Borgo Palazzo, the perfect location

If you only have one day, we recommend spending most of your time in Città Alta (the Upper Town), the historic heart of Bergamo. Piazza Vecchia, the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, the Colleoni Chapel, the Campanone bell tower, and the Venetian Walls are absolute must-sees. For a spectacular view, climb up to the Campanone — you won’t be disappointed!

For a first visit, we recommend at least two days, so you can take your time exploring both Città Alta and Città Bassa. Three days would be perfect for a relaxed stroll through the historic streets, an ice cream stop, and time to simply enjoy the city! If you have a few extra days, Bergamo is also a great base for exploring the surrounding area, from the Orobie mountains to the lakes of Lombardy.

Both. Città Alta holds the historic and monumental heart of the city, while Città Bassa has a livelier atmosphere, with shops, cafés, restaurants, and important museums. What makes Bergamo special is being able to discover two different worlds, connected to one another.

Yes, many of Bergamo’s main attractions are easily reachable on foot. Città Alta is especially lovely to explore on foot, wandering through its lanes, squares, and Venetian Walls. To get there from Città Bassa, you can walk, take the stairways, hop on bus n.1, or ride the historic funicular (we suggest avoiding it during peak-season weekends).

Local specialities worth trying include casoncelli alla bergamasca, polenta taragna, scarpinocc, and the cheeses from our valleys — we have 7 DOC cheeses! And to finish, don’t miss stracciatella, the famous ice cream flavour that was actually born right here in Bergamo. If you stay with us, we’re happy to recommend our favourite restaurants and the best gelaterias.

Bergamo is a great base for exploring the Orobie mountains, Lake Iseo, Lake Como, Milan, and many other spots in Lombardy. The best choice depends on the season and how much time you have — during your stay, we’re happy to suggest a day trip suited to your interests.

Bergamo Orio al Serio Airport is just a few kilometres from the city centre and is directly connected to Bergamo by the Airport Bus (bus n.1). The service reaches the train station and continues on to Città Alta, making it easy to get into town even without a car.

From the train station, you can reach Città Alta on foot, by bus, or by funicular. If you enjoy walking, it’s lovely to climb up through the streets and stairways of the old town — we locals are keen walkers and love going up on foot! Alternatively, public transport makes it easy to reach the upper part of the city.

Bergamo has several parking options both in the city centre and in the surrounding areas. If you’re arriving by car, keep in mind the restricted traffic zones (ZTL), especially around Città Alta, which is almost always closed to traffic. There’s a car park within the walls that makes it easy to reach Città Alta (the Fara car park). We’re always happy to point our guests to the most convenient parking option for their needs.

Yes. The city centre, the train station, Città Alta, and the airport are all connected by public transport. Bergamo is therefore a convenient destination even if you arrive by train or plane and prefer to explore without a car. In fact, we recommend visiting without one — a car only really comes in handy if you want to reach destinations further afield.

Yes, Bergamo is a lovely destination for a family holiday. Città Alta offers squares, walking routes, and views to discover together, while the city can easily be explored by mixing walks with public transport. In our apartments we also provide a cot, a high chair, and a few other accessories designed for families.

Because it means having real people looking after your home and your stay. At DomusBergamo, we personally manage our apartments and love sharing tips on Bergamo — restaurants, walks, and places worth discovering. Even our hand-painted watercolour maps of Bergamo come from our wish to show you the city through our own eyes.