Where To Stay In Bergamo: The Ultimate Neighborhood Guide
Many people describe Bergamo as a hidden gem often overlooked, as visitors tend to go straight to its more famous and glamorous neighbor, Milan. It’s just a stone’s away from one of the world’s top fashion cities, but it also has a unique charm you won’t find anywhere else.
Bergamo is the city seat of the Bergamo province in the Lombardy region in Northern Italy. As a medieval city with cobblestone lanes, ancient buildings, and palaces, its scenery looks like something straight out of a fairytale or your favorite historical movie. It’s brimming in history, rich in glorious sights, and home to an array of historical structures, museums, and art galleries. It’s no wonder it draws in millions of visitors each year.
If you’re planning to visit this picturesque town, knowing where to stay in Bergamo is one of the first things you must do. Thankfully Bergamo has the best hotels with spacious rooms, apartments, holiday houses, hostels, and even farmhouses and mountain huts. Your choice of accommodation can make or break your vacation experience, so make sure you pick the best one for your needs and budget. If you’re wondering where you can leave your bags while on holiday, Bounce luggage storage in Bergamo will take care of your essential belongings for you.
Where to stay in Bergamo Citta Alta
The city of Bergamo is divided into two areas – Citta Alta, the upper town perched on a hill, surrounded by the famous Venetian walls, and Citta Bassa, a more modern town of the city. If you want to explore historical and religious landmarks, admire unique masterpieces, and experience an authentic Italian atmosphere, Citta Alta is the neighborhood to visit.
The best way to get to the old town is by taking the funicular, which connects the upper and lower parts of the city. The rail cars climbing up and down the hill between Upper and Lower city operate daily, offering great views along the journey.
Most of the things to do and see in Citta Atla have great cultural and historical significance, making it a popular destination for history buffs. You can visit the city's most striking church, the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, walk along the Venetian walls, or travel to San Vigilio Castle for better city views. Hang out with friends in Piazza Vecchia, located in the heart of Citta Alta. It’s a favorite destination among residents and tourists where they can marvel at a bell tower, Torre Civica, and the oldest municipal seat in the province, the Palazzo della Ragione.
Once done exploring every corner of Piazza Vecchia, rest at Hotel Piazza Vecchia, a centrally located Bergamo hotel featuring comfortable rooms within a historic home. You'll also find The GombitHotel, which is close to many notable buildings in the upper city, including the clock tower and Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica.
Mercure Bergamo Centro Palazzo Dolci is one of the best hotels in Bergamo city center, near Citta Alta. It offers stunning views and modern amenities like free wi-fi, a private bathroom for each room, and a lounge. If you're looking for a place to stay near the airport, there are also many hotels, private rooms, and B&Bs close to the Orio Al Serio airport.
Where to stay in Bergamo Citta Bassa
As a modern part of the city, Citta Bassa offers more advanced facilities and services, such as restaurants for brunch and more, shops, and high-end Bergamo hotels. It doesn’t radiate the same old town vibe or medieval atmosphere as Citta Alta. Still, the city’s lower town is equally packed with main attractions. It will give you glimpses of ancient villages built along the primary roads that link Bergamo Alta to the surrounding territory.
Citta Bassa is a fantastic town for art lovers. It is home to two outstanding art museums, such as the famous Carrara Art Gallery and the Bernareggi Museum of Sacred Art. But your trip to Bergamo city center won’t be complete without visiting one of its most iconic spots, the Sentierone. It’s the city’s traditional promenade that connects Piazza Vittorio Veneto with Via Torquato Tasso.
Covering an area of 3,200 square meters, the Donizetti Theatre is another attraction you can’t miss if you’re exploring this side of the city. It was founded in 1786 and named after an accomplished opera composer, Gaetano Donizetti. Today, it hosts a prominent theater season and contemporary plays and serves as a venue for the prestigious International Piano Festival of Bergamo and Brescia.
Whether you’re here to shop, dine, or watch magnificent plays and live performances, Citta Bassa offers a range of comfortable accommodations for your needs. Close to the Orio al Serio Airport, just five minutes walk from Bergamo Train Station, is the Western Hotel Cappello D'Oro. It provides efficiency and comfort for travelers and visitors looking for a quick break in Bergamo, Italy. It’s also accessible to various shopping locations and major sights around Citta Bassa.
The stylish hotel in Citta Bassa, Mercure Bergamo Centro Palazzo Dolci, is close to the bus station and offers proximity to the airport and Matteotti Square. It’s also a walking distance of restaurants, art galleries, and the funicular to the upper city.
Where to stay in Borgo Santa Caterina
Considered Bergamo’s “Piccadilly Circus,” Borgo Santa Caterina is the ultimate place for fun nightlife in the city. It’s a treasure trove of wonders with narrow streets filled with colorful store windows and tempting delicatessen shops. It also offers an eclectic mix of trendy pubs, shops, and restaurants and provides family-friendly and lots of nighttime activities.
Borgo Santa Caterina will give you a glimpse of the past with its historical buildings while enjoying the present. It’s a perfect blend of innovation and tradition you don’t want to miss when exploring Bergamo. Here, you can enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning, dine at one of its finest restaurants, and experience a cheery night as the borough lights up with numerous clubs and pubs.
After touring around the city, spend your summer nights in Borgo Santa Caterina for live music and unparalleled entertainment. Meet new people and enjoy local food and your favorite cocktails. It’s an incredible place for partygoers and even art lovers all year long.
