Planning a trip to Bergamo and have no idea where to stay? Look no further!
Bergamo often gets overshadowed by nearby Milan and Lake Como, but in our opinion, it’s one of the most charming destinations in the region.
The city itself is split into two distinct parts: the ancient, walled Città Alta (Upper Town) and the modern, bustling Città Bassa (Lower Town). This setup makes planning accommodation a bit tricky, as each area offers a very different experience. To help you plan your trip, we’ve put together this guide to the best areas to stay in Bergamo, plus our favorite hotels for every budget.
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Our Top Choice
This is the area and hotel we loved the most and suggest booking ASAP!
Our FAVORITE area to stay in is Central Città Bassa. The Lower Town has more accommodation options, lots of restaurants, and great connections to the Upper Town.
We recommend staying at Hotel Excelsior San Marco, which has a fantastic location, a rooftop restaurant, and a moderate price tag!
Where to Stay in Bergamo map
Overview of the Best Areas to Stay in Bergamo
One of the things we love most about Bergamo is that it feels like two cities in one.
You get the historic Città Alta, which sits on a hill behind impressive Venetian walls, and the modern Città Bassa, which stretches out below. Thankfully, getting between the two is incredibly easy thanks to the city’s funicular, which connects the areas in just a few minutes.
If you want to feel like you’re staying inside a postcard, Città Alta is hard to beat. This is where you’ll find the city’s most famous landmarks, beautiful piazzas, and charming cobblestone streets. It offers a truly special atmosphere, although accommodation here is generally more expensive and hotel options are a bit more limited.
Even though Città Alta is stunningly perfect, for most travelers, Città Bassa is often the most practical choice. The area offers a wider selection of hotels, more affordable prices, excellent restaurants, and convenient transport connections. And you’ll still be just a short ride away from Città Alta whenever you’re ready to explore.
Città Bassa is also home to Bergamo’s main train station. So if you’re planning lots of day trips to places like Milan, Lake Como, or Verona, this is definitely the most convenient place to base yourself.
Before we get into the details, here’s a quick look at the best areas to stay in Bergamo:
- Central Città Bassa – Best for first-time visitors – The modern center of Bergamo revolves around Sentierone and Via XX Settembre, offering the city’s best shopping and dining experiences. Our top pick here is Hotel Excelsior San Marco, a classic hotel with a rooftop restaurant just a 2-minute walk to the funicular.
- Città Alta – Best for historic charm – Perched on a hill above the modern city, this is Bergamo’s medieval heart and most picturesque place to stay. Our favorite place to stay here is Locanda Mimmo – a beautifully restored 14th-century boutique hotel!
- Bergamo Station – Best for day trips & transport connections – Centered around the main train station, this area is the city’s transportation hub with direct rail links across northern Italy. A great choice here is AR Suites&Art for it’s stylish decor and central location.
Important Tip
Multiple Bergamo trips have taught us that this town doesn’t reward spontaneity when it comes to planning. The good places get snapped up months in advance, leaving the overpriced and underwhelming options for last-minute travelers.
The sweet spot for booking Bergamo accommodations is 3-4 months out—enough time to secure good rates but not so far ahead that you’re locking in plans excessively early.
Where to Stay in Bergamo
Central Città Bassa
BEST FOR FIRST-TIME VISITORS
Pros
- Excellent shopping, dining, and nightlife options right at your doorstep
- Very convenient access to the funicular for quick trips up to Città Alta
- A wider range of hotel options, and generally more affordable than the Upper Town
Cons
- Lacks the medieval charm and historic atmosphere of Città Alta
- Can be busy and traffic-heavy during peak commuting hours
If it’s your very first time in Bergamo, there’s a good chance Central Città Bassa will make the most sense for your trip.
This is the modern heart of the city, centered around Sentierone (Bergamo’s elegant main promenade), Porta Nuova (the grand gateway between the Upper and Lower Towns), and Via XX Settembre (the city’s premier shopping street). As you’d expect, this part of the city is super lively, with no shortage of cafes, restaurants, and bars, plus plenty of outdoor terraces perfect for an evening aperitivo.
What we love most about Central Città Bassa is that you get the best of both worlds. You can spend your morning browsing boutiques and enjoying a coffee in a piazza, then head up to Città Alta in just a few minutes to explore the medieval streets, historic churches, and Bergamo’s most famous sights.
