Seceda is one of the most popular viewpoints in the Dolomites. From the summit of Seceda, you can look out across the jagged, slanting pinnacles that makes this viewpoint so famous.
One of the best things about visiting Seceda is that very little hiking is required. A cable car whisks you to the summit, eliminating what would be a very long and strenuous climb to get here.
If you have limited time in the Dolomites, or if you have no desire to do a lot of hiking, Seceda is well worth the visit. In this guide, we let you know how to visit Seceda, how to get to the best photo spot of Seceda, and how to have the best experience, if you have limited time and/or no desire to go hiking.
About Our Visit
We love hiking. And we would have loved to hike the trails that start from the Seceda summit. But earlier in the day we hiked the Adolf Munkel Trail and a portion of the Santa Maddalena Trail in Val di Funes. By the time we reached Seceda, it was late afternoon and we only had a little bit of time until the last cable car of the day.
One hour is all you need for a leisurely walk to the best photo point and to enjoy the views of the Puez Odle Nature Park. We were completely amazed by the views up here and thrilled that just a short hike was all that was required to get them.
If you are planning a visit to Seceda, you might also like:
- Marmolada, Queen of the Dolomites
- The amazing views from Cima Tofana and Tofana di Mezzo
- Exploring beautiful Lago di Braies
How to Visit Seceda
Where is Seceda?
Seceda, or Alpe di Seceda, is a mountain that is located in the Puez Odle Nature Park in Val Gardena. It is part of the Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Puez Odle Nature Park
How to Get to Seceda
The easiest way to get to Seceda is to ride the cable way from Ortisei to the mountain summit. You will first ride a gondola from Ortisei to Furnes and then a cable car to Seceda.
The cable car station is located in Ortisei (Urtijëi). On Google, it is labeled as Funivie Seceda Spa. There is lots of parking around the cable car station and there is a fee to pay to park here (€13). Purchase your ticket and display it on your dashboard.
The cash desk and access to the gondola is located on level higher than street level. Walk up the steps to get here and purchase your ticket at the ticket booth. When we did this in July 2022, we did not have to wait in line to purchase tickets or to get on the gondola.
From Ortisei, a gondola soars to the next station at Furnes. At Furnes, you will transfer to a cable car and this will complete the journey to Seceda.
View from the cable car
Things to Do at Seceda on a Quick Visit
Enjoy the View from the Cable Car Station
From the upper station you are immediately treated to views of the Puez Odle Nature Park.
Instagram photos and other travel website focus on the slanting pinnacles of the Odle/Geisler group, which does look very cool, but you also get an incredible view out over the Sella massif, Sassolungo, and Marmolada from Seceda as well. Tim and I actually liked this view more than the Instagram-famous shot of the Odle/Geisler pinnacles.
As soon as you step out of the mountain station, this is your view | How to Visit Seceda
Another view from the Seceda mountain station
Grab a Bite to Eat
There is a restaurant at the upper cable car station that serves food and drinks. From the terrace, you have a gorgeous view of the Dolomites.
Walk to the Famous Seceda Viewpoint
From the upper cable car station, it takes about 10 minutes to walk to the viewpoint. This is a completely uphill walk and some people may find it strenuous. But it is worth it for the perfect vantage point from Seceda.
Trail to the famous Seceda viewpoint | How to Visit Seceda
Once at the top, you have 360° views of the Dolomites. You are now standing at 2,500 meters (8,200 feet). On a clear day, you can see Grossglockner, which is the highest mountain in Austria.
The famous Seceda viewpoint
This is the view from the same spot, looking in a different direction (towards the Sella group and the town of Selva di Val Gardena).
On the circular diorama, all of the peaks that can be seen from the Seceda summit are listed. For high alpine views, Seceda is one of the best viewpoints in all of the Dolomites.
Walk behind the chairlift station to get the famous view of Seceda. You are looking out at the pinnacles of the Odle/Geisler group. This line of mountains forms the backdrop for the photos taken in Val di Funes and from the Adolf Munkel Trail.
From this viewpoint, you can walk back down to the cable car station or turn this walk into a short loop. It’s easy and all downhill from this point.
The trail that leads down the ridgeline
Continue the Walk along the Ridgeline
If you continue down the ridgeline, you can turn this short hike into a loop. Here are the hiking stats:
Seceda Hike: Viewpoint + Ridgeline Hiking Stats
Distance: 1.3 km (0.8 miles) loop
Difficulty: Easy
Total Ascent: 110 m (360 feet)
Lowest Elevation: 2,375 m (7,800 feet)
Highest Elevation: 2,475 m (8,120 feet)
Time: 30 to 45 minutes
Seceda Map: short hiking loop and the location of the Seceda viewpoint.
