How to Get from Bergen to Flam (boat, train, bus, agency)

People often think it’s too far, but it’s really not. When you visit Bergen, , you have the opportunity to visit some of the most beautiful fjords in Norway too. Sure, it’s not exactly next door, but you have one of the most beautiful regions in the country: the Naeroyfjord and Flam. The great news is that to get to Flam, you have plenty of options, even without a car. Flam is only about 3 hours away by train or bus, and you can easily do the round trip in a day. That said, it would be a shame to visit Flam without including the magnificent Naeroyfjord. A cruise on this fjord is a must, so I’ll walk you through how to combine your Flam visit with the Naeroyfjord. Let’s go! And all of this fits perfectly into an optimised itinerary around Bergen!

Rent a car to get to Flam

Yes, renting a car is really worth it to visit Norway. Especially the fjord region — it’s incredibly convenient. Essential? Not necessarily. As we’ll see, there are plenty of alternatives (train, boat, bus). But having a car lets you truly make the most of it, be less dependent on schedules, and still enjoy all the same activities like the boat on the Naeroyfjord, the Flam Railway. And (this is something I particularly love) easier access to visit the stave churches like Hopperstad and Borgund. So the drive from Bergen to Flam is genuinely lovely (I drove it again just last April), moving gradually from an archipelago to beautiful mountains and then into impressive fjords. Along the way, I’d obviously recommend stopping at Tvindefossen waterfall, but above all — if you have time — making a detour along the spectacular Route 13 to visit the Hopperstad stave church. Seriously! It’s practically a replica of Borgund, but without the crowds or the fences. Bergen to Flam is 170 km and 3 hours of driving without too many stops (and speed limits to respect). So honestly, it’s very doable by car 🙂

Getting from Bergen to Flam by boat

This is a recent addition and it’s really great. For the past 2 or 3 years, there’s been a boat connecting Bergen to Flam (and back, of course). It operates from 1 May to 30 September, every day.

• The Bergen – Flam crossing departs at 8:00 am
• The Flam – Bergen crossing departs at 15:30
• The one-way fare is €119 (€238 return, official prices with no extra charge)

That leaves about 2h30 in Flam if you want to do the round trip in a day. Honestly, looking at the timetables, I’m not sure there’s enough time between the two boats to do the Flam Railway round trip (arriving at 13:30, and the train also departs at 13:30 — a bit too tight) On the other hand, what could work really well is spending the night in Flam or Aurland and taking the boat back the next day. Or: arrive by boat, ride the Flam Railway up to Myrdal, then take the train from Myrdal back to Bergen. That works nicely! We’ll look at the best day-trip options just below.

• Discover the Bergen–Flam boat here!

Getting from Bergen to Flam by train

This is a really great option. And honestly, it’s not especially complicated or overly expensive. The Bergen – Flam train is a fantastic choice:

• the journey takes between 3h15 and 3h45
• there’s a change at Myrdal, the famous Flam Railway junction
• the scenery is absolutely spectacular
• there are several trains a day
• the first departure is at 7:30
• prices start from €75

The great thing is that if you want to do the round trip in a day, you have plenty of options. Including the chance to explore the Naeroyfjord, since you have quite a bit of time. Once in Flam, you can:

• Take the bus to Gudvangen and come back with the Naeroyfjord boat (my personal favourite fjord in Norway)
  • or take the Naeroyfjord cruise and catch the bus from Gudvangen back to Bergen (check entur.no for exact timetables, but there are several per day)
• Visit the Viking village at Gudvangen
• Take the boat from Flam back to Bergen, departing from 15:30

The train can be booked at vy.no , the Norwegian rail company. You can switch it to English (unless your Norwegian is up to scratch), then select Bergen – Flam. You’ll see all the train options. But also buses, since VY also operates some bus lines in the area, and you’ll notice that the shortest route is Bergen – Voss (bus) – Flam (train). 2h40 and €50. Although this route runs less frequently than the train.

Getting from Bergen to Flam by bus

Not bad either. Practical, quick, not too expensive — though less spectacular than the train or boat — it’s perfectly possible to travel between Bergen and Flam by bus:

• the company operating these buses is Nor-Way and the bus serving this route is the NW420
• Bergen – Flam: 2 departures a day (8:30, 15:20)
• Flam – Bergen: 3 departures (9:30, 16:10)
• Journey time: between 2h50 and 3h10
• Prices start from 159 NOK per trip (not bad!)

What’s great about this is that you can catch the first morning bus and arrive in Flam at 11:45. You then have time to either ride the Flam Railway to Myrdal OR take a cruise on the Naeroyfjord (but not both), before catching the last train back to Bergen. We’ll see that the Gudvangen option actually opens up more possibilities.

Bergen – Naeroyfjord – Flam – Back to Bergen

If you want to explore the Naeroyfjord on a cruise and also ride the Flam Railway, here are a few options — either booking everything yourself or going through an agency

Option 1:

• Bus from Bergen to Gudvangen with Nor-Way
  • departure 8:30, arrival 11:06
  • price: 265 NOK
• Cruise on the Naeroyfjord from Gudvangen to Flam
  • departure 12:00, arrival 14:00
  • price: 625 NOK
  • Book here
• Arrive in Flam, explore the area a little
• Take the train Flam – Myrdal (change) – Bergen (779 NOK with vy.no)
  • Departs 14:55, arrives Myrdal 15:50 (9 min connection), arrives Bergen 18:16
  • Departs 17:30, arrives Myrdal 18:25, arrives Bergen 21:16
  • Depending on how long you want to stay in Flam

All in, this option costs 1,670 NOK if you book everything yourself. And you get:

• the bus ride to Gudvangen
• the Gudvangen – Flam Naeroyfjord cruise
• the Flam Railway
• and the train back to Bergen

Not bad!

