What to Do in Bergamo (Our Top Picks)

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Nestled in the picturesque Lombardy region, Bergamo is a captivating city that seamlessly combines history, culture, and modern vibrancy. It is often missed by those visiting this region, but if you find yourself here, be sure to explore this charming Italian city. The city of Bergamo is split into two parts: the Città Bassa (lower town), where its civic center lies; and the Città Alta (upper town), clinging to rocky slopes on top of a hill.

An ideal visit to this enchanting city spans 2 to 3 days, allowing guests to fully immerse themselves in its offerings. In this text we'll cover the best things to do in Bergamo, plus our suggestions for eating and shopping.

1. Ride the funicular to Città Alta (plus the one to San Vigilio)

Taking a funicular ride is one of the ways to get to Città Alta, the upper part of city, situated on a hill (there are also stairs you can take, but we recommend leave them for your return back).

Hop onto a funicular car (that runs since 1887) and enjoy a pleasant and scenic ride. Buy your tickets from the ticket window or ticket machine next to it (it's super easy; can be paid in cash or by credit card). A single ticket costs €1.70 and is valid for 75 minutes. Sometimes, there is a long line for the cable car, but it moves quickly!

Not everyone knows that there is another funicular, the second level, that connects Città Alta with San Vigilio Hill. Up there, in one of the quieter corners of the city amid terraced fields with thick chestnut forest, there are views across Lombardy, and a network of hiking trails taking in Parco dei Colli. Both are not to be missed!

👍 Explore the best of Bergamo's Città Alta on Tuk Tuk tour (ideal for those who are short on time). Starting point is the lower funicular station!

People waiting to board the funicular car in Bergamo

A scenic view from the funicular in Bergamo

2. Explore Città Alta (sights and hidden corners)

Beyond its historical treasures, Città Alta boasts a lively atmosphere with bustling cafés, artisan shops, and delightful trattorias. Savor the local cuisine, which features traditional Lombard dishes like polenta and casoncelli. The neighborhood also hosts various cultural events throughout the year, adding to its dynamic appeal. Whether you're a history buff, a foodie, or simply looking to soak in the local culture, Città Alta promises an unforgettable experience.

The fucinular will drop you off at Piazza Mercato delle Scarpe, the heart of the upper town. Start to walk along Via Gombito, dotted with small trattorias and pasticcerias, until you reach Piazza Vecchia. Just a few steps away you'll find Piazza Duomo, packed with amazing sights of Bergamo. Spend time here exploring churches!

Our tip! Wear comfortable shoes, as the cobblestone streets can be uneven and it's not easy to walk on them. Also, try to visit early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid the crowds and enjoy a relaxed and calm atmosphere. Plus, check the opening times of the sights and any events, so you can plan your time there!

👍 Get an overview of Bergamo’s scenic Città Alta on this private 2.5-hour guided tour (choose the time that best suits you)!

You'll stumble upon many unique souvenir stores in Città Alta

Cappella Colleoni

Once you reach Piazza Duomo, you'll notice the beautiful building with red and white marble façade, the Cappella Colleoni (you might mistake it for the Bergamo's main cathedral, which is just across the square). The Colleoni Chapel is the mausoleum of Bartolomeo Colleoni and is one of the best examples of Renaissance architecture in the city. From the outside you can admire it's beautiful exterior, but inside, you'll find an incredible concentration of works of art. The entrance is free, but check the opening hours before visiting.

The Cappella Colleoni stands next to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore

The entrance to the beautiful Cappella Colleoni

The Cappella Coleoni is one of the best examples of Renaissance architecture in Bergamo

Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore

Next to the Cappella Colleoni, stands the stunning Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. This sacred building hides beautiful frescoes, tapestries, wood carvings by Lorenzo Lotto, baroque decorations and the tomb of Bergamo's great composer Gaetano Donizetti. You need to pay for the entrance (€5 for adults; 14-25 years old pay €2). If you don't want to pay for a visit, take a peak from the entrance door!

The beautiful Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in Bergamo

The entrance to Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore

The Duomo di Bergamo (Bergamo Cathedral)

Don't miss visiting the Duomo - Bergamo's Cathedral (Cattedrale di Sant'Alessandro Martire). You'll recognize it by white façade! The entrance is completely free and it's not crowded at all. Once inside, admire the altars, the sculptures and enjoy the silence of this beautiful building. Snap a couple of photos, including those of the dome above you (painted by Francesco Coghetti). In a room to the right of the main altar is a room containing relics of Pope Saint John XXIII (Papa Giovanni XIII).

