During our trip to the Dolomites, we visited Seiser Alm (Alpe di Siusi), which is one of the most popular places to see in the region—and for good reason! It’s known as Europe’s largest high-alpine meadow, with stunning fields, peaceful trails, and incredible backdrops. In our guide, we share exactly how we explored this iconic sight, including how to get there, the best time to go, and tips to make your visit even better.

What is Seiser Alm/Alpe di Siusi?

Alpe di Siusi, also known as Seiser Alm, is Europe’s largest high-alpine meadow, situated at an elevation of 1,680-2,350 meters. It lies in northern Italy’s Dolomites (South Tyrol), and is one of the most visited locations in the region.

Green rolling hills dotted with small wooden cabins and trees stretch across the Seiser Alm Dolomites, Italy, with rugged mountains rising in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

Surrounded by the dramatic peaks of Sassolungo, Sciliar, Sasso Piatto, and more, it’s an incredible place to go hiking, with many trails weaving between the wide meadows. We did a loop trail from the cable car station and back, walking through the grasslands dotted with cute wooden huts.

A person stands by a rustic wooden fence in front of a log cabin, holding a flower in a grassy meadow—one of the peaceful things to do in the Dolomites—with rolling hills and a blue sky in the background.

In between, we stopped for photos (too tempting not to!), and then sat down for a delicious Apfelstrudel and hot chocolate at one of the huts with iconic views across the rugged mountain ranges in the distance.

A slice of apfelstrudel with whipped cream and a strawberry, and a cup of coffee, rest on a wooden table outdoors with the stunning Seiser Alm Dolomites, Italy, providing a breathtaking mountain backdrop.

This area is incredible and definitely worth the visit—we wish we’d spent even more time here. Next time we’ll do sunset, too!

Also read: things to do in the Dolomites

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Seiser Alm, Dolomites: Our Top Tips for Visiting Alpe di Siusi

Photography

Alpe di Siusi has become super popular with photographers, especially during sunrise. However, it’s good to know that in recent years, areas have been fenced off or marked as private property.

A couple sits on a grassy hillside overlooking a valley of houses and mountains in the background, enjoying the scenic beauty of Alpe di Siusi in the Dolomites, Italy, under a partly cloudy sky.

These are farmer-owned lands, and the grass is used to feed animals; walking over it would destroy the crop. Please be respectful: don’t step over ropes, signs, or sit on private benches to get a photo. This meadow is huge, and there are plenty of stunning photo spots open to the public, so there’s absolutely no need to trespass.

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The best sunrise viewpoints are across the plateau—especially with misty valleys or golden morning light.
Some photo-perfect spots include: Via del Piz (near Adler Lodge), along the route to Saltria, the viewpoint ‘bench panorama’, and directly when you hop off the cable car.
Recommended camera: To capture Alpe di Siusi at its best, we recommend a mirrorless camera like the Sony A6700 (for beginners) or one of the newer models of the Sony A7R series with a 16-35mm or 24-70mm lens.

Here’s what’s in our camera bag

Two wooden cabins sit in a grassy field with trees, set against the rugged mountains of Alpe di Siusi, Dolomites, Italy, beneath a partly cloudy sky.

How to Get to Seiser Alm

There are several ways to reach Seiser Alm/Alpe di Siusi, but the options vary depending on the time of your visit.

By Cable Car

If you visit during the day, you’ll have to hop on one of the two cable cars that go up to the plateau:

From Ortisei/Urtijëi

Directly from town, you can hop on the cute, red, round-shaped Mont Sëuc cable car over the trees to Alpe di Siusi. It drops you directly at the plateau with incredible views! We were staying in Ortisei and hopped on one of the first ones (8:30 AM). This meant we didn’t get to see the sunrise. However, even in bright daylight, it’s very peaceful and stunning here!

