The home of the superlative (but for good reason)! Flam (or Flåm) is a small village, nestling at one end of the Aurlandsfjord, which punches well above its weight. Cruise passengers and guided coach groups sweep through this gem in hours. However, I recommend a longer stay in Flam with kids. My hubby and I spent 2 days in Flam with our boys (then aged 11 and nearly 13) in August 2025 as part of a longer independent trip around Norway. Read on for my tips on some fantastic things to do in Flam with kids!
1. Stay overnight in Flam with kids
Flam is at its best early in the morning or in the evening when the hordes from cruise ships and coach tours have gone. The scene is tranquil and you can wander at leisure around the small village and along the fjord. There are also some appealing dining options.
Accommodation here is limited and not cheap. You will need to book well in advance if you want to stay in the village. We rented a 2-bedroom apartment at Flam Ferdaminne through Booking.com which I would recommend. The apartment had 2 covered balconies with great views out over the fjord. I could have sat there for hours (boys have slightly less patience though!) Having the balconies covered meant we could sit out even when it was raising (and rains a lot here!).
Although Flam is far more peaceful in the evenings, be aware that you are never going to get complete peace and quiet if you say in the centre of the village. We could hear the thrum of the air-con system from the hotel next door from our balconies, and all the noises of a cruise ship docking…
2. Leave / arrive by the Flåmsbana Railway
In a place full of superlatives, the Flåmsbana Railway proudly announces itself as one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world. It’s certainly up there! This is something you shouldn’t miss in Flam with kids.
The trip lasts just under an hour. After around 10 minutes, the train stops by a powerful waterfall. You can get out, appreciate the majesty of the falls, soak in the spray, and take some great photos! The only bit we didn’t like was the lady who comes out on the mountain and sings. She’s meant to be some sort of sprite from folklore but the whole thing is a bit tacky and unnecessary.
Continuing down, the views just get better. The train snakes it way down round hairpin bends and starts to follow the course of the Flam river, finishing with a distant view of the fjord itself as you pull into Flam station.
How to do it
We came in by train from Oslo to Myrdal (around 4.5 hours) so took the train ride down to Flam. We bought tickets in advance as part of the through journey from Oslo. I’m not sure it was necessary to buy tickets in advance for the Flåmsbana Railway. There are no reserved seats and no ticket checks on the platform. If you are just taking this journey, you can buy tickets from Norway’s Best. If you are travelling from Oslo or Bergen, you can buy a through ticket to Flam (try Vy | Tog | Buss | Taxi | Bestill din reise på vy.no).
Many people take a round-trip on the train from Flam. I’m not sure there is much benefit in this. I think it’s better to do it once as you arrive or leave.
Where should I sit?
You can’t prebook seats, so it is a case of first come, first served. I can’t see much benefit in arriving early as you will just be milling around the platform. A station guard advised us to walk down the platform at Myrdal and get on by carriage markers 10 or 12 for a less crowded experience and a better chance of good seats. This is the opposite end from the waiting room (where passengers cluster in bad weather) and not where the organised tour groups head.
The views are pretty stunning from both sides. On balance, I would probably sit on the right hand side on the way down but do stand up and walk over to look out to the left as well. Do try to get a seat by a window which can open. Although you do have to close the window for each tunnel, you get better photos than through the glass pane, particularly if it is or has been raining.
3. Cruise on the fjord from Flam with kids
One of the best things you can do is a cruise on the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord from Flam with kids. You can take return cruises with private operators out of Flam (either on faster ribs or more sedate boats). My preferred option however is to take the ferry from Flam to Gudvangen.
Back to superlatives, this is billed as the most beautiful boat journey in Norway, and it is stunning.
The ferries are electric and super comfy with plenty of seating inside and 2 outdoor viewing decks, plus walkways.
The trip last 2 hours and the scenery is stunning throughout. I have never seen so many waterfalls; the whole place is trickling with water! We were there at the end of summer so these falls must have some considerable power in the spring! The fjord gradually gets narrower and more picturesque, with small colourful settlements dotted along. We didn’t see much wildlife, just 1 eagle.
We experienced all weathers in one day on our trip. Our ferry left Flam in low-lying fog which made the surrounding peaks look mythical (or like the backdrop to the Kung Fu Panda movies according to my husband). This was followed by wind and lashing rain, so cold and wet that we couldn’t stand outside for more than 10 minutes without needing to go in for a warm-up. Luckily the café did good hot chocolate! The weather then cleared, and we arrived in Gudvangen with blue skies and sunshine! Pack gloves, a warm hat, waterproofs and suncream!
How to do it
The ferry regularly sells out, so you do need to book in advance (via the Norway’s Best website). Ferry boarding starts 15 minutes before departure but a queue forms before that. You probably want to queue from around 30 minutes before the departure time to get decent seats.
Unless the day is gloriously warm and sunny (and forecast to stay so), make a beeline as soon as you board for an inside table by a window. Park all your stuff and you can then go outside and back in as you wish. On our trip, everyone had indoor seats that wanted them, so we were happy to leave our day bags on our seats and all head out together onto the decks. There is also an area at the back of the inside cabin beyond the café where you can leave suitcases / larger bags.
Gudvangen to Voss
From Gudvangen, you can return to Flam by ferry or bus, or you can press on by bus to Voss or Bergen. We didn’t fancy the long winding journey all the way to Bergen by bus, so opted for the buss to Voss (just under 1 hour) and then a train into Bergen (around 1 hour 15 minutes).
