Fretheim Hotel

Hotel · Vestland

Fretheim Hotel

Hotel · Vestland

Nedre Fretheim, 5743 Flåm, Norway

Highlights

Nestled by the stunning Sognefjord, the Fretheim Hotel blends 19th-century charm with modern amenities, offering cozy rooms, vibrant dining, and breathtaking views.

Nedre Fretheim, 5743 Flåm, Norway Get directions

norwaysbest.com

@norwaysbest_

@afar

"Overnight in the Norwegian Fjords? Yes! This really doesn't look like the kind of place where one would want to spend more than a few minutes in transit. Not because it is shady or unsafe - quite the contrary. But because it's so small, and virtually empty. Not a soul in sight except for the odd car passing through and the train station employee, a few buildings spread around the harbor, and that's about it. Flåm isn't a city, nor is it a village, really. It just is. Forget about nightlife, high-end restaurants or shocking museum exhibitions. In Flåm, nature is the star of the show. Where the air is crisp, and fresh, and invigorating, where the two restaurants are proud to serve local specialties like elk and beer, where the mute spectacle is on from dusk 'til dawn, and where the only noise you'll be hearing is your own voice saying 'wow' at every turn (not that there are that many turns, mind you - it is a small place). The Fretheim Hotel is surrounded by the grandiose fjords, the many waterfalls and cute, wild Norwegian horses. You don't even have to be a nature-lover to fully appreciate the striking beauty of Flåm. In terms of amenities, the hotel is ultra-modern and cabin-chic, with the latest technology and decor. And the large lobby area makes for a perfect fjord-gazing, tea-sipping afternoon. Trust me when I say that my trip to Norway would not have been the same without these crucial hours in Flåm - stop sightseeing for a minute, sit back, and enjoy the show. Quite literally."

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@afar

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Alexis Arroyo

Google

I had the pleasure of eating here at their restaurant on the third floor. Attention was extremely good, their gluten free burgers are really tasty along with the desert. The space style and decoration it’s amazing along with a great view of the fjords.

Andrés

Google

I was there on 20 April. It was an amazing experience in many ways. Firstly located on a wonderful fjord with guaranteed breathtaking views. The cleanliness of the room is outstanding. Have both breakfast and dinner. Both of a first class standard. Attention from the waiters made me feel very good. The variety of food is amazing. The people who work in the hotel very friendly, one girl cleaned my rooms the two nights I stayed and she was very nice. I don't remember her name but I think she was from Argentina. Anyway all the people I met at the hotel were wonderful. I also have been very lucky to See auroras

Kelsey Jones

Google

This hotel is a beautiful blend of history, culture, and luxury. It fits seamlessly within its surroundings and is nestled in the perfect location. We only stayed here one night after getting to Flam on the fjord boat tour because we wanted to split up the trip to Oslo but we would have loved to stay longer! We ate at the brewery near the hotel, walked around the Flam museum, and went on an amazing hike. The check in process was smooth and Adam was very helpful! Breakfast was included and had a good variety of options. The room was well equipped and had a beautiful view. The bed was comfortable and the bathroom floors were heated! There was no TV. Although it’s an older hotel, there wasn’t a lot of noise travel- it was pretty quiet. There are various levels of comfortable seating areas above the restaurant to unwind and take in the mesmerizing view of the fjord. 10/10 would recommend staying here!

Ritwik Bhriguvanshi

Google

Enjoyed the stay here in last week of May 2025. Excellent and comprehensive breakfast spread and perfect location with beautiful views. Friendly staff too. Rooms are spacious and have little balcony which you have private access to.

Emily

Google

Warning: Bed bug sighting in June 2025 I thought long and hard about whether to write this review as I know from friends in the hospitality industry that every hotel deals with bed bugs at one point or another. However, the severity of our bites makes me think that this is a serious problem worth warning others about. We stayed here for one night. The hotel is beautiful and in a great location, as other reviews will tell you. The breakfast was plentiful, we had good burgers for dinner, and we really enjoyed sitting in the glass greenhouse area with a cappuccino or glass of wine. However, on the morning after our stay, right as we were getting ready to check out, we discovered a crushed bed bug and streaks of blood right where we were sleeping (photo attached). We immediately called the front desk/housekeeping and received confirmation that what we saw was indeed a bed bug. Housekeeping proceeded to check the traps under our bed and found one other bed bug. They gave us plastic bags to put our clothes in and said we could wash our clothes in the washer/dryer downstairs. (FYI, their washer and dryer are free, but they do not get hot enough to kill bed bugs.) Our trip was significantly delayed at this point due to the multiple wash/dry cycles we’d have to do so we inquired about a refund with the front desk. At first, they said we must have brought the bug in and that no other bugs were found in the room. When we pointed out that the housekeeper had found another bug under our bed, they acquiesced and gave us a prompt refund, to their credit. While I originally had not planned on leaving a negative review over two bed bugs, we horrifyingly developed many, many bites all over our body over the next few days. I ended up with 43, and my partner ended up with 20. This leads us to believe that the bed bug problem is much more serious than we had originally believed, and that whatever traps the hotel has set up is not enough to prevent/detect them. We are very confident that we did not have bed bugs before staying at the Fretheim Hotel, given Flåm was our very first destination on our vacation from the United States. We have never had bed bugs before. Also, we did not develop any new bites while staying at numerous other hotels in Norway and Sweden. If you do stay here, please do yourself a favor and check the bed, the upholstery, the curtains, etc. for bed bugs. Not sure where they were hiding in our room, but we are certain there were many of them there! We were on the fourth floor, close to their library entrance. I WOULD stay here again if future reviews lead me to believe they have their problem under control, but probably not anytime in the near future.

