Fretheim Hotel

Fretheim Hotel is at Nedre Fretheim 7 in Flåm, a village at the head of the Aurlandsfjord in Vestland county, Norway. The hotel dates from 1870 and began as a guesthouse for early travellers to the Flåm valley, growing into a large property with 122 rooms. Every room has a view of either the fjord or the surrounding mountains, which is a defining feature in a village where the scenery is the main attraction. The Flåm Railway terminus, the Flåm Museum and the harbour with its cruise quay are a short walk away, and the Flåm Railway runs up to Myrdal on one of the steepest standard-gauge lines in the world, with connections to Bergen and Oslo. The village is also the departure point for fjord cruises on the Aurlandsfjord and the UNESCO-listed Nærøyfjord, and for hiking, kayaking and cycling excursions. Rooms are offered as standard, superior and suite categories, and the older sections of the building carry the historic character of the original hotel. The property has a restaurant and a bar, serves breakfast, and provides Wi-Fi. Dining often features local ingredients, including lamb, trout and regional cheeses, and the hotel is known for its buffet-style meals. A spa or pool is not listed. The service character is that of a large, tourist-oriented hotel handling many individual guests and groups, with staff accustomed to organising rail tickets, fjord tours and luggage. Published rates run roughly 1,800 to 3,800 NOK per night, varying with season, view and room category. Cruise ship arrivals make the village busy in the middle of the day during summer, while evenings are noticeably quieter. The hotel suits travellers who want classic fjord scenery from their window and easy access to the Flåm Railway.