Seceda Dolomites: A Complete Guide to Visiting in 2024
If you’re planning a trip to the Dolomites, a visit to Seceda should be at the top of your list.
This mountain is located in Puez Odle Nature Park in Val Gardena and is characterised by its iconic jagged cliff.
As the clouds glide over the top of the mountain, it feels as though you’re hanging out in the sky. It’s truly one of the most magical places I’ve ever visited.
In this guide I’ll cover everything you need to know about getting to Seceda, how much it costs, the best hike to do at the top, and my favourite places to eat on the mountain.
Where is Seceda?
Seceda is found in the Puez Odle Nature Park in the Val Gardena region of the Dolomites. Val Gardena is a picturesque Alpine valley and part of the South Tyrol province.
This region is known for its stunning alpine landscapes and is a popular destination for hiking, skiing, and other outdoor activities.
To visit Seceda Mountain, you’ll need to make your way to the town of Ortisei.
Driving is the easiest way to reach Ortisei, and I’d strongly recommend hiring a car in the Dolomites to give you full flexibility with your plans.
There is public transport to Ortisei but it will take longer:
- By Train: Depending on your location, you can take a train to Bolzano, which is the nearest major train station to Ortisei.
- By Bus: From Bolzano, you can catch a bus to Ortisei. The journey typically takes around 45 minutes to an hour. Make sure to check the bus schedule in advance, as it may vary depending on the season.
Getting to the summit of Seceda
There’s a couple of options for getting to Seceda, depending on your fitness level and the amount of time you have.
Cable Car
The easiest way to reach Seceda (and the route I chose), is to get the cable car from Ortisei.
You’ll first take a cable car from Ortisei to Furnes (located at 1,720m), and then you’ll switch to another one that takes you up to Seceda (at 2,500m).
Parking for the cable car
The cable car station is located in Ortesei, and it’s called Funivie Seceda Spa on Google Maps. There’s a car park at the cable car station which costs €13 a day.
There’s a parking attendant in the car park and you’ll need to pay as you enter. Cash is preferred but card is ok too.
We didn’t have cash and simply explained this to the attendant and we were able to buy our tickets with card at the booth where you buy your cable car tickets.
Note: this car park is very popular so the earlier you arrive the better. We visited the Dolomites in early September and there were only a few spaces left in the car park when we arrived at 11am. There are other car parks in Ortisei but this one is definitely the most convenient.
Cable car opening hours
The cable car runs from 08:30am – 17:30pm.
The cable car is only open during the summer months, which this year was from May 27 until November 5, 2023.
In the winter, Seceda is a ski run and you can ski down from the summit into Ortisei.
How long does the cable car take?
The cable car journey from Ortisei to Seceda only takes about 15 minutes.
Hike
If you’re feeling adventurous, you can hike up to Seceda from Ortisei. The hike will take you about 3 hours, and you’ll need to add extra time to that to spend exploring Seceda once you reach the top.
You can purchase a single cable car ticket if you’d prefer to hike one way and then ride the cable car back.
Or, you can purchase a cable car ticket to take you to Furnes, and then hike the rest of the way. This doesn’t work out much cheaper though.
How much does it cost to get to Seceda?
As of Summer 2023 when we visited the Dolomites, the cable car prices were:
Return ticket:
Adult: €39.50
Junior: €21.00
One way:
Adult: €30.00
Junior: €15.50
You can take dogs and bikes up with you, but they cost an additional €5.00 each.
Once you add on the cost of parking, this definitely isn’t a cheap activity, but I promise it’s worth it.
When’s the best time to visit Seceda?
This will completely depend on what you want to do when you’re there. In summer, the main thing to do here is hike. The meadows are covered in lush green grass and wild flowers and it feels like a scene from the Sound of Music.
In winter, the main activity at Seceda is skiing.
In terms the best time of day to visit, the only thing to consider here is that the last cable car down from Seceda runs at 17:30pm, so make sure you give yourself enough time to explore.
How long do you need at Seceda?
The beauty of Seceda is that you see the iconic view of the ridgeline as soon as you step out from the cable car, and there’s a short walk to the most famous viewpoint that only takes 20 minutes there and back.
Some people in our cablecar were only going up to see the view and then heading back down, so if you’re pressed for time you could spend as little as 30 minutes- 1 hour at Seceda, including extra time for photos.
But in my opinion this is a massively wasted opportunity to explore the area, especially when you pay so much money to get to the top.
We spent the majority of the day at Seceda, walking hut to hut and enjoying drinks and food along the way.
If you want to spend time exploring the area and enjoying a meal at one of the Rifugio’s, allow around 4 hours.
Best hikes at Seceda
There’s a number of hiking routes around Seceda and they’re all beautiful, so I wouldn’t worry too much about which one you take.
Short hike to the viewpoint
Turn left as you come out of the cable car and you’ll see a sign pointing in the direction of the viewpoint.
It’s a short 10 minute walk but it is uphill, so I’d recommend doing this first (we left it until the end when I was already exhausted, which was a bad move).
Up here, you have incredible panoramic views over the Odle, Sassolungo and Sella Group mountain groups, as well as views towards Alpe di Siusi, Val di Funes and as far as the Austrian alps on a clear day.
