Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
I Finally Took the Flam Railway and Here Is Everything I Packed
30
items Planning a trip on the Flam Railway through Sogn og Fjordane but drowning in packing lists and conflicting advice? I spent weeks overthinking what to bring before my scenic train ride through the Norwegian fjords. Turns out, half the stuff travel blo...
Sections
6
Layers for the Flam Railway Weather Swings
Camera Gear That Actually Works on a Moving Train
Snacks and Drinks for the Flam to Myrdal Route
Booking the Flam Railway Without Overpaying
What to Do in Flam Before or After the Train
Travel Comfort Items I Was Glad I Had on the Ride
Layers for the Flam Railway Weather Swings
The temperature dropped 15 degrees between Myrdal and Flam and I watched a guy in shorts shiver through the whole descent. Norwegian fjord weather changes fast, and layering wrong means you either sweat or freeze at every photo stop.
Grab this for when the train stops at Kjosfossen waterfall and the mist hits you sideways. I was the only one not hugging myself for warmth. Packs down small enough to stuff in a daypack when the sun comes back out.
Patagonia Men's Nano Puff® Packable Insulated Jacket
Wore this under everything and never once felt clammy. If you run cold on trains with open windows, this is the layer that saves you. Dried overnight in my Bergen hotel without any fuss.
Women's Classic Thermal Merino Base Layer Crew
Rain rolled in out of nowhere near Berekvam station. Everyone scrambled for plastic ponchos while I just zipped up. Worth the investment if you're doing any fjord travel, not just the train.
Arc'teryx Beta LT Outdoor Jacket Gorpcore Waterproof
Use this as a scarf, headband, or face cover depending on what the weather decides to do that hour. Took up zero space and I reached for it probably six times during the ride.
Buff Lightweight Merino Wool Neck Gaiter
My feet stayed dry through rain, puddles on platforms, and a spontaneous hike near Flam. For anyone who gets blisters in regular cotton socks during travel days, switch to these before your trip.
Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew Cushion Socks - Men's
Camera Gear That Actually Works on a Moving Train
My first few photos from the train were blurry garbage because I brought the wrong setup. The Flam Railway moves through tunnels, sharp curves, and sudden bursts of light, so your phone alone won't cut it for half the shots.
Keep this around your neck the entire ride. The autofocus tracked waterfalls and mountainsides even when the train rounded bends. I got shots through the window that my phone couldn't touch, especially in the darker valleys.
Sony Alpha a6400 Mirrorless Digital Camera with E PZ
One lens handled everything from wide fjord panoramas to zoomed-in stave church details without swapping. Perfect if you hate fumbling with lens changes on a moving train where every second counts.
Sony E 18 135mm f 3.5 5.6 OSS Lens Review
Fits under the train seat and opens from the back so nobody can get into it. Held my camera, two lenses, snacks, and a rain jacket without looking like I was heading on a week-long expedition.
REVIEW: Shimoda Women's Explore V2 25 Camera
Toss this on before you board. It cut the window glare so my photos didn't have that washed-out foggy look. The difference between a usable shot and a throwaway was literally this filter.
PolarPro QuartzLine 82mm Circular Polarizer Filter
Wrapped this around the armrest for a steady time-lapse through the tunnels. Small enough to forget it's in your bag until you need it. Saved me from the shaky handheld footage I got on my first attempt.
Joby Gorillapod 3K Terbaru
Snacks and Drinks for the Flam to Myrdal Route
The train cafe sells a few things at Norwegian prices, which means a sandwich costs what dinner costs back home. I packed my own food and ate like a king while watching fjords roll by.
Pick one up at any Joker or Kiwi shop before you board. Norwegian milk chocolate hits different when you're staring at snow-capped mountains. Share it with your seatmate and you'll make a friend for the trip.
Freia Milk Chocolate Bar, Melkesjokolade (24g)
Fill this at your hotel before the ride. There's no water fountain on the train and buying a bottle onboard costs more than you'd expect. Wide mouth means you can add ice or tea bags easily.
32oz Wide Mouth Bottle
Squeeze cheese from a tube sounds weird until you try it on a cracker with a fjord view. Norwegians eat this constantly and now I get why. No mess, no refrigeration needed, just toss it in your bag.
Norwegian Kavli Soft Spread Cheese Tube - Multiple Flavors
Bring three or four different flavors because the round trip takes a while and hunger sneaks up between photo stops. For anyone who gets hangry on long travel days, these are your insurance policy.