A group of people walks on a footbridge toward colorful buildings in Ortisei town surrounded by green hills and forests—one of the many charming places in the Dolomites italy

Opening times: 1 May – 2 November from 8:30 AM to 5 or 6 PM. We recommend going in the morning and checking the timetables beforehand, as they differ throughout the seasons.
Prices: Round-trip 35 EUR, one way 23 EUR. Kids 8-14 have a reduced price, and those under 8 can go for free.
You can bring your bike or dog (leash and muzzle required) for an extra fee.
If you arrive on one of the first rides up, you hit that sweet in-between moment. Sunrise photographers have just left, but the cable car crowds haven’t arrived yet.

A church with a red dome stands in front of forested hills and a large mountain peak under a cloud at sunset in Ortisei, Dolomites, Italy.

From Siusi Village (Seis am Schlern) to Compatsch

This gondola starts from the village of Siusi and ends in Compatsch, the main hub on the plateau. It’s the most popular and direct access point from the south side.

Opening times: From 23 May to 2 November, 8 AM to 6 or 7 PM (check official timetables for your visit here).
How much is the Alpe di Siusi cable car? A round-trip costs 28.50 EUR, one way 19.50 EUR. Juniors (<16 years old), seniors (>65), and disabled people have a reduced price, and children under 8 can go for free.
You can bring your dog (leash and muzzle required) or bike for an extra fee.

Tip: If you plan on doing multiple gondola rides in the area, it’s worth looking into a Combi Card or Dolomiti Supersummer Card. These often include rides up to other iconic sights like Seceda and Sassolungo, and are a better deal than buying loose tickets for each one.

Empty ski lift chairs ascend over the green alpine landscape of Seiser Alm, with trees and distant Dolomites mountains in Italy under a clear blue sky.

By Car

As the plateau is protected, you can’t simply drive up freely during the day.

In fact, between 9 AM and 5 PM, the road is closed to private cars unless you are a hotel guest with a booking at an Alpe di Siusi hotel (you’ll get a special permit).
However, before or after these hours, you can park in the P2 Compatsch car park (28,50 EUR for the day). From here, it’s about a 20-30 minute walk to get to the first iconic wide-open meadows.

View from inside a car driving on a mountain road at sunset, with rocky cliffs and greenery on either side—an unforgettable experience of driving a car in Dolomites, Italy.

Tip: If you want the exact “iconic postcard shot”, that’s usually around the Hotel Icaro area, which is another ~20 minutes from the first meadows. If you plan on catching sunrise, try to get to the parking lot at least an hour before. The earlier you go, the more magical it feels!

A woman with braided hair sits in a grassy field of wildflowers on the Seiser Alm, facing distant Dolomites mountains and a valley dotted with houses under a partly cloudy sky in Italy.

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit Seiser Alm is from late June to September, when the cable cars are running, the days are warm, and you have the perfect hiking conditions. Especially from June to mid-July, you’re rewarded with meadows full of colorful wildflowers, which makes for the most beautiful scene.

A woman with braided hair and a red bandana lies on grass with wildflowers in Alpe di Siusi, Dolomites, Italy, smiling and holding a small flower near her nose.

We visited mid-July, and even though it was the middle of summer, you can still see some of the higher mountain peaks covered in snow, making it look extra magical!

Best

Good

Mixed

Poor

🌧️

5°C

Jan

🌤

9°C

Feb

🌤

12°C

Mar

🌤

17°C

Apr

🌦️

21°C

May

🌤

27°C

Jun

🌤

28°C

Jul

🌦️

27°C

Aug

🌦️

22°C

Sep

🌦️

17°C

Oct

🌧️

11°C

Nov

🌧️

6°C

Dec

°C °F

October: This is a great month if you’re looking for quieter trails, fall colors, and snowy peaks.
What about the winter season? The plateau turns into the perfect location for skiing and snowshoeing (it’s also part of the Dolomiti Superski area!).

How much time in Alpe di Siusi?