From this viewpoint, you can continue along the path and loop back round to the cable car station, which will take about 35 minutes in total.
I’m not good with heights, so we chose to head back the way we came as I didn’t want to get to close to the edge. There is a fence there, I’m just a big baby when it comes to heights.
Hiking hut to hut
If you want to spend longer at Seceda, hiking hut to hut is a brilliant way to spend the day. We didn’t follow a particular route, but ended up on a circular walk that took us around 3 and a half hours, including stops at multiple mountain huts and time to take pictures.
There’s around a dozen Rifugio’s (mountain huts) at Seceda, and they’re the perfect place to break up a hike with a beer, cake or a leisurely lunch.
Below is a look at our route – the gap is where we stopped it at Sofie Hut for lunch at the end.
Sofie Hut
From the cable car station, it’s only a few minutes to the first hut, Sofie Hut. This was my favourite hut at Seceda and we actually stopped here for lunch at the end of the hike.
The portion sizes are huge and the food is hearty and delicious. We had the carbonara and the ribs and it was some of the best food we had during our whole trip.
The views here are incredible and there’s plenty of sun lounger style chairs to relax in and admire them.
Mastlé
Next we stopped at Mastlé Hut, which is a lot smaller than Sofie Hut and perfect for a quick snack.
Daniel-Hut
Then we headed to Daniel Hut, for a drink. This hut is huge and has a large sundeck which is perfect for relaxing on.
I tried a Hugo spritz for the first time here, and fell in love with it. The drink comes from the South Tyrol area so you’ll see it in most bars in the area. It’s made from Prosecco, elderflower liqueur, sparkling water and mint.
It’s a really refreshing drink and a brilliant way to break up a long walk.
Fermeda-refuge
Fermeda is the only place on Seceda where you can get wood-fired pizza, so it’s a great place to stop if that’s what you’re in the mood for.
Troier hut
This hut is run by the Runggaldier family and gets a 4.7 star rating, so you can expect great food and excellent service.
They serve a traditional South Tyrolean menu with produce from their family farm.
Can you fly a drone at Seceda?
Yes, you’re allowed to fly a drone at Seceda and in the South Tyrol area. We saw several people flying theirs during our visit.
Seceda is one of the most incredible places to fly a drone as you’ll get such unique viewpoints.
Make sure you follow local drone laws before you fly.
Things to pack for your hike
A water bottle: There’s plenty of water fountains around the Dolomites perfect for refilling your bottle. I have this Stanley bottle, it keeps water cold for over 12 hours, and has a straw for easy drinking
A backpack: I have this Osprey backpack which is perfect for day hikes. There’s space for my camera equipment, extra layers, snacks and my water bottle in the side.
Hiking shoes: I’d recommend a pair of hiking shoes or boots for your trip to the Dolomites. They don’t need to be expensive but they’ll support your feet much better than trainers. These are a great option for your first pair of boots, and they’ll last a long time.
A raincoat: The weather can change quite quickly in the mountains, so I’d pack a raincoat just in case. I always like to carry a pac a mac as they don’t take up much room.
Things to do near Seceda
After Seceda, it’s well worth exploring Ortisei. You won’t need long here, but there’s a number of shops, bars and restaurants to look around.
Other places nearby:
- 35 minute drive: Alpe di Siusi, the largest high alpine meadow in Europe
- 40 minute drive: Val di Funes, where you can visit Geisler Alm
Where to stay near Seceda
If you’d prefer to stay near to Seceda I’d recommend basing yourself in Ortisei. That way, you can walk to the cable car in the morning and be first on the mountain.
There’s plenty of hotels and apartments to suit every budget. Here’s my top picks:
1. Hotel Digon
Hotel Digon only has 21 rooms, so it has a small and intimate feel. There’s a complimentary breakfast included in the room rate, and free parking on site.
Outside is a large infinity pool that’s heated all year round, offering incredible views of the mountains.
There’s also a restaurant at the hotel serving traditional South Tyrolean cuisine.
2. Alpenhotel Rainell
Alpenhotel Rainell is only a 15 minute walk from the cable car station, and offers incredible views from the mountain pool.
There’s also a sauna area, landscaped garden for sunbathing, and an extensive leisure and sports programme.
The hotel is made up of rooms and apartments depending on your group size and preference, and there’s also a brilliant restaurant on site.
3. Alpin Garden Luxury Maison & Spa
Alpin Garden Luxury Maison & Spa is an adults-only hotel with a focus on wellness.
Their wellness centre is split across 2 levels and includes a Finnish sauna, Turkish bath, Biosauna, Salt-sauna, relaxation areas, a heated outdoor pool and whirpool, and an indoor pool and whirpool.
You’re only 10 minutes away from the centre of Ortisei and a 20 minute walk from the cable car station.
Seceda Dolomites: the wrap up
No trip to the Dolomites would be complete without a trip to Seceda.
I’d recommend visiting on your first day, as there’s so little effort involved in getting there, but there’s huge rewards at the top. So you’ll feel like you’ve accomplished a lot quickly into your trip.
Either way, it’s one of the most unique places I’ve ever been to, and I know you’ll fall in love with it too.
