My daughter and I have just returned from a fabulous three-day city break in Bergamo, and I can’t wait to tell you all about it!

Before diving into the details, I want to start by saying that this trip meant so much to me. It was the very first time I traveled alone — just me and my little girl. I had dreamed of doing this for quite a while, but somehow, something always held me back. Each time I started planning, doubts would creep in, and I’d find excuses to postpone it. Deep down, I wasn’t sure I could manage everything on my own.

But I’ve learned that there’s no point in forcing things — they unfold naturally when we’re ready. If we have to push too hard, it’s simply not the right time yet. And that’s perfectly okay. This time, however, everything just clicked. Once the idea of going away with my daughter during her October school break popped into my head, everything started to fall beautifully into place.

Why I Chose Bergamo 🇮🇹

I picked Bergamo, Italy, for several reasons:

1. Short flight duration (around 2.5–3 hours) — I wanted us to make the most of our days exploring, without arriving exhausted. A shorter trip meant we could still enjoy our first day there.

2. Child-friendly activities — it was really important to find a destination with plenty of fun things to do for kids, so my daughter could fall in love with traveling too.

3. Affordable flights — since I was traveling on a budget, the low airfare made Bergamo an even better choice.

I booked our Ryanair flights about a month in advance for a total of €140 for both of us. For accommodation, I used Booking.com and found an apartment for €150 for two nights — much more affordable than nearby hotels.

There was one small surprise, though! When we arrived, I realized our private room shared a bathroom with two other rooms. It had been clearly mentioned on Booking, but somehow I missed it completely! Thankfully, the place was spotless and cozy, so it didn’t bother us at all — though it might have been trickier for a longer stay.

Day 1 – The Faunistic Park Le Cornelle 🦒

We landed around noon, which gave us half a day to explore. Our first stop was Le Cornelle Faunistic Park, located about 10 km outside Bergamo.

At first, I tried figuring out the public transport routes using Google Maps and Moovit — but between confusion, wrong stops, and missed buses, I finally gave in and called an Uber (€43). Later I discovered that the park’s website actually explains how to get there — which, of course, I hadn’t thought to check earlier!

The park was absolutely worth it. We saw zebras, monkeys, lions, wild donkeys, owls, antelopes, red river hogs, gnus, alpacas, elands, parrots, dromedaries, elephants, leopards, giraffes, rhinos, penguins, ostriches, and hippos.

Unlike a typical zoo, Le Cornelle is a modern faunistic park dedicated to protecting endangered species and promoting biodiversity — a mission that really touched me.

We even took a short train ride (€3) through the park, where we could feed some of the animals with carrots they provided. It was such a sweet and immersive experience!

On the way back, we walked about 20 minutes to the bus stop (line 8) that took us back to the city. Admittedly, that last stretch felt long after a full afternoon of walking — but we made it!

Day 2 – Leolandia: A Dream Come True 🎢

The next day was reserved entirely for Leolandia, the famous theme park for children. I had already bought our tickets online (€91 for both) — prices were slightly lower on other days, but we went on October 31st, for Halloween, and it was totally worth it!

Since we went to bed early the previous evening (8:30 p.m. — we were so tired!), we woke up refreshed and decided to explore Bergamo Città Alta before heading to the park. We took a morning stroll through the old town’s charming streets, stopping at Mimì Bottega Gastronomica Bergamasca for a delicious breakfast. Even though it rained all day, the view over the city and the atmosphere completely stole my heart. I can’t wait to return for a longer stay in this beautiful part of Italy.

After our little walk, we hopped back on the bus to Leolandia — and it did not disappoint!

My daughter absolutely loved it. She’s already begging to go back in the summer (apparently there are lots of water attractions open only in warm months!).

We met beloved characters like Bluey and Bingo, Bing and Flop, and of course Masha and the Bear — her favorites! We even watched the Masha and the Bear show twice because she adored it so much.

Leolandia has 8 themed areas and over 50 attractions for kids of all ages, from the whimsical “Masha and the Bear World” to the adventurous “Pirate Bay” and “Cowboy Town,” plus “Mini-Italy,” a miniature tour of Italy’s most beautiful monuments.

We stayed until late afternoon, but skipped the Halloween party because we had to catch the bus back. One small downside: the bus stop is quite far from the park, right off the highway, so next time I’d definitely recommend going by car instead.

Day 3 – Goodbye, Bergamo ☕🥐

On our last morning, we enjoyed a cozy “colazione al bar” — incredible coffee and the most delicious Nutella and jam croissants — before heading to the airport.

We came home with a suitcase full of memories, recharged energy for school and work, and lots of excitement to plan our next little adventure.

My Takeaway 💫

I’m proud — truly proud — that we did it. Just the two of us. It was tiring (we walked 13,000 steps the first day and 15,000 the second!), but my daughter was amazing — resilient, cheerful, and endlessly curious.

There were moments that tested me — like walking along the side of a highway to catch the bus (definitely not my favorite memory 😅) — but in the end, all the challenges were part of the adventure.

Most importantly, I overcame my fear of traveling alone with her. That was a big milestone for me. I wanted to prove to myself that I can give her beautiful memories and meaningful experiences — even if her dad and I are no longer together.

We’re already dreaming about our next theme park adventure, though I must admit — some of those big rides still make my knees wobble! If you have a fun story or a clever trick for easing the fear (for kids or grown-ups alike!), tell us in the comments below. Let’s help each other be a little braver next time! 🎠💫

Warm regards,

The Red Fairy

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