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Table of Contents:
How to get to Brescia from Milan
How to get to Brescia from Bergamo
When to travel to Brescia
Brescia is a quite large city in Northern Italy, famous for its historical monuments preserved from the times of the ancient Romans. Brescia is very popular among tourists and especially often visited by travelers from Milan and vacationers on Lake Garda, since the city is located rather close to both Milan and Lake Garda.
After some research, I decided to put together information I have previously found out and create a complete guide on how to organize a holiday in Brescia. I figured out how to get to the town, where to stay & what to see there. I really hope this detailed information will help you plan your trip to Brescia.
Brescia is an excursion destination and can be visited all year round. Most tourists travel to Brescia during the period from April to October because the weather is usually sunny and quite warm this time of the year. The period from November to March can be rather rainy, nevertheless it also suits for visiting museums, trying local gastronomy and other indoor activities.
How to get to Brescia
Where do you fly into to get to Brescia? You can get to Brescia by different means of transport, but most often tourists choose travelling by trains, which run to the city with great frequency from Milan, Bergamo or Lake Garda. So, you can get to Brescia from Lake Garda by train in just half an hour, from Milan in 30-40 minutes, from Bergamo in 40-50 minutes. The closest international airport to Brescia is located in Milan, a little further away is Bergamo Airport. Flights to Milan are operated daily by various European carriers; low-cost airlines fly to Bergamo. You can check the current flight timetable to Milan or Bergamo via specialized online services such as Aviasales and other similar ones. I often use this service as it helps me a lot to compare different flight options and choose the optimal one.
How to get to Brescia from Milan
According to my map research, the distance between Milan and Brescia is about 95 km. You can use either public transport or a rented car to travel to Brescia.
By public transport: The most convenient way to get to Brescia from Milan is to use the trains. Trains from one city to another run every half hour throughout the day. Trains depart from Milan Main Train Station called Milano Centrale. Both regional trains (the travel time is 1 hour 10 minutes) and high-speed trains (the travel time is 36 minutes) run along the route. Routes from Milan to Brescia are direct and do not require making changes. You can check the current train timetable and purchase tickets in advance at the Raileurope booking service or at the Milan Train Station ticket office. I truly like Raileurope as I often use it when planning my own trips. It has a very convenient search and a lot of additional useful options which helps to find out the best available railway options.
By rented car: You can also get to Brescia by rented car. Car rental offices can be found at the airport, at the train station or at almost any area in Milan. As an option you can book a car in advance via online international services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings, etc. For renting a car you need to have a passport, a driver`s license and a bank card. The distance between Milan and Brescia is 95 km. The cities are connected with motorway No. A4/E64 via Bergamo or with motorway No. A35. The travel time is about 1 hour 20 minutes (see on the map). I really like both online services mentioned above as they have a convenient search system. I would recommend comparing both services to discover the best available car rental options.
How to get to Brescia from Bergamo
The distance between Bergamo and Brescia is approximately 50 km. You can get to Brescia from Bergamo both by public transport or by car.
By public transport: There are direct and indirect trains, running between Bergamo and Brescia. Direct trains run every two hours during the day. The travel time is 1 hour. Indirect trains with a change in Treviglio run every hour during the day. The travel time is about 1 hour 10 minutes. You can check the current train timetable and purchase tickets in advance at the Raileurope booking service. Raileurope is one of my favourite online planners which has helped me a lot of times when I was planning my own trips around Europe. I can totally recommend it.
By rented car: You can also get to Brescia by rented car. There are a lot of car rental points in Bergamo, including the airport. You can book a car in advance via different online services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings, etc. The distance between Bergamo and Brescia is about 50 km; the route is #A4/E64. The travel time takes you about 40-50 minutes in total (see on the map).
Where to stay in Brescia
Brescia has a developed tourist infrastructure. According to my research, travelers have a variety of options for where to stay in Brescia, from standard hotels to apartments, guest houses, hostels and holiday homes. You can find hotels of any star category in the city.
The pricing policy of Brescia hotels is considered to be quite affordable. This is an excellent option for staying on a budget, even in 4-star hotels, while being close to the main noteworthy places in Northern Italy, including the city of Milan, Lake Garda, shopping outlets and other attractions.
