Why Flåm should be on your bucket list

Tucked deep within Western Norway, at the innermost back of the Aurlandsfjord, Flåm could be easy to miss when you’re compiling your list of places to visit. Yet the tiny village that’s surrounded by steep mountains is a great example of how fjord Norway can steal your heart even when you least expect it: its quiet, scenic beauty will grab hold of you, regardless of what time of the year you visit, and it will never let go.

Here’s three reasons why Flåm should definitely be on your bucket list:

It’s home to one of the world’s most enchanting railways

The Flåm Railway (Flåmsbana) has often been touted as one of the world’s most unique train rides — and for good reason. Built between 1924-1940 and considered a feat of engineering for its era, the train still retains all its original, vintage charm, making you feel like you’ve stepped inside the set of a period film.

But besides the gorgeousness of the wagons themselves, is what you’ll be witnessing from their windows as you travel that will take your breath away. Rising from fjord level to a 867-meter altitude in just one hour, Flåmsbana will take you on the world’s steepest ride amid mesmerizing waterfalls and verdant forests, at a slow enough speed that will allow you to capture all this beauty forever on your phone or camera lens. And once you reach the Myrdal mountains, after a stop for coffee and pancakes at the stations, you can opt to do it all again, taking the Flåmsbana down to the fjord. Or, if you’re visiting in the winter, you can opt to take your skis with you on the train and go skiing in Myrdal.

Its fjord has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Area

Gently lapping at Flåm’s picturesque shores is the Aurlandsfjord, a serpentine arm of Sognefjord, Norway’s largest fjord. At 17 kilometers long and less than 2 kilometers wide, Aurlandsfjord’s narrow shape will allow you to feel like you’re in a canyon, surrounded by steep mountains in every direction. This dramatic juxtaposition of land and sea, with the serene waters of the fjord creating a dream-like experience, is truly unforgettable — and is the reason why the UNESCO World Heritage organization has included Aurlandsfjord to its list of sites, along with other Sognefjord arms. Plus, the fjord doesn’t freeze in the winter, making Flåm an ideal year-round destination.

It will remind you of a certain Disney movie

It’s not an exaggeration to say that all of Norway is as pretty as a Disney movie. But some parts, are even more picturesque than others — and tiny Flåm, with its colorful houses by the water and the towering mountains above, might give you a particular deja-vu! The reason for that, is that this area was selected as the inspiration behind Disney’s Frozen movie: Flåm, along with the Lofoten islands, was the blueprint for designing the kingdom of Arendelle, aka Elsa and Anna’s home. If you travel here with small kids, this fact is certainly going to leave a lasting impression!