Best Food Tours in Bergamo (and Food Experiences to Try)

I booked a food tour in Bergamo because my mom and my southern Italian friend told me that the food would be too heavy and that I wouldn’t like it. So I wanted to cut to the chase and learn where to go and what to eat.

Another reason is that I love food tours. What better way to learn about a new city or neighborhood than eating delicious food while being led around to top spots and learning about local history?

I scheduled our food tour for the first day of our trip. It was so great not to have to make any decisions besides what shoes to wear and whether or not to bring an umbrella.  

Choosing the best food tours in Bergamo is actually quite simple. There are only a few operators offering traditional walking food tours with multiple stops and curated local dishes.

But there are also several other types of culinary adventures you can do, so I’ve included them all here—along with my own experience—to help you decide which one is the best for you.

Quick Picks:  Best Food Tours in Bergamo

If you’re short on time, start with these:

• Best overall food tour: Do Eat Better Experience
• Best private experience: Street food tour with a local guide
• Most in-depth tour: Taste & Travel Italy
• Best hands-on experience: Cooking classes
• Most unique experience: Aperitivo with locals

Whichever food experience you pick, the unique flavors of Bergamo cuisine will grow on you and you’ll find yourself wanting more.

My Experience Taking a Food Tour in Bergamo

The food tour in Bergamo that I took ended up being one of the highlights of my trip. 

We went on the Bergamo: Full meal Food Tour with Local Delights by Do Eat Better. From 11:30 am to 3 pm, we explored most of Citta Alta sampling unique flavors at five iconic Bergamo stops. 

Our tour followed the progression of a full meal starting with aperitivo and ending with dessert and coffee. In between we stopped for a first and second course. In addition to it all adding up to a full meal, we actually had a full meal at the third stop. 

We paid extra for the drink card, but honestly you don’t need to. They give you an alcoholic beverage at every stop if you want one. The only difference between the drink card option and the regular price is we got a bigger size drink which we definitely didn’t need. 

One thing that stood out to me was the small size of the group. There were only 7 of us plus the guide. The small group size allowed me to hear everything the guide was saying and get to know fellow travellers. 

We liked the tour so much that we recreated it later for another friend who joined us. It was fun to show off our local history knowledge while taking him to all the must visit stops for local Bergamo cuisine.

I would recommend this tour to first-time visitors to Bergamo who want to explore Citta Alta on foot, learn about history from a local guide, and sample traditional cuisine in a small group setting.

If you’re interested in taking this tour, you can check availability here:

Comparison of Food Tours in Bergamo

If you’re trying to decide which food tour to book, here are the best options based on my experience and additional research.

If you’re looking for a small-group, authentic experience with a full meal included, the Do Eat Better tour is the one I personally recommend. 

Individual Tour Breakdowns

Bergamo Food Tour by Do Eat Better ⭐ (My Experience)

Best for:
First-time visitors to Bergamo who want to try classic local dishes while learning about the city’s history in Città Alta.

Duration:
3.5 hours

Why choose this tour:

• A classic food tour with multiple stops at local culinary spots
• A full meal experience—from aperitivo and wine to pasta, gelato, and coffee
• Insight into Bergamo’s history from a knowledgeable local guide
• A walking route through Città Alta, helping you get familiar with the area
• Small group setting, making it easy to hear the guide and connect with others

Possible downside:

The tour follows a set route and menu, so there’s less flexibility compared to private or customizable experiences.

Bergamo Street Food Tour with a Local Guide

Best for:
Travelers who want a private, customizable experience.

Duration:
3 hours

Why choose this tour:

“Street food” in Bergamo doesn’t mean food trucks or stalls. It refers more to casual local specialties and quick bites you can enjoy while exploring the city.

• Private tour with no other participants (if requested)
• Flexible and customizable based on your preferences
• A more personalized experience with a local guide

Possible downside:

There are fewer reviews available, and one reviewer mentioned that the food portions were small—though the guide’s knowledge of Bergamo was highly rated.

Bergamo Food Tour by Taste & Travel Italy

Best for:
Travelers who want a longer, more in-depth food and cultural experience that includes both the lower and upper town.

