A Complete Guide to Hiking Seceda in the Italian Dolomites

a foggy morning at seceda
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Hiking Seceda is a wonderful way to spend a day in the Dolomites. You’ll get to experience glorious views across the mountains, a variety of terrains and wonderful photo opportunities. Here’s everything you need to know to plan your own hiking trip to Seceda.


Seceda mountain soars over 8,200 feet above the villages of Ortisei, Santa Cristina and Selva in Val Gardena. The mountain lies in the Puez Odle Nature Park (Naturpark Puez-Geisler in German) and is one of the most recognisable in the Dolomites (thanks Instagram!).

The Odle mountains take their name from the local Ladin language, meaning “needles”. One look at Seceda, with its summit spearing the sky, is enough to see how the peaks got their name. The limestone crags, like many others in this region, are scattered with welcoming rifugios and green valleys, creating a landscape like nowhere else.

Like so many parts of the Dolomites, the best way to explore here in summer and early autumn is by using the power of your own two feet. So grab your hiking boots and get ready to enjoy some of my favourite hikes in the Dolomites. Don’t forget to plan your route to enjoy one of the rifugi or restaurants along the way!

Here’s what you need to know to safely hike Seceda, including tips on the best views, where to stay, eat & drink.

the soaring peaks you'll see when hiking seceda
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SECEDA HIKING ESSENTIALS

DISTANCE | 5km or 13km circular route

TIME | 2 – 4.5 hours

ELEVATION | +/- 575m

DIFFICULTY | easy-moderate

BEST IN | late July or early September-October

The features in this post were hand-selected by a picky diva (that’s me) and some of them are affiliate links. If you buy via these, I may earn a commission on some of these awesome recommendations at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your wonderful support – Cat.


A COMPLETE GUIDE TO HIKING SECEDA IN THE ITALIAN DOLOMITES


WHY HIKE SECEDA?

You’ve definitely seen photos of the immense jagged ridges of Seceda’s summit, towering over the villages of Val Gardena. Nothing prepares you for seeing it in real life, standing beside what appears to be a sheer drop off the edge of the world.

On a clear day, you’ll see some of the most iconic peaks of the Dolomites laid out before you. On more moody days, clouds drape themselves across Seceda’s mighty peaks, creating a dramatic atmosphere that’s sure to give you chills.

With various options ranging from an easy, mostly downhill 5km hike to a more challenging 13km circular route, there’s something for everyone to enjoy up here. You can even hike down (or up!) the mountain. Seceda is sure to become as much a highlight of your trip to the Dolomites as the Tre Cime di Lavaredo.

jagged mountain peaks framed with wild flowers
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The Seceda Hiking Experience

The highlight of this hike is the famous view of the Seceda ridge, with the jagged teeth of the Odle ridgeline and moody atmosphere enough to make you feel that you’re on another planet. The rest of the hike winds through high alpine pastures with cute rustic huts and rifugi scattered along the route. Once in a while, you’ll come across rocks that seem to explode from the ground beneath your feet, as though captured just before launching skywards.

The best thing about hiking Seceda is that you can make the route as easy or challenging as you like. There are multiple access points, with cable cars making it easy during the summer months. Outside the summer months (or if you’re just after a longer and harder day out), it’s quite possible to hike Seceda without the cable car. All the options are covered below.

Either way, this hike has incredible views, classic Dolomites landscapes and enough rifugi to break the hike up into enjoyable and very manageable sections.

Trail conditions at Seceda

There are two main access routes into the Seceda hikes, the first from Ortisei and the second from Santa Cristina. Both of these options, detailed below, can be done in either direction.

I recommend starting the one-way route from Ortisei since you’ll have the smallest elevation gain. If you’re a lover of the uphill struggle, then by all means, start from Santa Cristina!

The circular route, by contrast, is better tackled from Santa Cristina, in my opinion. This is because the largest elevation gain of 450m occurs during the first half of your hike, and you can then enjoy the downhill for the rest.