Clif Bar Variety Pack, Chocolate Chip
Brewed coffee at my hotel, poured it in this, and it was still hot two hours into the ride. Way better than paying 60 kroner for a paper cup of mediocre train coffee.
Stanley Classic Trigger Action Travel Mug 20 Oz
Booking the Flam Railway Without Overpaying
I almost paid double because I didn't know about the timing tricks. Some departures cost significantly less than others, and certain combo tickets save a ridiculous amount if you plan the route right.
Book directly through the Visit Flam website at least two weeks ahead. I compared prices across five booking sites and the official one was cheapest. Morning departures tend to have more open seats too.
Scenic Flåm Railway Round Trip
Try this if you want the Flam Railway plus a fjord cruise and bus over Stalheimskleiva in one ticket. Saved me from coordinating four separate bookings. Works great for first-timers who want the full Sogn og Fjordane experience.
Norway in a Nutshell on Your Own
Snag the Minipris fare on Vy's site right when tickets release. I paid a third of the regular price for the Oslo to Myrdal leg. These sell out fast, so set a reminder and grab them early.
Train | Bus | Taxi | Book your trip at vy.no
Perfect for anyone short on time who's based in Bergen. The whole loop takes one day and someone else handles the logistics. I met a couple who booked this last minute and said it was the highlight of their Norway trip.
Fjord Tours
Take the boat back instead of retracing the train route. Cruising the Sognefjord after the railway gave me completely different views. Book ahead because summer seats disappear fast, learned that one the hard way.
Sognefjord Cruise Bergen - Flåm
What to Do in Flam Before or After the Train
Most people hop off the train and immediately leave, which is a mistake. Flam itself is tiny but there are a few things within walking distance that are worth your time, especially if you have a few hours to spare.
Get your ticket before lunch because afternoon slots fill up. Flying over the Aurlandsfjord with mountains on both sides was the adrenaline spike I didn't know I needed after sitting on a train. Not for the faint of heart.
Flåm Zipline
Walk into this place and it looks like someone built a Viking longhouse and filled it with craft beer. Try the Flam IPA with a reindeer burger. For anyone who thinks Norway is all fish and potatoes, this will change your mind.
About Ægir - Ægir Bryggeri
Free admission and it takes maybe 30 minutes. Gives you wild context about how they built the railway through solid mountain rock. I went in skeptical and walked out genuinely impressed.
Flåm Railway Museum
Rent a car or join a shuttle to reach this platform jutting over the Aurlandsfjord. The view made my palms sweat in the best way. Go early morning before tour buses arrive or you'll be fighting for photo space.
Get the best fjord view from Stegastein Viewpoint
Swap the return train for a bike ride down the old navvy road if weather cooperates. Seventeen kilometers of downhill with waterfall views and barely any cars. For anyone with decent fitness who wants to earn their dinner.
Bike rental Rallarvegen | Pick up in Haugastøl and Finse
Travel Comfort Items I Was Glad I Had on the Ride
The Flam Railway seats are fine but the ride is about an hour each way, and small comfort details made the difference between relaxing and fidgeting. These are the random things I almost left at the hotel but was glad I didn't.
Noise canceling turned the tunnel sections into peaceful moments instead of loud rumbling chaos. Popped these on between photo spots and listened to a Norwegian folk playlist. The vibe was unreal.
Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Oktober 2026 Harga
My phone hit 20% halfway through the day from all the photos and GPS use. This thing charged it back to full before the return trip. Small enough to fit in a jacket pocket, which matters when your bag is under the seat.
Anker Power Bank, 10000mAh Portable Charger
Wedged this between my head and the window for the return trip when I was tired from an early morning start. Weighs almost nothing and deflates flat. For light sleepers who can never get comfortable on trains, this is it.
Sea to Summit Aeros Pillow Review: Premium & Ultralight
Kept my layers organized so I could pull out exactly what I needed without dumping my whole bag on the seat. Sounds boring but when weather changes fast, finding your rain shell in three seconds matters.
Ultralight Packing Cube Set
Jotted down station names, timestamps for my photos, and random observations during the ride. Regular paper would've gotten soggy from the mist at Kjosfossen. For anyone who journals while traveling, this notebook survives anything.
Rite in the Rain Weatherproof Notebooks 3x5, 3 Pack