fortonbear

Google

A very good quality hotel in the centre of the small town of Flåm. Staff were so helpful and friendly, room was clean and well maintained. We were in the historic part of the hotel, and the room was a decent size with good view of the fjord. The bathroom was fine; very powerful shower pressure, though over a slipper bath, so care needed so as not to flood the floor! We avoided the buffet dinner as our dietary preferences meant that it would have been poor value for us. We ate in the Utsyn restaurant in the hotel, and had a very tasty meal. If in Flåm again, we would definitely stay here.

900Va

Google

Amazing Hotel! So very colonial|The staff is super friendly |The amenities are super practical ||Flam is a little town |And this hotel stands out from a distance ||Their breakfast buffet is amazing with a lot of choice ||Every room has a few of the mountains and the beautiful scenery of the fjords ||The hotel is a must recommend if you are lucky to get bookings for rooms ||It’s not easy|But worth the effort

P9675AWstephanieg

Google

This is a lovely hotel in the heart of Flåm. We had a lovely room overlooking the railway - the star drop is only due to the evening meal buffet - the food is a bit average and is all luke warm to cold which is a shame as there is plenty of choice - the breakfast buffet is excellent- other than that would recommend this hotel

Alan L.

Yelp

Very nice hotel in Flam! The hotel has the most rooms in the area so probably won't have too much trouble finding a room, and it's situated very close to the train station The breakfast that is included is absolutely delicious. Probably the best selection of all the hotels we stayed at in Norway, as it has the typical scrambled eggs bacon sausage and all that, but also a wide selection of Norwegian favorites, include smoked salmon, trout, and meats. Their smoothie was also very delicious! You also overlook the fjord from the dining area which is a big plus in the morning Though the common areas were nicely furnished and renovated, the rooms were on the older side. Still clean and functional though, but don't expect top of the line quality. One thing about the doors is that when you close them, the room door only auto locks after a set period of time. You can manually lock it by scanning the key card outside as well. Took us a bit to figure out.

Erika J.

Yelp

I wish there were the words to explain this majestic location but I will do my best! The service is fantastic and I love when they have availability to store luggage behorehand. It is central to all the activities you can take part in and in front of bike rental. The breakfast was truly organized and set with love and hardwork. There is many areas to sit and lounge along with a bar. There was a gym too for crazy people like me! It's a must see and stay!

Michael K.

Yelp

My wife, daughter and I had a pleasant overnight stay here at the Fretheim. The room had some shortcomings but the restaurant was nice. It is an imposing large white building that can't be missed when leaving the train station. Checkin was quick and easy and the staff friendly. Our family room had two twin beds put together and a set of bunk beds. The beds were soft and comfortable with plenty of pillows. There was a desk, small wardrobe, sitting chair and shelves for suitcases. The bathroom had a heated floor and a mediocre shower at best. It was impossible to set a consistent water temperature and water pressure was low. No washcloths were provided either. We enjoyed a Christmas holiday buffet for dinner in their restaurant and also had the included breakfast there in the morning. There are commanding views of the fjord out the restaurant windows and I suppose rooms facing the front of the hotel as well. The staff working here were very helpful and friendly our entire visit. They also spoke English which made everything easy.

Ed U.