Hotel Ambasciatori 4* is located within a 1 km distance from the historical city center, which can be reached by public transport; the bus stop is located nearby. The hotel has its own restaurant. It also provides a free parking area and free Wi-Fi. The hotel has standard and superior rooms to offer. The rooms are equipped with a safe, TV, a kettle or a coffee pot, a hair dryer, a minibar, and air conditioning. The registration desk operates 24 hours a day and offers luggage storage;
Novotel Brescia Due 4* is located in a quiet, lovely area of the city. The city center is 2 metro stations away; the stop is nearby. The hotel has a bar-restaurant serving Italian cuisine. Wi-Fi is available free of charge throughout the hotel. Private parking is provided on site for a fee. The hotel has its own swimming pool and fitness room. The hotel has rooms of various types which are equipped with a safe, a minibar, a hairdryer, air conditioning, etc. As online booking services provide tourists reviews, I discovered that Breakfast can be included in the price of the room or paid additionally. The registration desk is open 24 hours a day and offers luggage storage;
AC Hotel Brescia 4* is located close to the center and the railway station. The hotel has a bar, a restaurant and a fitness center. Guests can stay in rooms of various categories. The rooms are equipped with a safe, TV, a hair dryer, etc. Breakfast, depending on the type of room, may be included in the price or paid additionally. Wi-Fi is available throughout the entire hotel and is free of charge. Free public parking is provided nearby. The front desk is open 24 hours a day and offers luggage storage and currency exchange services;
Albergo Orologio 3* is located in the “heart” of Brescia, in a historical building close to the main attractions of the city. There is a bar and a restaurant on site. The hotel is designed for a small number of guests and has free parking. Wi-Fi is also provided free of charge. The hotel has single, double and triple rooms. The rooms are equipped with a safe, Tv, a minibar, a hairdryer, air conditioning, etc. Breakfst is included in the price. The front desk offers luggage storage. Check-in is from 15.00, check-out is until 12.00;
Centro Paolo VI is located in a historical building in the city center, with its own garden and parking area. The hotel has a snack bar. There are many restaurants and shops nearby. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. The hotel offers its guests rooms of various categories. The rooms are equipped with everything tourists need, including TV, a hair dryer, air conditioning, etc. Breakfast may be included in the price or paid additionally. The front desk is open 24 hours a day and offers luggage storage.
What to see in Brescia
Tourists mainly go to Brescia to see its historical sights; a considerable number of them have been preserved here. Some of the sites are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Town halls, cathedrals, squares, a castle and even the ancient Roman Capitol are the main attractions of Brescia. In the closest surroundings of Brescia there are two picturesque lakes called Iseo, a smaller one, and Garda, one of the most famous tourist destinations in Northern Italy. In this regard, as I see it, excursion holidays in Brescia can always be combined with trips to picturesque natural areas of the region.
The main monuments of Brescia are concentrated in the historical center. The main square of the city is Pope Square. There are two large cathedrals located here – the old and the new ones. The construction of the old Duomo Vecchio dates back to the 10th century, while the new Duomo Nova was built in the 19th century. The Town Hall, located in the neighboring Piazza della Loggia, is also interesting to see because of the unique architectural style. The town hall was built in the 11th century. Together, these three attractions form the backbone of the historical monuments of Brescia, but there are even more ancient attractions in the city.
For example, the city is home to the ancient Roman Pantheon. It is located on the Forum Square. The Pantheon was found during excavations only in the 19th century. It was discovered that the construction of the Pantheon began under King Vespasian at the beginning of our era. This was once the Capitoline Temple. The Pantheon is considered to be one of the best preserved objects of its type in the Lombardy region, where Brescia is located.
There are many palaces in the city; all of them are concentrated in the central part of Brescia. These, in particular, include Palazzo Uggeri, Palazzo Lana, Palazzo Maggi di Gradella, as well as the Broletto Palace. The Broletto palace was built at the beginning of the 12th century and is designed in the classical Romanesque style. Inside the palace there is a courtyard with an 18th-century fountain. The palace is also decorated with a tower, the construction of which dates back to the same 12th century. The palace is considered to be one of the important architectural monuments of the city, which has preserved the features of the traditional Lombard style.
In addition to the palaces, there is the Brescia Castle, towering on a hill above the entire city. The castle is decorated with a cylindrical tower, and behind its walls you can find a beautiful landscaped garden. You can usefully spend time in the castle by visiting, for example, the weapons museum or the astronomical observatory. After some research, I discovered the following practical information:
- The museums are open from 10 am until 7 pm during the summer time and until 6 pm during the winter time;
- The museums are open for visitors daily, except Mondays;
- The ticket cost is 12 euros.
In Brescia you can find not only a weapons museum. For archaeological exhibits, go to the former monastery of St. Julia, and for an art collection, go to the Pinacoteca Martinengo, which is located in the Palazzo Tosio. Both museums deserve the attention of travelers with their unique exhibitions. I did some research to collect practical information for visiting and here it is:
- Monastery of St. Julia is open from 10 am until 7 pm, except Mondays (until 6 pm during the winter);
- The entrance fee to the Brixia Roman Archaeological area and Santa Giulia Museum is 15 euros;
- The Pinacoteca Martinengo is open from 10 am until 7 pm during the summer time and until 6 pm during the winter time; Monday is a day off.
- The entrance fee to Pinacoteca is 10 euros.
As I see it, Brescia is full of historical and archeological attractions which are definitely worth seeing. Brescia is a popular tourist destination for those who travel actively around the Lombardy region and want to discover more than just top destinations such as Milan or Verona. Brescia is also a nice place to stay in as local hotels have more affordable prices. Besides, Brescia can be a starting point for travelling around the region and making radial trips, be it neighbouring cities or natural landscapes. I would definitely recommend visiting one or two places or even more.
Take a note! When going on a trip to Italy, do not forget to take out travel insurance, which is useful for receiving a tourist visa and for solving emerging medical problems when travelling in another country. You can purchase insurance via online services, for example, via EKTA and others. You can choose from different modes, including quiet, active or extreme rest.
Photo above the article: Pedro
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Julia is an experienced traveller, BA in International Relations and Languages and true lover of planning trips in advance. Learn more about the author…