Of course, you won’t get quite the same old-world atmosphere as you would in the Upper Town. However, if you’re looking for a lively, convenient base with excellent restaurants, plenty of hotel options, and easy access to both sides of the city, Central Città Bassa is definitely worth considering.
Palazzo Santo Spirito – $$$
If you’re looking to treat yourself on your trip to Bergamo, you absolutely have to consider Palazzo Santo Spirito. This 4-star hotel is housed within an ancient convent, and the building itself dates back to the 14th century (so cool!).
One of the things we love most about this hotel is its location. You’re just a 10-minute walk from Largo Porta Nuova and around 15 minutes from the funicular, making it easy to explore both Città Bassa and Città Alta on your trip. There’s also a fabulous restaurant on-site, plus a wellness area with a sauna and hot tub.
In terms of pricing, you can expect rates to start around €150 per night and climb to €300+ per night, depending on the season.
If you’re looking for a second option, Petronilla – Hotel in Bergamo is another fantastic hotel in Central Città Bassa. One of the highlights here is the extensive homemade breakfast buffet, which is served outside in the courtyard in summer.
Bergamo INN 21 is another spectacular option. We love this hotel because all the rooms have air conditioning, and it’s just a 15-minute walk from the funicular.
Hotel Excelsior San Marco – $$
Next up is our top pick in Central Città Bassa, Hotel Excelsior San Marco.
We absolutely love this hotel because it’s in one of the most convenient locations in Bergamo. You’re just a 2-minute walk from the funicular to Città Alta and only a couple of minutes from the city’s main shopping streets, making it easy to explore both the Upper and Lower Town on foot.
The real highlight, though, is the rooftop restaurant. With panoramic views over Bergamo and the surrounding hills, it’s the perfect spot to unwind with dinner or a drink after a busy day of sightseeing.
Rates typically start from around €100 per night and can climb to €250+ during peak season, which is honestly such good value considering the location.
If the Hotel Excelsior San Marco is all booked up on your preferred dates, we also recommend Hotel Cappello D’Oro. This hotel is about a 10-minute walk to the funicular, and there’s also a small gym and sauna on-site.
Another mid-range hotel in Central Città Bassa worth checking out is Arli Hotel Business and Wellness. This hotel has a full-service spa with wellness packages, making it feel like a mini retreat within the city.
La Castellana Loft Hotel – $
For our budget-friendly pick in Central Città Bassa, we absolutely love La Castellana Loft Hotel.
This is honestly one of the best-value stays in Bergamo. The rooms are super cute and modern, and the breakfast buffet each morning features a selection of locally-sourced breads, cheeses, and produce. There’s even an on-site bar and shared lounge area if you fancy a drink and a quiet place to relax.
Location-wise, you’re just an 8-minute walk from Bergamo Station and around 6 minutes from the Donizetti Theatre, putting both the transport hub and city center within easy reach. As for cost, rooms typically start from around €110 per night and can climb to €200+ during peak season.
Another budget-friendly option we love in Central Città Bassa is Donizetti Residence. This is an aparthotel-style with kitchen facilities in each room, making it a great choice if you’re planning a longer stay or simply want the flexibility to prepare some of your own meals and save a little money.
La Maison is another option worth considering if both La Castellana Loft Hotel and Donizetti Residence are full. This is more of a guesthouse-style stay in a historic building near Teatro Donizetti.
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Città Alta
BEST FOR HISTORIC CHARM
Pros
- Incredible atmosphere with stunning medieval architecture and cobblestone streets
- Walking distance to major sights like Piazza Vecchia and the Venetian Walls
- Beautifully quiet and romantic in the evenings after the day-trippers leave
Cons
- More expensive accommodation options compared to Città Bassa
- Difficult to reach with heavy luggage (requires taking the funicular or a taxi)
If you’re searching for that quintessential Italian old-town experience, look no further than Città Alta.
This is the oldest part of Bergamo, and it has everything you’d hope to find in a historic Italian city—cobblestone streets, beautiful piazzas, and centuries-old buildings that make it feel like you’ve stepped back in time. It’s also home to many of Bergamo’s biggest attractions, including Piazza Vecchia, the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, and the Venetian Walls, which offer incredible views over the city and surrounding countryside.
The best thing about staying in Città Alta is, hands down, the atmosphere. During the day, the streets buzz with visitors exploring the historic center. However, by the time evening rolls around, things become much quieter and more relaxed after the day-trippers leave. Honestly, the vibe is pure magic!