Duration:
5 hours
 

Why choose this tour:

• Longer experience with more time to explore
• Includes both Città Bassa and Città Alta
• Combines food with a broader cultural overview
• Ideal if you want a deeper dive into Bergamo

Possible downside:

The longer duration may feel like a big time commitment, and the higher price point may not suit all budgets.

Which One Should You Choose?

If you’re visiting Bergamo for the first time, the Do Eat Better food tour is the best choice. It’s a classic small-group experience with a full meal, and it’s the one I personally did and would recommend to most people.

If you specifically want a private and customizable experience, then the street food tour with a local guide is a better fit.

The Taste & Travel Italy tour is a good option if you have more time and want a longer, more in-depth experience that includes both the lower and upper town—but it’s a bigger time and price commitment.

Other Food Tasting Experiences in Bergamo Worth Trying

If you’re looking for something a little different from a traditional food tour, Bergamo also offers a range of food-focused experiences—from cooking classes to dining with locals.

Cooking Classes in Bergamo

One of the best ways to experience Bergamo’s food culture is by learning to cook it yourself.

Many classes are hosted by local home cooks, often through a platform called Cesarine—a network of Italian home chefs who offer cooking classes and dining experiences in their own homes. 

Some of the cooking classes teach traditional dishes not specific to Bergamo. If you are interested in learning how to prepare dishes typical of Bergamo, read the description carefully to make sure they are teaching the traditional dishes like casoncelli, the region’s signature stuffed pasta. 

No recipe is the same since there are so many ingredients like pears, amaretti, cheeses, meats, and household leftovers. Each family has their own twist and making them together is as much a family gathering as making a meal.

These classes usually take place in a local’s home and end with enjoying the meal you’ve prepared together. Some experiences also include a visit to a local market before cooking.

If you have extra time, consider heading into the countryside for a cheesemaking experience—it’s a fun way to see a different side of the region. I did this on a day trip from Bergamo and shared all the details in my guide to day trips from Bergamo.

For a traditional Bergamo cuisine experience, the cooking class at a local’s home is a great option and it is the one I booked for my next trip.

Wine and Aperitivo Experiences

I could live on aperitivo alone. What’s not to love about sampling cheeses and cured meats while sipping a beverage of your choice and chatting with friends?

You don’t have to figure it out alone, either. You can learn from a local how to prepare a classic Bergamo aperitivo and impress friends and family when you get back home. 

In Bergamo, instead of a full food tour or cooking class, you can find experiences like wine tastings paired with local cheeses and charcuterie, hosted in cozy wine bars in Città Alta or in locals’ homes.

Dining with Locals in Bergamo

For a more personal and authentic experience, you can enjoy a meal in a local’s home—something that goes beyond what you’d find in a restaurant.

These experiences are often hosted by local home cooks (including platforms like Cesarine or independent hosts like Michele’s Kitchen), where you’ll be welcomed into someone’s home to share a traditional meal.

It’s a great way to connect with locals, try home-cooked dishes, and experience Italian hospitality in a more intimate setting.

Alternative “Food Tour” Option

The Small-Group Street Food Tour by Cesarine is a slightly different take on a food tour in Bergamo. While not a traditional food tour, it  combines elements of a market visit, tastings, and cultural insights.

It’s a good option if you want a more informal, local perspective—but it’s less structured than a classic food tour like Do Eat Better.

More Things to Do in Bergamo

If you’re planning to spend more time in Bergamo, there’s tons of great restaurants and plenty more to discover. Where you eat often depends on where you’re based. Here are some of my other guides, including where to stay in Bergamo, to help you explore the cuisine, the city and its surroundings even deeper.

• What to Eat in Bergamo And Where To Try Best Local Dishes
• Things To Know Before You Visit Bergamo In The Summer
• 15 Things to Do in Bergamo, the Hidden Gem of Northern Italy
• 11 Best Day Trips from Bergamo (Lakes, Cities & Hidden Gems)
• Where to Stay in Bergamo (How Not to Book the Wrong Area)

Final Thoughts: The Best Food Tours in Bergamo

I was warned that I wouldn’t like the food in Bergamo, but I did. I’m glad I took a food tour right away not only to learn about the food but also to learn the history of the town on day one.

I personally loved the Do Eat Better tour.

It’s the one I recommend for a delicious introduction to Bergamo’s cuisine, friendly and knowledgeable guides, and a fun way to meet other travelers.

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