Is Seceda Worth It? All You Need To Know To Visit In 2026

Seceda is one of the most touristy places in the Dolomites, yet it is still 100% worth visiting. It’s so breathtaking that you kind of don’t mind the crowds anymore. In addition, people spread around, and if you go away from the main circuit, you’ll enjoy the stillness of the Dolomites and Seceda’s impressive views.

I fell in love with the Dolomites so much that I’ve moved here. Over the past years, I have visited Seceda multiple times. So, I’ve created this guide based on my experience for you to get the most out of it.

Enjoy!

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Is Seceda Worth It? Answered!

Yes, Seceda is 100% worth visiting, despite the crowds. I recommend going early in the morning and getting away from the main hiking loop to get the most out of your visit.

Take some time, hike around, and sit for a delicious meal at one of the local mountain huts. The views are breathtaking, and the stillness of the place will make you want to stay here.

What Is Seceda?

Seceda is a mountain plateau and dramatic alpine ridge with knife-edge peaks and lush green meadows, rising above the Val Gardena valley. It’s part of the UNESCO World Heritage site in the Dolomites.

Where Is Seceda & How To Get There

It’s located above Val Gardena, one of the main regions in the Dolomites.

The best way to reach it is via 2 cable cars from Ortisei town (in Val Gardena). You can also hike up from Ortisei, which takes about 3 hours. Other close towns from which you can reach Seceda are Santa Cristina and Selva di Val Gardena.

If you’re flying, the closest international airports are in Milan and Munich. From there, drive via Bolzano to Ortisei.

If you don’t have a car, you can take bus n. 350 from Bolzano to Ortisei.

Another option is to reach Seceda from Santa Magdalena (in Val di Funes) on a multi-day hike.

Hiking To Seceda Without The Cable Car

It’s also possible to reach Seceda on foot, without taking the cable car.

The hike from Ortisei to Seceda takes about 3 hours (hiking down to Ortisei takes about 2 hours).

From Santa Cristina, you can hike to Col Raiser, and from Col Raiser, for about 1.5 hours until you reach the Seceda viewing point.

Best Things To Do In Seceda

Here are the best things you can do around Seceda, including the best hikes:

➡ Walk The Seceda Loop
➡ Go Hiking & Best Hikes Around Seceda
➡ Enjoy Delicious Food & Drink At The Mountain Huts
➡ Hit The Best Viewing Points
➡ Have A Picnic
➡ Take A Nap
➡ Go Mountain Biking

➡ Walk The Seceda Loop

The most popular thing to do in Seceda is to walk up to the viewing point. The views are spectacular, so prepare to tear up a little (I always do, no matter how many times I come here). 😀 From there, follow the hiking trail towards the Odle mountain group (the sharp mountain peaks), until you reach one of the mountain huts like Baita Daniel or Baita Sofia.

Then, return to the cable car station. Alternatively, you can keep hiking to Col Raiser and take the cable car down to Santa Cristina.

➡ Go Hiking & Best Hikes Around Seceda

Here are all the hikes you can do around Seceda, easy pathways, or more challenging hikes:

📍 Seceda Viewing Point – Seceda Ridgeline Pathway – Baita Sofia – Baita Daniel – back to Seceda or continue to Col Raiser (EASY)

📍 Ortisei – Seceda – and back (via St. Jakob Church) (MEDIUM)

📍 Seceda Viewing Point – Seceda Ridgeline Pathway – Forcella Pana – Baita Troier – Baita Daniel (MEDIUM)

📍 Resciesa – Rifugio Brogles – Seceda (DIFFICULT)

📍 Seceda – Forcella Pana – Rifugio Brogles – Geisleralm Hut – Malga Zannes – Santa Magdalena (DIFFICULT)

➡ Enjoy Delicious Food & Drink At The Mountain Huts

We’re in Italy here, so expect the food to be delicious, even if you’re above 2000m above sea level. Go in one of the huts here (I recommend Baita Sofia and Baita Daniel), and indulge in local Southtyrolean cuisine. Try dumplings, ribs, and the amazing apple strudel with vanilla sauce or Kaiserschmarrn.

➡ Hit The Best Viewing Points

The most beautiful viewing points are pretty much anywhere alongside the Seceda hiking loop. But the most stunning views are from the viewing point on top of Seceda.

Another great viewpoint is from Baita Sofia, overlooking the Sella mountain group.

➡ Have A Picnic

What better way to enjoy Seceda than sitting on the grass and opening a bag of Italian goodies you bought in a Spar supermarket in Ortisei?

