We’ve been to Bergamo a few times, and we have our favorite places and restaurants there, but we’ve never really gotten around to writing an article about what to see in Bergamo. It’s a place where you can go for a few days without a plan or pressure – it’s beautiful, has a great atmosphere without an overwhelming number of tourists, delicious food, and great restaurants. Of course, if you want to see specific sights, you can find a few places in Bergamo, but you can also spend time there without feeling like you missed out on necessary churches or museums.
Don’t expect a post packed with practical information about what to see in Bergamo, because as we mentioned in the introduction, we never really had a concrete “must-see” list of monuments to visit there, yet we still regularly return to this city! However, you will find a lot of specifics in the “where to eat in Bergamo” section, because we have several favorite, proven places to eat there!
How to get there and how long to stay? – What to see in Bergamo?
If you’re wondering how to get to Bergamo and how long to stay there, we’ve got you covered. Bergamo is more than just a transportation hub, with its own unique charm and plenty of sights to see. Depending on how much time you have, you can spend from half a day to two days exploring the town, or even a few days soaking up the Italian atmosphere. Bergamo also makes a great base for exploring nearby destinations like Milan, Lake Como, Brescia, or Lake Iseo. To get to Bergamo from the airport, the cheapest option is to take bus line 1, which will take you to both the old town and the train station for just 2.6 euros.
Citta Alta – What to see in Bergamo?
The upper city, also known as the old town, is located on a hill and considered the most charming part of the city. Citta Alta is surrounded by 6-kilometer-long Venetian defensive walls from the 16th century, which are listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. In our opinion, it’s worth taking a walk along the entire wall and admiring the views, which are breathtaking on a clear day, offering views of both the mountains and Milan.
You can get to the old town via a longer route through Via San Alessandro (beautiful views and a gentle ascent), a shortcut of stairs that begin near the funicular (Via Salita Della Scaletta), or take the Funicolare Città Alta funicular itself. The ride costs 1.5 euros, and we recommend avoiding it on weekends when the queues can be enormous, and walking up to the top does not take that long. If you decide to take the funicular, be sure to return to one of the four city gates, Porta San Giacomo (St. James’ Gate), and if you’re walking, you won’t miss it! The views from there are fantastic, and the gate itself is very monumental.
From the gate, head to a small triangular square, Piazza Mercato delle Scarpe, and then turn left to find yourself on Via Gombito, the main shopping and restaurant street of the old town. One of the notable places is the Old Square, Piazza Vecchia, where you can find the Palazzo della Ragione, the 12th-century Campanone tower, and the Cathedral just behind them.
San Vigilio Hill – What to see in Bergamo?
From the old town, it’s worth taking a trip to San Vigilio Hill, which offers even better views (including a view from above of the old town). It’s a place where you can find luxurious old villas and time seems to pass a bit slower. You can get to the hill by the Funicolare S.Vigilio cable car, which is not as crowded as the other cable car leading to the old town.
Citta Bassa – What to see in Bergamo?
Citta Bassa is simply the lower city, often also called the new city. While all the admiratio is directed towards the Old Town, not many people mention the new one. In our opinion, this is a mistake because the Lower Town in Bergamo has its charm, picturesque streets, and colorful houses, and it is much easier to catch a glimpse of the everyday life of the residents there.
The main artery of the new city is Viale Roma, and the most representative area is located near Porta Nuova (New Gate). We recommend a visit to the Torre dei Caduti tower, where there is a small museum with the history of the area, unfortunately mostly in Italian… Entrance to the tower costs 5 euros, and from the top, there is an excellent view, you can admire the Old Town towering over Bergamo from a distance. In this area, there is a street market on weekends, and in winter, there is a Christmas Market.
One of the main shopping streets is Via XX Settembre, closed to traffic. The lively area is around Piazza Pontida, where we recommend stopping for coffee or an aperitif. In the new city, it’s worth getting lost in the streets and observing the residents, it won’t be hard to notice that in Bergamo, they have a thing for dogs!
Where to eat in Bergamo?
Caffe del Tasso 1476 – a restaurant established in this location in 1476 that has changed hands and names over time. It is our favorite place for aperitivo in Bergamo and its quality is consistently high each time we visit (our first visit was in 2016). It is not a cheap place, but it has a nice atmosphere and serves great aperitivo. During our first visit, we also had lunch there and the food was also very good.
Morso – a pizzeria for lovers of Neapolitan-style pizza! Really great pizza if you enjoy this particular style.
Il Fornaio – a pizzeria that is always crowded, and you have to wait with a number for your order. It is pizza al taglio, thick and fluffy overloaded with toppings sold by weight and cut into rectangles or squares with scissors. This type of pizza comes from Rome and is one of the forms of “to-go” fast food. Il Fornaio is not fast, however, because there are always plenty of people, but it is delicious! The quality of the ingredients is excellent! We especially recommend the options with burrata.
Circolino Citta Alta – an affordable place with great food in the old town. We had delicious polenta, beef stew, and also rabbit there. The menu is local and tasty, and the prices are low for the old town.
Mimì • La Casa dei Sapori – the cheaper sister of the well-known Bergamo restaurant Da Mimmo, Mimi is more casual and approachable. The cozy interior has tables covered with plaid tablecloths, which also serve as a store – shelves with products surround the dining room that you can purchase after a satisfying meal. The menu includes both very local options typical of Lombardy and Bergamo, as well as dishes known more widely in Italian cuisine. We ordered many different options to share with a larger group.
Botega Caffe Cacao – pistachios are not just a specialty of northern Italy, but if you are looking for a croissant with pistachio cream (brioche con pistacchio), then you must visit this place! The croissants are filled to the brim with delicious, sweet cream, and in addition to pistachio, there is also jam, crema (something similar to custard), hazelnut, and chocolate to choose from. In addition to croissants, you will find great coffee and many other pastries.
Gelateria Domus – delicious, creamy, stretchy gelato! One of the places where we had the best pistachio and salted caramel!
Savoy – a place that buzzes in the evenings and is full of locals. Savoy is located a bit further from the center, not your typical bar with an average age of 50+, but rather a trendy place for younger customers. They offer a great selection of wines and pretty good aperitivo – with two drinks, you get so many snacks that you’re full!
Le Tentazioni Del Braciere – Dawid met the owner of this place (a big cycling fan) few years ago when he came for Giro d’Italia. The restaurant specializes mainly in steaks, but they also have local casoncelli alla bergamasca (dumplings) and pizza on the menu. The food is tasty, and the restaurant has a great family atmosphere, even though it is not located in the city center nor does it have a beautiful decor, it is packed in the evenings!