The paths around Seceda are well-marked and easy to follow, but there are several of them, so pay attention to make sure you don’t take a wrong turn. The terrain is easy underfoot, with no technically challenging areas and no special equipment required.

the path to pieralonga
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a field of golden grass and jagged peaks
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One-way route for hiking Seceda

TRAILHEAD | Ortisei-Furnes-Seceda cable car
DISTANCE |
5 km
TIME |
2 hours
ELEVATION |
100m ascent, 450m descent
DIFFICULTY |
easy

This route starts at the top of the Ortisei-Furnes-Seceda cable car.

From the cable car, follow path 1 uphill to the summit, marked by a cross and a viewpoint. Once you’ve had your fill of the views here, continue along path 1 past the Troier Hut to Rifugio Firenze/Regensburger Hut. Here, you’ll turn right onto path 2 and then left onto path 4, which takes you to the top of the Col Raiser cable car.

From here, simply take the cable car down to Santa Cristina. In the village, you can catch the 350 or 352 bus back to your starting point in Ortisei.

THE DETAILS

CABLE CAR FROM ORTISEI

Route: Ortisei – Seceda, changing at the Furnes station mid-point.

Opening Hours: from 8:30 am to 6 pm from late May to November. Check exact dates here.

Cost: €30/adult one way (€39.50 return).

CABLE CAR FROM SANTA CRISTINA

Route: Col Raiser cable car.

Opening Hours: from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm in peak season (mid-June to mid-September) and until 5 pm during the rest of the season (mid-May to mid-October). Check exact dates here.

Cost: €19/adult one way (€28 return).

BUS INFORMATION

Route: 350 Bolzano-Val Gardena (year-round) or 352 Express Ortisei-Selva Val Gardena (summer only).

Hours: The 350 runs every 30 mins from 6:46am to 7:16pm. The 352 is 3-4 times an hour from 7:35am to 6:05pm. Check the timetable here.

Cost: €2 single, free with Val Gardena Mobil Card.

Circular route for hiking Seceda

TRAILHEAD | Col Raiser cable car
DISTANCE |
13 km
TIME |
3 hours
ELEVATION |
+/-575m
DIFFICULTY |
easy – moderate

This circular route starts at the top of the Col Raiser cable car.

From the cable car station, you’ll follow signs to Fermeda/Seceda with the impressive Sassolungo massif visible on your left. Rifugio Fermeda is only a 15-minute flat walk from the Col Raiser cable car – plan your day to include a meal here since the food is delicious and the service is excellent.

Once past Rifugio Fermeda, you’ll begin your ascent up to the summit of Seceda via path 2, a steady uphill covering about 450m. You then turn onto an unnamed path, but it remains well-signposted for Seceda. Distract yourself from the climb by admiring the views, pretty mountain huts and pastures along the way.

Reward yourself with a stop at the Baita Sofie for coffee or lunch, depending on the time you get there and if you didn’t indulge at Fermeda. They’ve got a great selection of wines, but you still have a bit of a hike to go, so take it easy on the booze! From here, you’ll pass the Restaurante Seceda on your way up to the summit via path 1.

Once at the summit, you can either follow the one-way route, above, to get back to Col Raiser, or take the Pieralongia detour outlined below.

sunset at the seceda ridgeline
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Optional detours when hiking Seceda

There are multiple paths once you make it up to the top of the cable cars. All of them provide stunning views with a variety of long and short hiking routes. The two routes outlined below give you some of the best viewpoints with minimal effort required!

Pieralongia detour

Leave path 1 just before reaching the Troier Hut and follow path 2B to Malga Pieralongia. Along the way, you’ll get lovely views over the Parco Naturale Puez-Odle with its alpine lakes and little wooden huts. Take a right turn onto path 13B, which will take you to Rifugio Firenze. From here, take path 2 and then path 4 back to the Col Raiser cable car.

Furcela Pana / Pana-Scharte detour

Once you’re on your way downhill from the Seceda summit heading towards the Troier Hut, you’ll see path 6 on your left. Take this trail up the relatively steep Furcela Pana a short distance. From here you’ll get the most incredible view of the Furmeda Towers appearing as though they’re the edge of the world. When you’ve had your fill of the view, head back to path 1 and continue your hike.

Hiking Seceda without a cable car to Ortisei, Santa Cristina or Selva

If you decide that you want to get to Seceda for sunrise and there are no options for an overnight stay at Rifugio Firenze you might be considering hiking up to the summit. You may also want to hike down during the day or evening hours if you’ve stayed at the peaks for sunset.