Option 2:  This is a big day with lots of boat travel and train. A superb journey between fjords and mountains. Unlike the previous option, there’s no bus (except for the 10-minute shuttle), but you have an extra 5 hours on the water. It’s more expensive, but even better!

• Take the 5-hour boat from Bergen to Flam
  • departure at 8:00, arriving in Flam at 13:30
  • cost €120
  • book here
• Take the boat Flam – Gudvangen (you retrace part of the route but continue along the Naeroyfjord)
  • departure at 15:00, arriving in Gudvangen at 17:00
  • from 625 NOK
  • book here
• Take the shuttle (bus) from Gudvangen to Flam
  • departure at 17:30, arriving at 17:50
  • fare: 150 NOK
  • book here
• Take the train Flam – Myrdal – Bergen with vy.no
  • departure at 18:45, arriving Myrdal 19:40 (1h30 wait), arriving Bergen 23:15
  • price: 889 NOK

Option 3:  This is the option for those who don’t want to deal with making all the bookings themselves. There are agencies that handle everything for you. It’s naturally more expensive (around €100 more), but you get a guide and don’t have to think about anything. There are also stops in villages and at waterfalls, which can be a nice bonus — just not the cheapest option.

• Depart Bergen at 8:00, return around 20:00
• Tvindefossen and Kjosfossen waterfalls
• Tickets for the Naeroyfjord cruise
• Tickets for the Flam Railway
• And return train tickets Myrdal – Bergen
• You’ll usually have a bit of time in Gudvangen to visit the Viking village
• Price approximately €310
• Info and bookings

Honestly, there are quite a few options across the different modes of transport. You just need to keep an eye on the timetables. But you can do all of these activities on your own or with an agency without any difficulty. It does come at a cost, but honestly, it’s just so beautiful!

4 recommended places to stay around Flam

Find your dream accommodationin the fjords!

Conclusion

Well, I think that covers everything! Getting from Bergen to Flam (and back, of course) is very straightforward. Train, bus, boat, car — all options are on the table. If you’re planning to do the round trip in a day, just keep an eye on the timetables if you want to combine both the boat and the Flam Railway, so you don’t end up getting back too late. It’s also one of the many boat trips in the fjords from Bergen. The best option would be to stay overnight and enjoy the place at your own pace. It’s not cheap, but there are some lovely places to stay. This trip can be done year-round, but it’s particularly popular if you visit this region of Norway in summer. The days are very long and the scenery is incredible (though honestly, it’s stunning all year round).

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More resources for your stay in Norway

PRACTICAL INFO ABOUT NORWAY

• First, here’s an article with everything you need to know to plan your trip to Norway
• Here is all the information on paying tolls and ferries in Norway
• If, like many people, you’re not sure, where to go in Norway in summer
• In the area, there’s Borgund, one of the many Stave churches in Norway
• Watch out for nasty surprises — check closed roads in the fjords and Norway
• Further north, here’s a road trip between Tromso, Senja and the Lofoten Islands
• If you’re heading there a little later, you can see the northern lights from early September

TROMSO AND ITS REGION

• Here is all the informations pour planning your itinerary in Tromso
• Find out which are the best activities to do in Tromso in winter
• For some inspiration, here’s a one week itinerary in Tromso
• Here are some ideas to find where to stay in Tromso
• Discover when to go to Tromso
• Here, to help you find your way, the Tromso map with all the best spots
• How to take the ferry between Tromso and Senja
• Ferry timetables and info between Tromso and the Lyngen Alps
• Visiting Tromso and its region on foot or by bus
• You can’t miss it — discover the fabulous island of Kvaloya

TROMSO & NORTHERN LIGHTS

• The best northern lights agencies in Tromso
• The 10 best places to see the northern lights in Tromso

TROMSO & ACTIVITIES

• When to go dog sledding in Tromso
• Discover the fjords of Tromso by boat
• The best agencies for snowmobiling in Tromso
• When to see whales and orcas at Skervoy
• Where to see reindeer in Tromso

LOFOTEN ISLANDS

• Discover what to do in the Lofoten Islands
• Unique accommodations in the Lofoten Islands
• When to see the northern lights in the Lofoten Islands
• Prices and timetables for the ferry between Bodo and the Lofoten Islands (Moskenes) + Vaeroy

SENJA

• What to see in Senja!
• The most beautiful spots in Senja
• How to get from Tromso to Senja by ferry
• Where to stay in Senja, the best accommodations
• The Senja map with all the must-sees
• How to get to Senja by car, bus, ferry, plane
• The most beautiful spots to see the northern lights in Senja
• Discover the village of Gryllefjord

BERGEN AND THE FJORDS

• What to do in Bergen in a few days
• Taking the tram between Bergen and the airport
• What to see in the Norwegian fjords
• What are the best cruises from Bergen
• Are you wondering why visit Geirangerfjord? I’ll tell you everything! Especially since you can take a stunning cruise on the Geirangerfjord!
• What is the best itinerary to visit the Norwegian fjords?

OSLO

• What to do in Oslo in a few days
• Which hotel to stay at Oslo Gardermoen airport
• How to get from Oslo airport to the city centre