Kjosfossen is one of Norway’s most visited tourist attractions, and this spectacular waterfall is something out of a fairy tale. The waterfall itself is experienced directly from the Flåm Railway line where the train will stop for 5 to 10 minutes to allow the passengers to get a good look at the amazing waterfall.
The entire waterfall is 225 meters in total, with a main vertical drop of 93 meters. It’s also used as a hydroelectric power station that gives the electricity to run the train line.
Why you should see Kjosfossen
Kjosfossen is one of Norway’s most dramatic and incredible waterfalls, and just seeing the sheer force with your own eyes is something truly unique.
You will be greeted by the mythological creature Huldra from Norwegian lore if you visit during the peak tourism season in summer, where actors will be performing a song and dance for tourists during the short stop.
There used to be a few years where the Huldra performance would not be shown due to a dispute over who owned the copyright for the show, but it’s being shown as of 2023.
So by visiting Kjosfossen, you get to experience one of Norway’s most incredible waterfalls without having to hike for hours and hours to see it. It has a great viewing platform where you can enjoy the raging forces of the water from a safe distance, and hear the roaring sounds it make.
I also believe that you can’t really view Kjosfossen as an isolated tourist attraction, because the matter of the fact is that it’s part of a bigger tourist attraction; the Flåm Railway Line. This railway line goes between Flåm and Myrdal stations, and showcases some of Norway’s most dramatic nature.
During the railway line, you will experience amazing mountains, whitewater rapids, the incredible Kjosfossen waterfall, and end the trip at the Flåm fjord, one of Norway’s most amazing small fjord towns. The entire trail line is truly something special.
As briefly touched upon, you get between 5 and 10 minutes to see Kjosfossen with your own eyes when riding the Flåm Railway line. The train stops just next to the waterfall, allows everyone to get off the train to take their photos and gaze at the spectacular sight, then get back on the train again.
Kjosfossen has around 900,000 visitors each year, making it one of Norway’s most visited natural tourist attractions. It is however not the most visited waterfall, because Vøringsfossen get more yearly visitors on a regular year.
PS. don’t worry about the train leaving without you. Just stay on the viewing platform, and the train conductor will make sure that everyone gets back on board before the train leaves the station.
How to get to Kjosfossen
The only practical method of getting to Kjosfossen is by train, and the Flåm Railway stops at Kjosfossen for a small break whenever it passes.
The Flåm Railway line only stops for between 5 and 10 minutes, but it is also possible to depart the train and wait for the next one to arrive if you don’t feel like you’ve got enough time. I would not recommend it seeing as there is a 2 or 3 hour wait for the next train, and that you will need to buy a new ticket for the next train, but it’s definitely possible.
You can get on the Flåm Railway line from either Myrdal or Flåm, and the train ride itself is considered a big tourist attraction.
The train tickets to the Flåm Railway line are extremely popular, so make sure to book them early if you want to make sure to get a ticket! Train tickets for the Flåm Railway line can be booked at Norway’s Best’s website.
Train ticket prices range from 350 NOK one way for adults in the off-season, to 470 NOK in the peak tourist season.
Hiking to Kjosfossen
It is possible to hike to the waterfall, but there are no real hiking trails to goes directly to the waterfall, so you need to hike outside of the trails to get there.
For this reason, I do not recommend non-experienced hikers to try to get to Kjosfossen by foot. It’s going to be difficult and potentially even dangerous unless you are well-versed in Norwegian hiking.
Video of the Huldra performance
If you’re interested in seeing what the Huldra performance looks like, take a quick look at the 2 minute YouTube video below. It also shows just how incredibly big the Kjosfossen waterfall itself is!
I visited Kjosfossen once when I was riding the train to Flam, and it was a great experience. I really recommend it to anyone who has the chance!
Hello! We are looking at a Norway trip this summer and I’m trying to figure out if the train experience is very different in the different directions Oslo –> Bergen vs Bergen –> Oslo. We’re considering going straight from Oslo to Bergen with no stops, spend some time in Bergen and then stop at a couple of places on the way back to Oslo. Would we miss the stop at Kjosfossen with the huldra performance? Thank you for any info!
Hello, Don.
Oslo -> Bergen, and Bergen -> Oslo is the same. The only thing that changes is the direction of the train. This railway line is called “Bergensbanen”, but if you want to see Kjosfossen, you need to get on the Flåm Railway Line. To get there from Bergensbanen, depart at the Myrdalen train station, then change trains to the Flåm Railway Line to Flåm.
Best regards
Nicklas