Not far from Milan, Italy is Bergamo – a city just south of the Bergamo Alps. It’s not a place that many people have even heard of, but it’s a gem worth visiting. If you’re like me, big cities aren’t your thing. There is such a thing as too much hustle and bustle! That’s why I love finding out about cities like Bergamo where they are plenty of things to do, learn, and see that will keep you busy for a couple of days. Add in some easy day trips and you’ll want to stay for a full week!
This Bergamo travel guide is filled with good food, stunning historical beauty, a bit of walking, and some shopping. There are two main parts of the city – Città Alta (Upper City) and Città Bessa (Lower City).
The Città Alta is surrounded by Venetian defense walls from the 16th century which are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and stunning to walk along with a view of the Città Bessa. Within the walls, you’ll find charming buildings, towers, squares, and a cathedral. There are plenty of restaurants, shops, and beautiful spots for photos.
The Città Bessa is more modern with a striking view of the Città Alta at Porta Nuova, and just down the street is the central train station with buses and trains to take you all around the region. You’ll find a great shopping street with a mix of local brands and shops you know and love. Plus, there are a few epic bars and restaurants ready to serve you.
This post contains affiliate links which means this website may earn a commission if you make a purchase through these links. More information in the footer.
How to get to Bergamo
Fly into Bergamo airport which is called Il Caravaggio Orio al Serio International Airport. It’s a European regional airport and you’ll find that a lot of budget airlines fly here.
Take a train from Milan or Venice. Train tickets are easy to purchase at the machines in the stations, but you should also be able to find a service desk for help if you need it.
From Malpensa Airport, you’ll take a train to Milan, then transfer. From Milan Linate Airport, it’s a bit more complicated and you’ll normally have to transfer twice with public transportation. Google Maps gives decent advice for this. A taxi from Linate ranges from about €120-150, so it might be worth it to see if your hotel offers a shuttle.
How to get around Bergamo
The ATB, Bergamo Transport Company, is really quite good. They have a website in English and a downloadable transit map. You can get tourist tickets for 24 or 72 hours, which is what I did and recommend. If you get the 24-hour ticket from a machine or a person at the ATB office, be sure to get the one for 3.50 if you aren’t going to the Bergamo Airport.
You’ll validate this ticket usually at an orange kiosk on the bus or at the funicular. Yes, they are good for both funiculars! If you already have yours stamped, just show it to the person at the funicular gate. On a bus, you don’t need to show anyone unless a ticket-checker comes around.
I’d say the main tourist bus is line 1. This goes from the central train station all the way to the top of Città Alta and along the scenic road overlooking Città Bessa.
Things to do in Bergamo Città Alta
I’ll be splitting this between the two main parts of the city to help you plan a bit better. The Città Alta is just a great place to walk around and take in the scenery, and of course, get gelato. Keep in mind that it’s a little bit hilly and there is a lot of uneven ground. Wear good shoes!
Walk down the main street for shops and restaurants
If you take the funicular up, you’ll walk out onto a hill where a few roads intersect. Just head up and straight. It can get crowded, so just remember that if you need a break, just find an intersecting street and head down it for a different adventure.
Visit the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore
This church was founded in the 12th century and was the third church that we know of to be built on that spot dating back to Roman times. It’s crazy to think how old it is and how many people have been going to that area for worship for over 1000 years. It’s stunning both inside and out and is a must-visit for anyone in Bergamo.
Visit the Bergamo Cathedral
Another religious space that you have to see with its incredible artworks inside. The tiara from former Pope Saint John XXIII is available to view. He was born nearby and so he holds a special place in the hearts of locals. The Duomo has also been a religious site for a very long time, at least since the 5th century. I don’t know about you, but that blows my mind that a building can keep its purpose for so long.
Go up the Campanone
This is the highest tower in Bergamo and has the biggest bell in Lombardy. At over 50 meters high, this tower gives the most incredible view over the city. Personally, I didn’t want to leave. There’s an elevator to get to the first viewpoint, and then you can take the stairs up the rest. You’ll find a museum at the bottom that’s worth checking out. If you’re around at night, you’ll hear a piece of history when the bell tolls 100 times signifying that the gates are closing for when, well, they closed the gates for protection.
See the Antico Lavatoio
It might seem silly, but this is one of my favorite parts of the Città Alta. It’s just off the main road but plenty of visitors and locals know where it is (always look down the side streets!). It’s a place where the community could wash their clothes together…it’s even covered! Personally, I think it’s a great idea. Some days it’s a quiet spot to just look around and take in your surroundings. There’s a small green area right next to it with a few benches. We even saw some people put out a picnic blanket.
Visit the Theatre Sociale
Originally opened in 1809 during Carnival, the Theatre Sociale was created to bring more people up to the Città Alta while it competed with the Città Bessa. It’s been restored since the 1920s when its popularity started to decrease. Now, it’s a beautiful spectacle of a proper Italian theatre where you can see wonderful performances.
Visit the free Bergamo Botanical Garden “ Lorenzo Rota”
Free things to do are the best, don’t you agree? Ok, maybe not all the time, but in this case, I was wowed. There are a lot of steps to go up to enjoy this botanical garden but it is totally worth it and it’s not all that bad. It’s a green oasis with incredible views, hidden paths in the trees, water features, and cozy sitting areas.
Take the Funicular up to the San Vigilio Castle
There’s another funicular!! If you think the views from Città Alta were amazing, just wait until you go higher. Once you get off the funicular, you can either turn left for the easiest viewpoint imaginable or turn right and keep walking up! At the old castle, there’s a park that is perfect for a picnic or just a quiet space. It is beautiful and refreshing. You can take the walking/step path down, or hop back on the funicular.
