Car-free holidays

The Alpe di Siusi, the largest alpine pasture in Europe, is famous for eco-friendly holidays and in contact with nature. Access for the ordinary traffic, in this protected area is subject to time restrictions, that is admittance is prohibited between 9 and 17 hrs.
The best way to discover the Alpe di Siusi is by foot, by mountain bike, ski –lift or, why not in a horse- drawn sleigh.


Hiking trails of different levels of difficulty go through the Alpe di Siusi, in the heart of the Dolomites (UNESCO World Natural Heritage). By making excursions to the Alpe di Siusi there is ample choice with regard to routes and tours, visiting the numerous lodges and huts, the tour for Rifugio Bolzano or following the footsteps of Hans and Paula Steger. There is a cultural-natural path, up to 8 km, dedicated to this couple, famous for being pioneers of hiking and skiing.

But the Alpe di Siusi is not only a hiking heaven. Along with the holiday area Val Gardena, the holiday area Alpe di Siusi area has realized a mountain bike paradise that is made up of 33 tours, 1000 km long. Among them there is a multi-day (5) tour, and 28 daily tours. Lovers of mountain biking will discover South Tyrol from a special point of view. The tour of the "Rifugio Alpe di Tires" starting from Siusi, or from Compaccio to the Denti di Terrarossa require a good preparation and are demanding from the point of view of the driving technique, but in return offer beautiful and fascinating glimpses of the Dolomites.
Discovering  the Alpe di Siusi, on horseback, by horse-drawn sleigh, will be even more romantic and fun.

Hiking in the Dolomites along ancient tracks

Where coral reefs and ancient legends meet, there lies the wonderful world of the Dolomites.
Since June 2009, the so-called Pale Mountains are part of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage. Those who will trace ancient times will discover a world that is unique, ancient and legendary at the same time. Middle Ages, legends and the lives of two mountain pioneers, all this and far more can be experienced on the hiking trails on the Alpe di Siusi.

In the Footsteps of ...

... knight and bard Oswald von Wolkenstein, who lived in the Dolomites in Castelvecchio. He loved to travel and he visited Europe, Africa and Asia. The lifestyle of Oswald and his contemporaries of the 15th century can be partly revived by taking the Oswald von Wolkenstein path. The trail passes near the ruins of Castelvecchio and Salego and tells anecdotes about the etiquette of the time, that is at the times of knights and damsels.

... the Sciliar Witches, witches and wizards, mysterious figures and wild people who used to live in the Dolomites and intimidated the local population. Even today, the Chairs of the Witches in Castelrotto and Witches' Benches on the Alpe di Siusi recall the presence of the witches on the high alpine pasture. And the Sciliar, the symbol - mountain of South Tyrol, was the  favourite spot of the Sciliar Witches.

... the mountain pioneers Hans and Paula Steger. The couple, who loved climbing and skiing, experienced most of the peaks that surround the Sciliar and even the north side of the Catinaccio and the west slope of the first peak of the Sella. The Footpath of Hans and Paula Steger is dedicated not only to this famous couple of climbers, but also to the magnificent natural and cultural scenery of the Alpe di Siusi, to the coral and jellyfish fossils, hunters and Gods, the Alps and flowers.

... the Dolomites. A time journey in history, going back 270 million years, that is the birth date of the Dolomites when the creation of islands, volcanism and erosion was going on.  The geologist's path near Siusi ranks among the most interesting excursions from a geological point of view of the Dolomites from their origin up to now.

Hiking in the Dolomites along ancient tracks, traces of an ancient heritage and its inhabitants - the legendary and the real ones.

Alpe di Siusi tour. Let's go for a ride

South Tyrol is known as a real paradise for hikers but now mountain bikers discover the South Tyrolean Dolomites, too.

Mountain cabin Alpe di Tires, Alpe di Siusi, Marinzen Hut at Castelrotto, Malga Tuff Alm and Malga Hofer Alm in Fiè or the Ruins of Castelvecchio Castle in Siusi, there is a whole world to explore by mountain bike. Together with Val Gardena, Alpe di Siusi, has realized the bike paradise Val Gardena - Alpe di Siusi. That is a total of 33 tours, 1000 km of tracks and the 35,000 metres of height difference to be challenged on the slopes of Sasso Lungo and Sasso Piatto. Their peculiarity lies in their variety. The degree of difficulty varies from tour to tour, from easy to difficult, depending on individual abilities. The tours range from half-day tours, day tours and tours of several days.  Whatever tour you choose, and all tracks offer breathtaking views of the Dolomites.

