Bergamo airport is known as Milan Bergamo which is misleading on two counts.
The city of Bergamo is actually a 48-minute train journey away from Milan and Bergamo is a standout city in its own right and should not be overshadowed by its bigger brother.
The airport is officially called Bergamo-Orio al Serio, or 'Il Caravaggio', named after the artist known as such (Michelangelo Merisi) who spent his early years living in the nearby town of the same name.
A taxi to Bergamo centre will cost 20 euros or the airport bus (Linea 1) will cost 3 euros.
You purchase a ticket (biglietto) at the self-service machine at the bus stop outside airport arrivals, and you must validate the ticket by scanning it once you board the bus.
This bus ticket will then be valid for 90 minutes. I have done both- the taxi was handy back in April at 2:30am after waiting at passport control for 3 hours, but today I caught the bus which was very hot and crowded but it was quick, cheap, and convenient.
Bergamo is found in the centre of the Lombardy region in the north of Italy (Milan is situated to its southwest).
Plenty of low-cost flights are available to and from Bergamo (even in the school holidays, speaking as a teacher) and it turns out it is a perfect gateway to many of the stunning locations to be discovered in the north of Italy, however, the city itself is often overlooked and I admit I too was guilty of this until I first properly visited in April 2026.
I used to fly into Bergamo sometimes when flights to Bologna were not feasible, and my ex's mum would pick us up and drive us to her home or his sister's home in Ravenna or Reggio Emilia.
I had visited Milan before, back in 2018 with a friend, but it had never occurred to me to actually spend time in Bergamo and enjoy this fab, chilled, and very pretty city! It was an oversight I have been making up for this year.
The city is divided in two: Città Bassa and Città Alta (Lower City and Upper City). Città Alta is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and indeed you will see why once you are there, taking in the views, Venetian walls, and miles and miles of surrounding greenery.
The everyday city life is found in Città Bassa- the high street, bars, shops, hair and beauty salons, etc.
The beauty, and the view, are to be found in Città Alta, and there are two ways of accessing the Upper City: funicular or walking.
I was first in Bergamo in early April with temperatures around 20 degrees and it was fine for walking up the steep winding stone steps which takes around 8-10 minutes (if mobility is ok for you). I am writing this today in late May after being in Bergamo again today and it was 10 degrees hotter, and I wouldn't have been as keen to walk up to the Città Alta had I done it again.
If you prefer or if needed, there is the funicular which takes 7 minutes to reach the Città Alta, costing just 1 euro 60. It was Easter Sunday when I visited Città Alta and queues were long which was the main reason why I walked up.
Whatever way you get there, Città Alta will reward you with its panoramic views over the city and beyond, along with its ambient piazza and impressive basilica and cathedral.
The Upper City is quite small but it is fun to explore once you have passed through the central Piazza Vecchia and visited the basilica and cathedral, you will find quiet, cobbled side streets where there is nobody but a solitary cat lolling in the sun and the distant sound of church bells.
The Piazza Vecchia (or, the Old Square) is where you will find the usual trattorias and staff inviting you in to see the menu, along with people selling those children's toys that fly up in the sky flashing bright blue before landing back on the ground. Walk past this, and you will be rewarded with a sight that will stun you.
As I said, it was Easter Sunday when I first visited Bergamo, and the church bells resounded across Piazza Duomo as people milled around in and out of the cathedral. The Easter service had already taken place so by this time, around 12pm, visitors were allowed access.
Pictured above is the Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore, a stunning Romanesque church built in the 12th century.
I am not a religious person but often find myself in awe at the architecture, art, and sculpture found within many places of worship across the world, especially in Italy and Spain. I have been very fortunate to see the mosaics in the Basilica di San Vitale in Ravenna, the unpreserved yet intact 800-year-old body of Saint Agnes in the Santuario di Sant'Agnese in Montepulciano, amongst many other awesome sites/sights.
Yet, I was still awe-stricken when I stepped inside the Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore in Bergamo Città Alta, which cost just 5 euros for the experience.
Now, I have not had a sit-down meal in Bergamo during my two trips so far but the place I would recommend is Berghem Love. It sells pasta in paper bowls you can take away or eat inside for around 12 euros. I do not have a sweet tooth and only very rarely opt for something sweet but one day I will go there for their desserts-ravioli filled with white chocolate, topped with white chocolate sauce and raspberry sauce- 5 euros!
Bergamo is ideal for solo travel, particularly solo female travel.
I have seen it recommended by various women online, I have been there twice, my female cousin has been there and loved I too. As I always say, never been naive, but Bergamo seems so chilled and people are just getting on with their lives, not waiting to pounce on tourists. People are really friendly in the bars and shops but leave you in peace.
I really like Bergamo; I like the fact that even on my second trip there, I got off the train at Bergamo Centrale and already felt familiar with the city.
There is a bar I popped into back in April in a search for somewhere to charge my phone, and I found it in 'Wood Beer & Drinks' in Piazza Pontida. It was Easter Sunday and the music was brilliant- 90s Britpop and House. I was so tempted to stay, I actually looked up flights home for the following day but prices were silly so last minute.
Needing to charge my phone again in May, I knew where to go.
I don't actually have any pictures of the bar but the whole piazza is fun and can't be missed.
Although my blog post says Bergamo is so much more than its airport (and it truly is!), it is worth bearing in mind that Bergamo airport and Bergamo train station open up so much travel possibilities for accessing parts of Italy which you can't reach (or easily reach) directly from the UK.
For example, I will be flying back into Bergamo end of July to then get the train along to Padua for two days before flying out of Verona to Bari, flights costing £17 into Bergamo and £28 Verona-Bari.
There is still so much more to see in Bergamo and I love the fact it is such a cool and pretty city to spend time in, becoming more familiar with it with every visit!
Add comment
Comments