| Flåm | ||
 | ||
| State | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Western Norway | |
| Territory | Sogn og Fjordane | |
| Altitude | 59 m a.s.l. | |
| Inhabitants | 450 (estimate) | |
| POSTAL CODE | 5743 | |
| Time zone | UTC 1 | |
Position
| ||
| Institutional website | ||
Flåm is a city of Norway.
To know
It is located at the end of the Aurlandsfjord, a branch of the Sognefjord. The village is located in the municipality of Aurland, in the county of Sogn og Fjordane. It is touched by the European road E16 and is one of the busiest ports in Norway.
Flåm is also the arrival station of the Flåm railway, the only railway in Sogn og Fjordane and the connection to the railway of Bergen between Oslo is Bergen. Thanks to the railway and the tourist boat for Gudvangen (as well as a large number of cruise ships), Flåm has become one of the most visited places in the Westfjords. These deep fjords allow the largest cruise ships to enter. Flåm is the arrival station for Flåmsbana and a good starting point for a cruise to Nærøyfjord, an arm of the Sognefjord, designated a World Heritage SiteUNESCO since 2005.
Background
At the end of the 19th century, many cruise ships mainly came from UK is Germany they went as far as Flåm for tourist reasons. The arrival of the passengers from the ships gave way to the operations for the construction of a network of hotels. After the opening of the Oslo-Bergen railway in 1909, Flåm became a major hub for passengers and communications, with connections operating across the fjord. There Flåmsbana (completed in 1940) forever marked the history of this village.
How to orient yourself
Flåm: full screen map.How to get
By plane
There is a small airport at Sogndal. The nearest airport with international flights is the airport of Bergen.
By car
Flåm is located on European route 16 and could be reached from Bergen in 2 hours and 45 minutes. Driving from Oslo would take 5 hours and 30 minutes. Flåm can be reached from Geilo in Buskerud on route 50. In summer it is also the fastest connection from Oslo. In winter, Route 50 may be closed due to bad weather conditions.
Flåm is Norway's fourth largest cruise port, with around 175 cruises each year, bringing hundreds of thousands of visitors to the small town. Flåm has room for a cruise ship to dock at its dock.
A catamaran route connects Flåm with Bergen and other villages along the Sognefjord. This is a great way to see the fjord. Departures once a day between 1st May and 30th September. There is also a car ferry that runs from Flåm to Gudvangen (kr 665 for a car and its driver).
On the train
The famous Flåmbahn[link not working] (Flåmsbana) of Myrdal, a station on the main Oslo - Bergen line, is a major tourist attraction in itself. Many travelers continue on a scenic cruise across the fjord itself to Gudvangen, from where you can take a bus back to the main line. This path it is known as one of the most beautiful in Norway.
By bus
Seven daily departures from Bergen, Sogndal is Lærdal.
How to get around
Walking is a good option, as Flåm near the fjord is very small. The village is located a few miles up the river, along the Flåmbana route. A good starting point is at the Flåm train station and visitor center (Flåm Turistinformasjon), where you can pick up a map of the village, with a large gift shop and buy tickets for boat, train and bus trips. They also have wifi (you have to buy coupons) and bathrooms. The rest of Flåm near the fjord can be easily explored on foot.
Bus, car or bicycle are the options between Flåm and Aurland. You access Undredal through a 5km tunnel and it is not possible to hike and cycle to Undredal. The European motorway E16 passes through Flåm and Aurland. Heading west, the E16 enters the Gudvanga Tunnel bound for the village of Gudvangen, located at the end of the narrow Nærøyfjord where the Nærøydalselvi River flows into the Nærøyfjord.
What see
- 1 [link not working]Flåm railway (Flåmsbana), ☎ 47 57632100, @[email protected]. This railway rises from sea level up to 866 meters (2041 ft) in 20 km (12 miles), making it the third steepest normal railway in the world. The railway is an engineering achievement. Several hairpin bends are needed to climb the steep valley, a narrow hairpin is inside a tunnel.
- 2 [link not working]Flåm Railway Museum (Flåmsbana Museet) (near the train station / visitor center, opposite Pier 1), ☎ 47 57632310. Museum about the Flåm railway and how it was built. Exhibits include an authentic El 9 locomotive, an old electric sorting engine, and a set of railway inspection trolleys. Photography allowed. There are no toilets and wifi in the museum, but restrooms and wifi can be found in the nearby train station / visitor center. Free.
- [link not working]Nærøyfjord. The picturesque and narrow Nærøyfjord, a branch of the great Sognefjord, is 18 kilometers (11 miles) long and only 500 meters (1,600 feet) wide in parts. Since 2005, Nærøyfjord has been listed as a World Heritage Site byUNESCO.
- 3 Flåm church (Flåm kyrkje).
Events and parties
What to do
- Excursion to the Aurlandsdalen valley. A great option is to use the bus from Aurland to Østerbø and go back. You will walk between high mountains and waterfalls. Along the way you will see old farms.
Shopping
Goat's milk cheese, the geitost of Undredal, is considered a delicacy. Norwegian goat milk cheese differs from cheese feta Greek. There are several types, but the most common one has a sweet taste.
How to have fun
Where to eat
Where stay
Safety
How to keep in touch
Around
- Mountain road to Lærdal. This road reaches an altitude of 1306 m (4285 ft). It is called "Strada della Neve" because the snow is piled up next to it, several meters high, in summer. From the top of the winding Aurland road there is a splendid view of Aurland and the fjord.
