Alpe di Siusi day hike in the Dolomites (our full trail experience from Ortisei)

My Alpe di Siusi post with all details: https://tripwis.com/guide-to-alpe-di-... Where we rented a car for 80 euro for 5 days: https://discovercars.tpk.ro/MAQFTEqK Where we stayed in the Dolomites (and genuinely liked): 1. For Alpe di Siusi, we stayed at Monte Pana Dolomites Hotel https://booking.tpk.ro/PfA8v6Ij — insanely beautiful setting; breakfast and dinners were a lifesaver because finding food very early or late isn’t always easy 2. Best Western Hotel Nevada https://booking.tpk.ro/BIfKeXPI — solid, convenient option for exploring the area around Lake Sorapis and Tre Cime 3. Gasthaus Zum Weissen Kreuz https://booking.tpk.ro/xajTATxS — cozy family-style stay; the drive up is unreal and challenging, though Our video about autumn in the Dolomites:    • Autumn in the Dolomites (Italy): our trip ...   Our hike to Lake Sorapis:    • Hiking to Lake Sorapis (Dolomites) in 2026...   And hike to Seceda:    • Hiking Seceda in 2026: what I think you NE...   We hiked the Panorama Trail in Alpe di Siusi in late September and, even in the off-season, it was still popular. We arrived around noon and found zero spots across three levels (€0.50/hour), didn’t want to pay €12 for the fourth level, then came back at 1:00 p.m. and finally got in. The cable car was €35 per person round trip (in 2026 it's €41!), but there's also the “drive-yourself” option to Compatsch (you'll find all the deets in my post above). The ride up is incredibly scenic, and you step out at 2,000 m with instant views of Sassolungo - the most beautiful Dolomites mountain, in our opinion. To escape the crowds, we recommend taking the right-hand uphill trail (about 4.5 km) - just 15 minutes from the cable car station you reach a viewpoint over the entire valley. The hike is easy and mostly flat. You can either return the same way or complete the full loop down into the valley. Our full hike took about 2 hours plus a long lawn break, and the hardest part is the final ~20 minutes uphill back toward the cable car. And even after midday, expect a queue to ride down. Final tip: parking is easiest in the early morning or after 3–4 p.m. We rented a car in Milan and drove to the Dolomites. In the off-season, the car was about €80 total. For rentals, we usually compare deals on DiscoverCars (that’s where we booked) https://discovercars.tpk.ro/MAQFTEqK Chapters: 00:00 Parking in Alpe di Siusi (why it’s so popular) 01:04 Cable car vs driving: costs + Compatsch parking rule 01:45 Scenic cable car ride 02:14 First “WOW” moment 02:40 How to avoid crowds 03:44 Trail difficulty 04:36 Late September weather + rifugio stop 05:43 Full loop 07:19 What a rifugio is + seasonal closures 07:57 Finish + last incline back to the cable car 09:05 Best time to arrive