Of course, staying in Città Alta comes with a few trade-offs. Hotels are generally much more expensive, and reaching your accommodation can be a little less convenient with all the steps and cobblestone paths. However, if you’re looking for that classic Italian old-town experience, Città Alta is definitely worth the effort.
Hotel Piazza Vecchia – $$$
For our luxury pick in Città Alta, we always recommend Hotel Piazza Vecchia.
Like many hotels in the Upper Town, Hotel Piazza Vecchia is housed in a historic 14th-century residence. But what we love about this particular hotel is that all the rooms are air-conditioned, so you get the romance of staying in a centuries-old building without sacrificing modern comforts.
Plus, the location doesn’t get much better. You’re just a 1-minute walk from Piazza Vecchia and only a couple of minutes from many of Città Alta’s top attractions, with countless cafes, restaurants, and historic sights within easy walking distance.
In terms of pricing, rates typically start from around €155 to €240+ per night, depending on the room type and season.
If Hotel Piazza Vecchia is fully booked, GombitHotel is an excellent alternative. This hotel is also just a 1-minute walk to Piazza Vecchia and offers chic, modern rooms and an Italian-style breakfast each morning.
Palazzo Porta Picta is another spectacular option, offering a luxury B&B experience near the funicular. We love this hotel because they offer a paid airport shuttle service, which is such a nice bonus if you’re arriving in the city with luggage.
Locanda Mimmo – $$
For our mid-range pick in Città Alta, we cannot recommend Locanda Mimmo enough.
This historic inn dates back to the 1300s and features elegantly restored rooms with Italian-style decor and furnishings. What we love most about this hotel, though, is the family-owned Italian restaurant that’s been running since 1956 and considered by locals to be the “heart” of Bergamo. So that’s your dinner plans sorted!
Price-wise, you can expect rates to begin at around €150 per night and climb up to €300+ for peak dates, which is such a steal for Città Alta.
If you need another option, Locanda Cavour is another fabulous place to stay. This hotel is just a 3-minute walk to the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore and even has a coffee shop on-site.
Casa di Sofia Città Alta is also a brilliant choice. This particular hotel offers a range of room options, including suites, family rooms, and apartment-style stays just steps away from the funicular.
Il Sole – $
For a budget-friendly pick in Città Alta, you can’t go wrong with Il Sole.
The vibe here is charming and historic, with some rooms offering absolutely incredible views over Upper Town and the surrounding countryside. There’s even a restaurant serving up wood-fired pizza every day. Does it get much better than that?
Location-wise, you’re just steps from Piazza Vecchia and less than a 5-minute walk from the funicular, making this spot an incredibly easy base for exploring the rest of Bergamo.
In terms of pricing, you can expect rates to range from €90 to €230+ per night, depending on the room and season, which is more than reasonable for Città Alta.
If Il Sole is all booked up, mille e una notte is another budget-friendly option worth checking out. This is a traditional guesthouse offering modern rooms and easy access to Piazza Vecchia.
Why We Book Hotels on booking.com
Booking.com is a trusted online booking platform for hotels, guesthouses, apartments, and boutique stays around the world. We’ve been using Booking.com to reserve our accommodations for over a decade, and we keep coming back for a few key reasons:
Bergamo Station
BEST FOR DAY TRIPS & TRANSPORT CONNECTIONS
Pros
- Unbeatable convenience for arriving by train or taking the airport bus
- Excellent base for taking day trips to Milan, Lake Como, or Verona
- Generally offers the most budget-friendly accommodation options in the city
Cons
- The immediate area around the station is busy and lacks historic charm
- You will need to walk 15-20 minutes or take a bus/funicular to reach Città Alta
If you’re planning to use Bergamo as a base for exploring other parts of northern Italy, you’ll definitely want to stay near Bergamo’s main train station, which offers direct rail connections to destinations like Milan, Brescia, and Verona, along with convenient airport bus links.
While Bergamo Station may not have the historic atmosphere of Città Alta or the lively feel of Central Città Bassa, it more than makes up for it with convenience, affordability, and excellent transport connections. You can arrive by train, check into your hotel within minutes, and spend the following days exploring some of northern Italy’s most popular destinations without having to worry about driving, parking, or navigating unfamiliar roads.
And when you’re not out and about exploring, Central Città Bassa is still within easy walking distance. Sentierone and Via XX Settembre are both less than a 15-minute walk from the station, so you’ll still have plenty of restaurants, cafes, and shops to keep you busy between day trips.