Many aerial lifts offer a handy and convenient transport of mountain bikes. As for the aerial cableway Alpe di Siusi, the chairlifts Panorama Bullaccia, Marinzen and Sole the transport of bicycles is for free. Those who wish to improve their driving skills or make a guided tour can contact Ski School Sciliar 3000.

A free guide is available at the Tourist Information Office of our holiday area. It will inform you about mountain bike tours and itineraries around Alpe di Siusi.

In the realm of the Sciliar Witches

Witches' Benches, Chairs of the witches, Sciliar; Tschonstoan and Witches' Woods: hiking in the Alpe di Siusi in the Dolomites you will step in the footsteps of the legendary witches and other mythical figures of the Dolomites.

The Sciliar Witches, as still told today, met every Thursday on the Sciliar, the symbol mountain of South Tyrol. They came from everywhere, riding their brooms and forks to participate in their rituals and dances. And to prepare for terrible storms. The Tourist Path leads from Compaccio to the Sciliar Rock where the Sciliar Witches' used to prepare their terrible rites and scare the poor farmers up in the mountains and down in the valley. The north side of the Sciliar rock dwells on various curves. Those who spend the summer on the Alpe di Siusi meet Gentians, Edelweiss and other flowers including the "Sciliar witches" as the Aquilegia einseleana is affectionately called.

Even at the Bullaccia the Sciliar witches have left their traces. At the top of the valley rise the Witches’ Benches. Here the witches used to relax before going up the Sciliar rock. Even among the hikers the Witches' Benches are very popular. The benches made of porphyry hatch beautiful views of the Gardena Valley and of Castelrotto. A simple path suitable for all families, on the southern side of the Bullaccia takes you to the Witches' Benches. 

A few minutes walk from the mountain station of the Alpe di Siusi aerial cableway in direction Saltria, one encounters the great rock 'Tschonstoan" (Tschonstein): the legendary wizard Kachler Hans, one day in a rage, threw a heavy stone from the Sciliar in the direction of the Alpe di Siusi, on the very same place where you can admire it even today. Those who walk towards Saltria can admire the Tschonstoan, a relic of 15,000 years ago, on their left.

Adventures all around - this is what the tour "The Witches' Sources" approx. 2 km long promises. The adventure and barefoot trail takes children as well as adults through the "Bosch Curasoa", therapeutic wood – which got this name due to the healing properties of its sources of sulphur. Good witches used to live there and used their magical powers to help both men and animals. The witches left the wood a long time ago, and there remains only the witch Curadina, that guides visitors through it.

Even hiking trails on the slopes of the Sciliar rock that is in Castelrotto show the history of its most famous and most feared inhabitants: In the woods just above Castelrotto you come across the Witches' Chairs, that is boulders that have the shape of a chair. It could have been a prehistoric site, or a court. As legend recalls, also this place is famous for being a meeting point of the Sciliar Witches.

Summer emotions and impressions

Weekend in sight

4 villages, 4 tips for a special weekend in the holiday area Alpe di Siusi.

Castelrotto: tower feast. Two days of feast, music and fun are on the programme on Friday and Saturday in the centre of Castelrotto. 5 against 5 is the motto for the "Riesenwuzzler" tournament: the human table football guarantees lots of fun. The Pamstiddn Kings, the Schlernsextett and The Quarrymen cater for musical entertainment.

Siusi allo Sciliar: concert of the Haydn Orchestra. The renowned orchestra will play works by Johann Stamitz, Joseph Hadyn and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Fiè allo Sciliar: concert within the Schlern International Music Festival. World-class musicians from many countries will play works by Brahms and Mozart among other famous artists.

Alpe di Siusi: Alpe di Siusi Running. On Sunday, July 17, the Alpe di Siusi Running invites to a top-class running experience. Amateurs and passionate runners have the chance to measure themselves with the marathon stars from Kenya.

Summer sounds

The summer in the holiday region Alpe di Siusi is all about Schlern International Music Festival and Summer Classics. Immerse yourself in the world of classic music – and in the world of Bach, Mozart Rachmaninoff & Co.

Viola, violin and voice, piano and cello are in the centre of the daily concerts in Fiè, Siusi and Castelrotto. Highlights of the Schlern International Music Festival (July 6-26) include the recital of the star violinist Sergey Khachatryan, open master classes given by Zakhar Bron and Vladimir Krainev and the concert of the competition winner.

In July and August Siusi is all about Summer Classics. Each Monday concerts will be on the programme. The ensemble Vox Bucina convinces with a combination of soprano, trombone, harpsichord and basso continuo and will play works of the Renaissance, the Baroque and the Habsburg era. The following concert evenings will offer tango sounds, literature set to music, religious tones and Baroque sounds.