Atalanta Playbook: Your Unrivalled Experience Watching Football in Bergamo

Gone are the days of Bergamo being just an add-on for calcio visitors eager to take in another fixture after the obligatory pilgrimage to the San Siro. These days the city is home to one of the most exciting clubs in European football, who happen to play in one of Italy’s shiniest grounds.

Often overshadowed by nearby Milan, Bergamo is a gem in its own right with a unique medieval charm and stunning landscapes. It is divided into two main areas: the upper city (Città Alta) and the lower city (Città Bassa), each offering a different experience depending on your matchday preferences.

Not only does this guide include the best bars in the city, tickets and travel information, but we also have top tips on where to eat while soaking up the atmosphere of Atalanta’s modern home.

Where To Stay

Città Bassa, Bergamo’s lower town, is the most convenient base. It is well connected by bus and train, and close to the nightlife and restaurants. It offers a wide range of accommodation from affordable Airbnbs tucked along the old streets to more modern hotels near the station and Via Papa Giovanni XXIII.

If waking up to one of the best views in Italy appeals, stay in Città Alta, the medieval upper town perched above the city. Hotels and guesthouses here can be a little pricier, but this is a great place to see some of the city’s oldest landmarks, such as the Bergamo Cathedral. The stadium is around a 25–30 minute walk from either side of the city, with regular buses running straight to the ground as well.

Where To Eat

Bergamo is one of Italy’s underrated food cities. The local speciality is casoncelli alla bergamasca – small pasta parcels similar to ravioli, filled with minced beef and pork meat, bread, Grana Padano cheese, eggs, nutmeg and Amaretti biscuits, and served in a sauce made with melted butter, sage and crispy bacon.

Trattoria Sant’ Ambroeus in Città Alta (Piazza Vecchia, 2, 24129) serves some of the best in the city, while Da Mimmo (Via Bartolomeo Colleoni, 17, 24129), a long-standing favourite, offers excellent pizza and homely Bergamasco dishes.

If you are looking for something more rustic, head to Il Coccio on Via Borgo Palazzo, known for generous portions and authentic local dishes at good prices.

And don’t leave without trying polenta e osei, Bergamo’s iconic dessert. Despite the name, the ones you’ll find in bakeries are made of sponge, chocolate and marzipan. Panificio Tresoldi is a local favourite for grabbing one on the go.

Where To Drink

Via Borgo Santa Caterina is the heart of Atalanta matchdays. This long, lively street runs all the way towards the stadium and is filled with bars, cafés and restaurants that spill out onto the pavements. It’s where home fans gather from early afternoon for big games.

Expect a sea of black and blue, beer in plastic cups and plenty of food options, with the atmosphere and noise steadily growing the closer you get.

If you prefer something more relaxed, Città Alta has atmospheric wine bars tucked inside stone buildings and old courtyards. Enotecas around Piazza Vecchia and Via Colleoni serve excellent local wines from nearby Valcalepio and Franciacorta.

It can be worth getting to the stadium early. The ground has been modernised in recent years but still retains the feel of a classic Italian arena: loud and full of character.

The ultras are known to drink in Il Baretto (Via dei Celestini), while The Tucans (Via Gaetano Donizetti, 25/A) and The Ritual Pub (Via S. Francesco D’Assisi) are also good for a lively pre-match vibe.

Did You Know?

Every newborn in Bergamo is given an Atalanta shirt by the club.

Getting There

Getting from Bergamo Airport (Il Caravaggio International) to the city centre is a breeze on the bus. They stop outside the arrivals terminal and you can buy your ticket from a machine, the ATB mobile app, or on board. The buses run to Bergamo train station and stop at Porta Nuova, the lower funicular station, and the Città Alta. It takes between 15 and 20 minutes to reach the city centre. It can also be worth looking into the 24-hour ticket, (it is valid on all modes of transport in Bergamo, including the airport bus and the funicular).

Don’t Forget

Tickets – You don’t need to be an Atalanta member to buy tickets but seats in the Curva Nord Pisani – the beating heart of the home support – tend to disappear fast, especially for big Serie A fixtures or European nights. Tickets can be purchased online through Atalanta’s official website or at authorised ticket points in the city. Hospitality options are also available directly via the club’s site.

If collecting tickets at the stadium or a designated pick-up point, make sure you bring ID and allow extra time – queues can form quickly, and collection booths are limited.

Kick-off times are regularly adjusted for television, so keep your plans flexible if booking well in advance.

Merchandise – Official Atalanta gear is available online through the club shop, as well as at the physical store near the stadium and the central city location (Viale Papa Giovanni XXIII).

Need Another Football Fix?

It’s less than 10km from Bergamo to Albinoleffe, where you can catch some Serie C action. Their tidy little ground, the AlbinoLeffe Stadium, is often used by visiting international teams if Italy are playing in Bergamo, and by Champions League sides in the area to take on Atalanta.