A day in San Pellegrino Terme

During our trip to Bergamo, we spent two nights in San Pellegrino Terme. This small town, about thirty minutes from Bergamo by car, can also be reached by bus in 45 minutes on line B (San Pellegrino – via giov. XXIII (bigio) stop). We wanted to spend a few days in the green and enjoy the thermal baths, which are not only for elderly people. Surrounded by mountains, San Pellegrino is nestled on the banks of the river Brembo, in the heart of the Brembana valley. Very picturesque!

Now for the visit of the town and of course… the thermal baths!

What to see in San Pellegrino Terme?

We did not spend much time “in town”, so we probably did not see everything! But the town, stretched out lengthways, remains on a human scale and we were able to discover a few of its monuments. The most pleasant thing is to walk along the river. You should know that San Pellegrino Terme was very popular in the Belle Epoque: high society came here to enjoy its beneficial waters. One of the remains of that lavish era is the Grand Hotel, now being restored.

San Pellegrino Terme is true to its image as a spa town: fairly empty during the day, and even more so in the evening! You do not come here to party or to expect any kind of entertainment. We went for a walk in the middle of the day, around midday, and we were almost alone.

What to do in San Pellegrino Terme

The first reason for our visit to San Pellegrino Terme is in the very name of the town! The thermal baths. But not just anywhere: at the QC Terme San Pellegrino. One of the most beautiful places we have seen in our lives. We booked the entry directly at the hotel and paid 44€ per person for the day (opening hours: 9am to 11pm, or midnight at the weekend). Entry includes the full wellness circuit, a bathrobe, slippers (flip-flops) and the aperitif at the end of the day (unlimited drinks and Italian snacks). The price is more than reasonable given the high-end services on offer. We also chose to have lunch there: 25€ per person for the all-you-can-eat buffet. The meal is taken in a grand room with impressive mouldings and gilding. Stunning!

The spa is set in a magnificent renovated castle, the town’s former casino. We admired the exteriors and the gardens before going into the baths. On arrival, we went to the changing rooms to change into our swimsuits and bathrobes. Indeed, here everyone walks around in a white bathrobe and flip-flops! Another world. And now, time to explore.

The grand dining room of the restaurant

The monumental staircase

We did not know where to look, the spa is so huge, set over several levels. Pools of every kind, showers, jacuzzis, saunas, sound pools, terraces, relaxation areas, for napping, for massages… We chose to wander at our own pace and to enjoy each of the areas: relaxation guaranteed! And always with an unobstructed view of the mountains.

One of the highlights remains this incredible room decorated with San Pellegrino bottles, with spring water fountains available. Magnificent! We went there twice, by day and by night, the place impressed us so much.

The outdoor pools are as beautiful as the indoor ones. The most impressive is the infinity pool with a magnificent view of the castle and the green mountains in the background. Just what you need to relax before going back to the bustle of Paris.

In the end, we can only be unanimous: we loved this experience in the thermal baths of San Pellegrino Terme. One thing is certain: the place is magical and deserves a visit when you are in Lombardy.

Accommodation: where to stay in San Pellegrino Terme?

We set our hearts on the superb QC Room San Pellegrino hotel, located five minutes’ walk from the baths. We paid 140€ a night for a classic room with a balcony (snack in the lobby in the morning, tourist tax included). We can only recommend this modern high-end hotel, which puts the emphasis on wellbeing and comfort. Everything was perfect! The mini-bar filled with various bottles of San Pellegrino was available free of charge in the room. In the bathroom, quality beauty and hygiene products and a Dyson hairdryer. The hotel runs (almost) without staff, which can be surprising at first sight. Check-in and check-out are done in the lobby on screens: everything goes through digital. All in all, unbeatable value for money for the services offered.

Food and drink: where to eat in San Pellegrino Terme?

• Ristorante Pizzeria da Franco: a place we tried twice and approved! Affordable prices, good dishes and friendly owners.

What we thought of San Pellegrino Terme

While we knew the famous San Pellegrino water, we had no idea that such beautiful thermal baths existed before we organised our trip to Bergamo! And we would not give up this excursion for anything in the world. The San Pellegrino baths are worth seeing at least once in your life, the place is so magnificent and so peaceful. What is more, the small spa town is easily reached from Bergamo, by train or by car.
If you are planning a long weekend in Bergamo or a trip to Lombardy, do not hesitate to include a day (and a night if possible) in San Pellegrino Terme because it is definitely worth it!

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