Bergamo

Sitting at the foot of the Orobie Alps, Bergamo is known as a city of two parts. The medieval Città Alta (Upper Town) is on the green hillside, surrounded by 5km of walls, while the more modern Città Bassa (Lower Town) is set on the plain. The two towns are linked by a funicular. Like most of Italy, Bergamo has a wealth of artistic treasures: Botticelli, Bellini, Tiziano – you'll find them all here.

Discover cosy hostels in Bergamo with private bathrooms and handy luggage storage facilities. Choose a Bergamo hostel with a rooftop terrace to watch the sunset, or with a TV or common room to relax in away from the heat of the Italian sun. Many hostels in the city have outdoor spots, from room balconies with views of the Italian Alps to lush green gardens. And, most Bergamo hostels are less than 5km from the city centre, so it's easy to pop in and out to see the sights.

Bergamo's Lower Town is a mix of contemporary architecture and medieval cobbled streets, with a number of parks giving the area a relaxed atmosphere. At its centre is lively Porta Nuova (the old gateway to the town), while Il Sentierone is where locals head to shop. The Upper Town has its own medieval quarter, full of piazzas and palazzos. You'll also find churches and chapels – and cafés serving Italian coffee and ice cream. San Pellegrino Terme, the spa town famed for its 'miraculous' water, lies just outside Bergamo.

If you're in Bergamo in springtime, you'll catch the annual jazz festival which hosts musicians from all over the world. Bergamo is also a great place to spend time outdoors. City wanderers can walk along the Venetian walls in the Upper Town and slip among old piazzas to unearth buildings like the 12th-century Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore. If you love fresh air, with more than 1,000km of trails, the Bergamasque Alps are perfect for a hike.

Orio al Serio International Airport is around 4km from Bergamo Train Station. The journey by train from the airport to the city takes about 15 minutes. If you're travelling from Milano Centrale Railway Station, you'll reach Bergamo station in just under an hour. Use the funicular railway to get between the Upper Town and the Lower Town – and if you're staying for a few days, go for a 72-hour pass. Once in your preferred town, strolling will be your main mode of transport.