We are going to rent an apartment for 3 months and would like to lease a car for at least 2 months. We were warned that we wouldn't find anywhere to park. Does anyone have any ideas. Thanks so much.
Thank you all so much for the advice and for such a quick response. What a great Forum community!
Unfortunately, the apartment does not include the parking permit and we will be using it as a base for the full 3 months.
VRBO.com
There's also a regular in this forum who is a native of Bergamo and may offer some tips...
Hi -
Just to be clear, are you looking at renting an apartment in Bergamo for the entire 3 months?
If this is the case, you're going to want to book one which provides a permit to park in one of the spots reserved for locals. We haven't been there with a car but I can absolutely confirm that there will be very few places to park in Citta Alta: it is a Medieval town with very narrow streets, and a lot of it is restricted to pedestrians. A local guide mentioned lack of parking as one of the difficulties that citizens who choose to live in the old city have to put up with.
Bergamo alta is definitively a place where you dont want to have a car.
Bergamo bassa is much better in terms of parking space availability. I also assume house rental fees are lower.
I think there are parking lots in Citta Bassa and a convenient bus to Citta Alta every few minutes.
Buses and Funicolar.
Not sure this is completely current but here's a map of parking areas in Bergamo:
http://www.atb.bergamo.it/ITA/Default.aspx?MOD=ATBPRK&SEZ=3&PAG=57
The issue is that these appear to be PAID lots, and all of those I've clicked on have a maximum amount of time you can park in them. To deal with a vehicle for several months, unlimited parking with a permit will probably need to be included with an accommodation.
But here's where local intelligence would be helpful!
If you look at the map you linked, most parking lots are located in the lower part of the city. Very few are available up on the hilltop; they are all located along the perimeter of the city walls.
In most cases those parking lots are free of charge for the night, but you better check the timetable. Unfortunately I couldnt find any in the website.
Edit: I found out. Parking at Bergamo Alta is free of charge overnight, between 7 PM and 9 AM. At Bergamo Bassa parking is free of charge overnight (7 PM to 9 AM) AND on sunday / bank holidays as well all day long.
Thanks for extra footwork, David!
I'm still leaning towards finding the accommodation which provides a spot so there's never any cost, worry or hassle but that's my style and not necessarily everyone else's. :O)
No problem, I just gave them a ring. Good to know to me as well, just in case I'd need to go to Bergamo in the future.
Car access to restriced zones (like Bergamo Alta) is granted to temporary residents by the municipality. The point is: are you renting a house with a garage or any kind of private parking space? Moreover, I don't think local bureaucracy will ever accept online applications so you better be prepared to deal with them in person. Good luck! :-)
Bergamo Alta is a very nice place, but maybe not the perfect base for travelling and exploring the country.
I would agree, David. We loved Citta Alta but it's not exactly long on conveniences for a 3-month stay.
If you wish to stay in the area, with a car, in a charming place but well connected to the outside world why not try Iseo? Some 30 minutes away from Bergamo, lakeside, not far away from the A4 motorway, railroad station, no problems with parking lots.
David, thank you and everyone for all the information that you provided. I looked up Iseo and it is a very beautiful place and we now definitely plan to explore the area. We have already rented the apartment in Alta Cita. We thought that for the first month we would get to know Bergamo and take day trips or short stay trips by public transportation. The idea of leasing a car for at least 2 months has to do with missing opportunities to stop between destinations for photography and/or painting. Not being seasoned travelers, we are not sure of how to work this all out. We have plans to visit southeastern France in June for 8 days and will definitely rent a car then. Is the idea of leasing (2 months) and parking someplace within a hour from the apartment for taking short excursions (one to two days) seem too much, unnecessary or undo-able ?
Well, you can think about the car after your arrival.
The mountain area north of the city offers plenty of opportunity for day trips. Just to mention one the town of San Pellegrino terme, the birthplace of the world-famous mineral water. Some days a year (mainly on summertime) the bottling plant is open for visiting.