Take in the view of Città Bessa from the Venetian walls
From Città Alta, walk along the Venetian walls on the side overlooking Città Bessa. There are some small parks along the path so you can sit and relax. This is where I’d recommend a picnic with the views and the trees giving some shade. There’s a gate called Porta San Giacomo about halfway down which offers the perfect photo spot.
Walk up or down the steps
There are various paths up and down from the San Vigilio Castle and the Città Alta and they are mostly in the form of stairs. I took the stairs from the Castle and as long as you are stable on your ankles, and hips, and have a little endurance, you can take them down. What I found difficult was that the steps were angled downward and that hurt my calves more than expected and pushed my toes into my shoes. But the views were great! There’s not a lot of shade going down from the castle, so plan accordingly. From Porta San Giacomo, if you walk down the ramp and make a left at the bottom, you can take those stairs to the funicular station in Città Bessa/Città Bessa. That’ll put you right on the main bus line.
Things to do in Bergamo Città Bessa
Go shopping on Via XX Settembre (and nearby)
This is a great shopping street. You’ll find names you know like Mango and H&M and more local brands as well. Basically, if you need clothes, you’ll be covered. But you’ll also find some restaurants and a small market as well. It’s the perfect place to wander about the colorful buildings and some cute Instagram spots. Obviously, go early for fewer crowds!
See the view of Città Alta from the Porta Nuova intersection
From Porta Nuova, the Città Alta seems a bit magical. But that magic is overrun by traffic noise! On this corner, you’ll find an ATM, the ATB office for bus tickets, a church, and a fountain. Many buses come here, so if you’re tired of walking, you can take a bus.
Passiagiatta
If you’re out after dinner, you’ll likely find the Italians taking an evening walk. This is a Passiagiatta. You’ll probably see this on the shopping street and on the path in front of Bergamo Inn 43.
Find the colorful buildings on Via Sant’ Alessandro
Along Via Sant’ Alessandro are beautiful colored buildings that make you feel like you are in a fairytale. They also make for great pictures. Just remember to look up and try to stay in the moment even when taking photos.
Favorite restaurants in Bergamo
Since we had a week in the city, we were able to try a lot of good spots to eat! Remember to check times and make reservations because Bergamo is getting more popular and restaurants do fill up. Many kitchens will close from around 2 pm-8 pm, so dinner may be later than normal. I would check The Fork to make reservations, but many require you to call or pop in to book a table. If you have trouble and can’t find someone to speak English, you might ask your hotel if they can call for you.
Top Restaurants in Bergamo Città Bessa
Osteria Al Gigianca – This was our favorite restaurant by far (we went there twice in a week!). Be sure to ask for a local wine recommendation with your meal. For a little extra flair, order a glass of Franciacorta to start. This is a local sparkling wine.
Trattoria Da Adele – For anyone who loves seafood and large portions for a small bill, this is the spot. The food and wine were excellent and the ambiance felt very seaside.
Osteria Valenti di Marco Maffeis – Great food, outside seating, and staff that makes you feel like family instantly is what you get here. The staff themselves are a reason to visit, but everything you eat will leave you feeling that sense of pure happiness that comes from good Italian food.
La Focacceria – When I was just trying to get going for the day, I stopped by here for a quick bite. The man running the place is super nice and the focaccia was excellent. It’s a hole-in-the-wall grab-and-go spot but you’ll still find some seating outside which is a nice touch. Apparently, this is a chain or franchise, so probably not the most local thing. But it was good!
Boston Bar – We normally try cocktail bars wherever we go but with dinners being so late, we didn’t have a lot of time. So, I’m adding the one spot we went to, and loved, here. The bartender is incredible, the drinks are great, and the staff is amazing. Oh, and gin is the name of the game, here 🙂
Bergamo Città Alta – Great places to eat
Circolino Città Alta – This hidden, but somehow popular spot, has a massive garden that doesn’t seem possible considering where it’s located. The service is surprisingly good for it being a massive space. The food is okay, but not as great as others on this list. However, it’s still mighty tasty and worth a visit.
Il Ducale – Fine dining at a good price. It’s a perfect opportunity to dress up a bit and enjoy excellent service, great food, and amazing wine. If you’re American, keep in mind that a good wine in Italy can be the same price as a moderate wine at home. Get a good one at around €30. I recommend the Eligio Magri Patrizio Magri 2017. It was incredible!
Casual – While we didn’t get to go here, if you really appreciate fine dining and racking up restaurants with Michelin stars, this is the place to go. The chef has many stars to his name and this restaurant has been awarded one star at this point.
Antica Trattoria La Colombina – I didn’t book far enough in advance for this one, so learn from my mistake. This restaurant boasts epic views while serving local cuisine. It kind of checks all the boxes which is probably why it was completely booked. You better believe it’s on our list for next time and yes, I really do think there will be a next time.
La Marianna – While this is also a proper restaurant, I wouldn’t know anything about it. It’s where the stracciatella flavor of gelato was invented. That’s why I go there and that’s a good enough reason! All of the gelato that I’ve had is amazing, but I will always get one scoop as stracciatella.
Did you know that there was so much to explore, eat, and drink in Bergamo? I definitely did not and that’s why I’m so glad I had the time to explore a bit deeper and really enjoy my time there. If this inspired you, share it with someone you care about who is looking to go to Italy. If they are going to Milan, they’ll definitely want to check this out as a day trip!
Wishing you joy and travels!
