Free walking tours in Bergamo and what to see

Must-sees

Bergamo has two faces: the Lower Town, modern and commercial, and the Upper Town, the historic centre enclosed by the Venetian walls, part of the Venetian defence works declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The easiest way up is the funicular, which drops you next to Piazza Vecchia. Here stand the Palazzo della Ragione, the Civic Tower, which you can climb for views over the rooftops, and the Contarini fountain.

Just behind is the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, plain outside and lavish within, and beside it the Colleoni Chapel, with its façade of coloured marble. The cathedral is on the same square. From the Upper Town another funicular climbs to San Vigilio, with views over the plain and the Pre-Alps. Down below, the Accademia Carrara, a gallery of Italian painting spanning several centuries, is well worth a visit.

Free tours and guided visits

There are free walking tours of Bergamo, which usually cover the Upper Town, its squares and the walls, and an e-bike route to see the lower town too without tiring yourself on the hills. Bergamo is also a good base for day trips: there are organised outings to Verona and Sirmione, to Venice, to Lugano and Bellinzona in Switzerland and to Lake Braies in the Dolomites.

How long to spend

A full day lets you see the main sights: the Upper Town in the morning, with Piazza Vecchia, the basilica and the chapel, and in the afternoon a walk along the walls and the ride up to San Vigilio. If you want to visit the Accademia Carrara and stroll around the Lower Town, add half a day. Many travellers arrive through Orio al Serio airport, so it is easy to make the most of the first or last day of a trip.

Where to stay

If you are after atmosphere, stay in the Upper Town, where there are small hotels and apartments in old buildings; at night, once the groups have gone, its streets are quiet. The Lower Town, around the station and the modern centre, has more choice and a wider range of prices, and connects with the airport and Milan. From there you go up to the old town by funicular or bus in a few minutes.