Bergamo lies about 50 kilometres northeast of Milan at the foot of the Alps, a city built on two levels. The Citta Alta on the hill keeps its medieval and Renaissance fabric, while the Citta Bassa on the plain grew in the 19th and 20th centuries. What separates them is the ring of walls raised by the Republic of Venice in 1561, some six kilometres long, added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2017 as part of the Venetian Works of Defence of the 16th and 17th centuries. The city is also known for the Accademia Carrara, one of the oldest private art collections in Italy.
Looking for cheap flights or monthly payment flight packages to Bergamo?
Suso is a travel-planning platform that turns your Bergamo trip from Turkey into a buy now, pay later flight package: the ticket is issued by travel agencies, booking sites or airlines, and the payment plan runs on consumer credit from partner finance institutions. One click in the basket completes the purchase and the financing together; you pay over 3 to 24 months. No credit card limit needed.
See flights to Bergamo →When to visit Bergamo
April to June and September to October are the most balanced months, with daytime temperatures between 18C and 26C that make walking the upper town easy. July and August climb above 30C with the humidity of the Po plain. November to February is cold and foggy, though the Christmas markets in December and the access to Alpine ski resorts nearby give those months their own reason.
Things to do in Bergamo
Venetian Walls of Bergamo
Built by the Republic of Venice in 1561, the walls encircle the whole upper town over some six kilometres. Because they were never besieged they count among the best preserved examples of Renaissance military architecture, and the promenade along the top is now the city's most used walking route.
Piazza Vecchia
The main square of the upper town lies between the medieval Palazzo della Ragione and a 17th century library building, with the Contarini fountain of 1780 at its centre. The Campanone tower above it strikes a hundred times every evening at ten, a custom left from the hour the city gates once closed.
Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore
Begun in the 12th century, the basilica presents a plain Romanesque mass outside and is lined inside with 16th and 17th century tapestries and inlaid woodwork. The marquetry panels of the choir stalls were made from drawings by Lorenzo Lotto, and the composer Gaetano Donizetti is buried in the church.
Colleoni Chapel
Built between 1472 and 1476 by Giovanni Antonio Amadeo as the mausoleum of Bartolomeo Colleoni, commander of the Venetian armies. Its facade of inlaid coloured marble is one of the most ornate works of the Lombard Renaissance, and the ceiling frescoes inside were added by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo in the 18th century.
Accademia Carrara
Founded around 1780 by the collector Giacomo Carrara, the gallery covers five centuries of Italian painting from the Renaissance to the 19th century in more than three hundred works. Pieces by Botticelli, Raphael, Mantegna and Bellini form the backbone of the collection.
Citta Alta funicular
The funicular linking the lower town to Piazza Mercato delle Scarpe in the upper town has run for over a hundred years and the climb takes about three minutes. A second line continues to the San Vigilio hill, from where the walls and the whole plain come into view.
Flights from Turkey to Bergamo
A direct flight from Sabiha Gokcen to Bergamo takes about 2 hours 55 minutes, operated year round by Pegasus and AJet. Bergamo airport is also the low cost gateway to Milan, so frequencies are high and booking early brings the fare down noticeably.
Bergamo FAQ
How many days do you need in Bergamo?
Two days cover the upper town, the walls and the museums. Using Bergamo as a base for day trips to Milan, Lake Como and Brescia makes four or five days a comfortable Lombardy trip.
How far is the airport from the city centre?
Il Caravaggio Airport is about 5 kilometres from the centre of Bergamo, 15 minutes by bus. From the same airport a direct coach reaches Milano Centrale in around an hour.
Do you need a visa for Italy?
Italy is in the Schengen area and a Turkish passport needs a Schengen visa obtained in advance. Appointment and processing times stretch in busy periods, so it is safer to start the application at least two months before travel.
Buy now, pay later flights to Bergamo
Fly now, pay later. Plan your trip, pay over up to 24 months. One click at checkout sets up the plan, no credit card limit needed.
Search flights to Bergamo →