Alpe Di Siusi [Dolomites]: Full Guide For Your Visit In 2026

Maybe you’ve heard of Alpe di Siusi, maybe not… but I’m sure you’ve seen the stunning photos of vast meadows full of flowers filled with dramatic Dolomites’ peaks – that’s Alpe di Siusi.

I fell in love with this place, the peace, the beauty, and the vibe changed me from within. Not even saying that I kept hiking and walking around for multiple days, and it helped me to reconnect with myself and find some answers for my life going forward. It’s been a life-changing experience, so much so that I decided to move to the Dolomites, and I now live here.

So, with this guide, I’d like to help you plan your visit and hit the highlights (that many people skip), so you can have an equally amazing and soulful experience. Enjoy!

👉 LET ME GUIDE YOU IN THE DOLOMITES: Are you visiting the Dolomites and would like me to accompany you? Hire me as your personal guide – I can take you to the most beautiful mountain excursions, places and mountain huts, e-biking in Alpe di Siusi, without you having to hustle and figure out the logistics. Contact me: [email protected] Or book this 1-on-1 travel chat (consultation) with me and I’ll help you plan.

What Is Alpe Di Siusi

Alpe Di Siusi (or in the German language called Seiseralm) is the highest Alpine meadow (plateau) in Europe. It’s a vast area full of meadows full of flowers, enhanced by the picturesque Dolomites’ peaks all around.

Its altitude ranges between 1,600 to 2,350 meters (about 5,200 to 7,700 feet), with the highest point being around 2,958 meters (9704 ft.).

No words can describe how beautiful and peaceful it is here – you definitely need to come and experience it for yourself!

Where Is Alpe Di Siusi & How To Get There

It’s located between Val Gardena, one of the regions in the Dolomites, and Rosengarten.

The best way to get there is via Bolzano if you’re coming from an international airport. From Milan or Munich (as the closest international airports), drive to Bolzano first, and then you can either get to Ortisei (Val Gardena) or Seis town.

There is parking in both (Ortisei & Seis) right next to the cable car stations.

From Ortisei, you’ll take the red cable car to Mont Seuc mountain, from where you’ll have stunning views of the area.

From Seis, you can take the blue cable car up to Compatsch (Compaccio), which is the main town in Alpe di Siusi, and a great starting point for exploring and hiking.

If you’re taking public transportation, you can take a bus n. 170 (direction Castelrotto) from Bolzano to Seis town (and take the blue cable car to Compatsch), or bus n. 350 (direction Val Gardena), get off in Ortisei, and take the red cable car to Mont Seuc.

Can You Drive To Alpe Di Siusi?

Driving to Alpe di Siusi is restricted, as they want to keep the meadows as pristine and quiet as possible (which is so great).

You can only drive from Seis to Compatsch before 9:00 AM or after 5:00 PM. You can’t drive around the meadows from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (but you can do so outside of these hours).

If you’re a hotel guest in Alpe di Siusi, you are allowed to drive there at any time. Just make sure you have some sort of confirmation of your stay. If they catch you without it, you might get a pretty heavy fine.

Alpe Di Siusi Map

The area I marked in purple (with the lines) is where Alpe di Siusi is. Check out the position of the blue and red cable car, too.

Getting Around Alpe Di Siusi

The best way to explore Alpe di Siusi is on foot. The main reason why people come here is to explore on walks and hikes. So, even if you have a car and drive there before 9:00 AM, leave your car at the parking in Compatsch, and walk around.

There is a local bus that runs between Compatsch (Compaccio) and Saltria (the other main area in Alpe di Siusi). It runs frequently. There are machines in Compatsch to buy a ticket. But you can also buy a ticket from the bus driver.

You can also take a horse carriage from Compatsch, if interested.

One of my favorite ways to explore Alpe di Siusi (except hiking) is on e-bikes. I highly recommend renting one and riding around. It’s an efficient way to explore it, especially if you only have 1 day.

You can rent e-bikes in Compatsch (sports shops near the cable car stations) or in Ortisei at a bike rental shop. And yes, you can take the bike up to Mont Seuc on the cable car with you.

Best Things To Do In Alpe Di Siusi

Here are the best things I recommend doing in Alpe di Siusi:

➡ Walking Around & Hit The Best Viewing Points
➡ Go Hiking & Best Hikes In Alpe Di Siusi
➡ Go E-Biking
➡ Have A Picnic On The Meadows
➡ Take A Nap
➡ Eat Delicious South-Tyrolean Food
➡ Enjoy A Wellness Retreat/Hotel
➡ Go On A Reflection Hike
➡ Take The Chair Lifts

➡ Walking Around & Hit The Best Viewing Points

The main thing to do here is to just walk through the trails, enjoy the breathtaking views, and soak up the entire atmosphere. The best walking loops are:

🏃‍♂️ From Mont Seuc cable car station towards ICARO Hotel (via Malga Contrin Hut)
🏃‍♂️ From Compatsch towards Edelweiss Hut
🏃‍♂️ From Saltria towards Zallinger
🏃‍♂️ From Rauchhütte to Saltria (Florian chair lift)
🏃‍♂️ From Rauchhütte to Malga Laranzer

➡ Go Hiking & Best Hikes In Alpe Di Siusi

Alpe di Siusi offers some of the best hikes in the Dolomites. And it’s my favorite activity here.