The routes down to the villages from the summit are steep in parts and should be taken carefully. If you’re coming up from the bottom then you’ll be going pretty slowly anyway as you gasp for air! From the summit of Seceda, it’s between 7km and 10km to Ortisei, S. Cristina or the Daunei car park near Selva.

The routes below assume that you’re descending from Seceda. You can always follow them in reverse if you’re after a challenge! Allow 2.5h for an ascent and 1.5-2h for a descent. In the summer you’re looking at a 5am sunrise and 9pm sunset, so plan your departure times accordingly.

mountain pastures whilst hiking seceda in the italian dolomites
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Hiking from Seceda to Ortisei

As is often the case in the mountains, there are several ways to tackle this route. If you’re in a hurry take the quickest way down, but if you have the time then I’d thoroughly recommend the longer but more scenic hike.

The Quick Route

TRAILHEAD | Seceda summit
DISTANCE |
7.6 km
TIME |
2 hours
ELEVATION |
1300m descent
DIFFICULTY |
moderate

From the summit, head back past the top of the Ortisei-Furnes-Seceda cable car. Here, turn left and follow the path to Baita Sofie. About 5 minutes beyond the restaurant you’ll reach a fork where you turn right onto path 6.

Shortly after going under the Fermeda cable car, you get to a T-junction where you turn right, following the path downhill and past the Curona restaurant. Shortly after the restaurant, the path veers sharply right and soon you’ll find a left turn onto path 2. Take this downhill.

Follow path 2 until you reach path 2-8, where you’ll turn left and then take the next right to continue downhill. You’ll emerge at Costamula, beside a restaurant and bus station. From here you’ll simply walk down Streda Cuca until you reach Ortisei.

The Scenic Route

TRAILHEAD | Seceda summit
DISTANCE |
14 km
TIME |
4 hours
ELEVATION |
1200m descent
DIFFICULTY |
moderate

From the Seceda viewpoint follow path 6 downhill around a sharp right. Then take a left onto path 1 to reach a fork, where you’ll turn right to reach the Troier Hut. If you’re in need of refreshments this is a good place to stop for food and drink.

From here, turn right towards Lech di Rijeda onto path 2B to the Malga Pieralongia Alm/Pieralongia Hütte. This is another option for refreshments, but if you’re all fuelled up, simply take a right towards the twin Pieralongia peaks and take in the views.

Now take a right onto path 1 until you reach path 2, where you’ll go right again following signposts towards Ortisei. On this part of the route, you’ll pass the Fermeda chapel, perched on the mountainside, and Fermeda Hut, another good option for food.

After Fermeda, head left and follow a combination of path 6 and path 6A to reach the Mt Balest viewpoint. The trail through the woodlands around Mt Balest is steep, narrow and rocky underfoot, so be sure to pay attention as you head downhill.

At the Mt Balest sign, continue on path 6 towards St Jakob’s Church (San Giacomo/Dlieja da Sacun), a journey of about 30 minutes. Take a rest at the church, since it’s absolutely beautiful and you deserve a break. Be sure to admire the frescoes on the south wall.

Return to path 6 and continue downhill to an outdoor art installation. Your route ends on the Col de Flam path, which will deposit you beside 23-25 Via Sacun (Streda Sacun). It’s then a quick walk back to the bottom of the cable car.

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Hiking from Seceda to Santa Cristina

TRAILHEAD | Seceda summit
DISTANCE |
6 km
TIME |
1.5 hours
ELEVATION |
960m descent
DIFFICULTY |
moderate

As with the hike to Ortisei, you head back past the top of the Ortisei-Furnes-Seceda cable car and turn left to follow the path to Baita Sofie. About 5 minutes beyond the restaurant you’ll reach the fork where you turn right onto path 6. This time, quickly take a left towards Restuarant Mastle.

Once past Baita Mastle, turn left and continue until you reach Baita Daniel. Here, take another right, along the path that runs beside Daniel. Continue along this path until the next junction where you turn left towards Rifugio Fermeda. Just past Fermeda, turn right and follow the path past Resturant Cuca until you reach the Fermeda cable car station.

