Compare cheap 7 seater car hire at Bergamo Airport. Upper Town access rules, the Milan Area C charge, Lake Iseo day trips and Italy’s 1.50 m child seat law.
Bergamo’s Upper Town has a single entrance for cars, and drivers without a permit may only go in to reach the car parks. Read the Città Alta section below before you follow the satnav up the hill.
Milan Bergamo Airport handled 16,937,976 passengers in 2025, which makes it Italy’s third busiest airport after Rome Fiumicino and Milan Malpensa (Milan Bergamo Airport). For summer 2026 it offers 152 routes to 44 countries, with extra flights to the UK (Milan Bergamo Airport).
The airport, at Orio al Serio, is only 5 km from Bergamo (Visit Bergamo). With seven people and the cases, a hire car is the easy way on to the lakes and the mountains.
Driving up to Città Alta
The walled Upper Town has just one entrance for cars: the Conca d’Oro roundabout on Viale Vittorio Emanuele II, through Porta Sant’Agostino (Visit Bergamo).
Without a permit, you may drive in to use car parks such as Via della Fara and Tre Armi, but you must park within 30 minutes. Through traffic is barred for much of the week, and the hours change by day (Visit Bergamo ZTL guide).
In a long 7 seater, the simpler plan is to leave the car below and ride up. ATB bus Line 1 and the funicular both reach the Upper Town (Visit Bergamo). From 21 June to 13 September 2026, free shuttles also ran on Sundays and holidays from lower town car parks such as Celadina and Via Carducci (Visit Bergamo ZTL guide).
Milan’s Area C and Area B
GOV.UK warns that many Italian historic centres need a pass, marked by ZTL signs in black on yellow, and that Milan has a congestion charge (GOV.UK).
Milan’s Area C charge costs about £6.40 (€7.50) on weekdays to enter the centre. Weekend charging was announced for 2026 but had not started at our last check (Milanofree). Confirm on the council’s Area C page before you drive in, or leave the car outside the city altogether.
Bergamo 7 Seaters in one list
See the 7 seaters at Bergamo Airport side by side, with the deposit and fuel terms for each.
Lake Iseo and Lake Garda
Bergamo is the nearest airport to Lake Iseo, about 30 km away by the A4 and A35 motorways. Ferries cross to Monte Isola, the car-free island in the middle of the lake (Visit Brescia).
Lake Garda is further east along the A4. At Sirmione, the old town is a ZTL, so register your plate at the Welcome Point, and short stops at Piazzale Porto are limited to two hours (Comune di Sirmione). In 2026 the town’s restrictions ran from 23 March to 13 October (Visit Sirmione).
Italian rules for UK drivers
A UK photocard licence is accepted in Italy, while holders of an old paper licence may need an international driving permit (GOV.UK).
The drink-drive limit is 0.5 g per litre, and zero for new drivers. A reflective vest and a warning triangle are compulsory (Your Europe).
Children under 1.50 metres need a child restraint. In cars registered in Italy, children under four also need an anti-abandonment alarm (Brocardi). Hire cars collected in Italy are normally Italian-registered, so ask for the alarm with any child seat.
Holding a phone at the wheel now costs about £213 to £850 (€250 to €1,000), along with a licence suspension (Brocardi). Italy is in the Schengen area, so the EU Entry/Exit System applies when you land (GOV.UK).
Seven people and the bags
A large suitcase holds 80 to 110 litres (Markenkoffer). With all seven seats up, the roomiest common 7 seaters have about 340 to 350 litres of boot (Auto Express).
For skis or a big case each, look for the ACRISS FV class, meaning seven or more seats with more space, or book an 8 or 9 seater.
Collecting the car at Bergamo Airport
Your voucher shows where your firm’s desk is and where to collect the car. Bergamo itself is only 5 km away, so the first drive is a short one.
Touring more of northern Italy? Our Verona Airport guide covers Lake Garda, and our Pisa Airport guide covers Tuscany. The Italy guide has the national rules.
Keeping a Bergamo 7 Seater affordable
- Stay out of the camera zones. One ZTL or Area C fine can cost more than a day’s hire.
- Park below the Upper Town. The bus and funicular save a stressful climb in a long car.
- Compare the full price. Deposit, excess, fuel policy and second driver fees sit outside the daily rate.
- Book early for the lakes. July and August fill up fast, so lock in a cancellable rate and search again later.
Check Bergamo prices for your flight
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Bergamo questions answered
How far is Bergamo Airport from the city?
About 5 km, and ATB bus Line 1 links the two.
Can I drive into Bergamo’s Upper Town?
Only to reach its car parks, and you must park within 30 minutes. Through traffic is restricted for much of the week.
Do I pay to drive into Milan?
Yes, on weekdays. Area C costs about £6.40 (€7.50), and weekend charging was announced but had not started at our last check.
How far is Lake Iseo from Bergamo Airport?
About 30 km, using the A4 and A35 motorways.
Where can I compare cheap 7 Seater deals at Bergamo Airport?
Our search lines up 7 seaters from several firms at the airport, with the total price for each. Earlier searches find the widest choice.
