Alpe di Siusi and Val Gardena

The Alpe di Siusi, or Seiser Alm, is the largest high-altitude alpine pasture in Europe, a vast, gently rolling meadow at around 1,800 to 2,000 metres beneath the dramatic profiles of the Sciliar (Schlern) and the Sassolungo (Langkofel). It lies only about 25 kilometres from Bolzano, reached by driving to the village of Siusi and riding the Seiser Alm Aerial Cableway up to the meadow, by the direct bus 170 from Bolzano, or via Val Gardena. Crucially, private cars are barred from driving up onto the meadow itself between roughly 9am and 5pm to protect the landscape, so the cable car, which costs around 27 euro round trip, is the standard way up. A full day here is built around easy walking: a network of nearly level trails and a few chairlifts crosses the open pasture, dotted with traditional huts and wildflowers in early summer, giving constantly shifting views of the surrounding Dolomite peaks with little climbing required, so it suits families and casual walkers as well as serious hikers heading for the Sciliar. The day pairs naturally with neighbouring Val Gardena, the Ladin-speaking valley famous for its centuries-old wood-carving tradition and its resort villages of Ortisei, Santa Cristina and Selva. From Ortisei the Seceda cable car climbs to the celebrated Seceda ridgeline, where the tilted grassy plateau drops away to the jagged Odle peaks in one of the most iconic views in the Alps; the round trip costs about 74 euro. Mountain rifugi across the Alpe di Siusi and above Ortisei serve hearty South Tyrolean food, making a long lunch on a sunny terrace part of the experience, and Ortisei itself is a pleasant town for an afternoon stroll among the wood-carving workshops. The high season runs from June to October, when the meadows are green and the cable cars run, with a second season in winter for skiing. Layers and sturdy shoes are sensible, as the altitude keeps the air cool and the weather can change quickly.