Flam (Norway)

Flam is a small port village (population under 500) located in Flamsdalen, at the inner end of Aurlandsfjorden, a branch of Sognefjorden. It is situated in Aurland municipality, Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway.

Flam Church was built in 1670. The construction of Flam Line was financed by parliament in 1923. The decision to build the line was made in 1908. In 1942 ordinary operation of trains started on Flam Line. Cruise ships stayed on the fjord in the 1960s. The "new pier" was referred to in a Norwegian Government-issued document from 2000. The closest airport is Sogndal Airport, Haukasen, located approx 70 km (43 mi) from the cruise port. E16 highway from Oslo to Bergen runs through Flam. The route is approx 7 km (4,3 mi) southwest of Aurlandsvangen's downtown, 12 km (7,5 mi) south of Undredal, and 15 km (9,3 mi) east of Gudvangen (through Gudvanga Tunnel).

Flam has been a tourist destination since late-19th-century. Today it receives nearly 450,000 visitors per year. Most tourists ride the 20-km (12-mi) long Flam Line between (linking with Myrdal) ranked one of world's steepest railway tracks (at 1 in 18). There are a few spirals, as well. The former rail station building currently houses a museum dedicated to the railway (Flamsbana).

Among the newest cruise tourist attractions is the fully electric tour boat (launched in 2018) MS Future of the Fjords - LOA length 42 m (138 ft), with floor-ceiling windows and outdoor slanted promenades accessing all decks. The other large tour boat (hybrid vessel (Vision of the Fjords) is a hybrid ferry (running on LNG and MGO).

Main cruising season runs March through October. The harbor receives around 160 cruise ship calls per year. In recent years, cruise port's constant growth made it a year-round destination. In 2018, it scheduled 153 ship calls and ~250,000 passengers. For season 2019 were scheduled 159 ship calls (from the initially booked 176 berthings. SInce 2018, Port Flam limits cruise passengers' capacity to max 5,000 (in port at once).

In early-July 2020, ENOVA (2001-founded, Norwegian Government enterprise) granted to Port Flam NOK 27 million (EUR 2,53 million / USD 2,8 million) for building a shoreside power capability for passenger ships (ferries and cruise vessels). The project includes laying of an underwater cable from Aurland Power Station (hydroelectric power station owned by E-CO Energi) directly to Flam. Project's total cost is NOK 83 million (EUR 7,77 M / USD 12,5 M). Shore-power supply allows docked ships to turn off their engines (while berthed), thus reducing Port Flam's emissions from passenger ships by 75%.

Flam cruise terminal

Flam tours, shore excursions, hotels

City Tours and Shore Excursions

The Flam Line (Flamsbana) is a scenic railroad between Flam and Myrdal. The line is a branch of the Bergen Line (Bergensbanen), runs through the Flamsdalen valley and connects the mainline with Sognefjorden.

• The line has 1 bridge, 20 tunnels and 10 stations.
• The railroad's length is 20 km (13 ml), its elevation difference 863 m (2831 ft) and the max slope is 5,5%. The steep incline (1 to 18, fjord to mountaintop) and the amazing views of the passing unique countryside make the Flam Line Norway's 3rd most visited by tourists attraction.
• Flam Line's departures are 10 per day during high tourist season (May through September) and 5 per day during the rest of the year.