Itineraries for Your Trip to Bergamo
3 Days in Bergamo for Families
Everyone knows Venice and Rome, but these big-name Italian cities aren’t my first choice when I want to take the family on a quieter, more accessible break. Bergamo is off-the-international-tourist-trail, yet still has a buzz that all ages enjoy.
This lovely little city is near where I live in the lakes, and as a family we’ve teamed weekend breaks in Bergamo’s medieval città alta (upper town) with visits to the nearby Leolandia theme park and the Parco Faunistico Le Cornelle. We’ve even used Bergamo as a stop-over destination en route to a trip on the iconic red Bernina Express train.
Easy access aside, the city offers history, art, and outdoor fun to please everyone without leaving anyone feeling frazzled. Here’s a round-up of my tips for things to do with the family in Bergamo.
Bring raincoats for the kids in the rainy spring months of April and May.
If you only have time for one thing, make it polenta e osei dessert, dainty marzipan and polenta cakes decorated with chocolate birds.
Burn off morning energy with a walk from the città bassa (lower town) to the città alta (upper town), taking an alley to the top. The stairs of Scaletta Via Santa Lucia take about 15 minutes to climb. If you have little ones in strollers (or even if you don’t), the funicular offers a stair-free route.
Once at the top, visit the Civic Museum of Natural Sciences, a natural history museum with fossils and animal exhibits. (A huge mammoth welcomes you at the entrance.) You also can use your tickets for a visit to the Bergamo Archaeology Museum next door.
Reach the highest point of the upper town today by taking the lesser-known second funicular to San Vigilio, where the historic Castle of San Vigilio once sat. The ruins provide opportunities for hide-and-seek amid a setting steeped in mystery; secret passageways are said to exist here. Mystique aside, the sweeping views and greenery make it a pleasant picnic spot.
In the afternoon, round off your family time in Bergamo by discovering its food. Market tours, cooking classes, and food tours are popular experiences for all ages, and offer the chance to live a bit of local culture while in town.
If your kids love all things on wheels, opt to see your surroundings on a bike. In the lower town, the bike-sharing scheme La BiGi bike offers an easy way to get around the sprawling streets, allowing you to book bikes via an app.
An e-bike day trip itinerary is great for families with older kids, and there are even options that start from Bergamo and go out of the city. Routes through the Bergamasque Alps, Camonica Valley, and around Lake Iseo are popular.
