These photos overlooking the mountain ranges in the Alpe di Siusi valley literally flooded the Internet. Let’s figure out where it is and how to get there?
The Alpe di Siusi Valley (Seiser Alm) is a picturesque alpine valley surrounded by the main peaks of the Dolomites (Schlern, Sassolungo, Seceda…). This is one of the most beautiful mountain valleys I have ever visited. In my opinion, this is the perfect place to relax in the mountains. And both in winter and in summer.
In winter, you are in close proximity to the famous Sella Ronda ski run (although you can ski in the valley itself), and in summer it is stunningly beautiful.
There are many walking trails in the valley, equipped with benches, drinking fountains and restaurants.
An additional effect is added by cosmopolitanism. The valley is located in Italy close to the border with Austria and Switzerland. Therefore, here you can eat carbonara pasta and apple strudel in one place, and communicate with the waiter in a mixture of German, Italian and English.
How to get to Alpe di Siusi?
By car, everything is simple: 4 hours from Milan, 2 hours from Innsbruck, 3.5 hours from Munich. And of course, renting a car would be the best solution, as this is the most convenient way to move around the valley and its surroundings.
By public transport:
- From Milan. First, take the train to Bolzano with a change in Verona. See tickets and timetable here. In Bolzano, take the bus to your desired city in the valley. The whole trip will take approximately 5 hours.
- From Innsbruck. Take the train to the border town of Brenner. From there, take the train to Waidbruck. And from there take a bus to the city you need. The trip will take about 2.5 hours.
How to visit the Alpe di Siusi valley?
From 9:00 to 17:00 the entrance for cars is closed (except for those who live in a hotel in the valley). And you can only go up to the valley on foot or on the Seiser Alm Bahn lift. A round-trip ticket costs 20 euros per person. Parking at the cable car parking is free.
After climbing up, follow the N30 trail to Saltria. It takes 1.5 hours one way, 3 hours round trip.
You will pass through places with postcard views of the valley.
You can turn back at any time. Choose the path leading to Compatsch.
Hotels in the Alpe di Siusi
Hotels in the Valley are designed in the style of fabulous alpine houses. Prices are not low to say the least. Modern hotels with spa and breakfast cost about 200 euros per night.
My advice is not to live in the valley, as it will add an extra 25 minutes of serpentine every time you want to go hiking somewhere. I advise you to choose a hotel in the vicinity of Castelrotto. We stayed in two hotels:
Cozy chalet 15 mins walking from the city center of Castelrotto – Villa Rier. It cost us 75 euros / day. We had a room with a balcony and beautiful mountain view and drank fresh juices for breakfast.
Another hotel – Hotel Plunger is a modern alpine chalet-style hotel with fantastic views, a terrace and a spa with indoor and outdoor swimming pool.
Where to eat in Alpe di Siusi?
What I love about the Alps is the huge number of mountain huts with cozy restaurants, where you can stop by and enjoy delicious food and incredible mountain views. Moreover, you will not find many of these restaurants in any touristic guides. You stumble upon them by chance while skiing or hiking in the forest. We found one such restaurant with a wow view on a mountain serpentine.
Unfortunately, we didn’t eat in the valley, so I can’t recommend restaurants.
I highly recommend Santner’s Restaurant. It is right next to the cable car to the Alpe di Siusi National Park. They have a splendid menu with tasty pizza, pasta, a terrace with a delightful view of the alpine meadows. They cook very quickly, portions are large, prices are affordable and there is no need to pay coperto (in all restaurants in Italy, in addition to tips, each visitor is obliged to pay 1.5-2 euros for coperto).
Best places to visit around Alpe di Siusi:
1. Mount Seceda
A very beautiful and unusual place with picturesque hiking trails and cozy mountain huts – your chance to visit the top of a mountain with a height of 2500 meters.
How to get to Mount Seceda?
First you need to get to the lift. It is located at Via Val d Anna 2 in Ortisei. A return ticket costs 37 euros per person. You reach the middle of the mountain in a small cabin with benches, and then you change to a lift with one large standing cabin, which takes you to the very top. Having risen, be sure to specify how long the lift works.
At the top of the mountain near the ski lift there is a restaurant with a stunning view of the rocks, mountain villages and clouds. The hiking trail starts there. The path has many twists and turns.
If you have time, then buy a ticket for the lift only one way, and follow the trail to the other Col Raiser lift, on which you will go down, and then return by bus to the parking lot.
To learn more about this attraction read my article: Hiking Seceda mountain. Half-day track with stunning views. There you will find out about the best hiking trails on the mountain and how to get to Seceda.
2. Mount Sassolungo
It is this mountain that can be seen on postcard photos from the Seiser Alm valley. And there are just fantastic hiking trails.
Read more about the hike around Mount Sassolungo here.
3. Lago di Carezza
The lake is located an hour’s drive from the valley. To be honest, you shouldn’t go there on purpose. There are mountain lakes much more beautiful in Dolomites. But if you are on the way (for example, on the route from Milan to Alpe di Siusi), then you can stop by. The lake has an unusually emerald color due to the minerals it contains. Unfortunately, therefore, it is impossible to come close to the water.
4. Geisler alm
One of the most Instagrammed places in the Dolomites. Rifugio Delle Odle is a mountain hut with a restaurant, located in the Puez-Geisler National Park in an alpine meadow surrounded by mountain peaks.
To get there, tap “Rifugio Delle Odle” in the navigator, you will reach the parking lot. There will be a sign in the direction of the hut. 1.5 hours of hiking and you are there.
Follow the link to read more about the place and how to get there!
5. Golf Club St. Vigil Seis
I understand that golf is not the most popular sport and for many of you the presence of a golf club in the valley does not matter. But if you play golf, you simply have to play golf in this club.
Playing golf in St. Vigil Seis was the most exciting golf experience in my life. If you Are interested in golf just read my next article: St. Vigil Seis – the most incredible golf experience in the Dolomites.
Ski resort
First of all there is a ski resort Alpe di Siuse. But also the valley is located very close to the famous Sella Ronda Circuit. This is a well-known ski circular route, which bends around the mountain range, which can be traversed in both directions by a chain of numerous cable cars and trails connected to each other with a total length of about 500 km. It covers such popular resorts of the Dolomites as Val di Fassa, Val Gardena, Alta Badia, Arabba Marmolada, and is considered one of the most interesting areas for amateur skiing.
Read also: Top-3 places to visit around Cortina d’Ampezzo in Dolomites.
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1 Comment
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