10 Best Things to Do in Brescia, Italy

1. Wander Around Old Town

My absolute top recommendation everywhere you visit in Italy is to wander around the old town. Every Italian city has a part of it that's historic, full of charm, and usually is pedestrian-friendly. Big cities, like Rome, usually have more than one area like this but mid-size to small towns often have one.

The old town of Brescia is pretty large and gives you a wide range to explore. If you look at a map of Brescia, you'll see a highway that outlines the city center. The train station is on the south side and Brescia Castle is on the northeastern corner.

That's your playground for the day! In general, the more central you get in that square, the better, but there are a few exceptions.

My favorite streets to walk around in Brescia are:

• Torre della Pallata: This tower is home to the most beautiful corner in all of Brescia (in my humble opinion). I recommend seeing it from all sides as each one really is spectacular.
• The University Area: the streets at Via Silvio Pellico to Via Fratelli Bandiera are young and full of graffiti and cocktail bars. If you want to enjoy a more affordable aperitivo, this is a good spot to do so.
• Corso Giuseppe Zanardelli: This is the main shopping street in Brescia. It's pedestrian-only and is much wider than the other streets in the city. While there are plenty of local shops to check out, this street is home to more well-known international brands. Continue on the street as it gets more narrow but stays a nice one to walk down.

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2. Stop at the Famous Piazzas

For a glimpse into Brescia's past, you'll want to spend some time at the city's most impressive piazzas (piazze in Italian), or squares. Some of the streets mentioned above will cross paths with these piazzas and some you'll need to go slightly out of your way - trust me it's worth it!

The 3 most impressive piazzas in Brescia in my opinion are:

• Piazza della Vittoria: Victory Plaza is big, open, and impressive. The architecture is more modern here than in other parts of the old town so worth seeing to compare.
• Piazza della Loggia: Piazza della Loggia is considered the heart of the historic center and is home to a 1500s clock tower. It's also the start of a few small streets bursting with restaurants and charm.
• Piazza Paolo VI: Nearby is yet another plaza, Piazza Paolo VI, you won't want to miss. This one is home to the Duomo Vecchio, or old cathedral. The Duomo Nuovo, or new cathedral, is located right next door in the same square.

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3. Go Back in Time at the Brixia Roman Archaeological Park

Brescia has been inhabited since before the Roman empire took it over in 200 B.C. You might check glimpses of the Roman influence in the city center but to really dig into it, plan a visit to ancient Brixia. (Brixia is what the Romans called Brescia).

The Brixia Roman Archaeological Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best-preserved excavation sites of Roman ruins in all of Italy.

A tour here starts at the 1st century BC Republican Sanctuary. This complex gives a rare peak at Roman paintings and is shockingly well preserved given its age. Next you can visit the Capitoline Temple built in 73 AD and the Roman Theater, whose exact date is hard to pin down since it was used for centuries and underwent development during that time.

For a real look into Brescia's history, this is as good of a place to start as any.

You can visit the Brixia Roman Archaeological Park right in the city center while on your self-guided walking tour.

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4. Enjoy the Views from the Brescia Castle

Just above the archaeological park sits the Brescia Castle. This castle sits upon a hill, overlooking the city below it. If you prefer to combine history with fantastic views, this is where you'll want to go.

After the Roman empire left Brescia, centuries later the Venetians took control. This castle is one of the best examples of their rule left in Brescia today, although the hill in which the castle perches is home to history dating back even centuries before the Romans.

Within the castle are two museums but I'll cover those in more detail below.

Brescia Castle is open to the public and free to visit unless you want to go inside the fortress. In that case, you'll need to buy a ticket for the museums to enter.

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5. Visit a Museum or Two

Now that you understand what a rich history Brescia has to offer, if you want to get a little more context with everything, I recommend you visit a museum or 2.

• Luigi Marzoli Arms & Armor Museum: For a unique look at Brescia's past, visit one of Europe's best collections of antique arms and armor. Who hasn't dreamt back to the time of the knights? This arms museum is part of the Brescia Castle.
• Risorgimento Museum: This museum is also in the Brescia Castle but focuses more on the Italian unification. It showcases paintings, sculptures, relics, and a digital collection that showcases Brescia's part to Brescia today.
• Santa Giulia Museum: The Santa Giulia Museum is housed in a Lombard Benedictine monastery in the city center. It's an archaeological museum that uncovers the city's history, art, and spirituality. It's located right next door to the archaeological park so it is easy to combine into a single trip.
• Duomo Vecchio & Duomo Nuovo (Old and New Cathedrals): As mentioned above, these two cathedrals sit side by side in the Piazza Paolo VI. Although not museums, they give a glimpse into Brescia's past. The old cathedral was built in 1100 but maintains glimpses into the cathedral that sat in the same space centuries before. You can also go to the crypt under the cathedral. Although called the new cathedral, that one was built from 1604-1825, so it's all relative here. The dome is the 3rd tallest in Italy and is super impressive from the inside.

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6. Take a Day Trip to Lake Iseo

Lake Iseo is a lesser-known lake in Northern Italy, nestled right between Lake Como and Lake Garda. Given the location, this lake offers the same stunning landscape, just with a fraction of the popularity.

If you prefer to get off the grid and visit a lake that most tourists in Italy miss, I highly recommend you take a day trip to Lake Iseo. We visited in mid-fall and the town was lovely, even in the rain. The architecture is picturesque and gave us glimpses of the dramatic coastline. Although I'm sure it's much more lively in the summer, even in the fall, restaurants were open.