Here, take the right fork and then the left past Neidia restaurant. Head downhill to Gamsblut, noting how an entire path can be described using restaurants in this part of the world! From Gamsblut, continue towards the line of the Col Raiser cable car, which you then follow downhill until you reach the car park at S. Cristina.

Hiking from Seceda to Selva

TRAILHEAD | Seceda summit
DISTANCE |
5.7 km
TIME |
1.5 hours
ELEVATION |
690m descent
DIFFICULTY |
easy – moderate

This is the route that I recommend to hike up to Seceda or if you want to do an entire day hike at Seceda without the cable car. It’s a good option for a late afternoon hike if you’re staying overnight at one of the rifugios on the mountain.

If you want to do this as a one-way hike, you can park your car at the Via Daunei car park (€5/day), take the bus to the base of one of the cable cars to the top and hike down. This is definitely the easiest route down the mountain on foot.

The route is exactly the same as the descent to Santa Cristina until you reach the junction beneath the Col Raiser cable car beyond the Gamsblut restaurant. Here, you continue straight ahead towards the Sangon restaurant and Rifugio Juac.

At Juac, you turn right and simply follow path 3 all the way back to the car park.

Seceda Hike Map

The map below outlines the main routes in addition to some great photo spots that you should definitely try to get to.

To save this map to your own account, just click on the little star next to the title.

When is the Best time to hike Seceda?

Best Time of the Year to Hike Seceda

The best time to hike Seceda is really late July or early September through to October. The last of the winter snow will have melted, you won’t have to contend with the August crowds, and the cable cars and rifugios will still be operating.

As a general rule, the hiking season in the Dolomites runs from late May to early October. Specific hikes should take into account the weather conditions and elevation of the walks you want to undertake. The best weather is usually in August, but it’s also the busiest month and this is a popular hike.

A lot of the cable cars and rifugios in the Dolomites are only open from mid-June to the end of September, with just a few remaining open until early October. Make sure you check the dates in advance of planning your hike.

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Best Time of the Day to Hike Seceda

The views at Seceda are impressive at all times of the day. The main thing is to make sure you leave early enough that you don’t have to rush. Take a headlight if there’s any chance of being caught after the sun goes down or you’re starting before sunrise.

Incidentally, sunrise and sunset are great times for photography at Seceda. You might want to consider booking a night at one of the rifugios to avoid a very early uphill hike from Ortisei!

Getting to the Seceda Trailheads

Getting to Seceda via Ortisei

BY CAR

From Bolzano | About 45 minutes via the SS12 and then the SS242.

From Cortina d’Ampezzo | Roughly 1h 50 minutes via the SR48 and SS243.

Parking | At the Ortisei lift station (€8). In the town at the Garage Central parking lot (€1.40/h, max €12) with a 10 minute walk to the gondola.

BY BUS

From Bolzano | Take the 350 bus towards Val Gardena from the Bolzano bus station (next to the train station).

THE ORTISEI-FURNES-SECEDA CABLE CAR

To get to Seceda from Ortisei you’ll need to take a gondola to Furnes and then change to a cable car for the trip to Seceda. The entire trip takes about 15 minutes.

Cost | €30 one way & €39.50 return for the 2023 season

Hours | late May to mid-October 8:30am – 5:30pm

TIP | There are various passes available for public transport and the open lifts in both Val Gardena and the wider Dolomites area. If you stay in Val Gardena and your accommodation is part of the Tourist Association then you’re entitled to a Mobil Card for free bus use. Options for lifts are the Gardena Card (Val Gardena only) or the SuperSummer Pass (Dolomites region).

Getting to Seceda via Santa Cristina

BY CAR

From Bolzano | About 50 minutes via the SS12 and then the SS242

From Cortina d’Ampezzo | Roughly 90 minutes via the SR48 and SS243

Parking | At the Col Raiser cable car station (€5/day), but this fills up by afternoon, so arrive early. An alternative is the Praplan parking lot (€5/day from July 26 until August 22) above the village, which can be used to access the excellent Monte Pic hike.

BY BUS

From Bolzano | Take the 350 bus towards Val Gardena from the Bolzano bus station (next to the train station). Your destination is either of the St. Cristina stops, Dosses or Rathaus. It’s then a fairly steep uphill walk for 20 mins to the Col Raiser cable car station.