Is the idea of leasing (2 months) and parking someplace within a hour from the apartment for taking short excursions (one to two days) seem too much, unnecessary or undo-able ?
It would be an unnecessary expensive and hassle for us but only you can answer that question. Personally, I can't see having a car if it's not going to be used every day or isn't needed for places that can be reached by train/reasonably frequent bus service. There are enough old towns which can't be driven into, towns/cities with large pedestrian-only areas and other driving/parking restrictions that unless we'd be staying in/exploring the countryside, we're happy just jumping on the trains. But again, it's a personal choice.
I don't know how long you're staying in Bergamo, but If I were you I wouldn't miss a visit to the Serio river waterfalls. The river had been diverted by a dam in the 1930s and the falls disappeared. Nonetheless, five times a year the dam gates are opened to restore the original water flow, for tourists and visitors to enjoy.
Here is the calendar (italian only, alas) :
http://www.turismovalbondione.it/news_eventi.php?categoria=cascate
From Bergamo it's an hour drive north to the tiny town of Valbondione. It's the valley's end, so you can't miss it! Leave the car over there (temporary parking lots are set up, to accomodate visitors' cars) and walk uphill for a couple of hours till you reach a large meadow where you can enjoy the scene. The show starts at 11AM, when the people at the dam play a loud horn, to warn people downstream about the arrival of the water. After some five minutes, you see the water flowing down !
Kathy and David, thank you again for your excellent advice and help!
Just started to pack and very excited about our trip. But, last night for the first time I came across a multitude of comments concerning carrying an expensive camera around in Italy . A main focus of my stay was to leave with professional quality photos. How concerned should I be especially when not renting a car and using mostly public transportation. I would like to have at least my camera and two extra lenses with me most of the time.
My only concern would be the extra weight you'll have to carry around. I do have a reflex camera and I know how it weighs. Have you ever considered a high-end prosumer compact camera like a Canon G16?
I've done trips with two camera bodies and three lenses, they're heavy but if you want great photos, and can handle the weight (I can't anymore), go for it.
Are you saying that there is no need to worry about theft of my cameras? I do have a small high-end mirrorless camera that I'm also bringing.
It's just that I read so many warnings on this site about cameras and theft.
Thank you again for your quick response.
Andy, I think most camera theft is due in part to carelessness, rather than someone grabbing your camera out of your hands. Crime in Europe is more stealth than brute force.
Thanks Zoe. I feel a lot more comfortable.
Good advice from Zoe (as always).
Treat your equipment as you would any bag containing valuables and you'll be fine: don't hang the bag from the back of a chair; don't lay the camera on the table at cafes; put the camera away when taking public transit; etc. Smartphones and pads are a more common target for theft all over the world than cameras these days.
What is the best way to get to Iseo from Bergamo using bus and/or train?
What about San Pelligrino using the bus?
Bergamo to San Pellegrino by bus:
Bergamo to Iseo definitively by train via Brescia or via Rovato. Check the Trenord website.
Thanks for refining trips to San Pellegrino and Iseo which are two locations that I learned about from this Forum and excited to visit.
One more question (I think) - Does anyone have a recommendation for a cellular phone provider in order to purchase a sim card and services?
TIM (Telecom Italia Mobile) got the best coverage in terms of cell signal in mountain areas.
Well, we're here in Bergamo, Citta Alta. How incredibly beautiful and were invited to spend memorable Easter Sunday with a local family. With the help of everyone we just planned our first one week car excursion. So here we go with another question - Recommendation of car rental company. I thought that it might be easiest(?) to rent a car at the Bergamo Airport. Am I on the right track? Thanks again.
Certainly airport locations offer the widest selection of cars; they're also open 7 days a week from early morning till late night. City locations might not be open on weekends.
The airport is easily reachable by bus line 1.
Thanks David. I took your advice.