Yelp

It's not the only hotel in Flåm - but its prominent front-and-center location off the marina makes it feel like the only accommodation in town (photo: https://bit.ly/3TdY8nf). Originally built in the 19th century and lusciously landscaped, it looks like a huge Swiss chalet with modern add-ons. When Jamie W. and I disembarked from our Future of the Fjords boat (review: https://bit.ly/3AN0aU6), we made a beeline to the hotel as did half the tourist passengers. However, the front desk staff was ready and handled the incoming flux with aplomb. Apparently the hotel divides into traditional and contemporary sections. Our Superior Twin room was definitely vintage with old-fashioned Victorian-style furniture and even a clawfoot tub (photo: https://bit.ly/3RDIjVH). It was comfortable in that gauzy "Somewhere in Time" way where the appearance of a modern penny separated Jane Seymour from Christopher Reeve until the fade-out. You didn't see it? That's too bad because the Fretheim looks a bit like the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, the setting of that movie. But I digress. We didn't have dinner at the hotel, but the breakfast buffet was one of the better ones on our vacation with their freshly made crepes a particular draw (photo: https://bit.ly/3QS1Lh9). Our room currently goes for $260 per night, although we're not sure what we paid since it was part of our vacation package. RELATED - Exploring Norway? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/3PEL4Fe

Amelia M.

Yelp

Comfortable and would stay here again (as there isn't much choice). It's well located and there really are only 3 lodging options in Flam. Our guide book didn't even mention this hotel. It's definitely been here awhile but it's been updated. It was a comfortable room and we were very pleased that there was a family room option (with a bunkbed). Most of Europe does not allow 4 to a room so you end up with 2 rooms but if you do get a family room, the kids are on a sofabed or you're sharing 2 queen/full beds. Note that the bottom bunk has low clearance so be careful. Complimentary breakfast was HUGE with every variety of Norweigan food.

Chelsea V.

Yelp

Considering there aren't many hotels in this small town, this option was great. This renovated hotel is old but charming. It has beautiful views of the fjord and the small town. The rooms are on the smaller side and a tad pricy, but they are still modern and comfortable. Martin at the front desk was such a great host. He informed us on all of the history of the hotel and suggested places for us to go. If you have a chance to visit the renovated side of the hotel, I definitely would. It's historic charm is definitely worth the stay.

Joe B.

Yelp

Definitely the nicest hotel in town. Go to the restaurant on the West end of the hotel. Cheaper, better menu, casual, good food. So here's the deal - there are really only three spots for dinner in Flåm. The pub near the cruise ship and the restaurant adjacent to the East are the same ownership and same menu. There was a wait when we arrived, and the menu only had a couple appealing options, so we moved on. The Hotel Fretheim has two restaurants, but with two different menus. The one closer to the train (west) is cheaper, casual, and great food. Unfortunately this one is also awkwardly empty, and it's very uncomfortable to find a waitress, get a menu, find a table. Also, the tables are all for 4-10 people, so going in with only 2 people feels awkward. Nonetheless, I would still say this restaurant is the best option in the town. The Hotel Fretheim also serves a free breakfast for guests, and you can prepare a lunch box for 45 kroner.

Kellyn P.

Yelp

I loved this place! Beautiful hotel! The view from the restaurant was wonderful. Staff was very friendly and helpful. They even made me a special vegan dinner that was delicious! Our room opened up to a lovely hillside with a trail that lead up to some more fantastic views. I will definitely try to come back here one day!

Alison M.

Yelp

This expensive, touristy hotel in Flam really isn't worth the price, but seeing how its on the Nutshell tour they do great business. We had a pretty large room, a comfy bed and a balcony onto the fjord. The view from the balcony was pretty good, but unfortunately a lot of the view was blocked by tour buses and cruise ships. Breakfast was ample, but wasn't the best or tastiest I've ever had. Breakfast was also very crowded, but they did a good job refilling everything. This was the only hotel we stayed at in Norway that didn't have complimentary coffee. Wifi didn't work in our room.

Jon F.

Yelp

The highlight of this hotel is the three story, floor-to-ceiling glass open atrium embracing a lobby, lobby bar, business center, fireplace, restaurant and ballroom. If multiple masters have decided to play competing sound systems in it, don't be shy about asking for just one strong leader, in keeping with the Viking laws. Needs a little electrical maintenance.

Vadim P.

Yelp

Quaint comfortable hotel, we got a suite as we were traveling with two kids. Suite is spacious and well furnished, has large windows, a balcony, and great view. The restaurant in hotel is excellent, as is the service. You will be torn between the buffet and a la cart. Our only disappointment we weren't able to stay and explore longer. Enjoy!

Tara H.

Yelp

Do NOT stay at this hotel! Tourist trap, terrible rooms for very expensive price per night, very limited choices for eating and the shower/bathroom was unsafe and a safety hazard. The shower had a hot and cold lever that was impossible to balance to get a safe temperature. It took 10 minutes messing with the water before I could get the temperature at a safe degree. The room just had a bath tub/shower combo which got the entire bathroom wet which I almost slipped and fell several times. Booked a room for 300 dollars a night that was advertised as having a fjord view, but when we arrived we were placed in the historical section of the hotel and the view was of the patio outside the hotel, which we couldn't see the fjord at all! The only positive about this hotel was that the buffet breakfast was decent. Save your money and don't stay in flam at all, it isn't worth it, and if you do, definitely choose another hotel.