Bergamo is a city in Lombardy, Italy sitting on 2 levels. Città Bassa, the lower level, is the modern city of Bergamo, while Città Alta, the upper level, is a medieval jewel.
Getting to Bergamo, Italy
Bergamo is easy to reach from Milan by train or bus. The ride from the Central Station in Milan takes about 50 minutes, and the ticket costs 5.50€. You can buy your train tickets for your journey to Italy here. Another option is to travel by bus from Milan, they just cost a bit more.
Also, Bergamo has an international airport, so you might land here if you’re going to Milan. If so, save at least a few hours to visit Bergamo.
It’s easy to get into the city from the airport using the local transport.
Things to do in Bergamo, Italy
Take the funicular to the upper Bergamo city
From the station in the lower city, take the funicular to the upper city, Città Alta. The ride takes 3 minutes, and a ticket is 1,30€. If you’re in town for one day, the best option is to buy a 24h tourist ticket for 5€ that you can use for the buses in the city, as well as the 2 funiculars. You can click here to see all the other options.
Visit Città Alta
The station in the upper city is close to the center of the town, in Piazza Mercato delle Scarpe.
Make your way to the heart of the city, Piazza Vecchia. There are many things to see here for such a small place. Don’t miss the Cathedral (Duomo) and Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, both of them are spectacular and free to visit.
Everywhere you turn, you will stumble across a church, a palace, or a fountain. There are also a couple of towers, the Accademia Carrara Museum, and my favorite – Il lavatoio – which was a place where women gathered to wash clothes in medieval times.
Go to San Vigilio Castle
For a view from above Città Alta, take the second funicular called San Vigilio to the San Vigilio Castle. The view is amazing, and you can walk downhill to the city afterward.
Try the ‘polentine’
Polenta is a very popular dish in this part of Italy, it’s comfort food served with meat or sausage, that goes really well on a chilly evening.
Something different here is the ‘polentina’ which is a corn-based cake, resembling a classic polenta, but sweet.
The Venetian Walls
The Venetian Walls embrace Bergamo Alta with more than 6km of high walls built by the Republic of Venice in the 16th century. Walk along the walls, you will get a lot of great views and photos.
The Venetian Walls in Bergamo are also recognized as a Unesco World Heritage Site.
When to visit Bergamo Italy
You can visit Bergamo all year round but, if you don’t like rain, avoid the fall season. Spring and summer are probably the most comfortable times to wander around Bergamo.
Where to stay in Bergamo
If you fall in love with the city, here are a few places to stay:
If you’re looking for another day trip from Milan, don’t miss out on Lake Maggiore.
Disclosure
Some of the above may be affiliate links. This means that if you click on a link and make a purchase, I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. However, I only recommend companies, activities, or products that I use myself. Thank you for your support in keeping my blog live!
You did a great job of making Bergamo sounds so easy to get around, which is an absolute bonus when travelling! Thanks for a really informative post x
Great post. I pinned it so my Bucket List.
Thank you for sharing about your travels! You have shared some great photos! Thank you for the tips
The view from the castle looks incredible! It sounds like to great place to visit, especially with transport being that cheap!! x
Sophie
It is a beautiful place to explore and I have a feeling that I’m not done with it. Also, very well connected to everywhere. Thanks for stopping by, Sophie 🙂
Gorgeous photos! It looks like an amazing place!
It’s a beautiful city, I’m thinking I should go back at least once more.
Bergamo sounds lovely, I have visited many cities in Italy and was on the lookout for my next destination. I think I have found it. I am a foodie too so I will definitely try the polentina. Thank you for sharing.
There’s a lot to see in Bergamo, seems like a small city but I’m sure you’ll have a great time there. 🙂
Another great place to visit in Italy (including for a nice meal with Polenta). Thanks for the tips and advice!
Mark / Mark’s Travel Journal
https://www.markstraveljournal.me
Thanks for reading, Mark. I loved Bergamo and I feel like there was more to explore than I had time for.