Where to Stay in Bergamo (How Not to Book the Wrong Area)

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Trying to decide where to stay in Bergamo is more confusing than it sounds. The city is split into two completely different areas — Città Alta (Upper Town) and Città Bassa (Lower Town) — and where you stay genuinely changes your experience.

As a first-time visitor, I knew I wanted Città Alta. That’s where all the old charm is.

So when I found an apartment listed as being in a “historic building from the ‘800,” I was sold. The ‘800? That sounded seriously old. Ancient, even. It had to be in the Upper Town. The photos were gorgeous, the price was right. I booked it immediately.

Then I showed the listing to an Italian friend.

Turns out the apartment was in Città Bassa. Not Città Alta. And here’s how I messed up: in Italian, ‘800 means the 1800s. Not the year 800. The building wasn’t 1,200 years old. It was 200. I’d gotten confused and booked in the completely wrong part of the city.

The apartment ended up being perfect for my trip, so it worked out. But the mix-up made me realize how easy it is to get this wrong — and in Bergamo, it really matters.

This guide walks you through both areas, what they’re actually like to stay in, and how to pick the right base for your trip.

Quick Picks: Where to stay in bergamo

Short on time? Here are the best areas and stays in Bergamo at a glance:

Best area for first-time visitors: Città Alta → View accommodations here
Best for convenience: Città Bassa → View accommodations here
Best hotel overall: Hotel Excelsior San Marco (check prices)
Best value hotel: Hotel Cappello D’oro (check prices)

Where to stay in Bergamo. View of Città Alta in Bergamo, Italy, showing the Venetian walls, historic buildings, and mountains in the background — The view along the Venetian walls in Città Alta — this was practically our daily walk.

Staying in Città Alta: Pros and Cons

Città Alta is what most people picture when they think of Bergamo — cobblestone streets, medieval buildings, Venetian walls, and views that make you stop mid-walk. If it’s your first time visiting, you’ll probably want to stay here, and honestly, I did too.

Everything is walkable, the atmosphere is genuinely beautiful, and being able to pop back to your hotel in the middle of the day is a luxury. Evenings are especially nice — the crowds thin out and it actually feels like you have the place to yourself.

However, it’s not easy to get to, parking is a nightmare, and you’ll pay more for the privilege. But for a first visit, it’s hard to argue against it.

(For ideas on what to do and where to eat up here, check out my Bergamo guides.)

Pros: unmatched historic atmosphere, beautiful views, walkable to major sights, quiet in the mornings and evenings.

Cons: harder to reach, fewer hotel options and higher prices, crowded during the day, terrible for cars.

Best for: first-time visitors who want Bergamo’s most iconic setting. → Gombit Hotel is one of the most popular boutique options in Città Alta. Check prices here.

Residential building with green shutters and window boxes in Città Bassa, Bergamo — This is the view from our apartment courtyard in Borgo Palazzo. This is where people actually live.

Staying in Città Bassa: Which Area Is Right for You?

Città Bassa is where most people actually live — and it’s more interesting than it sounds. It’s bigger and more spread out than the Upper Town, and where exactly you stay here makes a real difference.

You’ve got the central area near the train station (easy, practical, no surprises), and then two neighborhoods worth knowing about: Borgo Palazzo, where I stayed, and Borgo Santa Caterina.

I’ll break down each one below.

Street view of central Città Bassa in Bergamo with Città Alta visible on the hill above, sign for Sentierone in the foreground — Standing in Città Bassa with Città Alta watching over you — that’s pretty much Bergamo in one photo.

Città Bassa — Central Area

If you want easy and convenient, the central part of Città Bassa delivers. Train station nearby, plenty of hotels, good restaurants, shops — everything you need without having to think too hard. You can hop on the funicular to Città Alta whenever you feel like it.

It’s more modern and less atmospheric than the Upper Town, but it’s a solid base, especially if you’re only in Bergamo for a night or two or using it as a jumping-off point for day trips to Milan or Lake Como.

Pros: great transport links, wide range of hotels, easy access to everything.

Cons: less charm, busier streets, more traffic near the station.

Best for: travelers who want convenience and easy connections.→ Hotel Excelsior San Marco is a great all-around pick here. Check prices.

Historic building facades with decorative friezes and shuttered windows in Borgo Palazzo, Bergamo — Borgo Palazzo is in the “new” Lower Town, but don’t let that fool you — the buildings have plenty of their own character.

Borgo Palazzo — Local & Residential

This is where I stayed for a month, and it gave me a completely different feel from the tourist-facing parts of the city. One of our favorite jokes was that even though this is the new town, it is still pretty old.

Borgo Palazzo is genuinely residential. Fewer tourists, more everyday life, better value — especially for apartments. I was on Via Angelo Mai near Sant’Anna Square, and it worked out really well.

Every day we’d walk up Via Pignolo, stopping at a café, eventually making it up to Città Alta. We found our favorite pizzerias, had aperitivo in Piazza Santo Spirito, and walked to the train station whenever we wanted to head out.