The Cathedral is a great place for having a rest from sightseeing, as the atmosphere is calm and there are no crowds.

You'll recognize the Bergamo's Cathedral by its white façade

The interior of Bergamo's Cathedral is stunning

You can admire the frescoes on the dome, painted by Francesco Coghetti

Climb the Campanone

You can't miss the Campanone, the big old bell tower, holding the biggest bell in Lombardy. You can climb the tower for €5 for a panoramic view of the city. At 10pm sharp, the bell kicks off its nightly routine, ringing out 100 times.

3. Walk the Venetian Walls (Mura Veneziane)

Once you want to go back to the lower town, take Via San Giacomo from Piazza Mercato delle Scarpe (street to the right). Walk all way down until you reach Porta San Giacomo (one of 4 main gates to Città Alta) and the impressive Venetian Walls, that stretches all around the upper town (6 km in length). 

You can walk all around them and snap amazing photos of the city in distance. The area beneath the Porta San Giacomo, is one of the best spots for capturing stunning photos of the city below and surrounding countryside. Your adventure is still not finished here. Take a pleasant walk down the Salita della Scalletta stairs until you reach the funicular lower station.

Snap stunning photos of Bergamo from Venetian Walls

It's possible to walk all around the Venetian walls

The Venetian Walls are especially beautiful in the sunset

Salita della Scalletta stairs will take you to the Lower town

4. Taste appetizing cuisine of Bergamo

When you find yourself in Bergamo, make sure to visit one of those charming trattorias. They serve up some amazing traditional dishes like casoncelli alla bergamasca, pasta shaped like candy and stuffed with a savoury meat filling, either pork or beef. And it's typically served with a delicious pancetta, sage, and butter sauce. You can find it in most restaurants around the city, but for the very best, we would recommend checking out Trattoria Parietti or Da Mimmo.

Oh, and you absolutely have to try "polenta e osei." It's a unique dome-shaped dessert made with sponge cake and a light chocolate-hazelnut cream, all topped with an adorable little chocolate bird. The best spot for this sweet treat is Nessi pasticceria as soon as you step outside the funicular station in the upper town. Trust us, you won’t be disappointed!

Casoncelli alla Bergamasca is warming, flavorsome comfort pasta dish from Bergamo

Polenta e osei - a sponge cake that hides delicious chocolate hazelnut cream inside

Don't skip also tasting stracciatella, the famous gelato made with fresh milk and cream studded with dark chocolate (we love the one from Gelateria La Romana - Via G. Tiraboschi, 42). Their salted caramel gelato with crunchy pecans is marvelous!

For a quick and yummy snack, head to Forno Liento (Via Sant'Alessandro, 30) - we adore their panzerotti (choose from ham and mozzarella, tomato and mozzarella and vegetable fillings). They are so addictive, especially when warm!

👍 Taste a variety of rustic and refined dishes at 5 different stops on this 3.5-hour guided food tour of Bergamo (choose from mid-day and evening departure)!

Stracciatella gelato, made with fresh milk and cream and studded with dark chocolate is invented in Bergamo

A couple of great places to eat:

• Mòrso Pizzeria Bergamo (Via Sant'Orsola, 31/B) - nice pizzeria in the lower tower, serving fabulous tasty pizza which is also affordable. They'll prepare also your pizza for takeway if you feel like eating at your apartment/hotel. Additional plus is super kind staff!
  
  
• Sweet Irene (Via Sant'Orsola, 22) - Fabulous cosy café in the lower town, serving a range of vegan and gluten-free food, cakes and pastries. Try here a cappuccino with oat milk, vegan flan and vegetarian quiche. Great teas and lovely service. Nice and warm atmosphere!

5. Go shopping in Bergamo

Let us tell you about the best spot for shopping in Bergamo - it’s the Città Bassa. This area is where you'll find the city's most bustling shopping streets like XX Settembre, Viale Papa Giovanni XXII, Via Sant’Alessandro, and Via Sant’Orsola.

You could begin your stroll down Viale Papa Giovanni XXII. This street is brimming with a variety of shops and restaurants, making it a great start. Take a left onto Via Tiraboschi, and you’ll discover plenty of shops offering clothes, shoes, cosmetics, jewelry, and home goods. You can't miss the OVS department store here, which has a large supermarket on the -2 level, perfect for picking up groceries.

