Alpe di Siusi
Alpe di Siusi / Seiser Alm
Europe's largest alpine meadow. Its 56 square kilometers of rolling grassland dotted with wooden cabins and hay barns sit below the Langkofel and Sassolungo peaks, making it ideal for hiking and cycling.
The Alpe di Siusi (Seiser Alm) lies between 1,680 and 2,350 meters and covers 56 square kilometers, making it Europe's largest alpine meadow. In summer, its rolling green slopes are dotted with wooden cabins, hay barns and grazing cattle. To the east rise the giant rock walls of the Langkofel (Sassolungo, 3,181 meters) and Sassopiatto. To the south stands the square-shaped massif of the Sciliar. This is the gentlest and most pastoral face of the Dolomites. To protect the plateau, private vehicles are banned between 09:00 and 17:00 each day (except for overnight guests). You can reach the plateau from Ortisei by taking the Mont Sëuc cable car (about €30 round trip, 10 minutes), or from Siusi by the Seiser Alm Bahn cableway up to the Compaccio/Compatsch visitor center. You can also take bus No. 10. The plateau has 450 km of hiking and cycling trails. The most classic easy route is to walk from Compaccio along trail 30 to Saltria and back (about 2.5 hours; completely flat, with the Langkofel directly in view). Alternatively, walk from the Mont Sëuc cable car station to the Sanon hut (1 hour, with the best views). You can rent an electric mountain bike (about €40-50 per day) to explore the entire plateau. Photography spot: the cabins near the Mont Sëuc station framed against the Langkofel are best at sunrise. Wildflowers bloom in mid-June. In early October, the grass turns yellow and the larches turn gold. In winter, the plateau becomes a ski area (60 km of pistes, suitable for beginner and intermediate skiers) with sledding runs. Horse-drawn sleighs gliding across the snowy fields are a unique experience. Many mountain huts serve food, and you can try South Tyrolean cheese dumplings and apple strudel. Plan a full day here, and staying in Ortisei is most convenient.
Opening hours
Open all day (cable car about 08:00–18:00; closed for maintenance in May and November)
Nearby sights
- Ortisei & Val Gardena
- Catinaccio / Rosengarten
- Sassolungo (Langkofel)
- Seceda
- Sella Pass
- Val di Funes
- Canazei & Val di Fassa
- Lago di Carezza