With everything Flåm has on offer, it may be hard to decide what to do. And especially if you only have one day available. To make it easier to navigate, we’ve put together the perfect agenda.
Start your day with plenty of time to enjoy your breakfast at the Fretheim Hotel. Fresh bread and other baked goods from Flåm Bakeri, crispy bacon from Haugen Gardsmat and fresh vegetables from Sogn Jord- og Hagebruksskule and Lærdal make sure you keep your energy levels up throughout your active morning.
From the breakfast table, you’ll then move on to one of the hotel’s nearest neighbours, the Flåm Railway, named one of the world’s most beautiful railway journeys by both Lonely Planet and National Geographic.
Don’t forget to wear decent footwear and clothing you can move around in!
The section of railway between Flåm and Myrdal has also been named one of the greatest engineering feats. The Flåm Railway, just over 20 kilometres long , took almost 20 years to complete, from 1923 to 1940. About 80 percent of the section is at a gradient of 5.5 percent and it has no fewer than 20 tunnels. One of them even passes through a 180-degree curve!
After about 50 minutes, which includes a stop for photos at Kjosfossen, you’ll leave the train at Vatnahalsen 811 metres above sea level, just before the end terminal at Myrdal.
All of Flåmsdalen is suddenly there beneath you, and the most fun way to descend is by Scandinavia' longest zipline.
From Vatnahalsen station, you follow the signs a couple of hundred metres to the starting point of the Flåm Zipline. From here you have panoramic views over Flåmsdalen and the hairpin bends down to Kårdal farm. In a couple of minutes, you’ll be suspended from a wire and flying down there!
So okay, it’s entirely normal for you to find your heart rate going up a bit. After all, this is the longest zipline in Scandinavia – 1.381 meters – with a maximum speed of around 100 kph.
Did you know that the zipline tradition was common at farms along the fjords long before ziplining became a popular high adrenaline activity? It used to be used to transport goods, hay, cheese and even animals to and from farms.
When you have your feet firmly on the ground again, we recommend a break at Kårdal summer farm. Have a taste of the norwegian svele pancake with brown goats cheese from the farm. You can also try yoghurt made from goat milk.
Kårdal summer farm is open from June to September every year.
The return to Flåm goes through the scenic Flåmsdalen valley by bike. Collect bikes and helmets that you’ve booked through Flåm Zipline.
Your return to Flåm passes along the last part of Rallarvegen. Most of this ride is downhill, so all you have to do is enjoying the view over the clear blue river, waterfalls, the tiny farmyards and vivid green land far up on the mountainside. And don’t forget to watch out for goats along the way.
Approaching the fjord, you'll encounter the charming old town of Flåm. Be sure to check if the 1670 Flåm Church is open. Its interior is home to remarkable, naïve murals dating back to the early 18th century. These unique paintings depict an array of subjects, including lions, deer, and Eastern-style religious buildings with domes.
When the bike is returned, we recommend lunch at Flåm Bakeri, a little artisan bakery staffed by bakers who love their craft and make all kinds of things. You already tried their bread at breakfast. Fetch a sandwich, some local applejuice from the Sognefjord, and maybe something sweet to go with it. The cinnamon buns are to die for!
After lunch, it's time for some shopping. Stop by the shop in the Flåm Railway Museum for Norwegian crafts, Scandinavian quality brands and unique Flåm Railway products.
After lunch and shopping it’s time for you to enjoy some even more beautiful nature.
Board the electric boat at the quayside, and find yourself a seat either at the front of the boat or out on deck. The sailing to Gudvangen takes two hours, one hour out of the Aurlandsfjord and one hour into the Nærøyfjord.
No wonder the Nærøyfjord and surrounding area are on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Untouched, raw and beautiful, with incredibly steep mountainsides, magnificent waterfalls and small rural communities and farms. And could there be a more relaxing way to experience all this than aboard a fjord cruise? You are sailing on one of the award-winning boats, Future of the Fjords or Vision of the Fjords, which run on electricity and sail quietly through the fjord. A 400-metre guardrail on the outside and an exquisite Scandinavian interior with windows from floor to ceiling inside, ensure that you can enjoy magnificent views no matter where you are on the boat.
While on the boat you can plan your next adventure at Stigen gård. Just after Undredal, you’ll be able to glimpse the small farm high up on the mountainside. The place got it's name, Stigen, because you used to have to climb a ladder to get there (“stige” in Norwegian means “ladder” in english).
Nowadays it’s a B&B in the summer season, and all 14 beds are fully booked for a couple of years ahead. An idea for your next visit, maybe!
Once you arrive at Gudvangen, you’ll join the shuttle bus, which will take you back to Flåm in 20 minutes.
When you arrive back in Flåm, you’ll have time for a quick rest in your room before your table at the restaurant is ready.
Have an aperitif at the Lobby Bar before dinner at Fretheim Hotel and Restaurant Arven which have strong links to the region and a love of good ingredients. This restaurant focuses primarily on local, seasonal produce and organically as well, as far as possible. But what could be more organic than a lamb that’s spent all its life out here in the mountains, even if it doesn’t come with an eco-label?
Goats are, and have also been, an important resource in Aurland, so you’ll most likely find a hint of this in many of our dishes. You might find white goats cheese in your salad starter, or goats cheese caramel in your dessert. Our chefs are experts at crafting dishes that will tantalize your taste buds.
Hold on! It’s not time to say goodnight just yet. Finish off the day in Flåms own brewery pub.
Nestled in a Viking-inspired building, Ægir Brewery Pub offers a diverse selection of craft beers. Naturally, their own locally brewed beers take center stage. Choose your favourite, or try a beer selection.
Say goodnight and enjoy the quiet atmosphere in Fretheim Hotel. Have you perhaps booked a historic room? Imagine drifting off to sleep, transported back to the era when this hotel was built to accommodate English lords on salmon fishing expeditions. Sleep soundly and wake up to a hearty breakfast buffet tomorrow.
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