Gudvangen · Flåm · Nærøyfjord

Gudvangen vs. Flåm

17–20 minutes apart on the same fjord — what each town actually offers.

From $434 per person Free cancellation
  • 4.8 / 5 1,409+ Reviews
  • 10 hours 30 minutes Duration
  • Top Rated Verified Reviews
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The Experience

Gudvangen at a Glance

The Viking village end of the fjord.

Highlights

  • Experience a guided day tour to the Nærøyfjord & Flåm Railway
  • Learn about the Viking age on a guided tour of Njardarheimr Viking village
  • Explore the Nærøyfjord on an all-electric ferry called "Future of The Fjords"
  • Ride the world-famous Flåm Railway, one of the steepest railways in the world

What's Included

  • Live guide
  • Roundtrip transportation by bus from Bergen
  • Guided tour of Njardarheimr Viking Village
  • Premium Nærøyfjord cruise
  • Flåm Railway
  • Bergen Railway

How to Decide Where to Spend Your Time

Or whether to just do both, the way most tours do.

  1. Gudvangen: the Viking village

    Njardarheimr, the reconstructed Viking-age village, sits here — longhouses, a forge, and a small harbor. There's little else in Gudvangen itself beyond the village and the fjord cruise dock.

  2. Flåm: the railway and the town

    Flåm is the larger of the two, with the Flåm Railway station, shops, restaurants, and more overnight accommodation — the natural base if you want somewhere to actually stay.

  3. The 17–20 minute connection

    The two are close enough that choosing one over the other rarely makes sense — the road or fjord-boat link between them is short compared to the effort of reaching either from Bergen.

  4. Why most tours combine them

    The most-booked route treats Gudvangen and Flåm as one day: the Viking village at one end, a Nærøyfjord cruise between them, and the Flåm Railway to close the loop.

Gudvangen vs. Flåm, Side by Side

What each town actually offers, 17–20 minutes apart.

FeatureRECOMMENDED Do Both (One Day)Gudvangen OnlyFlåm Only
Main Draw✓ Njardarheimr Viking village + the Nærøyfjord + the Flåm RailwayNjardarheimr Viking village and the cruise dockThe Flåm Railway, shops, restaurants
Overnight StaysBase in Flåm, day-trip to GudvangenVery limited accommodation✓ Wider choice of accommodation
Connection Between Them✓ Nærøyfjord cruise or 17–20 min road link, used as the day's connecting leg17–20 min from Flåm if you want to add it17–20 min from Gudvangen if you want to add it
Best ForMost visitors — sees the region's two signature draws in one tripTravelers focused specifically on Viking historyTravelers focused specifically on the railway and a livelier base
Book NowSee the RouteView Options

Two Ends of One Fjord

Gudvangen vs. Flåm — You're Probably Overthinking the Choice

They're 17–20 minutes apart. Here's what actually differs, and why 'both' is usually the right answer.

Gudvangen and Flåm get confused for each other constantly, and it’s easy to see why: they sit at opposite ends of the same fjord, roughly 17–20 minutes apart by road, and nearly every tour that visits one also visits the other on the same day. If you’re trying to pick between them, the honest answer is usually that you don’t have to.

Gudvangen: Small, and Built Around One Thing

Gudvangen is a small settlement at the innermost point of the Nærøyfjord, part of the West Norwegian Fjords UNESCO World Heritage site. Its main draw is Njardarheimr, the reconstructed, staffed Viking-age village — longhouses, a working forge, animal pens, and a small harbor with reconstructed ships. Outside the village and the fjord cruise dock, there isn’t much else in Gudvangen itself: no real town center, limited dining, and little in the way of overnight stays. See our Gudvangen Viking Village guide for the full detail on what’s actually there.

Flåm: The Bigger Base

Flåm is the more developed of the two — home to the Flåm Railway station (one of the steepest standard-gauge railways in the world), a small town with shops and restaurants, and meaningfully more accommodation if you want to actually stay overnight in the area rather than pass through. If you’re building a multi-day fjord-country itinerary, Flåm is the more natural base, with Gudvangen as a short excursion from it. Our tours from Flåm page covers exactly how to make that trip.

