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Per person in euros: cheapest direct return flight for 2 to 4 nights. Select a month for flight times, hotels and things to do.

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Discover Bergamo

Colleoni Chapel, Bergamo
Colleoni Chapel
Accademia Carrara, Bergamo
Accademia Carrara

City guide

About Bergamo

Bergamo sits in Lombardy against the dramatic southern foothills of the Italian Alps, roughly fifty kilometres east of Milan. The city is celebrated for its dramatic two-tiered topography: the modern, bustling lower town (Citta Bassa) and the breathtaking, medieval walled fortress on the hill (Citta Alta).

The Citta Alta is encircled by over six kilometres of UNESCO-listed 16th-century Venetian ramparts. Between the narrow cobblestone lanes, the historic Piazza Vecchia, and the frescoed interior of Santa Maria Maggiore, Bergamo offers one of the best-preserved historic urban ensembles in Northern Italy.

Best time to go
May through October is the most pleasant period to visit, featuring comfortable temperatures between 20 and 26°C and plenty of sunshine. Nestled near the alpine foothills, Bergamo enjoys fresher air than the lower Po Valley in midsummer. Winters are cool and clear, offering panoramic views across snow-dusted peaks.
From the airport
Milan Bergamo Airport (Orio al Serio, BGY) is located just 5 kilometres southeast of the city. ATB bus Line 1 leaves every 20 minutes, connecting directly to Bergamo railway station and up into the Citta Alta in roughly 25 minutes. Taxis to central destinations cost around 18 to 22 euros.
Getting around
The most scenic way to travel between the lower and upper towns is via the historic funicular railway (Funicolare di Bergamo Alta). A second funicular climbs even higher to the hilltop redoubt of San Vigilio. The Citta Alta is largely pedestrianized and best discovered on foot.

What to see in Bergamo

  • Citta Alta and Piazza VecchiaThe monumental heart of the upper town, framed by the 12th-century Palazzo della Ragione and the civic bell tower (Campanone) that tolls one hundred chimes every evening.
  • Venetian WallsSix kilometres of intact 16th-century fortifications built by the Republic of Venice, featuring four monumental stone gates and panoramic walking paths over the plains.
  • Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore and Colleoni ChapelA Romanesque exterior concealing an opulent baroque interior of tapestries and gilded stucco, beside the Renaissance marble mausoleum of military captain Bartolomeo Colleoni.
  • San VigilioThe scenic hilltop crowning the upper city, accessible by funicular, boasting castle ruins and 360-degree vistas across alpine valleys.

Neighbourhoods

  • Citta AltaThe ancient medieval upper citadel of stone alleyways, bakeries, artisan boutiques, and traditional family-run osterias.
  • Citta BassaThe elegant 19th-century lower city centered on the wide pedestrian promenade Sentierone and the Accademia Carrara fine arts museum.
  • Borgo Santa Caterina and Borgo San LeonardoHistoric shopping and dining villages within the lower city, packed with independent wine bars, cafes, and local bakeries.

Food and drink

Taste casoncelli alla bergamasca: fresh pasta stuffed with beef, pork, raisins, and crushed amaretto cookies, topped with melted butter, crispy sage, and pancetta. Savor polenta taragna enriched with local Taleggio cheese. For dessert, order stracciatella gelato at Pasticceria La Marianna, where the chocolate-flecked flavor was first invented in 1961.

Questions about Bergamo

Is Bergamo just an airport stopover for Milan?

Not at all. Bergamo is a premier historic destination in its own right; the Citta Alta ranks among the most romantic walled cities in Italy.

How easy is it to take a train from Bergamo to Milan?

Very easy. Regional trains depart Bergamo station every 30 minutes, reaching Milano Centrale in just 48 minutes for an inexpensive fare.

Month by month breakdown

Fotocredits (3)
  • Bergamo Cathedral door Zhang Yuan, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Colleoni Chapel door Daniele Napolitano, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Accademia Carrara door This Photo was taken by Wolfgang Moroder. Feel free to use my photos, but please mention me as the author and send me a message. This image is not in the public domain. Please respect the copyright protection. It may only be used according to the rules mentioned here. This specifically excludes use in social media, if applicable terms of the licenses listed here are not appropriate. Please do not upload an updated image here without consultation with the Author. The author would like to make corrections only at his own source. This ensures that the changes are preserved.Please if you think that any changes should be required, please inform the author.Otherwise you can upload a new image with a new name. Please use one of the templates derivative or extract., CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons