We will be spending one night in Bergamo near the airport in order to catch an early morning flight the following day. We are arriving by train in Bergamo from Varenna so we should have a short but decent amount of time in Bergamo. No car. Any recommendations where to go, where to eat? I see there is a large shopping center across the street. Worth checking out? Grazie mille!
Posted by
Washington DC
28384 posts
The historic area is on top of the hill. accessible via funicular. (I imagine there are also buses.) That's where I'd spend my time, though the city has a lot of museums, some of them in the lower town.
Posted by
Southwest Florida
905 posts
Absolutely visit the Old Town. As far as dining goes, I'd venture out of Old Town.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16662 posts
Absolutely get up to Città Alta (what the two previous posters are calling "Old Town"). For dinner, I'll recommend Il Circolino di Città Alta for all sorts of good reasons. You don't mention when you trip is going to be but hopefully it's during the warner month when you can enjoy the big, vine covered terrace. It is not fancy but it is VERY local; you will hear a LOT of Italian spoken. Prices are also inexpensive-to-moderate. Bring your translation app or book for the menu, which I believe changes frequently. We had a very good meal and a great time there one balmy evening.
https://www.ilcircolinocittaalta.it
Read a bit about their social involvement with the community in this (awkwardly google translated) page from their website:
Or here:
https://www.visitbergamo.net/en/object-details/428-il-circolino-di-città-alta/
And here is the section for the "High City" from Bergamo's own tourism website:
https://www.visitbergamo.net/en/upper-bergamo/
The Line 1 bus travels between Città Alta and the airport, and I believe will cost around 2.40€ each way. A € 5,00, 24-hour pass is also available...which is probably the best buy for you.
https://www.atb.bergamo.it/en/atb-network/tourism-in-bergamo/airport-bus
Posted by
OP
Edmonds
86 posts
OK, the high city it is. We are staying near the airport at the Orio al Serio as our flight leaves the next day at 7:45 am. There must be a bus from there to historic area. I'm pretty sure we can sort that out but if someone has another idea, I'd love to hear it. We will be travelling in early May so hopefully the weather will be somewhat warm. Kathy, thank you for the links and the restaurant recommendation. It sounds perfect.
Now, if we can jump through all the hoops to actually get to Italy it will be great.
Thanks for your collective help.
Posted by
Idaho, USA
7924 posts
It looks like the taxi would take about 11 minutes from where you’re staying, so I would just skip the bus.
I am staying up in the Citta Alta for two nights in June (had to cancel plans last year). There’s some interesting architecture in the upper part & interesting museums and a gorgeous basilica interior.
Posted by
OP
Edmonds
86 posts
Well, after all that I am back to ground zero. Just found out that Ryanair changed the flight from early morning to later afternoon (without notifying me). We were flying into Athens, then train to Piraeus then boat to Hydra. This is impossible to do with a late afternoon flight. So I now have to cancel the Ryanair flight and cancel the hotel in Bergamo. Fortunately Aegean Air has a morning flight but that leaves from Malpensa. I now have to book that flight and find a place to stay in Milan, preferably as close to the Cadorna train terminal as possible. Any suggestions?
Many thanks!