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    Seiser Alm

    Italy

    Seiser Alm

    Point of InterestMountainsNatureFor FamiliesCulinary

    The Seiser Alm (Alpe di Siusi) is a wide high plateau at roughly 1,680 to 2,350 meters with an area of about 56 square kilometers, and is considered the largest high alpine meadow in Europe.

    by Felix Gillen

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    7. Südtirol
    9. Seiser Alm
    The Seiser Alm (Alpe di Siusi) is a wide high plateau at roughly 1,680 to 2,350 meters with an area of about 56 square kilometers, and is considered the largest high alpine meadow in Europe. Administratively it is a fraction of the municipality of Kastelruth. Its southern parts belong to the Schlern-Rosengarten Nature Park.SummerA dense network of trails, alpine pastures and huts makes the Alm a destination for families and leisurely hikers. The tours up the Schlern are more demanding.WinterIn winter the Seiser Alm is a ski area with about 60 kilometers of slopes, part of Dolomiti Superski and connected to St. Ulrich in Gröden by a gondola lift.AccessThe road from Seis to Compatsch is closed to private traffic uphill between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., while you may drive downhill at any time. Since the end of June 2026, an online reservation is mandatory for the parking lots P1 Spitzbühl and P2 Compatsch. The easiest way is to take the cable car from Seis to Compatsch. Guests of accommodations on the Alm receive an access permit from their host. You can find the current rules at Seiser Alm Marketing.

    Sights

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    View of Langkofel and Plattkofel

    1View of Langkofel and Plattkofel

    In the southeast, the Langkofel Group, with Langkofel and Plattkofel, adjoins the Seiser Alm. Below the Plattkofel lies Saltria.
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    Schlern and Schlernhaus

    2Schlern and Schlernhaus

    The 2563-meter-high Schlern, with its outlying Santner and Euringer peaks, is the landmark of the region. On the summit plateau stands the managed Schlernhaus, offering overnight stays, about 20 minutes from the highest point, the Petz.
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    Puflatsch and Hexenbänke

    3Puflatsch and Hexenbänke

    Circular hike across the high plateau of Puflatsch on the northern edge of the Seiser Alm, starting point Compatsch. The easy loop is about 9 kilometers long and takes a good three hours. Along the way are the Witches' Benches, armchair-shaped rocks where, according to legend, the Schlern Witches danced, with views of St. Ulrich and the Gröden Dolomites.
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    Restaurants & Cafés

    1

    Gostner Schwaige

    Almhütte by Franz Mulser with creative alpine cuisine made with herbs, cheese and local produce. Reservations for lunch are recommended.
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    2

    Tirler Alm

    Alpine inn, eastern Seiser Alm towards Saltria, with South Tyrolean food and terrace overlooking the Langkofel Group.
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    3

    Zallinger Hütte

    Historic hut at the foot of Plattkofel with hut cuisine like Schlutzkrapfen and dumplings. Popular stop for hikes around the Langkofel Group.
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    4

    Sanon Hütte

    Hut with a large sun terrace and Dolomite views, popular with hikers in summer and skiers in winter. Serving South Tyrolean and Italian dishes.
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    Dining & Drinks

    The huts on the Seiser Alm offer mountain cuisine, often with milk, cheese and meat from their own farm.

    Kaiserschmarrn

    Dessert from the Viennese culinary tradition, particularly common on menus in South Tyrol.

    Knoedel

    Made from bread leftovers, often enriched with cheese or bacon.

    Schlutzkrapfen

    Dumplings, similar to ravioli, usually filled with spinach.

    Marende

    Alpine snack at the mountain hut after the hike, with bread, bacon, cheese and smoked sausages.

    Culture

    The alpine pasture has been farmed for a long time: As early as 1600, Marx Sittich von Wolkenstein described livestock, haymaking, and cheesemaking on the Seiser Alm.Legends of witches surround the Schlern. At the Hexenbänken on the Puflatsch, the Schlern witches are said to have danced until the Middle Ages.

    Traveling

    The Seis–Seiser Alm gondola lift takes you to Compatsch in about 15 minutes; there's a large free car park at the valley station. Buses run from Bozen, Brixen, Klausen, Kastelruth, and Völs, and seasonally, the Seiser Alm Express (Line 10) operates between Seis, Kastelruth, and the Alm.From Gröden, you can reach the Alm by gondola lift from St. Ulrich. On the high plateau, most huts are accessible on foot.

