1 day in Bergamo: Everything you need to know to plan the perfect day trip

Are you planning a day trip to Bergamo, and want to know the best things to see and do? In this article I detail everything you need to know about planning the perfect trip to this hidden Italian gem of a city. And honestly it has a bit of everything, great food, gorgeous architecture, and excellent transport links. Here is everything you need to know to spend 1 day in Bergamo.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, so if you use these links to buy something we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. Thank you for your support.

Bergamo Itinerary Factsheet

If you are anything like me, you might not know all that much about Bergamo before you decided to plan your day trip to the city. Located in the Lombardy region of Italy Bergamo is a gorgeous city just north east of Milan. It’s also close to the Italian alps, making it a great place to day trip to if you are staying in Milan or even Lake Como.

Country: Italy

Currency: € Euro

Language: Italian, but English is also widely spoken

Famous for: Architecture, gorgeous views, and an atmospheric old town.

Visit if you like: Good quality food, relaxed city vibes

If you are trying to decide if Bergamo is worth visiting, here is a handy guide.

Getting to Bergamo

Getting to Bergamo is relatively easy. I know many people who have done a day trip to Bergamo from one of the airports in the UK. Milan Bergamo Airport isn’t too far from the city, and you can easily hop on a bus that will take you into Città Alta in around 30 minutes. It mostly seems to be Ryanair that fly into Milan Bergamo and maybe a few Wizz Air Flights too.

The bus runs every 20 minutes and is part of the public transport network in Bergamo. We purchased a ticket at the tourist information desk and just had to validate it upon boarding the bus.

Bergamo is also incredibly close to Milan, so a lot of people visit it as a day trip from the city. It takes just over an hour on the train from Milan, and around 1 hour and 15 minutes if you are driving.

Where to stay during your 1 day in Bergamo

Obviously if you are doing a day trip to Bergamo, you may not need accommodation. I arrived early in the morning, and left early the next day. So I would still consider it a day trip but I did stay overnight. If you are in a similar boat you might be wondering where you should stay.

Personally I would recommend staying in the Upper Town or Città Alta. This is where most of the tourist attractions are, and quite honestly this is the prettiest part of the city by far. I stayed at the Hotel Piazza Vecchia, which is a 4 star hotel located in the centre of the Upper Town. This cost around €165 for the night, although this was a weekend and in the summer as well. So different times of year may be cheaper.

What to do in Bergamo for a day

You might be wondering what to do in Bergamo for a day. Here are some of my top suggestions on the best things to do.

Piazza Vecchia

Piazza Vecchia is the main square in the Città Alta or upper town of Bergamo. It’s surrounded by some fine architecture, as well as several restaurants and bars. It’s probably one of the best places to start exploring in Bergamo. You will also find several little alleyways and cobbled streets that will take you to other parts of the upper town.

Colleoni Chapel

Let’s be fair it wouldn’t be a trip to Italy, without visiting at least one church. The Colleoni Chapel is located just next to the Santa Maria Maggiore. It is a stunning example of Renaissance architecture, and is in our opinion one of the most beautiful buildings in the city.

There is some stunning artwork inside, but this collection is private so no photos are allowed. On the plus side though it is free to enter.

Campanone

Campanone is a 56 metre tower that stands in the Piazza Vecchia. If you pay the €5 entry fee you can make your way to the top of the tower for some of the most incredible views of Bergamo and it’s surroundings. You can either climb the 230 steps, or take the lift to the top. We think it is well worth it, because honestly the views from the top are just breathtaking.

Walk the Venetian Walls

Bergamo has some pretty impressive city walls. They were built in the 16th Century by the Republic of Venice, hence the title – Venetian Walls. They were actually constructed to protect the city from the Republic of Milan, and France during this time. Walking along the walls is a must for any trip to Bergamo so make sure that you add this to your 1 day in Bergamo itinerary.

Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore

One thing you have to see as part of your 1 day in Bergamo is the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. It became a basilica in the 12th century, and from the outside the building is very similar to how it was in Roman times. The inside of the Basilica is the real highlight though with ornate features and stunning artworks.

Torre Castello San Vigilio

For the most incredible views of Bergamo you should visit Torre Castello San Vigilio. It’s essentially a castle that is built on the San Vigilio hill. The best thing about it apart from the views, is that it is free to visit. You just need to get the funicular from the Upper Town, all the way to San Vigilio. The cost of this is included in your standard public transport ticket.

Just explore

Honestly just walking around Città Alta is an experience in itself. There are so many beautiful alleyways, cobbled side streets, and just these incredible buildings that you can admire. Honestly Bergamo is worth visiting just for this.

Must eat foods to add to your Bergamo day trip

Let’s be honest if you only have 1 day in Bergamo there is only so much eating you can do. But that being said, if you choose your dishes wisely you can taste some of the traditional food popular in the region. Here are my top recommendations:

Casoncelli alla bergamasca

Casoncelli alla bergamasca is one of the must try dishes during your 1 day in Bergamo. It’s basically pasta stuffed with meat, and served with butter, sage, and pancetta. It’s an excellent bit of comfort food that I highly recommend.