For a memorable stay in Bergamo, go to the Residenza del Borgo, a new hotel in one of the city center’s oldest boroughs. It consists of eighteen mini-apartments with air conditioned rooms ideal for individuals, families, and groups looking for unique and stylish accommodation in Bergamo. It guarantees maximum comfort and a friendly environment in a place that represents a combination of modernity, antiquity, history, and culture.
Where to stay in Borgo Palazzo
Borgo Palazzo is one of the main boroughs of Bergamo along the road to Brescia. It is northwest of Boccaleone and close to Borgo Santa Caterina. Like many neighborhoods in Bergamo, it is home to numerous churches, noble palaces, convents, and other ancient buildings that attract travelers and tourists.
Besides its old sites, the unique shops, cafes, and restaurants in Borgo Palazzo will give you insight into what this neighborhood values. There are vintage shops to buy some retro and old-fashioned goods, jewelry stores, and boutiques where you can find interesting souvenirs and gifts.
If you’re wondering where to stay in Bergamo, consider the Borgo Palazza house. It’s a well-designed two-room apartment of seventy square meters. It’s only ten minutes from Orio al Serio international airport, five minutes from the railway station, and close to an exhibition center.
Perhaps, you want to take a look at Sant'Antonio De Foris. It’s a family-run B&B and restaurant just fifteen minutes walk away from Bergamo Train station. It is set in a lovely townhouse that dates back to the 1200s, offering free wifi, classic-style rooms, and private bathrooms. From Sant'Antonio De Foris, you can take the bus to the historic upper city area.
Where to stay in Borgo San Leonardo
If you’re looking for a vibrant neighborhood in Bergamo, Borgo San Leonardo is the right place to go. It’s a destination for celebration with a lively nightlife and colorful dining scene. The young and old come here for happy hour and exciting entertainment year-round.
Borgo San Leonardo is lower Bergamo’s historic junction, easily recognizable due to its distinctive layout, where five roads meet in one square. It’s a dynamic Borough where you can participate in fun events and thrilling festivals, from the Open-shops Nights and Summer nights to the highly anticipated Bergamo Buskers Festival. This festival hosts hundreds of street artists, including fire eaters, magicians, jugglers, and clowns, for an exhilarating experience.
If there are no street events, your trip to Borgo San Leonardo can be filled with shopping and dining with numerous restaurants, boutiques, unique stores, and shops. There are also bars and pubs should you decide to spend the night out with friends or locals.
Then end your day at Casa Piazza Pontida, a cozy and inviting apartment elegantly decorated housed in an ancient palace. It’s on the first floor of the palace, right in the middle of lower Bergamo city. There are also traveler’s inns, Bread & Breakfast, a guest house, and other nice Bergamo hotels you can check out nearby.
Where to stay in Borgo Pignolo
Located between the lower and upper Bergamo, Borgo Pignolo is a charming old district that combines art, tradition, and refined architecture. It’s where the ancient and contemporary art meets, with numerous antique shops and art galleries throughout the neighborhood. It’s a lovely destination for art enthusiasts, history buffs, and those who want to access everything the city has to offer.
Once you go up the ancient district, you’ll reach the Sant’Agostino Gate, which has been the primary entrance to Citta Alta for a long time. Along the way, you’ll find artisan workshops, countless restaurants, and beautiful palaces of Renaissance and Neoclassical styles and their stunning courtyards. One of the awe-inspiring mansions in this noble district is the Palazzo Agliardi, an 18th-century residence built by Alessandro Martinengo during the Cinquecento period.
As you stroll down its cobblestone streets, stop by the Church of San Bernardino and discover the striking altarpiece by Lorenzo Lotto. Through its heavy wooden doors is a masterpiece by one of the great Renaissance Master dating back to1521.
Once you’ve completed your tour, rest at Borgo Pignolo 49, a holiday home in the neighborhood of Borgo Pignolo about 600 meters from Accademia Carrara. It also provides easy access to a stadium and a Bergamo airport and is just less than a kilometer from Teatro Donizetti Bergamo.
Where to stay in Valtesse
Valtesse is a quartiere of Bergamo city about 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) from Orio Al Serio Airport and 300 miles northwest of the country’s capital, Rome. It’s located in the northern part of the city between Citta Alta hill and Maresana Hill. It may not be as popular as other towns and neighborhoods in Bergamo, but it has increasingly drawn more young people and families, which rejuvenated the area.
If you plan to stay in this part of the city, you can find cheap accommodations, like private rooms and apartments for rent. There are also budget-friendly hotels and hostels nearby you can consider. Whether you’re a solo traveler or visiting with friends or family, check out Appartamento Valtesse, featuring garden views and essential Bergamo hotel amenities. It’s only an evelen-minute walk from a stadium, Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia, and two kilometers from a historic chapel and mausuleom, the Cappella Colleoni. If you are a family on a budget, and even if you are not, check out our guide on what to do for free in Bergamo, compiled by Bounce.
The Best Place to Stay in Bergamo
With so many options available, it can be daunting to figure out where to stay in Bergamo, especially if you're unfamiliar with the area. Even if you've been in the city a few times, you'll still want to know other Bergamo hotels and quality accommodations you can try to diversify your experience.
If you know where to go, what places you want to see, and the activities you plan to do, you can quickly narrow down your choices and make an informed decision. You have to pick the location carefully, the comfort levels, and consider its accessibility to public transportation. Enjoy your stay and consider venturing out too, by taking a trip from Bergamo Train Station. There is so much to see!