    Accommodations in Seiser Alm

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    Campgrounds in Seiser Alm

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    Nearby

    Bozen

    Bozen

    Nestled in a valley basin at the confluence of the Talfer and Eisack, Bolzano is the capital of South Tyrol. The city is bilingual; unlike the rest of South Tyrol, the Italian language group is in the majority here: In the 2024 language census, about three-quarters of the inhabitants declared themselves part of the Italian language group and about one-quarter part of the German language group.Old TownThe heart of the Old Town features the over 300-meter-long Lauben (arcades) with their merchant houses, the Obstplatz (Fruit Square) with its market, and the Waltherplatz with the Gothic cathedral. Gothic frescoes are preserved in the Dominican Church, while the Franciscan Church boasts a winged altar and a cloister.MuseumsThe South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology exhibits the glacier mummy Ötzi. Additionally, there is the Museion for modern and contemporary art and the Messner Mountain Museum Firmian at Sigmundskron Castle.SurroundingsCable cars lead up to Ritten and Kohlern.
    Südtirol

    Südtirol

    South Tyrol is Italy's northernmost province, bordering the Austrian states of Tyrol and Salzburg, as well as the Swiss canton of Graubünden. Together with Trentino, it forms the autonomous region of Trentino-South Tyrol. The majority of residents speak German, just over a fifth Italian, and about four percent Ladin.LandscapeThe highest mountain is Ortler at 3905 meters. To the east lie the Dolomites, featuring Val Gardena, Alpe di Siusi, and Lake Braies.CitiesBolzano is the regional capital; its Archaeological Museum houses the glacier mummy Ötzi. Merano developed early on as a spa town, while Bressanone was a bishopric for centuries and is now one of the two cathedral cities of the Diocese of Bolzano-Bressanone. Castles such as Tyrol Castle, Runkelstein, and Sigmundskron shape the valleys.WineTypical red wines include Vernatsch and Lagrein, while Gewürztraminer is a characteristic white wine.
    Meran (Merano)

    Meran (Merano)

    Meran lies in a valley basin in the Etsch Valley, into which the Passeier Valley flows from the north. Its mild climate allows not only wine but also palms, cypresses, holm oaks, and Lebanon cedars to grow.Spa TownMeran has been a spa town since 1855. The Kurhaus on the Passerpromenade consists of a historicist wing (1873/74) and an Art Nouveau wing (1912-1914). The Therme Meran, opened in 2005, continues this tradition.Old Town and SurroundingsThe Laubengasse is the Old Town's main axis; the Parish Church of St. Nicholas stands on Pfarrplatz. The Tappeinerweg runs along the slope of Küchelberg; on the city's eastern edge lie the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle, and north is Dorf Tirol with its namesake castle.
    Pragser Wildsee

    Pragser Wildsee

    Pragser Wildsee is situated at 1494 meters in the Pragser Tal, a few kilometers south of the Pustertal between Bruneck and Toblach. It belongs to the Fanes-Sennes-Prags Nature Park and is overlooked by the 2810-meter-high Seekofel. It also became known as a filming location for the TV series “Die Bergpolizei”.VisitA circular path of just under four kilometers leads around the lake in just over an hour. In summer, you can rent rowing boats at the boathouse. The Dolomite High Path No. 1 starts at the lake.Access in High SeasonIn 2026, a traffic regulation was in effect from July 1st to September 15th, between 9 AM and 4 PM: You could only enter the Pragser Tal with a parking space booked online in advance, with a scheduled bus service (also to be booked in advance), on foot, or by bike. The regulation is expected to return in summer 2027; details will be published in spring. Check them on the official website prags.bz before your arrival.
    Cortina d’Ampezzo

    Cortina d’Ampezzo

    Cortina d'Ampezzo is situated at around 1,200 meters in a wide valley basin of the Ampezzo Dolomites, surrounded by Tofane, Pomagagnon, Cristallo, Faloria, and Sorapiss.Winter and OlympicsThe Olympic Winter Games were held here in 1956, and in 2026, Cortina, together with Milan, will again host the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The ski area is part of the Dolomiti Superski network.Summer in the MountainsCable cars ascend Faloria and Tofana, and from Passo Falzarego, to Lagazuoi. Popular destinations in the vicinity include the Cinque Torri, Lake Misurina, and the Drei Zinnen. During World War I, the front line ran along Lagazuoi, and tunnels and emplacements are preserved to this day.Mountain SafetyWeather and trail conditions in the high mountains change rapidly. Before tours, inquire with local sources; current safety and health advice for Italy can be found via the link to the Auswärtiges Amt on the country page.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Unsplash, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
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