THE COL RAISER CABLE CAR

Cost | €19 one way & €28 return for the 2023 season

Hours | mid-May to mid-June 19th 8:30am – 5pm, mid-June to mid-September 8:30am – 5:30pm and mid-September to mid-October 8:30am – 5pm

Getting to Seceda via Selva

BY CAR

From Bolzano | About 1 hour via the SS12 and then the SS242

From Cortina d’Ampezzo | Roughly 90 minutes via the SR48 and SS243

BY BUS

From Bolzano | Take the 350 bus towards Val Gardena from the Bolzano bus station (next to the train station). Your destination is the Selva/Wolkenstein Nivesplatz stop. It’s then a fairly steep uphill walk for 20 mins to the carpark indicated above.

Rifugi and Restaurants – where to eat and stay on Seceda

There are several beautiful rifugios up here, and if you’re not keen to pack a lunch then you should definitely consider eating at one of them. You can also simply stop for a coffee/tea or cold beverage of your choice. I’m not saying you should try a Hugo cocktail up here, but I’m not not saying that either!

If you want to spend a full day or night exploring Seceda without a risky hike in the dark, then you should definitely consider staying at one of the options below.

Rifugio Firenze/Regensburgerhüte | Built in 1888, this is one of the oldest mountain huts in Val Gardena and a favourite for those wanting to photograph Seceda at sunrise and sunset. It’s recommended that you book your bed in advance, especially during August and at weekends. Open from 1st June to 10th October.
Dorm | €30 bed only / €65 half board (dinner & breakfast)
Room | €40 bed only / €75 half board
Lunch | 11:30-15:00, no reservations
Dinner | guests only unless reservation made
Breakfast | €10, guests only

Troier Hut | With a farm-to-table ethos, this is a great spot to settle in with a Hugo cocktail or a beer and admire the peaks of the Sassolungo massif.
Hours | 09:00-17:00 during the summer months.

Rifugio Fermeda | Another beautiful mountain hut an easy 15 minutes walk from the top of the Col Raiser cable car, this is the place to go if you want a wood-fired pizza at 2109m!
Room | €92-€140 half board (double/quad/6-bed with bathroom)

Pieralongia Hut | This is your stop for local dairy and freshly baked cakes and pastries. They also provide a meat and cheese plate which is very welcome after hours of hiking!
Hours | 09:00-18:00 June 5th-Oct 15th

Rifugio Juac | Lower on the mountains, at about 30 minutes from the nearest car park in Selva, this is a lovely place to base yourself if you want to spend a few days hiking in the area.
Room with breakfast | Dorm €50 / 4-bed €60 (booking essential)
Restuarant | 11:30-19:00

Baita Sofie | Probably the fanciest dining option with an extensive wine cellar, only a couple of hundred metres from the top of the Ortisei-Seceda cable car. Reservations are recommended, but you can also just turn up on the day.
Hours | 08:00-18:00

Almhotel Col Raiser | Located at the top of the Col Raiser cable car, this hotel has 11 beautiful light and airy rooms available. Buffet breakfast and 4-course dinner is included, along with use of the sauna, steam room, pool and spa. You can also just have a meal here.
Rooms | €100-120

TIP | Bring cash if you’re planning to eat or stay at one of the rifugios. Although they all theoretically accept credit cards, the connection can be variable up in the mountains and their machines may not be working.

Where to stay to hike Seceda

If you want to get the full Seceda experience, along with a magical sunset and sunrise surrounded by the jagged mountain peaks, then your best bet is to book a night in one of the rifugios above. The closest villages with direct cable car links to the summit are Ortisei and St. Cristina, but accommodation options are more expensive. Corvara is a larger town located about 40 minutes east.

Seceda is located between the large towns of Bolzano and Cortina d’Ampazzo, and either of these would be a good base to drive to the start of the hikes. Bolzano is less than an hour by car from the villages and Cortina is about an hour and a half. Both have a wider range of accommodation and these are very manageable driving distances to still give you time for a good hike.

ORTISEI
Hotel Ansitz Jakoberhof ****
With a sauna, pool and Turkish bath, you’d be forgiven for never going outside here! You would, however, then be missing out on the most incredible views. Get a room with a balcony – you won’t regret it! Check availability and book here.

