Best Hotels in Bergamo: Upper City or Lower City?

Bergamo divides between the Città Alta (upper walled city on the hill) and Città Bassa (lower modern city on the Lombardy plain). The choice of where to stay has a significant effect on the experience — the upper city is atmospheric and medieval, the lower city is practical and better connected.

Città Alta (Upper City)

Staying in the Città Alta means waking up inside the Venetian walls (UNESCO World Heritage since 2017), with the Piazza Vecchia, the Cappella Colleoni, and the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore at your doorstep. The atmosphere after the day-trippers from Milan leave (typically after 6 pm) is excellent — the medieval streets empty and the restaurants come alive for locals.

Budget (€60–110/night)

Limited options — the Città Alta is small and every building is historic. A handful of B&Bs and small guesthouses operate within the walls.

B&B Bergamo Alta (various locations) — Several small B&Bs in renovated historic apartments. Doubles from approximately €60–80/night as of 2026. Simple rooms, often with original stone walls and wooden beams. The most affordable way to sleep inside the walls.

Ostello di Bergamo (Via Galileo Ferraris 1, lower funicular area) — HI hostel near the lower funicular station. Dorm beds from approximately €25/night, private doubles from approximately €60/night. Clean, well-run, and a short funicular ride from the upper city.

Mid-range (€100–190/night)

Hotel Piazza Vecchia (Via Colleoni 3) — A 13-room boutique hotel on the main upper-city street with views over Piazza Vecchia. Doubles from approximately €120/night. The best-positioned hotel in the Città Alta — the breakfast terrace overlooks the square. Book well ahead; the small size means it fills quickly in spring and autumn.

Petronilla Hotel (Via San Lazzaro 4, edge of upper city) — A family-run hotel between the upper and lower cities with a garden. Doubles from approximately €100/night. Quieter location than the centre of the Città Alta but walkable to both areas.

Top-end (€190–400/night)

GombitHotel (Via Mario Lupo 6) — A contemporary design hotel inside a medieval tower near Piazza Vecchia. Doubles from approximately €100–200/night depending on season. The tower room (in the original 12th-century structure) is worth requesting — minimal, elegant interiors within ancient stone walls. The contrast between the contemporary design and the medieval architecture is striking.

Relais San Lorenzo (Piazza Mascheroni 9a) — A four-star in a restored medieval palazzo near the Cappella Colleoni. Doubles from approximately €150–250/night. Spa and wellness centre built around visible Roman and medieval remains in the basement. The most luxurious option in the upper city. Restaurant on-site.

Città Bassa (Lower City)

The lower city is more practical — closer to the train station, with wider choice at lower prices. The lower city also has its own appeal: the Sentierone promenade, the GAMeC modern art gallery, and the Accademia Carrara (with works by Bellini, Botticelli, and Raphael).

Budget (€45–80/night)

Hotel Città dei Mille (Via Autostrada 3, near station) — A simple three-star near the train station. Doubles from approximately €50/night. Functional rather than atmospheric, but clean and well-maintained. Useful for airport connections or late train arrivals.

B&B Hotel Bergamo (Via Autostrada 10) — Budget chain hotel near the station. Doubles from approximately €45/night. Modern, reliable, no surprises. Five minutes by bus or taxi from the funicular.

Mid-range (€80–160/night)

Hotel Excelsior San Marco (Piazza della Repubblica 6) — A four-star in the lower city with views up to the Città Alta. Doubles from approximately €90/night. Rooftop terrace and restaurant with panoramic views of the upper city walls. Good for those who want comfort and the convenience of the funicular (5 minutes’ walk).

NH Bergamo (Via Paleocapa 1/G) — Modern four-star near the Accademia Carrara. Doubles from approximately €85/night. Business-oriented but well-located for both the lower city attractions and the funicular.

Bergamo airport travellers

Orio al Serio Airport (BGY) is a major Ryanair hub and one of the busiest budget airline airports in Europe. If arriving late or departing early:

Hotel near the airport: Several options within 5 minutes of the terminal. Hotel Cristallo Palace (approximately €60–90/night) is the closest full-service hotel.

Airport to city: The ATB Line 1 bus connects the airport to Bergamo station and the Città Alta funicular in approximately 15 minutes (approximately €2.50 as of 2026). Taxis approximately €15–20. For a pre-booked private transfer from Orio al Serio Airport, prices start from approximately €25 direct to your hotel. If you have even a few hours between flights, the Città Alta is worth visiting — the journey from the airport to Piazza Vecchia takes under 30 minutes door-to-door.

Where to eat near your hotel

Città Alta: Ristorante Colleoni & Dell’Angelo (Piazza Vecchia — refined Bergamasque cuisine, mains approximately €18–28), Polenta e Osei (Via Gombito — the famous almond cake named after the dish), La Marianna (Largo Colle Aperto — the birthplace of stracciatella gelato, invented here in the 1960s).

Città Bassa: Trattoria Sant’Ambroeus (Via San Tomaso — traditional casoncelli pasta, mains approximately €12–16), Da Mimmo (Via Colleoni — pizza and Lombard dishes, mains approximately €10–14).

Practical notes

• The funicular (funicolare) connects the lower city to the upper city in 2 minutes, running approximately 7 am to midnight. Tickets approximately €1.35 per ride (included in ATB city passes). A taxi up the hill costs approximately €12–15
• Parking: Available in the lower city (several car parks near the funicular, approximately €1.50–2/hour). The upper city has no public parking and ZTL (restricted traffic zone) restrictions — driving into the Città Alta is prohibited without a permit
• From Milan: Trenord trains from Milano Centrale take approximately 50 minutes (approximately €6 as of 2026). Services run every 30 minutes throughout the day
• Booking: Book 2–4 weeks ahead in spring (April–June) and autumn (September–October). The Città Alta fills faster due to limited room stock. During festivals (Sant’Alessandro in August, Bergamo Jazz in March), book further ahead
• Day-trip vs overnight: We strongly recommend at least one night — the Città Alta after dark, when the day-trippers have left, is one of the most atmospheric small-city experiences in northern Italy

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For the full Bergamo travel guide covering the Città Alta, the Accademia Carrara, and transport from Milan. For things to do in Bergamo — Venetian walls, San Vigilio funicular, and the art museum — see things to do in Bergamo. For food — casoncelli pasta and local cheese — see the Bergamo food guide. For day trips to Lake Como, Lake Iseo, and Brescia, see day trips from Bergamo. Bergamo’s Orio al Serio airport is Milan’s main budget hub — our Milan travel guide covers the connection.