Picolo recommends · Mountain hotel on Alpe di Siusi
COMO Alpina Dolomites: a hotel in the middle of Europe's largest alpine meadow
Once the day visitors have taken the cable car down, you have Alpe di Siusi almost to yourself. COMO Alpina Dolomites sits right on the plateau, with the jagged Dolomites outside the window.
Summer
Wildflower meadows on Alpe di Siusi.
It is five in the afternoon, and the last cable car has taken the day visitors back down to the valley. Suddenly all that is left is the sound of cowbells, and the peaks around the meadow begin to glow pink in the evening sun. You sit on the terrace with a glass of Lagrein and realise you are one of very few people who get to see this.
Alpe di Siusi, or Seiser Alm in German, is Europe's largest high alpine meadow. It lies in South Tyrol in northern Italy, ringed by the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The road up is closed to ordinary traffic for much of the day, so most people come by cable car. Guests at the hotels on the meadow can still drive up, and that is what makes it so special: you stay in the middle of a landscape others only visit.
COMO Alpina Dolomites is one of the hotels right on the meadow. The links to the hotels are partner links. If you book through them, Picolo may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
The spa
An indoor pool with a view.
The lounge
A fireplace and mountain views.
The hotel
On the meadow, with the mountains as neighbours.
The suite
Big windows facing the peaks.
Picolo’s verdict
Why we like COMO Alpina
The hotel is built of wood, stone and glass, with big windows facing the mountains and a terrace where you follow the light over the peaks from morning to evening.
The spa has a pool with a view. In summer the hikes start at the door and cross the wildflower meadows, in winter the slopes are right outside.
Evening light
Sunset over the meadow.
Why stay on the meadow
COMO Alpina Dolomites: the mountains as your nearest neighbours
The hotel is built from wood, stone and glass, with large windows facing the mountains and a terrace where you follow the light across the peaks from morning to night. The spa has a pool with a view, and after a day on the trails or the slopes it is hard to get out of the water.
In summer, hikes start right from the door, across flower meadows and past small mountain huts serving dumplings and strudel. In winter the ski runs and cross-country trails are just outside.
Book your stay: See rooms at COMO Alpina Dolomites
Book your stay
COMO Alpina Dolomites in Alpe di Siusi
A spa with a pool, mountain views and slopes right outside the door.
Winter
Ski slopes and cross-country tracks right outside.
Things to do on Alpe di Siusi
Hiking: easy walks across the meadow and tougher routes towards the surrounding peaks. Read more in our guide to hiking in the Dolomites.
Skiing and cross-country: the meadow is part of a large ski area with runs for every level.
Photography: sunrise and sunset over the mountains are why many people come.
See also our Dolomites travel guide and our guide to holidays in the Dolomites.
When is the best time to visit Alpe di Siusi?
Summer and early autumn are best for hiking and flowering meadows. From December to March it is ski season. Spring and late autumn are quiet, and some hotels and lifts close for part of this period.
When should you book?
July and August: high season, so book several months ahead.
Christmas, New Year and February half-term: busy in ski season, so book early.
September: often settled weather and fewer people, a good time for hiking.
Alternatives
Would you rather stay somewhere else?
Two other hotels in the area, chosen for different reasons.
Frequently asked questions about Alpe di Siusi and COMO Alpina Dolomites
Where is Alpe di Siusi?
Alpe di Siusi (Seiser Alm) is in South Tyrol in northern Italy, in the Dolomites. It is Europe's largest high alpine meadow, surrounded by peaks such as Sassolungo and Sciliar.
Can you drive up to Alpe di Siusi?
The road is closed to ordinary traffic for much of the day, and most people take the cable car. Guests at the hotels on the meadow can usually drive up, so check the rules with your hotel before you travel.
Where should I stay on Alpe di Siusi?
Stay on the meadow itself, for example at COMO Alpina Dolomites, if you want the landscape to yourself in the morning and evening. Stay in the villages below for more restaurants and lower prices.
Is Alpe di Siusi good for skiing?
Yes, the meadow is part of a large Dolomites ski area, with gentle slopes that suit families and beginners and lovely cross-country trails.
When do the meadows flower on Alpe di Siusi?
The meadows flower in early summer, depending on how much snow fell that year.