat cruise along Nærøyfjord.
Or if you prefer a private tour, this private tour also includes a visit to the spectacular Stegastein viewpoint and the Viking Village in Gudvangen.
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