Last updated: August 2026
Seceda and Val di Funes were two of the landscapes I most wanted to see in the Dolomites. Even though they offer completely different experiences, it's possible to combine both places on the same day.
I did this itinerary at the end of June 2026, leaving San Vigilio di Marebbe by car. In the morning I went up to Seceda, where I walked along the viewpoints of the famous mountain ridge. Afterward, I headed to Val di Funes to see Santa Maddalena, the Panoramaweg and San Giovanni in Ranui.
What I liked most about this combination was exactly the change of perspective: in the morning I was at the top of the mountains, and a few hours later I was looking at the same peaks from the fields of Val di Funes.
Seceda and Val di Funes in One Day: Day-by-Day Itinerary
Route of the Day
Seceda and Val di Funes
Leaving San Vigilio di Marebbe, it took me roughly 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes by car to reach Ortisei, where the cable car access to Seceda is located.
I left around 7am to arrive before the cable car opened and make the most of the early morning.
Morning at Seceda
The climb to Seceda starts in Ortisei and happens in two stretches. First, the cable car goes up to Furnes, and from there, a second lift completes the route to Seceda.
The full climb takes roughly 25 to 35 minutes, depending on the connection time between the two stretches.
As soon as I reached the top, I walked toward the famous viewpoints along the ridge. This is where the huge peaks of the Odle appear, forming one of the most recognizable landscapes in the Dolomites.
I set aside roughly 2 to 2.5 hours to walk at a relaxed pace, stop at the viewpoints and take in the scenery. Since I went up in the first hours of operation, I found the area quieter. As the morning went on, more visitors started arriving, so I'd repeat the same strategy: go up as early as possible.
How much does it cost to go up to Seceda? In the summer 2026 season, the adult ticket for the Ortisei → Furnes → Seceda route, returning the same way, costs €74 round trip.
That's roughly R$445 per adult, depending on the euro exchange rate at the time of the trip.
The ticket can be bought online through Seceda's official channels.
For a summer trip with set dates, I'd buy the ticket about a month ahead, mainly to have one of the itinerary's main attractions already organized.
Is there an extra fee at the top of Seceda? In 2026, an additional charge of €5, roughly R$30, started applying on paths that lead to the Odle's famous panoramic viewpoint. This charge is separate from the cable car ticket and relates to access across private land near the viewpoint.
Since this is a recent measure and could change, I recommend checking the current conditions close to your travel date. So don't assume the €74 cable car ticket is necessarily the only cost to reach the most famous viewpoint.
Parking in Ortisei: I recommend deciding before the trip where you'll leave the car and arriving early. Spaces near Seceda's access point are limited and the area can get quite busy during summer.
After enjoying Seceda, I went back down to Ortisei and continued by car toward Val di Funes, where I spent the second part of the day.
Afternoon in Val di Funes
The change of scenery was one of the things I liked most about this itinerary.
At Seceda, you're at the top of the mountains, looking at the peaks up close. A few hours later, in Val di Funes, you see those same huge formations from the fields, small villages and churches of the valley.
Santa Maddalena was my first big stop. The small village is surrounded by green fields and has the Odle mountains in the background, forming one of the most classic landscapes in the Dolomites.
I left the car in a paid parking area in the central part of the village and continued the visit on foot.
The Panoramaweg offers one of the best perspectives of Santa Maddalena and the mountains behind it. From the area where I parked, it was roughly 10 to 15 minutes of walking to reach some of the panoramic points.
For me, it's much more worthwhile to do this short walk than to simply park, photograph the village and leave. As you move a bit farther away, the church, the fields and the mountains start forming that composition that appears in so many photos of Val di Funes.
The last big stop of the day was San Giovanni in Ranui, a small church set among the fields with the Odle mountains behind it.
There's parking nearby and the walk to the viewing point is short. Even though it's one of the most photographed places in Val di Funes, I think it's worth including because the landscape is quite different from what you find at Santa Maddalena.
The parking areas I used in Val di Funes were paid on-site and didn't require an advance reservation during my trip.
After San Giovanni in Ranui, I drove back to San Vigilio di Marebbe.
Is It Worth Visiting Seceda and Val di Funes on the Same Day?
Yes.
The combination works precisely because they're two very different experiences.
At Seceda, the highlight is being at the top of the mountains, walking around the area and seeing the peaks up close. In Val di Funes, the experience is almost the opposite: you look at the mountains from a distance, surrounded by fields, small villages and churches.
I also felt the itinerary made good use of the logistics, especially when traveling by car.
I'd just stress the importance of starting Seceda early. If you go up only in the late morning and stay many hours at the top, the visit to Val di Funes can end up feeling rushed.
Do You Need a Car to Visit Seceda and Val di Funes?
Not necessarily.
It's possible to reach Ortisei using public transport and then go up to Seceda using the cable cars.
To combine Seceda and Val di Funes on the same day, though, I'd recommend a car.
That's how I did my itinerary, and the freedom to leave Ortisei and go straight on to Santa Maddalena and San Giovanni in Ranui made getting around much simpler.
If the idea is to visit only Seceda, public transport can work very well. To repeat this full one-day itinerary, I'd rent a car again.
This Seceda and Val di Funes itinerary is also part of my 4-day Dolomites itinerary, in case you want to see how I fitted these two places into a longer trip through the region.
Practical Tips for Visiting Seceda and Val di Funes
Before doing this itinerary, it's worth organizing mainly the Seceda schedule, the cable car ticket and the transfers. Starting early makes a big difference to enjoy Seceda in the morning and still have time to explore Val di Funes in the afternoon.
How to Get There
- I left San Vigilio di Marebbe and drove to Ortisei
- The drive took roughly 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes
- Seceda can also be reached by getting to Ortisei via public transport
- To combine Seceda and Val di Funes on the same day, I consider a car more practical
Ticket and Cable Car
- The climb happens in two stretches: Ortisei → Furnes → Seceda
- The round-trip adult ticket costs €74 in 2026
- In the 2026 summer season, the lifts start running at 8:30am
- In 2026 there's also an extra €5 charge on paths leading to the Odle's famous viewpoint
- For a trip with a set date, I'd buy the ticket online in advance
Parking
- In Ortisei, plan where to park before arriving
- Spaces can fill up quickly during busy periods
- At Santa Maddalena and San Giovanni in Ranui, I used paid parking areas
- In Val di Funes, I didn't need to book parking in advance at the end of June
Best Time
- Try to arrive in Ortisei before the cable car opens
- Enjoy Seceda in the morning
- Set aside roughly 2 to 2.5 hours for the top area
- Leave Santa Maddalena, Panoramaweg and San Giovanni in Ranui for the afternoon