Overview
Bergamo sits at the foot of the Italian Alps, under an hour from Milan and within easy reach of Lake Como and Lake Iseo. Its airport, Milan Bergamo (BGY) at Orio al Serio, is one of Europe's busiest low-cost hubs, which helps keep fares to this part of Lombardy competitive. Travellers come for the medieval hilltop Città Alta, the food, and the mountains and lakes nearby. If you are looking for cheap flights to Bergamo, there is plenty of choice from airports across the UK.
Best time to fly to Bergamo
May, June, September and October are the sweet spot, with warm, comfortable days for wandering the old town and taking day trips to the lakes. July and August are hot and busy; winter is cold and sometimes snowy, but handy for Alpine skiing. For the best value, check the When to book chart above and aim for midweek departures outside school holidays.
Airlines and routes
Ryanair dominates UK to Bergamo routes, flying direct from London Stansted, Manchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Bristol, East Midlands, Leeds Bradford and Liverpool among others. Jet2.com also operates direct from several northern and Scottish airports, and easyJet serves the route seasonally. Direct flights from London take about two hours; from Scotland and northern England, allow roughly two hours and fifteen minutes. With so many nonstop services, connecting itineraries rarely make sense.
Things to do in Bergamo
Most visitors split their time between the walled upper town and the livelier lower town, with the lakes and Milan an easy ride away.
- Città Alta: the wonderfully preserved upper town, ringed by UNESCO-listed Venetian walls and reached on foot or by funicular.
- Piazza Vecchia: Bergamo's handsome main square, framed by the Palazzo della Ragione and the Campanone bell tower.
- Cappella Colleoni: an ornate Renaissance chapel with a marble facade, beside the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore.
- Accademia Carrara: an excellent art gallery with works by Raphael, Botticelli and Bellini.
- Day trips: Lake Como, Lake Iseo and Milan all lie within about an hour, making Bergamo a useful base.
At Milan Bergamo Airport (BGY)
Orio al Serio is about 5 km from Bergamo city centre and roughly 45 km from Milan. Frequent ATB airport buses reach Bergamo's railway station in around 15 minutes for a couple of pounds, and coaches run to Milan Centrale in under an hour. Taxis outside arrivals reach central Bergamo in 10 to 15 minutes, and car hire desks are in the terminal if you plan to explore the lakes or mountains.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to Bergamo
- Book roughly one to three months ahead for the widest choice of low fares; prices on this route tend to rise close to departure.
- Fly midweek and steer clear of school holidays and Italian public holidays, when seats fill fastest.
- Keep your dates flexible and use the price charts on this page to spot the cheapest days to fly.
- Compare Ryanair and Jet2 on the same dates, and include baggage costs when working out the real total.
Travel essentials
UK passport holders do not need a visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period across Italy and the Schengen area; check the latest entry rules before travelling, as the EU is phasing in new border checks. Your passport should be valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure and less than 10 years old. The currency is the euro, cards are widely accepted, and no special vaccinations are required. Bring your GHIC or EHIC for state healthcare cover.