The history, culture and culinary delights make Bergamo the perfect destination for a day-trip when visiting Italy.
QUICK FACTS
Located in Northern Italy in the region of Lombardy, 40 km from the Italian city of Milan and 30 km from Switzerland, Bergamo is a hidden gem complete with ancient walls and cobbled streets waiting to be discovered.
The town of Bergamo has 2 centres: Citta Alta “upper town” and Citta Bassa “lower town” which are connected by winding roads and pathways, and the funicular – the cable car which offers stunning views of the city costing €3 per adult for a one-way ticket. I spent the majority of my day-trip exploring Citta Alta, the historic centre of Bergamo which is surrounded by Venetian Walls which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2017.
Bergamo is the fourth largest city in Lombardy, with a population of 120, 000 people.
How to get to Bergamo
I arrived in Bergamo using the local buses after spending a weekend in San Pellegrino Terme, visiting the wellness retreat QC Terme San Pellegrino for my 29th birthday. As I was flying back to England from Milan Bergamo Airport, this was the perfect opportunity to spend a day exploring what Bergamo has to offer!
Milan Bergamo airport is located 20 minutes from the centre of Bergamo, which you can reach either by catching an Uber or catching the local bus directly from the airport. When arriving at the main Bergamo bus station, you can reach Citta Alta “upper town” by catching another bus, or I would recommend travelling on the funicular to catch the incredible views as you embark up the hill.
Spend the day wandering around and absorbing everything that Bergamo has to offer. We did not plan our day trip in advance, and found everything to be very accessible. When wandering through Bergamo, there are maps available to guide you on a path to explore all of the attractions including the Bergamo Duamo, located in Piazza Duomo in the heart of the old town.
We enjoyed eating Italian food in Piazza Duomo, whilst watching the buskers offering entertainment to crowds of tourists. We wandered around the Venetian walls, and observed the incredible views whilst walking down to the ‘lower town’. We ate Gelato, drank wine and nibbled on Olives.
Bergamo was the perfect day trip to end a wonderful weekend spent in Northern Italy for my 29th Birthday. I would love to hear about your experience of Bergamo if you have visited before? If you have not visited yet, I hope that this post has inspired you!
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