Bergamo

For long walks and climbs, our preference would be spring or autumn. On a clear day, give part of the daylight to the walls and place the painting collection elsewhere in the trip. If rain is forecast, bring the museum visit forward and reduce the stairway sections.

Avoid making the whole programme depend on a single sunset. Include a daytime viewpoint and treat an evening stroll as a welcome addition. For a short visit, choose one interior as a priority so that a queue or changing weather does not displace everything you hoped to see.

Begin day one in Città Alta. From Piazza Mercato delle Scarpe, walk to Piazza Vecchia, then continue to neighbouring Piazza del Duomo and the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. Its exterior and interior make different impressions. Set aside time for the wooden inlays and decoration rather than taking only a quick look from the doorway.

After lunch, continue through the upper town and out towards the Venetian walls. We suggest one well-chosen section, a pause to take in the view and a deliberate choice of descent. If you want another height, consider San Vigilio hill as a separate outing. Its funicular is a different line from the one linking the lower city with Città Alta.

On day two, visit Accademia Carrara and its Italian paintings. Choose a few rooms or artists for closer attention, then continue exploring the lower city. With only one day, keep the upper town and one interior. The museum can provide a reason to return rather than becoming a rushed final stop before the airport.

Plan Bergamo around elevation as well as distance. A short line on a map can involve steps or an uphill section. Check your walking route before choosing a descent; with a suitcase, we would reach the accommodation first.

Consult ATB for the timetable of the particular funicular you need and for bus alternatives. Do not assume that both lines have identical operating hours. If access is a concern, check boarding arrangements and the entrance to each monument. Drivers should obtain parking and permitted approach instructions from their accommodation in advance.

ATB's Airport Bus connects Milan Bergamo Airport BGY with the city and railway station. The onward journey to Città Alta depends on the service selected and any changes. Check the operator's website for the direction, stop and ticket conditions appropriate to your journey.

If arriving by train, first establish whether your accommodation is in the upper or lower city. Accademia Carrara publishes its own guidance on nearby stops and walking from the station. On departure day, allow time for luggage collection, the city transfer and airport procedures. The final visit should not depend on achieving the minimum possible travel time.

Choose Città Alta if evening walks through historic streets and an early start at the upper sights are your priorities. We would compare the lower city for late arrivals, rail journeys or a focus on Accademia Carrara. Your first and last transfers matter more than a universal “best area”.

Ask about the walk from the stop to the door, stairs inside the building, a lift and check-in times. If you intend to return after an evening walk, check the available connections between the upper and lower town beforehand.

Try casoncelli: this filled pasta combines savoury meat ingredients with sweeter elements, and butter with sage is a common accompaniment. Another starting point is polenta, which you can explore as part of a main dish or a side.

We would plan one substantial local lunch after the morning's walk. Do not choose solely from a shortened translation of the name: ask about meat, cheese and the other filling ingredients. Leave room for a lighter meal on another day, particularly if an uphill walk follows lunch.