SELVA
B&B Garni Bondi ***
Ideally located near the bus stop and with free parking on-site, this is a great option for a stay in Val Gardena on more of a budget. Check availability and book here.

ORTISEI
Residence Villa Stella ***
Studios and apartments with kitchenettes, free parking and access to nearby pools and wellness centres. A good option for those wishing to self-cater. Check availability and book here.

SANTA CRISTINA
Hotel Garnì Gardena ***
The apartments and studios here have their own kitchenette for self-catering, with hotel-style alpine rooms also available. Free parking is available onsite. Check availability and book here.

DOBBIACO
Camping Toblacher See **
Another of my favourites, with great onsite facilities virtually on the lake. The pizza here is amazing after a day of hiking, and the campervan sites are sunny and large. Best of all, though, are the Skyview Chalets where you can watch the night skies in a touch of luxury. Check availability and book here.

CORTINA
Hotel Columbia & Spa ***
A great location near to bus stops and with mountain views. This is great value for money with the added bonus of the onsite spa. Massages are available for all your post-hiking aches! Check availability and book here.

What to take on your Seceda hike

1 | Regardless of whether you think you’re going to be tackling an easy path, you should wear hiking boots. The extra ankle support is invaluable if you encounter a rogue rock, which is highly likely! I wear (and love) the Salomon Women’s X Ultra 3.

2 | I have only recently started using hiking poles, and love them for the downhill assistance. I recommend a lightweight option like these Black Diamonds. You can easily strap them to your daypack or backpack when not in use.

3 | Speaking of daypacks, you’ll definitely want to take one with you since you’ll need to carry some layers, water and snacks in addition to your camera gear! I use either my F-stop Gear Lotus which is a really great camera backpack, or the Osprey Tempest. The 34L size is perfect for the day and it’s designed specifically for women. For something larger, the 46L Osprey Kyte is great and if you’re just after something small, the 24L Osprey Sirrus is wonderful.

READ THIS | My Hiking Gear Guide

4 | This is a mountain hike and the weather is unpredictable in the mountains. Even if there’s not a cloud in the sky and there’s no bad weather forecast, you should prepare for all eventualities and bring layers. You’re also hiking at altitude and it will be colder at the summit than at the villages. I always have merino base layers with me, both top and leggings and I love Icebreaker. I usually wear a merino T-shirt or long sleeve shirt with hiking pants and bring a fleece, beanie and lightweight down jacket too. It’s all very light and packs down remarkably small.

5 | Sun protection is vital. Any hiking in the mountains in summer also requires bringing sunscreen ( and you can use code 9LIVES for a 10% discount), sunglasses and a hat. Nobody wants that UV damage in their lives.

6 | Waterproof outer layers are also a really good idea in the mountains. Even if it doesn’t actually rain, these peaks are high enough that clouds can cover them quickly and you’ll get very damp very fast. I have this waterproof shell jacket and these trousers and they’ve saved me from a soaking more than once.

7 | Although most of you will use online maps such as google or maps.me, there’s nothing like an old school paper map. Tabacco Maps are arguably the best topographic maps in the Dolomites. They are scaled 1:25000 and cover the whole north-eastern part of Italy. You can buy the maps here. If you’re relying on your mobile phone then bring a charging cable and powerbank and make sure you’ve downloaded everything before you leave wifi behind.

8 | Water and snacks are a must, even if you’re planning on having a meal at one of the mountain rifugios or huts. For water, I use a combination of Hydroflask and Steripen if I’m worried about water purity. I love these snack bars in addition to nuts and dried fruit.

9 | A headtorch is always in my daypack no matter what and, in fact, I’m usually carrying 2 because that’s how I roll. If there’s any danger that you’ll be hiking before the sun comes up or goes down then this is essential.

10 | Any hike has the potential for the unexpected, and a GPS emergency alert could be the thing that saves your life. The Garmin in reach mini is a great option.

11 | You’re definitely going to want to bring a camera to capture the amazing views up here, but it’s up to you whether that takes the form of your phone or your main camera. I’m that person who hauls all my gear plus a tripod up the mountain, but you might be more restrained! If you only want to bring a single lens then I’d recommend a 24-70mm for this hike.

