Bergen Railway vs Flåm Railway: Which Norwegian Scenic Train Should You Ride?

If you're planning a trip through Norway's fjord country, you've probably run into these two names over and over — and noticed that people use them almost interchangeably, even though they're two very different journeys. Here's the short answer: you don't actually have to choose between them. The Flåm Railway is a branch line that connects to the Bergen Railway at Myrdal station, and most travelers ride both as part of the same tour, often continuing onward by ferry through the Aurlandsfjord and into the wider Sognefjord — Norway's longest and deepest fjord. But if you're short on time or budget, or just trying to work out what each one actually offers, here's exactly how they compare — including cost, timing, and how difficult each is to book.

What's the Difference?

The Bergen Railway (Bergensbanen), operated by Vy (Norway's national rail operator), is the main event: a roughly 7-hour, 371-mile mainline route connecting Oslo and Bergen. The railway climbs from sea level all the way up to 2,800 feet, crossing the Hardangervidda mountain plateau — one of the highest mainline railways in Europe, and a route that passes near Finse, one of the highest stations on the line. The scenery along the way includes glaciers and a wide variety of landscapes, from open tundra to snow-covered plateau, especially enjoyable in winter when everything is blanketed in white. The Flåm Railway (Flåmsbana) is a short, steep branch line — just 20 kilometers — that drops from the mountain station of Myrdal through the narrow Flåmsdalen valley down to the fjord-side village of Flåm, near the town of Aurland. The journey takes about one hour, passing through 20 tunnels along the way. It's one of the steepest standard-gauge railways in the world, and it deliberately operates at slow speeds, which gives passengers plenty of time for photos rather than rushing through the middle of the best scenery.

Getting From Bergen to Flåm: All Your Options

Before you even get to Myrdal, there's a bigger question: how do you want to arrive in Flåm from Bergen in the first place? There's more than one way, and the cost and time difference is significant. If you're on a budget and don't mind a slightly longer ride, the bus is the cheapest way to arrive. If you'd rather buy a ferry ticket instead, expect to pay considerably more but get an entirely different, restful kind of scenery — open water rather than mountain and waterfall. The car offers the most flexibility if you want to stop in small towns along the way, though it means missing the train experience itself. Whichever you choose, it's worth checking the operator's website ahead of time, since schedules can change with the season.

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Where to Buy Your Train Ticket?
Every train ticket for this route — whether it's the Bergen–Myrdal leg or the short Myrdal–Flåm hop — can be bought online through Rail Ninja or in person at the station. Buying online in advance is the safer bet: the departure board only shows what's currently displayed for that day, and popular services can sell out before you reach the counter.

Side-by-Side: Bergen Railway vs Flåm Railway

Best Time to Go: Season by Season

Summer (June–August): The busiest and most popular window. Long daylight hours mean you'll see the full Hardangervidda plateau and the green Flåmsdalen valley in good light, and the Kjosfossen Waterfall runs at its heaviest flow from snowmelt. Expect the fullest trains and the earliest sell-outs — this is when booking tickets weeks ahead genuinely matters.
Shoulder season (May and September–October): A good middle ground. Crowds thin out noticeably, prices on connecting ferries and buses sometimes dip, and the valley still has color, though days get shorter as autumn sets in.

October in particular rewards travelers who don't mind slightly less daylight in exchange for a quieter ride. May, on the other end of shoulder season, often brings the most dramatic waterfall flow of the year, as spring snowmelt from the mountains feeds every stream along the Flåmsdalen valley.
Winter (November–March): The Bergen Railway crossing the Hardangervidda plateau turns into a snow-covered, almost arctic landscape — arguably the most dramatic version of the route, though also the coldest and darkest. The Flåm Railway itself keeps running, and the contrast between the snowy heights at Myrdal and the milder fjord-side air in Flåm is part of the appeal.

Best Photo Spots Along the Way

Kjosfossen Waterfall stop — the train pauses here specifically for photos; it's the single most photographed moment on the Flåm Railway.
Myrdal station — the transfer point itself, sitting at altitude with the plateau stretching out behind it, makes a striking before-and-after shot against the fjord views waiting below.
Hardangervidda plateau (Bergen Railway) — the stretch of open, treeless high ground is best shot through the window in winter, when snow covers everything to the horizon.
Flåm village and the fjord — once you arrive, the short walk along the waterfront gives you the classic shot of the train line disappearing back up into the mountains behind the village.
Along the ferry route toward Aurlandsfjord — if you continue by boat after Flåm, the narrow fjord walls close in dramatically, giving a very different (and much wider) perspective than anything visible from the train.

Practical Tips: Cost, Timing, and Where to Stay

Cost: Expect anywhere from 250 NOK (bus only) to over 1,500 NOK depending on whether you add the ferry leg or book the full Nutshell tour.
When to go: Summer offers the longest daylight and greenest valleys; winter turns the high plateau into a snow-covered landscape and is a favorite for travelers who want a quieter, more atmospheric ride.
Where to arrive: Flåm itself is a tiny village, easy to explore on foot, with the fjord as its backdrop.
Night stays: If you want to break up the trip, spending a night in Flåm or one of the small towns along the route lets you catch the scenery in different light and avoid rushing every connection.

If you only have time for one, take the Flåm Railway. It delivers the most concentrated, photogenic scenery per minute of any train ride in Norway, and it's short enough to fit into a single day trip from Bergen.
If you have the time — and want the full Oslo-to-Bergen story — ride the Bergen Railway and treat the Flåm Railway as your highlight reel along the way. Most travelers agree this combination is the most enjoyable way to see the country: ride the mainline partway, hop off at Myrdal, drop down to the fjord on the Flåm Railway, spend time in the village, and continue on by boat or bus.