Polenta

I know Polenta is a weird thing to add to your foodie bucket list, but it is a big deal in Bergamo. It’s featured in many dishes as well. You can have it on its own, boiled, or even in a dessert. And it does taste better than it sounds I promise.

Gelato

So here is a fun fact about Bergamo. It is actually where Stracciatella gelato was actually invented back in 1961. Stracciatella, is a milk based ice cream that has these little chocolate shavings mixed in. It’s incredibly creamy and perfect after spending a day exploring the city and walking up those hills. Admittedly I didn’t go for the Stracciatella but either way you cannot go wrong with gelato.

Also if you do find yourself on a Bergamo day trip, make sure you visit one of the city’s incredible bakeries. They serve everything from fresh bread, to Italian pastries, and some pretty good coffee as well. And the best thing is they are really cheap too.

How to get around during your 1 day in Bergamo

Realistically if you only have 1 day in Bergamo, you wont really need to use public transport all that much. But if you do find yourself travelling from the airport, or even the train station, you are probably best off purchasing a tourist pass that is either 24 hours or 72 hours on public transport.

It cost me €8.50 for a 24 hour ticket, and the 72 hour tickets are €14.50. These tickets will cover your bus fare from the airport/train station to the upper town, and the use of the funiculars as well.

ATB is the transport system in Bergamo and you can have a look at their website for more information. I purchased my ticket from the tourist desk at the airport. From here I had to validate the ticket when I got on the bus, and after that you are pretty much good to go.

Budgeting for 1 day in Bergamo

I found Bergamo to be quite cheap when it came to food and drink costs. It is somewhere you can visit on a budget which is always good when you are planning a day trip.

A lot of the city tourist attractions are either free or cheap to visit. For example, getting into the Campanone or the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore will cost you around €5 for entry into each.

Food isn’t too bad either. For instance I ordered pastries, sandwiches and coffees in Bergamo and this cost around €17 for two people. A dinner with two main courses, one starter and some wine cost around €45. You can also do things a lot cheaper by avoiding restaurants and going for street food or supermarket food.

One thing to keep in mind if you are on a budget, some of the more touristy restaurants in Bergamo will charge you a ‘cover charge’ to eat there. This ranges in price, but I think one of the places I ate charged just under €5 each, and that’s before you even order any food. If you are concerned about it, you can always ask your server before you order if this will apply to you.

Accommodation was slightly expensive. For a night in a 4 star hotel smack bang in the centre of Città Alta this cost €180. This was on a Saturday night and I did book a couple of months in advance. You can get much cheaper accommodation though, especially if you visit during off season and during the week.

Best time of the year to plan your Bergamo day trip

Personally I kind of feel like Bergamo is one of those places that you can visit year round.

Summer is of course peak tourist season, with temperatures reaching around the 30°C (86°F) mark. It’s a popular time for tourists wanting to embrace the hot weather and outdoor lifestyle. It is also imperative that you book restaurants and accommodation well in advance if you are travelling at this time.

Winter in Bergamo is quite cold. You are looking at temperatures that range between -1°C (30°F) and 9°C (48.2°F). Snow is common although on the plus side rain isn’t. It’s not full or tourists either so you won’t have to queue for attractions.

Spring and autumn are probably your best times to visit Bergamo as these are the shoulder seasons and you get less tourists and cheaper accommodation prices.

Is 1 day in Bergamo enough?

A common question that I am asked is, is 1 day in Bergamo enough. In an ideal world, I think 2 full days in Bergamo is a good amount of time to see all the attractions. This will also give you a chance to explore both the upper town and lower town.

That being said if you only have time for a day trip to Bergamo then all is not lost. There is a lot to see and do, but the good thing is most of the attractions are in the upper town. And they are all within walking distance of each other. So 1 day in Bergamo really does give you a good amount of time to explore this city.

What to pack for 1 day in Bergamo

What you pack for your Bergamo day trip will largely depend on the season you are visiting. But here. are some must have items.

• Comfortable walking shoes – Bergamo is hilly and has lots of cobbled streets so bring decent shoes.
• A good winter coat for the colder months.
• Layered clothing in the summer months – it can get cool at night.
• Portable phone charger because you will honestly take that many pictures that your phone won’t last the day.

Tips for planning your Bergamo day trip

Here are some final tips for your 1 day in Bergamo.

• If you are flying in to Bergamo get the bus from the airport– it’s cheap and efficient.
• Book any restaurants you want to try in advance.
• If you are doing a short trip have a bit of a plan as to what you want to see so you aren’t backtracking on yourself.
• Bring decent shoes and comfy clothes because you will do a lot of walking.
• If you want to experience the nightlife book accommodation in the lower town.
• But if you want to be close to the sights then go for the upper town.

Should I plan a Bergamo day trip?

If you are wondering if you should plan your Bergamo day trip take this as your sign to go. I was pleasantly surprised at how amazing Bergamo was. Not only is it incredibly beautiful but it’s good value for money, and the food is just out of this world.

Hopefully this guide to visiting Bergamo has helped you plan your own day trip to this enchanting city. If you found this useful you can pin it for later below.

Happy Travels!