Street view of Borgo Palazzo in Bergamo with colorful buildings, parked cars, and everyday neighborhood life — Head in the other direction from Via Pignolo and the neighborhood starts to feel more everyday — still fine, just a different vibe.

One thing to know: the neighborhood changes depending on which direction you go. Head toward Via Pignolo and it feels charming and connected to the historic center. Go the other way and it gets more modern and a bit flat. Not bad — just less “classic Italian.” Worth knowing before you book.

Pros: local feel, better value, walkable to Città Alta via Via Pignolo and to the train station, good casual restaurants.

Cons: some parts feel more modern and less picturesque, requires more walking to main sights.

Best for: longer stays or anyone who wants a local experience over a tourist bubble.→ For apartments, look near Via Angelo Mai or Via Pignolo.

Check availability here.

Boutique aparthotel and lounge bar storefront in Borgo Santa Caterina, Bergamo — We walked by this Boutique hotel and lounge bar in Borgo Santa Caterina

Borgo Santa Caterina (Trendy & Lively)

If Borgo Palazzo is quiet and residential, Borgo Santa Caterina has more energy. It’s known for its food scene — wine bars, good restaurants, a relaxed but social atmosphere that really comes alive in the evenings.

I didn’t spend as much time here as I’d have liked, but on our last night my daughters went out to a wine bar in the neighborhood and came back raving about it. It had a younger vibe, more social — different from anywhere else we’d been in Bergamo.

If you’re visiting in summer, look out for I Venerdì del Borgo — four Friday evenings where the street closes to traffic and fills with markets, music, and street food.

Woman on a cobblestone street in Borgo Santa Caterina, Bergamo, near the Accademia Carrara art gallery — Heading up from Borgo Santa Caterina toward the Accademia Carrara — the neighborhood has that kind of vibe where even the walk there feels like art.

It’s also close to the Accademia Carrara and GAMeC if that matters to you. And on a personal note — this neighborhood has a small place in my heart because my great-great-grandfather grew up here. We actually found the house. So I’m a little biased.

Pros: great food and wine bars, lively evening atmosphere, close to cultural spots, less touristy but still vibrant.

Cons: further from Città Alta, can be noisy at night, fewer accommodation options.

Best for: food lovers and anyone who wants a more social, local Bergamo experience.

→ Check the best-rated options in Borgo Santa Caterina here.

Narrow medieval cobblestone alley on Via della Rocca in Città Alta, Bergamo, lined with ancient stone walls — Via della Rocca in Città Alta — this is the kind of street that makes you want to book the Upper Town immediately.

So, Which Area Should You Choose?

First time in Bergamo and want the full experience? → Città Alta
Arriving by train or doing a lot of day trips? → Central Città Bassa
Staying longer and want to feel like a local? → Borgo Palazzo
Into food, wine bars, and evening atmosphere? → Borgo Santa Caterina

Bergamo is compact enough that you can explore all of these during your trip — but your base will shape your daily rhythm more than you might expect.

Fountain at sunset near Bergamo train station in Città Bassa, with Città Alta visible on the hill in the background — The fountain near the station at sunset — Città Alta watching over Città Bassa, as always.

A Note on Other Neighborhoods

You might come across apartments in more residential areas like Canovine or around Via San Bernardino. These can be good value, but they feel quite different — more practical, less atmospheric.

Fine if you don’t mind using public transport to get around, but if you want to walk out the door and feel like you’re in Italy, stick to the neighborhoods above.

Best Hotels by Area

Piazza Vecchia in Città Alta, Bergamo at night with the clock tower and moon lit up above the square — Città Alta at night — this is what you’re booking when you choose the Upper Town.

Citta Alta

GombitHotel — boutique, perfect location in the old town. Check prices.
Hotel Piazza Vecchia — traditional, steps from the main square. Check prices.
Le Funi Hotel — quieter, great views, easy funicular access. Check prices.

Città Bassa

Hotel Excelsior San Marco — popular, great location between upper and lower town. Check prices.
Hotel Petronilla — stylish boutique, beautifully designed rooms. Check prices.
NH Bergamo — modern, reliable, close to the station. Check prices.
Best Western Hotel Cappello d’Oro — comfortable, well-located, great value. Check prices.

Borgo Palazzo

→ Check apartment availability. Look near Via Angelo Mai or Via Pignolo.

Borgo Santa Caterina

→ Check availability. Stay close to the main street for the best access to restaurants and bars.

Map of Where to Stay in Bergamo

More of my Bergamo Guides

Final Thoughts on Where to Stay in Bergamo

Where you stay in Bergamo really does shape your trip. Città Alta for charm, central Città Bassa for convenience, Borgo Palazzo for a local feel, Borgo Santa Caterina for food and atmosphere.

There’s literally no wrong answer, and there’s no bad area — but now you know enough to pick the right one for you.

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