Get some delicious cheese, prosciutto, fresh bread, grapes and fruits, and chocolate, and enjoy your picnic with the stunning views overlooking the Sella mountain group and paragliding flying around.

➡ Take A Nap

One of my favorite ways to enjoy the Dolomites is to just fall half a sleep, or close your eyes, enjoy the fresh breeze, and listen to the stillness and cow bell sounds. There is nothing quite like it. Do it anywhere on the grass, or at one of the mountain huts that have wooden chairs where you can lie down and unwind.

➡ Go Mountain Biking

If you’re into mountain biking, you can do so here, too. Follow the trails and explore Seceda on an adrenaline rush. The best is to bike to Col Raiser or down to Ortisei.

Best Time To Visit Seceda

Late Jun and early July, late September, and October are the best months to visit Seceda. Late June is stunning as the meadows are full of flowers, everything is lush green, and you might still spot some snow in the surrounding mountains.

Late September and October will surprise you with beautiful autumn colors and fewer crowds.

Seceda Cable Car: Tickets & Opening Hours

There are 2 cable cars to reach Seceda from Ortisei. The first one is from Ortisei to Furnes, and the second one is from Furnes to the top of Seceda.

The cable car usually runs between 8:30 AM and 5:30 PM or 6:00 PM (in the summer), and from 8:30 AM until 4:30 PM (in the winter).

You can get tickets at the cable car station in Ortisei at the counter.

If you’re going skiing in the winter, get the ski pass for Val Gardena to reach multiple ski resorts in the area. It might be worth it to get the Dolomiti Superskipass, so you can also go skiing on the famous Sellaronda Circuit.

Val Gardena Card

If you’re staying for over 3 days in Val Gardena and want to do multiple mountain excursions, I highly recommend getting the Val Gardena card.

It covers the main cable cars in the region, such as Seceda, Alpe di Siusi, Sassolungo, Rasciesa funicular, Col Raiser, and a couple of chair lifts/cable cars from Selva di Val Gardena.

I got the Val Gardena Card during my stay, and it helped me explore the entire area, so great!

You can get it at any cable car station in Ortise, Santa Cristina, or Selva.

Where To Stay To Visit Seceda: Best Hotels

The best place to stay to visit Seceda is Ortisei. It’s the closest town and the most beautiful in Val Gardena. Alternatively, you can also stay in Santa Cristina or Selva town, or Alpe di Siusi.

Here are the hotels I recommend if you want to enjoy the Seceda excursion:

🏰 Hotel Garni Walter – in Ortisei
🏰 Hotel Ronce – in Ortisei
🏰 Gardena Grodnerhof Hotel & Spa – in Ortisei
🏰 Boutique Hotel Nives – in Selva
🏰 Hotel COSMEA – in Ortisei

Seceda In Winter & Skiing

You can go skiing in Seceda in the winter. In fact, it has one of my favorite slopes in the Dolomites. There is only 1 main slope and maybe 2 or 3 side slopes, so it’s good to come here to explore for half a day or a full day. But the skiing here is so great.

The one ski slope from the top of Seceda to Fermeda is absolutely amazing. And so is the one from Seceda down to Ortisei – one of the best ski runs in the area.

It’s part of the Dolomiti Superski Area, so once you have the ski pass, you can go skiing in the entire Dolomites, including Seceda and Val Gardena.

FAQs

I’ve also answered some of the frequently asked questions about visiting Seceda. Check my answers below:

How Long To Spend In Seceda?

Plan between 3 and 4 hours to spend in Seceda to enjoy it fully. If you want to do one of the longer hikes, spend the entire day.

How Hard Is The Hike To Seceda?

It’s medium difficult to hike from Ortisei to the top of Seceda. To enjoy the walk following the Odle mountain trail, it’s super easy, only downhill.

What Makes Seceda Unique?

The Odle Mountain Peaks rising above the Seceda plateau is one of the most breathtaking views you will see in your entire life, anywhere in the world. That’s what makes Seceda so special, these views.

What Kind Of Activities Can You Do In Seceda?

Go hiking, walking, eating delicious food, relaxing and napping, mountain biking, and just being and soaking up the views and atmosphere of the Dolomites.

WRAP-UP: Is Seceda Worth It? YES 😍

So yes, Seceda is worth visiting, despite the crowds. The views are unlike any other, so take your time to soak it all in. It’s definitely one of my favorite mountain excursions in the Dolomites.

If you need help planning your trip to the Dolomites (or elsewhere in Europe), I design customized travel itineraries and will be happy to create one for you. Or book this 1-on-1 travel chat with me and I’ll help you plan in real time and answer all your questions.

Wishing you great travels!

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