Bergamo — a city in Italy's Lombardy region near Milan — splits into two worlds: the modern lower town (Città Bassa) and the hilltop medieval upper town (Città Alta), ringed by Venetian defensive walls. Alpine views, narrow cobbled streets and authentic Lombard cuisine make Bergamo one of Italy's least crowded treasures. Let's see how to get there from Tbilisi and what to see once you arrive.
✈️ Flights from Tbilisi
- From Kutaisi, Wizz Air often runs a direct seasonal flight to Bergamo (Orio al Serio, BGY) — ~4 h at low-cost prices; from Tbilisi the route is usually one connection
- Bergamo airport (BGY) is effectively Milan's low-cost hub — Milan is ~50 minutes away by train
- Ticket price: $170-360 round trip depending on season — much cheaper on low-cost fares
- For airport-to-center options, prices and durations see Bergamo (BGY) → city center
- Travel365's price calendar — find the cheapest dates
🛂 Visa and entry
Bergamo is in the Schengen zone, so Georgian citizens need a type C Schengen tourist visa for Italy. Submit your application at least 2 months before the flight, and your passport must be valid for at least 6 months.
Travel insurance with at least €30,000 coverage is mandatory for the visa. See the whole process step by step in the Schengen visa guide.
Bergamo is ideal to combine with Milan — just ~50 minutes by train. Seeing both cities in one trip is easy; see Tbilisi → Milan.
🏰 Top attractions
- Città Alta (upper town): the walled medieval center — a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Piazza Vecchia: the heart of the upper town — Palazzo della Ragione, the library and the Contarini fountain
- Campanone (Torre Civica): the city tower with views to the Alps; historically it still rings 100 times at 10pm
- Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore and the Cappella Colleoni: a richly decorated church and a Renaissance chapel
- The Funicolare: a historic funicular linking the lower and upper towns
- Accademia Carrara: one of Lombardy's finest art galleries (Botticelli, Raphael, Titian)
- The Venetian walls: a ~6 km walking route around the city with views of the Alps and the plains
🍝 What to eat — Lombard cuisine
Bergamo's signature dish is casoncelli — handmade meat-filled pasta in a butter-and-sage sauce. Be sure to try polenta too (cornmeal), often served with meat or mushrooms.
For dessert — polenta e osei, a yellow marzipan sweet that's a symbol of the city. Among wines, the local region is Valcalepio. The small trattorias in the upper town are usually more authentic than the cafés on the tourist square.
💰 Budget
- Hotel: 3★ $65-115/night || 4★ $125-200/night
- Food: casoncelli or polenta at a trattoria $13-22; espresso at the bar $1-2
- Transport: a single bus/funicular ticket $1.50-2
- Accademia Carrara ticket $11-15; walking the Venetian walls is free
- Airport → center by ATB bus $4-6
🗓️ Best season and practical tips
April-June and September-October are the ideal seasons: pleasant weather and fewer crowds. Summer is warm and winter is cool, though the Alpine views are lovely all year. Two days are enough for Bergamo; give the third day to a day trip to Milan or Lake Como.
Get an eSIM for internet the moment you land, and search and compare tickets on the Travel365 price calendar.
Driving up into the upper town is restricted — use the historic funicular or the bus. Comfortable shoes are essential, as the cobbled streets are steep.
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