I loved spending 8 hours each day wandering around and hiking wherever my legs took me (from one rifugio to another), reflecting on my life, finding answers, enjoying the stillness of nature with its stunning views, and listening to the cow bells.

I seriously had a time of my life on these hikes, so I highly recommend making at least one of them:

Here is a quick summary of the best hikes:

📍 Mont Seuc – IRACO Hotel – Rauchhütte – Saltria – Malga Sanon – Mont Seuc – or make it shorter and walk from back to Mont Seuc via Malga Sanon (EASY)

📍 Mont Seuc – ICARO HOTEL – Malga Laranzer – and back (EASY)

📍 Compatsch (Compaccio) – Edelweiss Hut – Rifugio Molignon – Saltria – Compatsch – or return from Edelweiss Hut back to Compatsch for a shorter walk (EASY)

📍 From Compatsch – Saltra and back (EASY)

📍 Compatsch – Alpenhotel Panorama – Schlernhaus and back (MEDIUM TO CHALLENGING)

📍 From Compatsch – Saltria – Wild O’Williams – Rifugio Sasso Piatto and back (MEDIUM)

📍 Compatsch – Rifugio Molignon – Rifugio Alpe di Tires – Forcella Denti di Terrarossa – Compatsch (CHALLENGING)

📍 From Compatsch – Schlernhaus – Rifugio Alpe di Tires – Forcella Denti di Terrarossa – Compatsch (CHALLENGING)

📍 Saltria – Wild O’Williams – Rifugio Sasso Piatto – Rifugio Alpe di Tires – Forcella Denti di Terrarossa – Compatsch (CHALLENGING)

➡ Go E-Biking

E-biking is another great activity. Rent one in Compatsch at a sports shop near the cable car station, or in Ortisei at a rental shop (close to the cable car), and ride through the winding roads around. It’s the best way to explore it if you only have a day.

➡ Have A Picnic On The Meadows

Buy some Italian goods in a supermarket (in Ortisei), and sit down in the meadows to enjoy them with the views. My favorite spot for it is close to Malga Contrin Hut.

➡ Take A Nap

After the picnic, lie down on the grass, let the breeze refresh you, and fall asleep while listening to the stillness of this place and the cow bells ringing. I’ve been loving my naps here; there is nothing quite like it.

➡ Eat Delicious South-Tyrolean Food

The restaurants and mountain huts here have delicious food. Try some local specialities like dumplings (cheese, speck, or beetroot and spinach), polenta with cheese, ribs, soups, Kaiserschmarrn (pancake stripes with jam), apple strudel, or tiramisu.

➡ Enjoy A Wellness Retreat/Hotel

Alpe di Siusi is one of the best places in Europe to enjoy a retreat. You don’t necessarily have to join an organized one; just stay in one of the wellness hotels and join their wellness programs.

Some of the best wellness hotels here, where you can enjoy yoga and unwind, are:

🔅 ICARO Hotel
🔅 Hotel Paradiso Pure.Living
🔅 Tirler – Dolomites Living Hotel

➡ Go On A Reflection Hike

As I mentioned to you before, I spent around 4 days walking and hiking here and thinking about my life. This place truly offered me such a sanctuary, and I found many answers within me on how to keep going in life. It’s the best place to reconnect with yourself.

I’m organizing reflection hikes in the Dolomites (a lot of them in Alpe di Siusi) on request. So, if you’re around and would like me to organize such a reflection hike for you (during which, I’ll give you prompts to think about and we can have deep conversations + I’ll help you find answers to your questions), contact me at [email protected].

I’ll be happy to inspire you and help you find your true self, if you’re feeling lost in life! 🙂

➡ Take The Chair Lifts

If you want to have more fun and save your legs from soreness, take the local chair lifts. I recommend taking the Florian chair lift to Wild O’Williams Mountain Hut, or the Panorama chair lift to Panorama Hotel.

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Alpe Di Siusi Viewpoint & Best Photo Spots

Here are the best spots for photo-shooting and the most beautiful viewing points for you:

🔅 Monte Piz Alpe di Siusi (walk from Mont Seuc cable car station towards Malga Contrin Hut)
🔅 Views from Edlweiß Hütte (mountain hut & restaurant)
🔅 ICARO Hotel (walking from there down towards Apartment Mooshütte)
🔅 Views From Rauchhütte (mountain hut & restaurant)
🔅 Views from Malga Laranzer (mountain hut & restaurant)
🔅 Forcella Denti di Terrarossa
🔅 Views from Malga Sanon (mountain hut & restaurant)
🔅 Views from Wild O’Williams (mountain hut & restaurant)
🔅 Alpenhotel Panorama

Where To Stay In Alpe Di Siusi: Best Hotels & Mountain Huts

I recommend the following hotels for your stay.

