Is Flåmsbana Train Ride Worth It? My Honest Take.

The Flåmsbana, also known as the Flåm Railway, has been hailed (mostly by the brochures, mind you) as the most beautiful train ride in the world. Big words, right? But having recently boarded this little Nordic hype machine, I feel like I need to share the good, the bad, and the downright quirky of this much-talked-about train experience.

What is Flåmsbana?

The Flåm Railway (or Flåmsbana) is a one-hour train ride between the tiny village of Flåm and the mountain station of Myrdal. It’s a steep climb with dramatic views of rivers, waterfalls, and rugged Norwegian landscapes—sounds magical, right? It’s also pretty much 100% catered to tourists.

Spoiler alert: Does it live up to all of the hype? Not exactly. Is it worth doing? Maybe… but lower those expectations a notch.  

What Is the Flåms Railway and is it Worth the Hype?

The Flåms Railway is a 20-kilometer scenic train ride tucked in the heart of Norway’s fjord country. It connects Flåm, a picturesque village at the foot of Aurlandsfjord, to the mountaintop station of Myrdal, climbing almost 900 meters in just an hour. That’s some serious steepness (it’s one of the steepest railway lines in the world), which is pretty impressive…until you remember you’re here for the views.

What It’s Like to Ride Flåmsbana  

Okay, the ride is definitely scenic. Think towering mountains, sparkling rivers, and lush greenery (or snow-dusted views, depending on the season). The setup, though? It has its quirks.  

Tunnels Galore: Norway loves its tunnels—and for good reason, considering all those mountains. But when you’re trying to enjoy “the world’s most beautiful train ride,” being thrown into tunnels every couple of minutes is majorly distracting. Even the longest uninterrupted stretches without tunnels barely last four minutes. Yep, I timed it. The constant back-and-forth between “Wow, look at that view!” and “Oh great, another tunnel” gets old pretty fast.

The Dirty Dirty Dirty Window Situation  

There’s no open-air deck to take in the crisp Norwegian air, no cozy restaurant car for a coffee (or honestly, a strongdrink), and the windows—this is the kicker—are dirty.

If you call yourself the “most beautiful train ride in the world,” you’d think clean windows would be mandatory, right? Nope. Many of the windows have streaks, drips, and smudges that interfere with your ability to fully enjoy the vistas. Fora ride that markets itself as the most beautiful in the world, the experience is… anticlimactic. 

The Waterfall Stop (and… the Dancing Nymph?)

Now for the pièce de résistance of this peculiar trip—the Kjosfossen “nymph” performance. During the waterfall stop, out of nowhere (literally nowhere), music blares from hidden speakers, and a woman in a red dress emerges, doing what I assume is meant to be an enchanting nymph dance. It’s like Legend of Zelda meets off-off-off Broadway. Over-the-topwith a splash of tacky? Absolutely.

Flam Railway: No Bells and Whistles

Unlike some other scenic train rides worldwide, there are no open-air carts or restaurant cars. It’s just you and your (dirty) window seat. The screens in the train provide some history and context, which is a nice touch, but don’t expect anything beyond that.  

Keep Norway’s unpredictable weather in mind. Clouds, fog, and rain are frequent companions, and on a bad day, you might barely see a thing.

Pro Tips for riding Flamsbana:

• Go for the mid-to-late morning ride for (hopefully) clearer weather.
• Grab a spot by one of the openable windows if your cart has them.
• Treat it as a nice, scenic addition—not the highlight of your trip.

Is Flams Railway Worth It?  

Here’s the deal—it is a pretty train ride. The scenery is undeniably stunning when you can see it, and sure, there’ssomething magical about winding your way through Norway’s rugged landscapes. But the claim that it’s “the most beautiful train ride in the world”? That’s a stretch.  

• The Good: Gorgeous scenery, a chance to experience Norwegian engineering, and it’s an easy, low-effort activity.  
• The Meh: Tunnels galore, dirty windows, and slightly overhyped expectations.  
• The Bad (Weather Disclaimer): If it’s a cloudy or foggy day, don’t expect much of a view at all. Norway’sweather can be unpredictable, so this is more of a gamble than a sure thing.  

If you’re already in the area, it’s definitely worth hopping on Flåmsbana for the experience. Just don’t expect it to be the highlight of your trip to Norway—think of it as a pleasant add-on, not a bucket-list-defining moment.

Flam Railway Review: Jaw-Dropping Views or Overrated?

Should you ride Flåmsbana? If you’re in the area and have the time, absolutely. Just manage your expectations. Enjoy it for what it is—a scenic (if slightly flawed) train ride—and don’t go in expecting perfection.  

Take your camera, grab a window seat (maybe bring some wet wipes for the panes), and enjoy the ride. Who knows? Youmight just find it’s the ideal side adventure on your Norwegian travels.  

And hey, if you discover a truly better train ride somewhere else in the world, I’d love to hear about it. Drop your thoughts in the comments—because the hunt for the actual world’s most beautiful train ride continues!