How to Visit Magical Seiser Alm: Europe’s Biggest Mountain Meadow

Seiser Alm, also known as Alpe di Siusi, is the biggest and highest mountain meadow in Europe. It has an area of 57 km² and lies at an altitude of 1680 m to 2350 m. In winter, it is the ideal place for a winter holiday. In summer, it is a beautiful area to enjoy numerous walks through this wavy landscape surrounded by some impressive mountain ranges. In this blog post, we tell you everything you need to know to explore this magical alpine pasture, Seiser Alm, Italy!

46° 31′ N, 11° 37′ E

Overview

Best time to visit Seiser Alm

Seiser Alm in Winter

During winter, the whole Seiser Alm meadow gets covered in a white snow carpet. As Seiser Alm is connected to Val Gardena, it creates a huge ski area for the perfect ski holiday. Not only for skiing but also for other winter sports like cross-country skiing, it is a great destination.

Seiser Alm in Summer

As we told you before, during summer Seiser Alm Italy is a true hiking paradise. The best time to visit Seiser Alm is during spring and autumn when temperatures are most pleasant and it is not too crowded in the meadow. During the summer months, July and August, it can get really busy in the area.

The views in Seiser Alm are at their best during sunrise and sunset when you can see the sun’s rays move across the meadow and the colors slowly change. So, for the best light and to avoid the crowds, you best go there really early. Or you can spend the whole day exploring this magical place and wait for the sun to set to enjoy the beautiful ending of your day at Seiser Alm, Italy.

The two of us sitting on a blanket on the grass in front of the Seiser Alm alpine meadow with some dramatic mountains in the background during sunrise

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Explore the magical Seiser Alm

How to get to Seiser Alm

Seiser Alm is located in the western part of the Dolomites Unesco world heritage site in South Tyrol. It can be reached by either car or public transportation.

By car

By car, it is only possible to reach Seiser Alm before 9 am and after 5 pm during high season. In between these hours, the road to the top is closed and you can only go up by cable car or by bus. Driving down is allowed 24/7. There is only one exception: If you booked a stay within Seiser Alm, you’ll receive permission to drive up the road between 9 am and 5 pm, but ONLY on the day of your check-in.
During the off-season, the Seiser Alm cable car remains closed and therefore the road up to Compatsch is open to private traffic all day long. 

If you want to go up by car, you have to drive up before 9 am or after 5 pm. You can choose between two parking lots. The first parking is all the way up to Compatsch, where, you can park your car at parking lot P2 for €24. Don’t go any further with your car, as it is forbidden to drive through Seiser Alm, Italy.
During the off-season, the price of the parking area P2 in Compatsch is then €12.

The other parking is located a little before the center of Compatsch: Parkplatz P1 Spitzbühl. This parking lot is free, but you will have to make a short walk up to Compatsch and the meadow of Alpe di Siusi. At this parking lot, you see a lift on your right-hand side and kind of a path going to the left. Turn your back to the lift and take this path as this will take you to the walking area of Seiser Alm, Italy.
The path is not indicated, but follow your feelings in the direction of Seiser alm or use Google Maps.

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The two of us wakling on the grass with the meadow of Seiser Alm and a huge mountain range in the background during sunrise.

By cable car

During summer season, the Seiser Alm Aerial Cableway is open from the end of May to the beginning of November, daily from 8am to 6 or 7pm. During the winter season, the Seiser Alm Aerial Cableway is open from the beginning of December to the beginning of April, daily from 8am to 6pm.

You can find all current opening hours on here.

You can take the cable car in Seis Am Schlern to Compatsch: a double ride costs you €24, a single ride cost €16. During the off-season, the Seiser Alm cable car remains closed and therefore the road up to Compatsch is open to private traffic all day long. The price of the parking area P2 in Compatsch is then €12.

You can park your car for free in the large open car park at the valley station of the Seiser Alm cable car in Seis am Schlern. Or you can park your car at the great car park with two parking levels on the Valley Station.
Price: €1,50/hour, max. €6.00/day.

View of the meadow of Seiser Alm and the moutains in the background with a purple flower on the foreground

By bus

You can take the Seiser Alm Express (bus Route 10) from Seis am Schlern via Kastelruth to Seiser Alm. The bus is included in the Combi Card or the Nordic Pass. If you don’t have one of these passes, you can purchase round-trip tickets on the bus for €24.

Keep these things in mind when visiting Alpe di Siusi, to make sure you don’t have to encounter any unpleasant surprises.
However, don’t let this stop you from visiting this beautiful place and enjoying some beautiful walks through this wonderful landscape.

Tip: Find even more practical information on their official website.

Hotels

Discover the best places to sleep in Seiser Alm and enjoy a comfortable stay!

What does it cost

Parking Lot

Only reachable before 9am and after 5pm in high season.
P2 Compatsch: €24 
P1 Spitzbühl: free

Off-season the price of P2 Compatsch is only €12

Cable Car Seiser Alm to Compatsch

Double: €24
Single: €16

Bus Seiser Alm Express

Route 10 – Round Ticket: €24

Views on the meadow of Seiser Alm filled with grass, trees and wooden cabins and a huge mountain range in the background during sunrise

Italy

The most famous view in Seiser Alm

Seiser Alm has many different hiking trails and cable cars to explore the area. You can easily spend a whole day hiking around this mountain meadow. But there is this one gorgeous and probably most famous spot in Seiser Alm, with these little cabins in the green wavy carpet landscape and the mountains outstanding in the background. And we’ll explain where to find this place.

Sarah turning around rapped in a blanket on the grass in front of the Seiser Alm mountain meadow filled with trees and wooden cabins, and a big mountain range in the background
Seiser Alm, Italy
The Seiser Alm Mountain Meadow filled with trees and wooden cabins and a big mountain range in the background during sunrise
Seiser Alm, Italy

From Compatsch, you have to walk about 3,7 km and it takes around 45 minutes to one hour to reach this place. You start your hike at parking lot P2 in Compatsch. So if you’ve parked your car at P1 Spitzbühl, you first have to walk up the short hike we talked about above. From P2, you start walking straight ahead for about 2 kilometers, until you come to a Y-junction. Here, you go left, and after about 150 meters, you come to another Y-junction, where you go right and keep on following the paved road. From here, the road goes up for a while, but then it flattens again. After around 1,5 kilometers, you get to this amazing view over the meadow of Seiser Alm and the surrounding mountain ranges.

If you want to use Google Maps, you can follow the directions to Sporthotel Sonne. A few hundred meters before this hotel, you pass the famous viewpoint.
It’s a beautiful hike along the meadows with those little wooden cabins, and you get wonderful views over the entire environment.

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Last updated: May 4, 2025

Win-Win for everyone

Did you know that, if you buy or book something through our links, we receive a small commission?

However, you still pay the same and therefore have no extra costs! So a win-win for everyone. This way, we can continue to add even more travel inspiration and tips to this blog for your next adventure. Thanks a lot!

Last edited: 25/07/2023

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