Imagine a wellness center, pools overlooking the mountains and meadows, delicious food prepared with fresh and local produce, warm hospitality, relaxation packages, and unique spa offers and programs like yoga, breathing, physiotherapy, etc.

🔅 ICARO Hotel
🔅 Hotel Paradiso Pure.Living
🔅 Tirler – Dolomites Living Hotel
🔅 Hotel Goldknopf

If you like to experience sleeping in a rifugio (mountain hut), I suggest these for an authentic experience:

🔅 Schlernhaus
🔅 Rifugio Alpe Di Tires
🔅 Rifugio Sasso Piatto

Where To Eat In Alpe Di Siusi: Restaurants & My Favorites

These are my favorite restaurants & mountain huts serving food here:

📍 Malga Sanon
📍 Malga Laranzer
📍 Edlweiß Hütte
📍 Rifugio Sasso Piatto
📍 Wild O’Williams

Alpe Di Siusi Weather: Best Time To Visit

The best time to visit is late June and early July – this is when you can experience the meadows full of blooming flowers, and there is nothing quite like it! So stunning! I also found it less crowded than during the peak summer season (late July and August).

Another great time is October – the weather tends to be amazing, and it’s barely crowded. It’s a great time to unwind and reconnect with yourself, and the autumn colors are so amazing here.

The weather in the summer is usually very pleasant; sometimes it rains (about 30% of the summer), but most of the time it is sunny or cloudy. Temperatures range between 20°C and 30°C (68°F – 86°F)

Spring and autumn get a bit colder, but temperatures stay around 15°C and 20°C (59°F – 68°F). Autumn can be super sunny and beautiful.

It snows in the winter, so you can go skiing and enjoy some winter activities. Temperature ranges between 0°C and 10°C (32°F – 50°F).

Alpe Di Siusi In Winter: Skiing & Winter Activities

Alpe di Siusi is one of the areas where you can go skiing in the Dolomites. It’s best for families and beginner skiers, a great place to learn how to ski. Or, it’s also great if you’re looking for a relaxing ski holiday, not expecting huge and challenging slopes, and only want to ski in the morning and relax in a hotel spa in the afternoon.

It’s not the best ski resort for advanced skiers – if you’re looking for a challenge, your legs won’t be satisfied here. It mostly has blue slopes (which in Europe is considered easy). Yet, the views are nice, and you can easily ski across the entire plateau within half a day, if you only want to come and explore for a bit.

It’s part of the Dolomiti Superski area, so if you have a Dolomiti Superski pass, you can ski here, too.

Winter Activities In Alpe Di Siusi

Winter is also a beautiful time to come and relax here. If you’re not into skiing, here are some of the activities you can do here in the wintertime:

❄ Cross-country skiing (it has one of the best areas to do so in the Dolomites)
❄ Skialp
❄ Winter Hikes (check out some of the easy hikes I mentioned above for summer) – some mountain huts are open
❄ Relax in a wellness hotel (see above which ones in the section ‘where to stay in Alpe di Siusi)

FAQs

I’ve also answered some of the most popular questions about visiting this place, so check my answers below:

How Many Days To You Need To Explore Alpe Di Siusi?

3 to 5 days is the perfect amount to explore Alpe di Siusi, if you want to do some of the hikes as well as fit in some relaxation and a chill day.

Do You Need Hiking Boots To Walk Around Alpe Di Siusi?

It depends on where you hike. For most of the hiking paths and walks, you don’t need hiking boots and can easily walk around in sneakers. However, for some of the challenging hikes like between Rifugio Sasso Piatto, Rifugio Alpe di Tires, and Schlernhaus, it’s better to wear hiking boots.

Is There A Public Transportation In Alpe Di Siusi?

Yes, there is a bus running between Compatsch and Saltria (the only road there is). You can take this bus any time and buy a ticket from a machine in Compatsch/Saltria, or from the bus driver.

Are Cable Cars To Alpe Di Siusi Operating All Year Round?

No, they’re only open during the peak seasons, which are summer and winter. The cable cars are closed in April and November. You can still visit Alpe di Siusi during these 2 shoulder season months – there is a bus running from Seis and Castelrotto to Compatsch, replacing the cable car.

WRAP-UP: Alpe Di Siusi In The Dolomites & Full Guide

These are my tips and insights for visiting Alpe di Siusi from my experience. I love this place so much, and I hope you’ll have a great time here. If you’re visiting the Dolomites, it’s a place that definitely has to be on your itinerary (even if it’s getting popular). The crowds spread out, and if you move away from the cable car stations, you’ll truly experience the authenticity of this area.

If you need help planning your visit to the Dolomites and Alpe di Siusi, I can create customized travel itineraries on request. Or, book this 1-on-1 travel chat with me if you have many questions and need help planning in real time. I’ll be excited to connect with you.

Happy Travels!

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