Just a stone's throw away on Via Zambonate, you’ll find the Coin department store. If you swing into Largo Cinque Vie and then into Via XX Settembre, you’ll encounter an array of fantastic shops for clothing, cosmetics, and pharmacies, not to mention a plethora of dining options.

Your shopping experience in Bergamo will not be complete without visiting the souvenir shops in the Città Alta. You can find there shops specializing in polenta, candy stores, toy shops, handmade crafts, antique book...

Bergamo's lower town offers a pleasant shopping experience

Visiting Bergamo for Christmas holidays

Bergamo is an excellent destination for the Christmas holidays, offering a festive ambiance with stunning decorations and charming Christmas markets.

The most popular market is located in the heart of the lower city, at Piazza Matteotti. Here, you can explore charming wooden stalls featuring delicious food and handcrafted items. A 30-meter-tall Ferris wheel adds to the festive fun, and just across the street, a delightful carousel awaits, perfect for those visiting with children.

Christmas market at Piazza Matteotti is a center of life during the festive season

You can grab a savoury or sweet snack from wooden houses at Christmas market

The city of Bergamo shines during the Christmas holidays

Staying in Bergamo

The city of Bergamo is easy to reach by train from Milan. But if you choose to stay in the city, you'll find plenty of options for all tastes and budgets. Keep in mind that the Città Alta is more picturesque and therefore a bit more pricey than the Città Bassa, which has more shopping hotspots and nightlife. If you want to be closer to the train station, choose the accommodation at lower town.

You'll love staying at Casa Vacanze Gombito, the beautifully decorated apartment with excellent hosts in the centre of Città Alta. Or choose to stay at Ginevra Rooms, modern and comfortable accommodation, located halfway between Città Alta and Città Bassa. If you are looking for super comfortable place to stay for your family, consider Domus Bergam boutique apartment, at great location.

How to get to Bergamo by plane (Orio al Serio airport)

If you are arriving by plane to Bergamo, you'll be landing to Orio al Serio International Airport. Getting to the city is a breeze, as the airport is only 5km from the city. 

If you want to get directly to your hotel or apartment, take one of the taxis you can find outside the airport building (costs around €20-25). Just next to the taxi stand, you'll find bus stop, from where you can take bus no.1 riding to the city of Bergamo. The buses run to Bergamo train station, and then stop off at Porta Nuova, the lower funicular station, and the Città Alta. It takes between 15 and 20 minutes to reach the city centre from the airport. 

If arriving to Bergamo by plane, you'll land to Orio al Serio International Airport

Tickets for the airport bus can be bought from the ticket machines on the bus stop. Choose 3-zone ticket marked with the letter C that costs €3. Once you are on the bus, validate the ticket at green machine (it's valid for 90 minutes). If you’re going to spend less than 24 hours in Bergamo, consider buying 24-hour ticket, valid on all modes of transport in the city (including the airport bus and the funicular), that costs €8.50.

If you want to get straight from Bergamo Airport to your Milan hotel/apartment, book ahead this reliable car transfer (excellent reviews!).

Trenord trains operates between Milan and Bergamo regularly throughout the day

Getting to Bergamo by train

Bergamo can be easily reached by train from elsewhere in Italy. A train ride from Milan to Bergamo takes only 48 minutes (one-way ticket costs €6; Io Viaggio Ovunque in Lombardia covers these trains).

Trains runs regularly throughout the day, every half an hour. These are regional trains offering good service, but there are no seat reservations, meaning you'll need to catch the seat, once the train platform (binario) is announced. However, the trains are not overcrowded!

Useful tip! Be sure to validate your tickets at green validating machines you can find at the platform before boarding the train!

👉 Explore Bergamo on a day trip from Milan on this 6-hour private guided tour!

You can also get to Bergamo: from Verona in 1.5 hour, from Venice 2h 50 minutes, from Florence 2h 40 minutes, from Rome 4 hours, from Bologna 2 hours, from Genoa 2.5 hours, from Como 1h 40 minutes.

Places to visit from Bergamo

The city of Bergamo makes a great base for visiting the area. From there you can easily travel by train to other cities and villages, such as Brescia, Lake Iseo and Lake Idro, Lake Como, Valtellina, Lake Garda, Val Camonica, Verona, Mantova, Cremona, Parma, Milan, Vicenza, Padova, Venice and Ferrara.

Planning Your Travel to Italy

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