A day in Bergamo is the Milan day trip you didn’t know you needed!
Everything here is my own opinion and I received no compensation for this post. It also contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you have any questions about this, just click here! All content copyright Where’s Emma Now 2012-2024.
Bergamo is a small town sitting in the hills of Lombardy. Although it’s only an hour by train from Milan, it feels worlds away. It sits at the beginning of the mountains, giving you gorgeous views and a different cuisine. In terms of day trips, it’s pretty ideal!
Possibly best of all, it’s also only 10 minutes away from Milan Bergamo, Milan’s second-biggest airport and Ryanair’s third-biggest base. So it’s easy to get to and makes an excellent one-night stopover if you’re flying in or out of Italy here!
Know Before You Go
The main sections of Bergamo are the Citta Alta and Citta Bassa. Most of the most historic parts are in the Citta Alta. However, if you have an early departure or late arrival, consider staying in the Citta Bassa – it’s easier to get a taxi or walk to the train station in the lower town.
It’s easy to get between the two! There’s a funicular that runs every 15 minutes, and it’s less than 2€ each way. You can also walk it, which I recommend doing at least once for the views. The best path to walk is the Via Salita della Scaletta, which is easy to find and takes 10-15 minutes.
You can see everything in the Citta Alta in a couple hours, and then fill out your day with a few further spots as wanted!
The train from Milano Centrale to Bergamo takes roughly an hour. You can also get here from Brescia, also about an hour.
Bergamo’s Citta Alta
Bergamo has so much history written on its streets, but it’s not obvious to a first-time visitor! Consider doing a walking tour to get a full sense of what you’re seeing.
Whether you hire a guide or explore on your own, here are the main sights to see in Bergamo’s Citadel Alta!
If you take the funicular up, you’ll get out right into the Piazza Mercato delle Scarpe. Nowadays it’s mostly a seating area for the local bars, but historically held a shoe market!
Walk up Via Gombito, one of the most picturesque streets in town. Something about this town reminds me of Siena: maybe the type of stone used in the buildings, combined with the way it’s built right into the hill.
Duck over to the Antico Lavatoio for another step back in time. Historically, women of the city came here to do their laundry!
Next up is the biggest grouping of important sites in Bergamo. Piazza Vecchia is home to city tower, the city government buildings, and around the corner from the three most important churches of the city.
If you’re approaching from the piazza, you’ll first see the Colleoni Chapel. It’s the smallest of the three and worth a step inside! Named after one of Bergamo’s favorite sons who fought for the Venetian Republic, the chapel is packed full of Renaissance art! It’s said to be good luck to touch the building’s coat of arms at midnight!
The Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica is my favorite of the churches here. Of course, it’s the only paid entry one, but you can step inside to the ticket line to catch a glimpse and decide if you want to buy a ticket. The walls and ceiling are packed with intricately filigreed designs, creating a golden sheen that permeates the whole building.
Bergamo Cathedral, surprisingly, is the least impressive one for me. It’s still beautiful but much simpler than the two neighboring churches. It’s famous for holding the remains of Bergamo’s patron saint, Saint Alessandro Martyr (whose name the church adopted).
The Baptistery isn’t always open to the public but worth mentioning because it moved! Originally inside the Santa Maria Maggiore Church, it was deconstructed and rebuilt (poorly, with changes) twice before landing in its current spot in 1899.
The city tower, called the Campanone, is open to the public for climbing and also has an elevator. If you love views, this is the one to see! It gives views of the historic city as well as the hills and mountains in the distance.
The Porta San Giacomo is the historic gate of Bergamo, complete with the Venetian Republic’s lion of St. Mark. It gives great views, so definitely come by here at some point. You can continue along the Venetian City Walls from here!
Have a little more time? Get my master guide to Bergamo on Thatch for more of the main sights in and around Bergamo, especially if you want more views and history. I’ve also included some of the daily events worth keeping your eyes out for in the city!
Bergamo’s Citta Bassa
If you’re only here for a day, focus on the Citta Alta. With a one-night overnight, there are some easy hotels to do in the Citta Bassa (lower town), often a bit less expensive and easier to hail a taxi or catch the bus to go to the airport in the morning.
You’ll also find more restaurants down here that are delicious and less tourist-oriented. Don’t worry, we’ll get into restaurants in another guide soon! Or grab my full list today on Thatch.
Bergamo Hotels
If you decide to go the overnight route, here are a few hotels I recommend!
If it helps tip the scales, staying in Bergamo means you have a 10-minute bus or taxi to Milan-Bergamo airport rather than a nearly 1-hour journey. It makes a difference, especially if you have an early flight!
Deciding between staying in the Citta Alta or Citta Bassa depends on how early you need to leave the next morning. If you have an early flight or need parking included with your hotel, stay in the Citta Bassa. There are almost no cars in the Citta Alta so it’s simpler to stay below and take the funicular or walk up to enjoy the old town.
If you have more than a day or you want to see all of Bergamo, go check out my interactive guide to Bergamo on Thatch. It has everything here plus more sights, outdoor suggestions, and all my restaurant recommendations!
Not ready for that? Check back soon for my Bergamo restaurant guide here on Where’s Emma Now!
