Travel bucket list idea:
This 50-minute journey from Flåm in Norway to the mountain-top village of Myrdal is one of the world’s most scenic – and dramatic – train rides.
Ascending half a mile from the edge of the fjord, the 1:18 gradient is one of the steepest ascents of any train line in the world. The cog railway meanders through two dozen twisting tunnels as it climbs up to an altitude of 867m. Unmissable.
While it’s possible to do this journey on your own, it’s easiest and quickest to join an organised full-day tour from Bergen via one of the tour companies specialising in travel in the fjord country.
If you decide to go it alone, take either the fjord boat (5.5 hours) or inland express bus (3 hours) from Bergen to Flam, or the train from Bergen to Myrdal (2 hours).
Trains run from Bergen to Myrdal all year round, seven days a week; times vary season to season, so check the website.
Leave Bergen as early as possible to arrive in time to avoid the large crowds that can descend on Flam by early afternoon.
The train ride itself is one hour to the top, so allow at least 2.5 hours for a return.
Round-ups that include this experience
Multiple countries
Be it jaw-dropping scenery, a rich historical significance, the tradition and atmosphere of the train itself – or a combination of all three – here’s our round-up of the world’s best.
