Transportation
Getting around the city
Bergamo has a comprehensive bus network, which covers the Citta Bassa and goes up to the walls of the Citta Alta. Tickets can be purchased at the local tabbacci stores or at the news stalls. The tickets cost 90 eurocents, excluding the tickets for the Citta Alta from the railway and the bus station. The city however is easily explored on foot, so you will most probably not need any public transport.
To get to Bergamo Alta from the railway station you need to take bus number 1 or A1. Then switch to a funicular at Funiculare Bergamo Alta. This funicular links the upper and the lower towns. If you do not have a lot of luggage, you may reach the funicular in 20 minutes from the railway station. This way you can see much of the lower city as well. You can do that by following the Viale Papa Giovanni XXIII and then the adjoining Viale Roma and Viale Vittorio Emanuele.
If you are fit enough and have strong knees, you can also try to climb up to Bergamo Alta on foot. There is a footpath that is just next to the funicular, going up to the upper town. It winds its way through spectacular landscape. The climb up takes around 20 minutes. There is also a bus connection. Bus number 1 runs up to the historic walls of the upper town, outside Porta San Vigilio. It is convenient for the nearby hotels.
Car
Bergamo is situated on the A4 which connects Milan, Bergamo, Brescia, Verona and Venice. From Milan to Bergamo by car is approximately half and hour. Since there is almost no auto traffic in Bergamo Alta, parking can be tricky. There is a car park on the northern edge of the upper city close to Porta Garibaldi. From then on, you have to continue on foot. The parking is paid and it costs 1euro per hour. Another car park is also available on Viale delle Mura, outside the historic walls.
Plane
The local Orio al Serio Airport is placed around a ten-minute ride from Bergamo. The airport has a number of good flights to major European and local cities. It is conveniently set close to the A4, which goes to Milan and Venice. The exits to the A4 are at Bergamo and Seriate. Bus connection to Bergamo bus station is available every 20/40 minutes and the trip is no more then 10 minutes.
Train
The local railway station is well connected to Milan and Brescia. There is a train to Milan every hour and the trip takes around 50 minutes. The connections to Brescia are more frequent especially in the peak hours. The trip is also 50 minutes. The train connections are very convenient if you want to make a sightseeing trip to Milan and Brescia in one day. Convenient connections are furthermore available for Lake Como. A train leaves every hour and the trip is around 40 minutes.
Bus
The convenient Lombardy bus system allows easy access to all towns in the area. SPT has approximately five or six buses running every day to Como. The trip is two hours. Autostradale has frequent service to Milan. Buses run every half and hour. The station is set adjacent the railway station on Piazza Marconi.
