--- type: "Article" title: "The Dolomites in South Tyrol – lots of craggy peaks with WOW effect!" description: "You have to experience the spectacular rock formations, surrounding valleys and alps of the Dolomites, listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. Here is some of what we saw on a sunny day:" resource: "https://travelmemo.com/italy/dolomites-south-tyrol-hiking-golf" author: "Katja Birrer" publisher: "Travelmemo" photo_count: 19 tags: ["Landscape", "Nature", "Italy"] entities: - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/italy" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/alps" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/suedtirol" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/europe" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/landscape" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/nature-tourism" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/hiking" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/golf" - "https://travelmemo.com/author/katja-birrer" generated: { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/katja-birrer", at: 2026-07-04T14:22:20+00:00 } verified: - { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer", at: 2018-06-04T15:54:31+00:00 } sources: - id: photos resource: dolomites-south-tyrol-hiking-golf.md#photos title: "Original photography by Katja Birrer" author: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/katja-birrer" last_modified: 2018-05-12 timestamp: 2026-07-04T14:22:20+00:00 --- # The Dolomites in South Tyrol – lots of craggy peaks with WOW effect! > The Dolomites in South Tyrol, a UNESCO World Heritage site, offer dramatic limestone peaks, sweeping alpine plateaus, and a wealth of hiking and outdoor experiences across valleys and high alps. ## Destination South Tyrol, northern Italy, centered around Brixen (Bressanone) and encompassing the Gröden Valley, Gröden Pass, and the Seiser Alp. ## When to go The article implies a spring/summer visit based on alpine flowers and sunny conditions; no specific seasonal guidance is given. ## Why visit The Dolomites deliver spectacular craggy limestone formations, vast hiking networks, Europe's largest high alp, and panoramic views of dozens of peaks — all within a UNESCO-listed landscape. ## What to see - **Gröden Valley (Val Gardena)** — Northwest Dolomites valley with towering rock walls and bizarre limestone formations, branching off Eisack Valley. - **Gröden Pass (Grödner Joch / Passo di Gardena)** — 7,000-foot pass between the Sella Massif to the south and the soaring Cir Peaks to the north. - **Sella Massif (Sellastock)** — Majestic massif visible from Gröden Pass, forming a defining part of the Dolomite panorama. - **Cir Peaks** — Dramatic peaks rising at the northern side of Gröden Pass, described as enchanting. - **Seiser Alp (Alpi di Siusi)** — Europe's largest high alp, about 20 miles southeast of Brixen, with 280 miles of hiking paths and sweeping Dolomite views. - **Engelrast (Angel's Rest) viewing platform** — Platform on the Puflatsch loop offering views of 53 peaks over 10,000 feet, with a steel plate engraving each visible summit by name. ## What to do - **Gröden Pass–Dolomites High Route** — One-hour walking loop at Gröden Pass, easy and vista-rich — ideal as a leg-stretcher when driving through. - **Puflatsch Loop Walk** — Starts at the Seiser Alm cableway mountain station in Compatsch; full loop takes at least three hours with multiple unforgettable viewpoints. - **Golf at Golfclub St. Vigil Seis, Kastelruth** — Demanding course set on a 2,800-foot plateau amid Dolomite scenery; cart rental recommended due to elevation changes. ## Good to know Hiking information for the Gröden area is available at valgardena.it and dolomitesalpine.it (interactive map). Full details on the Seiser Alp are at seiseralm.it. The Golfclub St. Vigil Seis address is Seis/St. Vigil 20, I-39040 Kastelruth (golfstvigilseis.it). ## Photos ```yaml photos: - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Hiking-Dolomites-South-Tyrol-Italy-22.jpg" caption: "Langkofel" keywords: ["Dolomiten", "Grödnertal", "Italien", "Langkofel", "Südtirol", "Trentino alto Adige", "Val Gardena"] captured: 2018-05-12 credit: "Walter Schärer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Hiking-Dolomites-South-Tyrol-Italy-23.jpg" caption: "Auf dem Weg zum Grödner Joch" keywords: ["Dolomiten", "Grödnertal", "Italien", "Südtirol", "Trentino alto Adige", "Val Gardena"] captured: 2018-05-12 credit: "Walter Schärer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Hiking-Dolomites-South-Tyrol-Italy-25.jpg" caption: "Sellagruppe auf dem Weg zum Grödner Joch" keywords: ["Dolomiten", "Grödnertal", "Italien", "Sellagruppe", "Südtirol", "Trentino alto Adige", "Val Gardena"] captured: 2018-05-12 geo: {latitude: 46.5402, longitude: 11.7803} credit: "Walter Schärer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Hiking-Dolomites-South-Tyrol-Italy-24.jpg" caption: "Sellagruppe" keywords: ["Dolomiten", "Grödner Joch", "Grödnertal", "Italien", "Sellagruppe", "Südtirol", "Trentino alto Adige", "Val Gardena"] captured: 2018-05-12 geo: {latitude: 46.5386, longitude: 11.7833} credit: "Walter Schärer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Hiking-Dolomites-South-Tyrol-Italy-26.jpg" caption: "Katja blickt auf die Sellagruppe" keywords: ["Dolomiten", "Grödnertal", "Italien", "Sellagruppe", "Südtirol", "Trentino alto Adige", "Val Gardena"] captured: 2018-05-12 credit: "Walter Schärer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Hiking-Dolomites-South-Tyrol-Italy-27.jpg" caption: "Hütte mit Blick auf Sellagruppe" keywords: ["Dolomiten", "Grödnertal", "Italien", "Sellagruppe", "Südtirol", "Trentino alto Adige", "Val Gardena"] captured: 2018-05-12 geo: {latitude: 46.5402, longitude: 11.7803} credit: "Walter Schärer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Hiking-Dolomites-South-Tyrol-Italy-28.jpg" caption: "Cirspitzen beim Grödner Joch" keywords: ["Cirspitzen", "Dolomiten", "Grödner Joch", "Grödnertal", "Italien", "Südtirol", "Trentino alto Adige", "Val Gardena"] captured: 2018-05-12 credit: "Walter Schärer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Hiking-Dolomites-South-Tyrol-Italy-31.jpg" caption: "Cirspitzen beim Grödnerjoch" keywords: ["Cirspitzen", "Dolomiten", "Grödner Joch", "Grödnertal", "Italien", "Südtirol", "Trentino alto Adige", "Val Gardena"] captured: 2018-05-12 credit: "Walter Schärer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Hiking-Dolomites-South-Tyrol-Italy-32.jpg" caption: "Alpenblume und die Cirspitzen im Hintergrund" keywords: ["Cirspitzen", "Dolomiten", "Grödner Joch", "Grödnertal", "Italien", "Südtirol", "Trentino alto Adige", "Val Gardena"] captured: 2018-05-12 geo: {latitude: 46.5428, longitude: 11.8046} credit: "Walter Schärer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Hiking-Dolomites-South-Tyrol-Italy-18.jpg" caption: "Aussicht auf Sellagruppe" keywords: ["Alpe di Siusi", "Dolomiten", "Italien", "Kesselkogel", "Seiser Alm", "Sellagruppe", "Südtirol", "Trentino alto Adige"] credit: "Walter Schärer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Hiking-Dolomites-South-Tyrol-Italy-8.jpg" caption: "Hütte mit Kofelgruppe im Hintergrund" keywords: ["Alpe di Siusi", "Dolomiten", "Italien", "Kesselkogel", "Seiser Alm", "Südtirol", "Trentino alto Adige"] captured: 2018-05-11 credit: "Walter Schärer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Hiking-Dolomites-South-Tyrol-Italy-12.jpg" caption: "Aussichtsplattform Puflatsch" keywords: ["Alpe di Siusi", "Dolomiten", "Italien", "Kesselkogel", "Puflatsch", "Seiser Alm", "Südtirol", "Trentino alto Adige"] captured: 2018-05-11 geo: {latitude: 46.552, longitude: 11.6178} credit: "Walter Schärer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Hiking-Dolomites-South-Tyrol-Italy.jpg" caption: "Blick auf den Kesselkogel" keywords: ["Alpe di Siusi", "Dolomiten", "Italien", "Kesselkogel", "Seiser Alm", "Südtirol", "Trentino alto Adige"] captured: 2018-05-11 credit: "Walter Schärer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Hiking-Dolomites-South-Tyrol-Italy-2.jpg" caption: "Ausblick von der Puflatsch Rundwanderung" keywords: ["Alpe di Siusi", "Dolomiten", "Italien", "Kesselkogel", "Puflatsch", "Seiser Alm", "Südtirol", "Trentino alto Adige"] captured: 2018-05-11 credit: "Walter Schärer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Hiking-Dolomites-South-Tyrol-Italy-16.jpg" caption: "Auf der Puflatsch-Rundwanderung" keywords: ["Alpe di Siusi", "Dolomiten", "Italien", "Kesselkogel", "Puflatsch", "Seiser Alm", "Südtirol", "Trentino alto Adige"] captured: 2018-05-11 credit: "Walter Schärer" ```