Flåm Transportation

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If you have decided to do the Flam Railway trip on your own, and you have arrived by Cruise ship, then make your first stop the Railway Station.

We went there first, and already there was a queue of people. There is a noticeboard, which is easy to see, which has the time the Flam Train leaves and returns during the day. When that particular Train is full, it will be shown as full.
So, choose your time so when you reach the booking counter you will be organized.
This is for time-tables....
http://www.visitflam.com/flam-railway/timetables/

We took a 1pm train ride, leaving in sunshine, but as we went further up the mountain, the weather changed, eventually to rain. Perhaps it may be better to take an earlier Train, it would have been better for us on that particular day. We asked others who did this, and they had fine weather everywhere!

ONE-WAY TICKET TO MYRDAL...
Adults Nok 260
Children 4-15 years Nok 130

RETURN TICKET FROM FLAM
Adults Nok 360
Children 4-15 years Nok 260
Families 2 adults + 2 children Nok 900

You can either take Norway in a nutshell or you can buy tickets and travel on your own. The train from oslo to myrdal is run by nsb, and the flambana from myrdal to flam is run by a private company. you can buy discounted tickets for oslo-myrdal if you buy ticket in advance (not sure how well in advance). They are known as minpris tickets (199NOK instead of 599NOK). The journey is very scenic (well, entire oslo-myrdal-flam-bergen journey is scenic) since it goes through the highest train station in norway.

Another way to get to Flaam is by bike. If coming from Bergen, bring your bike with you on the train and start at Myrdal or Finse. The road from Finse is sometimes covered with snow, so contact the Finse 1222. The road from Myrdal starts down some rather steep slopes. The road is not always good, especially not after heavy rain. But after the slopes the road gets better, and the final part is paved. There is very little traffic on the paved part, so it is a very nice trip. You see waterfalls, small farms, and rivers along the road with the mountains rising in the background.

One way of getting to or leaving Fla?m is by boat. There is a jet cat service all the way to Bergen. This is a rather long trip (5 hours), but you do get to see a lot of nice scenery. The journey starts in Fla?m and takes you all the way out of the Songefjorden, then between small islands until you, probably at sunset, reach Bergen. Definately worth the trip.

You can get to Flam in a number of ways:
1. Trains - the Flamsbana or mountain railway has connections with both Oslo and Bergen.
Get off at Myrdal to experience that miracle of a train journey.
2. Boats - there are express boats from Bergen and cheaper ones from Gudvangen or Kaupanger. The ones from Gudvangen are passenger boats only - no cars ferried.
3. Buses - the cheapest of the means of transport but the least scenic - with many tunnels on the way.
4. Cars. Your own car gives you a maximum of freedom. You can plan your journey in a way that suits you and take as much luggage as you like. No need for unwanted stopovers and the like. But you will probably still want to take the Flam Railway and a cruise on the fjord. If you travel with your family (children), it should be your first choice.
5.You can also ask at the tourist information for organised tours. The most popular is the 'Norway in a Nutshell' tour, taking you through Norway's most spectacular scenery. Here you travel by Bergen Railway, a coach, which will also take you to Stalheimskleiv in the high season, a boat on the Naeroyfjord, the Flamsbana from Flam and, finally, a train to Oslo.
Variations on this route and stopovers are possible. You can get a ticket for the tour at the tourist information in Flam.

Flåm was enroute my journey from Oslo to Bergen. First, Liz and I took the train from Oslo to Myrdal, then we transfered to a little green train on the Flåmsbana railway. The little train chugged along steep hairpin turns while we oohed and aahed at the scenary. It also made one stop along the way, notably at a beautiful waterfall.
The train terminated in Flam where we put up for the night.

Cost
NOK 125 one-way, 30% if you have a Scanrail pass like me.

Flåm is also the departure point for ferries on the Sognefjord - Norway's longest and deepest fjord. From Flåm, Liz and I took the Fylkesbaatane which has the most scenic ferry route to Gudvangen

Cost
Ferry tickets are available from the Flåm tourist office at NOK 160.