The bus to Voss comes into the meet the ferry and can be found in the parking area just beyond the small terminal building. There will be 3 or 4 buses waiting so there should be no issue catching one and you can buy your ticket from the driver (you can pay by card). The buses are like coaches and have storage underneath for suitcases.
If you pass through Voss, consider taking the gondola up the mountain for lunch and a stroll. The bus stop, gondola, and train station are all next to one another and there is left luggage in the tourist information office and the train station. The restaurant at the top has fab pizzas and burgers, plus a great view!
For reference, we took the 9.30 ferry, the 11.40ish bus, had lunch and a wander at the top of the mountain in Voss, and then took the 4pm train to Bergen, arriving at 5.15pm
4. Swing, lunch and feed the cute farm animals at the Fjord Farm
One of our favourite things to do in Flam with kids! Just uphill from the Flam Saunas, the Fjord Farm is a delightful café and small farm, with super-friendly staff. There is also traditional Norwegian folk music most evenings in the barn.
We all loved the swing, it feels like you are swinging out over the fjord (but with no jeopardy!).
You can order simple but delicious lunches or drinks from a wooden hatch and sit amongst stunning wildflowers. Hubby and I loved the lamp stew with crispbreads, but my younger boy did not get the crispbreads at all -“they go soggy when they go in the stew!” My very nearly teen had sour-cream porridge with cinnamon. There was also a bean chilli on the short menu for veggies like him but apparently he no longer likes chilli… or beans…. He did enjoy the porridge though!
Feeding the farm animals
With our tummies full, we bought jars of animal feed and headed into the pens. Buying a jar of food allows you to enter the pen and feed and pet the mini pigs, goats or chickens. The mini pigs were super cute and friendly. At 7 weeks old, they were mini piglets so teeny but apparently they only grow to the size of a border collie.
2 of the goats were very friendly and inquisitive, the older one was a little shy! They do jump up so be careful with little ones. My older one took a hoof to the goolies! Sadly the chickens were completely uninterested in us. They already had plenty of food in their hoppers and didn’t want petting!
Although we stumbled on the Fjord Farm by chance, I would really recommend a visit if you are in Flam with kids.
5. Eat and drink at the Ægir Brew Pub
Part of the Flåmsbrygga hotel but in a separate building, the Ægir Brew Pub has none of the dismal feel of a sad hotel restaurant. The style is Norse mythology meets stave church, and it really works! The ground floor pub sprawls around a sunken circular seating area with a 9-meter high fireplace. It is furnished with chunky wooden chairs and tables and snuggly blankets. We visited in summer but the pub must be amazingly cosy in the winter when the fire is lit….
What about the beer?
The craft beers brewed here have won numerous awards. The best way to sample the beers is to order one of their 5-beer tasting planks. You don’t get to choose the 5 beers but you do get a pilsner, an amber ale, an IPA, a wheat beer and a dark / stout type, complete with tasting notes. These are tasters so just small glasses. Once you’ve found your favourite, you can then order a larger size – or try something different, I recommend the raspberry brut beer!
On the second night of our stay, we cooked dinner in our apartment to try to keep costs down (Norway is expensive!) then went to the pub to play cards and enjoy a few beers / cokes… Our boys loved the pub so it is a great thing to do in Flam with kids!The upstairs restaurant gets very busy and it is a good idea to book a table to eat. You can do this on their website: Table reservation — Flåmsbrygga Hotel then just choose the pub on the drop-downs.
and the food?
The pub offers a food and drink tasting set – 5 small courses with small glasses of matching beers. We saw lots of fellow guests ordering these. However, at around £50 per head, I thought the food portions were small. They also came altogether on a plank, dessert as well. I’m not sure if this means they were all cold dishes but personally I would prefer to get a tasting menu course by course. Instead we ordered mains and desserts off the main menu. It probably didn’t work out much cheaper but was more substantial, and delicious! My vegetarian older son loved his chick pea main with houmous, beetroot, and homemade flatbread, and my salmon dish was super-tasty!
6. Paddle in the fjord
I’m not sure I’ve ever paddled somewhere so cold it sends pains up your legs after seconds! However, you need to try this just to say you’ve done it! Although possibly not if you are visiting in winter…
The best spot to paddle in Flam with kids is from the Flam “beach”. The water is shallow here and you can easily teeter in from the coarse sandy beach area or nearby grass banks.
7. Go for a walk / hike from Flam with kids
With teens or just adults, I’d suggest heading up on one of the hikes out of Flam. However, for a less challenging walk that can be whatever length you want, follow the pedestrian / cycle route from Flam alongside the fjord towards Otternes Farm and Aurland.
The start of the route is easy to find. Just walk out of the village centre towards the saunas and then follow the route round by the fjord. You’ll pass the entrance to the Fjord Farm.
On the plus side, this is a really easy walking path and you do get good fjord views. There are also handy benches and picnic tables dotted along the route.
However, I must admit that I was a little disappointed by this walk. For much of the stretch we undertook, the path ran adjacent to the main E16 Highway. We therefore had to enjoy our tranquil fjord views with lorries and camper vans thundering by. However, there are parts where the path drops down to the level of the fjord and away from the highway. Several thundering waterfalls also drown out the road noise!
What next after Flam with kids?
If you’ve enjoyed Flam with kids, you could try other destinations in Norway. For a similar type of holiday, check out my post on spending a few days in Berchtesgaden, Germany.