Of course, this isn’t the most picturesque part of Bergamo, and you’ll need to venture further afield for the city’s historic sights. However, if convenience, value, and easy access to the region are your top priorities, staying near Bergamo Station makes a lot of sense.
AR Suites&Art – $$$
For a more luxurious stay near the station, we absolutely adore AR Suites&Art.
Every room in this hotel feels like a mini art gallery, which gives the property such a special atmosphere. The rooms are modern and fully soundproofed, with air conditioning throughout, so you can be sure you’ll have a comfortable stay even during the warmer months.
There’s also a wellness center with a spa, sauna, and steam room, so it’s the perfect place to unwind after a long day of sightseeing or hopping between cities.
You can expect prices for this hotel to start around €150 per night and climb to €200+ per night, depending on the season.
If AR Suites&Art is fully booked, Mercure Bergamo Centro Palazzo Dolci is a brilliant backup! It’s only a 5-minute walk away from the train station and offers an excellent continental-style breakfast each morning.
Best Western Hotel Piemontese – $$
For our mid-range pick near the station, we love Best Western Hotel Piemontese. This 4-star hotel is actually our top pick for the area and offers everything you’d ever want from a city center stay, including comfy, air-conditioned rooms, a fitness center on-site, and a generous breakfast buffet daily.
It’s also conveniently located right in front of the shuttle-bus stop to the airport, which takes a lot of the stress out of travel days. Rates for this hotel typically start from around €85 to €200+ per night.
Another mid-range option in the area we like to recommend is NH Bergamo. This modern hotel has a fitness center and restaurant, and best of all, it’s just a 5-minute walk from the bus and train stations.
The nearby Quarto Verde is also worth checking out. This hotel offers apartment-style accommodations, and there’s even an indoor pool on-site, which isn’t always easy to find with city center hotels.
B&B Hotel Bergamo City – $
For our budget-friendly pick near Bergamo Station, we absolutely love B&B Hotel Bergamo City. This is honestly one of the best-value stays in Bergamo with modern, comfortable rooms and a generous buffet breakfast each morning.
It’s a great location, too! You’re just a 10-minute walk from Bergamo Station and around the same distance from the heart of Città Bassa, making it easy to explore the city without relying on public transport. The hotel even offers bike rentals, which is super convenient when the weather’s nice!
In terms of pricing, rates typically start from around €50 per night and can climb to €200+ during peak season.
Another budget-friendly option we love is Hotel Città Dei Mille. This is a quirkier hotel offering old-school vibes and a seriously impressive breakfast spread each morning.
Made in Italy is another solid choice with cozy rooms and the cutest terrace. It’s around a 10-minute walk from both the train station and Teatro Donizetti, making it a wonderful base for exploring Bergamo and the surrounding areas.
Top Activities to do in Bergamo
Now that you have your ideal location and hotel picked out, you can plan the rest of your trip! Bergamo is full of fun things to do, stretching across Upper and Lower Town. Here are a few of our personal favorite things we did, and you can add to your itinerary, too!
- E-bike around Bergamo – Easily tackle Bergamo’s hilly terrain and cover more ground on this e-bike tour. We loved passing by historic buildings and discovering local favorite spots with our guide!
- Go on a food tour – Explore the historic center in the tastiest way ever – on this food tour! This will let you learn about Bergamo’s history and culinary culture, and sample plenty of treats along the way.
- Take a private walking tour – If you love history, you’ll get a lot out of this private walking tour. Explore the city on a tailor-made itinerary and ask as many questions as you want!
- Learn how to make tiramisu and pasta – Ready to dive into Bergamo’s culture? This cooking class is the best way to learn how to make classic Italian dishes, and best of all, eat the finished product!
- Take a day trip to Verona and Lake Garda – This full-day trip is one of the most popular out of Bergamo! Visit Verona, the setting of Romeo and Juliet, and overlook the stunning Lake Garda!
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What You Need to Rent a Car in Europe
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Thanks for reading!
Choosing the right place to stay will completely shape your trip to Bergamo. Whether you’re looking for a mid-range budget with great connections in Città Bassa or prefer the historic charm of Città Alta, you can find the perfect accommodation on this list!
If you need help planning the rest of your trip, be sure to check out our other Europe blogs. We love helping fellow travelers prepare for their next trip, from where to stay to how to spend their time! Here are a few related blogs to inspire your next destination – cheers!
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