When it comes to inspiring scenery and adrenaline-fuelling excursions, Northern Italy has plenty to bring to the table. While the Alpine slopes and celebrity haunts of lakes Como and Maggiore get the lion’s share of attention, the bucolic beauty that surrounds the city of Bergamo is more than a match for avid nature fans. Amidst the undulating valleys, dramatic gorges and crystal-clear lakes, there are plenty of activities here to help you make the most of the Great Outdoors. Here are five ways to get stuck in.
Make a splash in the Bergamo Alps
Looking for an adrenaline fix? Try canyoning down the Guerna Stream
With its fast-flowing torrents, dizzying descents and natural toboggans, there’s no better way to quicken the pulse than by spending the day canyoning in the Bergamo Alps. Join local guides as you traverse the Guerna Stream, ascending the mighty water trail before abseiling, sliding or – if you’re feeling brave – leaping from exhilarating heights into cool placid lakes.
Book flights and holidays to ItalyTake off on an electric mountain bike
Witnes Bergamo's prettiest scenery with the help of some battery-powered oomph
If you’re looking to go the distance across Bergamo’s countryside, rent yourself an electric mountain bike. Both super fun and super efficient, your battery-powered wheels makes some of the region’s most breathtaking outdoor hotspots super accessible. Choose to cycle out to Monte Isola and enjoy a picnic on Europe’s largest lake island or take a self-guided tour around the hillsides, visiting Bergamo’s world-famous cheese producers and stocking up on some formaggio for the road.
Book flights and holidays to ItalyGet suitably soaked down Bergamo’s rapids
From gentle ambles between towering forests to speedy descents through powerful rapids, the Brembo River is where you’ll find Bergamo’s best rafting runs. Routes vary from 5.5 kilometres to 12 kilometres long and offer a unique vantage point of the region’s epic scenery, not to mention a fabulously fun way to get totally drenched. Don’t forget to bring a spare change of clothes!
Book flights and holidays to ItalyGet high on the Alpine vibes
Discover an abundance of winter activities up in the Brembana and Seriana valleys
Without doubt the best way to spend the colder months in Bergamo is to saunter up to the summit of the Brembana Valley and ski on the wild mountain sides. Just over an hour’s drive from Bergamo, the village of Foppolo is surrounded by 50 kilometres of wide-open slopes that are thick with snow throughout winter and late spring. Meanwhile over in the neighbouring Seriana and Scalve Valleys, you can get stuck into some ski mountaineering or go out on a snowshoe safari – a fun wintry treat for the whole family.
Book flights and holidays to ItalyHike to Italy’s tallest waterfall
You'll want to pack your waking boots for this one
At a soaring height of 315 metres, the Serio Waterfalls up in the Seriana Valley are both the tallest and most magnificent in all of Italy. You can access the falls via a rewarding 90-minute walk to the Maslana Hollow, a breathtaking natural amphitheatre that’s worth the hike alone. The area is open to the public periodically throughout the summer, with enchanting starlit shows at night.
In partnership with Visit Bergamo
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