Walk downhill along the ridgeline, in the direction of the peaks. The views change as you head along this short trail and there are several more photo-ops along the way.
Another view from the Seceda hike along the ridgeline trail
Once you get to the bottom of the hill, the trail splits. Turn right to take the easy walking path to the cable car. Stay to left to continue another 10 minutes to the Panascharte (Forcella Pana), for another view of the pinnacles. Then return to the cable car station.
We hiked to Forcella Pana and you do get a closer view of the pinnacles, but the view doesn’t change that much that we don’t think it’s worth the extra walk if you are trying to keep your visit short. However, it only adds on another 20 minutes to the loop.
Things to Do at Seceda with More Time
Visit Baita Sofie Hütte. This small restaurant is located just a short walk from the hiking trail we list above. Have a meal with a view or sunbathe in one of the lounge chairs that are sitting in the grass next to the hut.
There is a great loop you can hike from the upper cable car station. This is a 9 km loop and takes about 3 hours. Follow the directions to the viewpoints as we listed them above. At the trail split (Forcella Pana), take trail #1 to Baita Trojer and then take trail 2B to Pieralongia. Then, take trail #13 to Rifugio Firenze and return to the cable car station on trail #1.
You can also go mountain biking and paragliding. Learn more on the official website.
Best Time to Visit Seceda
The summer season runs from late May through early November. During this time, hiking is the #1 thing to do here.
The winter season runs from early December through mid-April. During this time, skiing is the #1 thing to do here.
There are two periods of time when the lifts to Seceda are not running: during most of April through May and also most of November into early December. You can get the exact dates on the official website and here.
Seceda in July
How Much Does it Cost to Visit Seceda?
For round trip tickets from Ortisei to Seceda, here are the summer prices:
Adults: 45€
Junior: 23€ (8 to 16 years)
Children: Free (0 to 8 years)
Dogs: 5€
Bikes: 5€
Seceda Cableway Hours of Operation
The summer season runs from late May through early November. During this time, the cable car runs from 8:30 am until 5:30 pm. Get updates hours of operation and pricing on the official website.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to visit Seceda?
If you just come for the views and a quick walk to the main viewpoint, two hours is all you will need. But if you plan to do a longer hike or have lunch here, plan on spending a half day on Seceda.
Is Seceda worth it?
If you want to see one of the most iconic viewpoints of the Dolomites, then Seceda is worth it. A visit here can be very quick, taking about two hours, which gives you enough time to ride the cable way to Seceda and then walk to the viewpoint. The views from Seceda were some of the most beautiful that we saw in the Dolomites and I think it is well worth it to add this to your Dolomites itinerary.
What else can I do near Seceda?
Seceda is located near Ortisei and Selva di Val Gardena. In this area, you can hike the Puez-Odle Altopiano (one of our favorite hikes in the Dolomites), drive over the Sella Pass and Gardena Pass, ride the cable car to Sass Pordoi and hike to Piz Boè, and visit Val di Funes.
Val di Funes
More Great Cable Car Rides in Europe
If You Like this Experience…
Here are more thrilling cable car rides to the highest peaks in Europe:
If you have any questions about how to visit Seceda or hike to the famous Seceda viewpoint, let us know in the comment section below.
More Information for Your Trip to the Dolomites & Italy
PLACES TO GO IN THE DOLOMITES: For a list of where to go and what to do, read our article Best Things to Do in the Dolomites. Most of the things on this list require little to no hiking. Learn how to plan your trip with our Dolomites Itinerary Travel Planner and get recommendations on where to stay in our Dolomites Hotel Guide.
DOLOMITES: For more great hikes in the Dolomites, check out our hiking guides for Lago di Sorapis, the Croda da Lago Circuit, and the trail from Lagazuoi to Falzarego Pass, and the Cadini di Misurina viewpoint. We also have an article and things to do in Alpe di Siusi in summer.
BEST OF ITALY: In our Guide to the Best Places to Visit in Italy, we list 20 beautiful destinations to consider for your next trip to Italy.
VENICE ITINERARY: If you need suggestions on how to plan your time, take a look at our One Day in Venice Itinerary and Two Days in Venice Itinerary.
FLORENCE & TUSCANY: If this is your first visit to Florence, read our guide to the Best Things to Do in Florence. If you are planning a visit to Tuscany, learn how to spend one day in Siena, how to visit Pienza, and the best things to do in San Gimignano.
ITALY ITINERARIES: If you are just beginning to plan your Italy itinerary, take a look at our 10 Days in Italy Itinerary for multiple ways to spend 10 days in Italy.
We have TONS more information about Italy in our Italy Travel Guide, including Rome, Florence, Venice, Tuscany, the Dolomites, the Amalfi Coast, the Cinque Terre, and Puglia.
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