Why “Both” Is the Real Answer

The two towns are close enough — a 17–20 minute drive, or a similar stretch by the passenger boat that runs the length of the Nærøyfjord between them — that treating this as an either/or choice usually costs you something for no real benefit. It’s exactly why the most-booked route in the region doesn’t ask visitors to choose at all: it starts in Bergen, visits the Gudvangen Viking village, cruises the Nærøyfjord between the two towns, and finishes with the Flåm Railway — using the short Gudvangen–Flåm link as the natural hinge of the day rather than a decision point. See the full itinerary, or read whether the trip is worth it if you’re still deciding whether to go at all.

Check availability for the combined Gudvangen–Flåm route →

Guest Reviews

What Visitors Who've Done Both Say

4.8/5 from 1409 verified guests

Ratings and review counts are the tour operators' live figures on GetYourGuide and may shift slightly day to day.

"The excursion is very comprehensive. I loved the waterfalls and the fantastic fjord cruise. The small size of the cruise ship allows you to get close to waterfalls and places of interest."

Guest photo from review Guest photo from review
Angeles Spain

"What a packed itinerary!!! A wonderful day trip from Bergen! Quick walk around scenic town of Voss the Bergen railway to Myrdal, then historic Flam railway to Flam - passing amazing views of the mountain valleys and rivers and waterfalls (including everyone getting off the train to see the Kjosfossen waterfall!) - then onto a cruise in Naeroyfjord, then off at Gudvangen for a guided tour of the Viking village (very interesting to hear historic elements that are true), then Tvindefossen waterfall on the way back to Bergen! The rainy weather didn’t detract from the enjoyment and made for some moody photos! Anita our guide and Michael our driver took very good care of us and gave us lots of interesting information!"

Natasha Australia

"Was a fantastic trip and a great way to take in the spectacular scenery. Maria and Michael were so friendly and knowledgeable and really heightened the experience."

Graham United Kingdom

"Maria, our guide, was very good. Provided a very interesting commentary during the trip and ensured the group was well looked after. Scenery was superb as was transportation including the coach, ferry and train. Long day owing to Bergen train option not available on return journey, not excursion operator's fault."

Anne United Kingdom

"Of course, the nature and the fjord are UNESCO sites. I can't rate the guide, as I don't understand much English, but the others were enthusiastic."

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Ivana Czech Republic

"I really enjoyed the cruise in the fjord, the Flamsbana, and the friendliness and professionalism of the guides Tracy and Linda. The visit to the Viking village needs to be improved. It should be a little more engaging, perhaps focusing more on Nordic myths and legends. I also expected it to be located on a fjord or at least near the water."

Stefano Italy

"Tracy and Linda were absolutely fabulous, warm, friendly and professional. We were blessed with sunny warm weather so unfortunately the waterfalls weren't as spectacular as they would be in less ideal weather lol I think the only things that could have made the trip better was if we had been instructed to close the curtains before leaving the bus for the Viking village to keep some of the sun's heat from turning the bus into an oven (rarely a problem I believe 😜.) My other suggestion would be to have a rule about not having strong smells about you. Some people are very sensitive to perfumes and the clinging cigarette stink that seems to hold onto some people. I guess that isn't a policable issue, but having a caution might make people think twice about wearing a lot of perfume and wearing just laundered clothing and showering if the smoke before going on this excursion. In hot confined spaces like buses and train compartments it can cause motion sickness and ruin their experience."

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Amanda Ladd United States

"Excellent coordination during a very extensive tour. The guide was fantastic, with extensive knowledge and well-prepared for the task. It's best to take the tour at the beginning of your stay, because it provides a lot of interesting facts and tips. The driver was also fantastic and very dedicated to the tour. Great women and excellent organization. If at least one refreshment was included in the price, it would be perfect."

Guest photo from review Guest photo from review
Daria Poland

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See Both in One Day

The highest-rated tour visits the Gudvangen Viking village, cruises the Nærøyfjord, and rides the Flåm Railway — all in a single trip from Bergen. Starting from $434 per person.

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Gudvangen vs. Flåm — Frequently Asked Questions

How the two fjord-country towns actually compare.