Depending on your Dolomites itinerary, you can choose to visit Alpe di Siusi for sunrise, during the day, or sunset. Just remember that transportation options differ depending on your arrival time. Expect to spend about 2-3 hours here for a short hike, snapping some photos, and a brunch break at one of the alpine huts.

Can’t make it to Seiser Alm? Visit the Gardena Pass instead (we might like that one even better!).

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Alpe di Siusi Hikes

Once up on the plateau, we did this short but beautiful hike, which loops from the cable car station and back, passing grazing cows and horses, and the cute wooden huts. On the route, we saw many people on rented e-bikes, which we imagine is a really nice way to see the area as well!

Two hikers with backpacks walk on a dirt path through a green meadow filled with wildflowers in Seiser Alm, Dolomites, Italy, with rocky mountains rising in the background under a clear sky.

Some other beautiful hiking trails at Seiser Alm are:

Seiser Alm Meadows Circuit: A long but easy trail around the entire meadow (~15 KM, 4,5 hours, and 480m elevation gain).
Compatsch to Panorama Hut Loop: Gentle trail leading from the cable car station to the best views of Seiser Alm (5 KM out and back, 1,5-2 hours, 140m elevation gain).

Where to Stay

Scattered across the plateau are charming mountain huts and alpine lodges, each offering front-row views of the stunning Dolomites. Staying here means waking up to golden sunrises over the meadows and quiet evenings with endless stars above.

Our favorite hotels in Seiser Alm 😴

Hotel Chalet Dolomites

Seiser Alm

See available hotels in Seiser Alm

Check available hotels

Check available hostels

Alternatively, you can stay in a nearby village in the valleys below. We stayed at Casa al Sole in Ortisei, but a hotel in Siusi (Seis) or Castelrotto (Kastelruth) is also a good option, and often more budget-friendly.

Staying in summer? Book your accommodation early; they sell out fast!

A person enjoys breakfast at a hotel near Seiser Alm Dolomites, Italy, holding a cup of tea at an outdoor table set with pastries, jam, fruit parfaits, poached egg toast, sauces, a teapot, and water with a sunflower.

A woman stands on a balcony facing mountains, viewed from inside a room through open double doors at a hotel near Alpe di Siusi Dolomites Italy.

Where to Eat

Nothing beats a cozy hut stop on Seiser Alm—think rustic wood interiors, homemade pasta, and stunning views. The best part: you can try all sorts of traditional mountain food! Some of our favorites are Apfelstrudel and Spinat Knödel. Must-visit huts in Alpe di Siusi:

Malga Schgaguler Schwaige (loved the strudel here!)
Rauchhütte
Malga Contrin

Did you know? Many plateau hotels include half-board (great value if you’re staying the night).

A wooden mountain lodge restaurant with outdoor seating sits in a green valley on Seiser Alm, backed by forested hills and the rugged Dolomites mountains of Italy under a partly cloudy sky.

A plate with a slice of apple crumble topped with powdered sugar, whipped cream, strawberries, and a mint sprig sits on a wooden table with a fork—perfect for savoring after a hike on the scenic Alpe di Siusi.

Our Tips for Visiting Seiser Alm

Wear sturdy shoes and dress in layers—mountain weather can change fast. Hiking boots, waterproof layers, sun protection, and a backpack are a must.
Bring enough water with you. Although we highly recommend stopping at the mountain huts (rifugi) scattered around for a meal, drink, or refill.
Check the Seiser Alm website before your visit to see the latest updates like lift hours, trail status, etc.
Respect trail signs and keep your distance from grazing animals. Don’t go on private property and take all your trash back with you.
Mobile signal is generally good, but it’s worth downloading offline maps beforehand. The same goes for apps like Maps.me and AllTrails.
You’ll see signs in both German, Italian, and Ladin (mountain language)!
Check trail updates before going. Hikes are marked with red and white trail signs and numbers. We recommend taking a photo of the sign at the start (in case routes split).
Book your hotels and lifts early in summer/fall—this is a very popular place!