READ THIS | What’s in My Camera Bag

How to get to the Dolomites

The Dolomites are located in northeastern Italy, but there’s no “Dolomites” airport or station. There are, however, plenty of good options for reaching the area from various nearby hubs. Seceda is located in the Val Gardena region of the Dolomites.

DISTANCE TO VAL GARDENA FROM MAJOR AIRPORT HUBS


ITALY | Venice Marco Polo
200km | 3h 10min

ITALY | Milan Malpensa
350km | 3h 50min

ITALY | Verona
190km | 2h 10min

GERMANY | Munich
310km | 3h 10min

AUSTRIA | Innsbruck
115km | 1h 40min

BY CAR

Undoubtedly the easiest way to get from the airport to the Dolomites is by hiring a car. Since the Dolomites is technically an autonomous region in Italy, there’s less hassle if you hire a car in Italy as you don’t have to worry about crossing borders.

I recommend renting a car in Bolzano if you’re getting to the Dolomites by train. If you’re flying then it makes more sense to collect from the nearest airport. Check out Discover Cars for the best car deals and Insurance4carhire to cover excess insurance.

BY BUS

From the airports you can take either the AltoAdigeBus which has thousands of destinations throughout South Tyrol or a Flixbus to Bolzano where you can transfer to a local bus service.

BY TRAIN

Honestly, with the number of train changes and cost, this is unlikely to be a convenient way to get to your destination, especially since you’ll have to take another means of transport from Bolzano. If this is something you want to investigate, I recommend using Omio to check your options.

Planning A Trip To the Dolomites?

With world-class hiking in summer, incredible skiing in winter, and a perfect blend of Italian and Austrian culture, the Dolomites is one of my favourite European destinations. Here are more posts to help you plan your own trip to this wonderful part of the Alps.

PLANNING A TRIP TO ITALY | TIPS FOR TRAVELERS TO ITALY and ULTIMATE ITALY TRAVEL GUIDE

THINGS TO DO | A COMPLETE GUIDE TO VISITING LAGO DI BRAIES, BEST THINGS TO DO IN THE DOLOMITES, and A COMPLETE GUIDE TO VISITING ALPE DI SIUSI

DOLOMITES DAY HIKES | THE BEST DAY HIKES IN THE DOLOMITES, A COMPLETE GUIDE TO HIKING TRE CIME DI LAVAREDO and HIKING TO THE CADINI DI MISURINA VIEWPOINT

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO | DOLOMITES ITINERARIES and A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO THE DOLOMITES

TRAVEL INSURANCE | Don’t go anywhere without it! I use and recommend Safety Wing.

THOUGHTFUL TRAVEL | No matter where you go, always be aware of the fact that travel impacts the place and people that live there. Being a thoughtful traveller is more critical than ever. Here are my top tips to make your trip a mindful one.

PHOTOGRAPHY | Love my photos and want to know how to take better shots on your own trips? Then my photography guide is for you. Here’s all the photography gear I use too. Want to buy one of my images? Head to the Print Store.

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3 Comments on “A Complete Guide to Hiking Seceda in the Italian Dolomites”

  1. Great info! Thank you. If I am looking to backpack and camp overnight is that allowed near the peaks of Seceda Ridgeline? Also, would I be able to pay for water to refill a water bag at any of the Refugio’s?

    1. Hi Alec, sorry for the delayed reply! Unfortunately it’s not actually allowed to camp anywhere in the Dolomites park region unless you’re caught in dangerous weather that makes it unsafe to proceed. I know that people set up tents there to make it look like they’ve camped overnight, but I suspect it’s just for the photos. The rifugi at Seceda usually have plenty of water, but some of them will only sell bottled water as they try to save the tap water for their guests for showers etc for the season. I hope that helps!

  2. Hello, wonderful article and photography! We plan on arriving to the Dolomites early afternoon from Lake Garda on 10/13/23; reserved one night at Rifugio Firenze. We will likely head to Merano on the 14th for evening Brass festival and Sunday’s Grape festival.
    We are trying to figure out the best circuit hike to do, keeping in mind that we really want to capture sunset and sunrise pictures. Will be our first day at higher altitudes. Consequently, it seems wise to take the cable car at least part way up. Are there short extension hikes from the Rifugio F or on the way to or from the Rifugio F that you would recommend?

    Many thanks, Julie

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