From Brescia's train station, you can go directly to the town of Iseo in just about 20-30 minutes. Iseo is a charming lakeside town that is worth wandering around, enjoying the views, and if the weather is nice, going for a dip or taking the ferry out on the water.

The easiest place to visit on Lake Iseo from Brescia is the town of Iseo but most trains travel all the way up the eastern coast so, if you have the time, you can choose to visit a different town instead. To get to the western or southern side of the lake, you'll either need to rent a car or take a bus (sometimes 2).

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7. Take Another Day Trip to Lake Garda

Want to visit a famous icon instead? Swap your day trip to Lake Iseo for one to Lake Garda. Although if you're staying for longer than a few days in Brescia, you could easily do both.

Lake Garda is the largest lake in Italy and also one of the most famous. With this fame comes much more tourism than in lesser-known Iseo, which could be a pro or con, depending on your priorities.

The fastest town on Lake Garda to visit from Brescia is Desenzano del Garda. You can get here from the train station in just 15-minutes or you can go to the next stop, about 25 minutes total, to Peschiera del Garda. Both are small towns on the southern coast of the lake. Sirmione, a more famous destination, sits directly in the middle of these 2 towns and can only be reached by ferry, car, bus, or taxi, not train.

I've been to many towns in Lake Garda and to be completely honest, I have to tell you that the north of the lake is the best. Here is where you get the dramatic coastline and stunning views. The south is still nice but once you see the north, you'll understand.

That being said, the northern part of the lake is much more difficult to reach. Even if you have your own car, the drive times are long for just a day trip. If you're short on time, you'll still love the south but if you can spend a night or two on the lake, I recommend going north towards Limone Sul Garda or Malcesine.

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8. Visit the Wine Country

Brescia has a vibrant wine region just outside the city center, specifically in the hills surrounding Lake Iseo and Lake Garda.

The region produces a handful of wine varieties but the most well-known is Franciacorta, a white sparkling wine similar to Champagne.

Many restaurants in Brescia will have local wines for you to try with your meal but make a day of it, head to a vineyard for a wine tasting. Viator and GetYourGuide have a few guided tours to choose from if you'd rather follow the lead.

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9. Indulge in Local Food

Alongside local wine, you need to indulge in the local food, too. You are in Italy after all! A unique thing about Brescia is that it's an incredibly international city, which means it's not just Italian food you can enjoy but authentic plates from around the world.

Like most places in Northern Italy, you'll find polenta on plenty of menus and stuffed pastas, think kind of like ravioli. Although we ate plenty of great meals in Brescia, we had two meals in the city center that stood out compared to the rest: one at a local restaurant and another owned and operated by immigrants.

Be sure to try:

• I Du Dela Contrada: This is a fantastic restaurant to try local Brescian food. Order the casoncelli alla Bresciana if you want to try a traditional pasta from this city. Like all the best pastas in Italy, it's simple yet delectable. I suggest making a reservation, especially if you're here over the weekend.
• Ristorante I Nazareni: This is a Palestinian restaurant that offers a wide range of dishes from Palestine and other parts of the Middle East. Raf and I ordered a lot of different things and had to practically be rolled out after devouring it all. Let your taste buds guide you but if you ask me, you can't go wrong.

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10. Pop By Charming Borgo Trento

Borgo Trento is a small neighborhood just outside the historic center of Brescia. From the old town, you can either walk to the neighborhood or take the metro to the Marconi stop.

The neighborhood starts around Megan Bar and follows Via Trento north a few blocks. It's a small neighborhood but a quiet place to spend the day if you'd like to go back in time to see what Brescia probably looked and felt like decades past.

Even though the architecture and overall vibe of the neighborhood is old, they offer some of the city's best restaurants.

Enjoy a meal at:

• Trattoria Porteri: This restaurant has been a Brescia staple since 1875 and has been mentioned a few times in the Michelin Guide.
• BirraLab & Pastrameria: For something far more laidback, opt for a beer and sandwich here instead.

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Travel Tips for Brescia

Now that you know the best things to do in Brescia, take a few more travel tips to ensure your trip here goes smoothly.

Where to Stay

Unless you decide to stay at one of the lakes instead, I recommend you book your accommodation to the city center or along the metro route so it's easy to get around. Once you're in the old town, it's easy to walk around.

📍I recommend booking your stay at one these hotels:

• Budget Stay: Appartamento Tiffany: This apartment is just a few blocks from the beautiful Torre della Pallata, so although you're on the edge of the old town, you're still within walking distance to the sights.
• Mid-Tier Stay: Locanda delle Mercanzie: This boutique hotel is in a historic building that has been well-maintained. The hotel offers a variety of rooms to choose from.
• Luxury Stay: L'Altana City House: Want more space and impressive views? The 2-bedroom suite is incredibly comfortable and well-positioned in the city.

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How Many Days to Spend

Although a reasonably sized city, Brescia's city center, where you'll likely spend your time here, is pretty compact. This means you can walk around most of it and see the highlights in just a day.

A 3-day trip would be the perfect amount of time to also visit some museums and maybe even take a day trip to one of the nearby lakes.

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How to Get There

Brescia is centrally located in Northern Italy right between Milan and Verona. This means that from either direction, you can easily arrive by train. To plan your train trip and book tickets, I recommend the app Trainline.

If you prefer to drive, just know that parking might be tough if your accommodation is right in the city center. With the exception of one of the day trips, you won't need a car to explore Brescia and can instead walk or rely on public transport.

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Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit Brescia takes into account the same tips when deciding the best time to visit Italy. The city gets 4 real seasons so the weather can impact your trip.

If you're dreaming of beach days at the lake and walking around in shorts, you'll need to visit Brescia in the summer. Know that this is the most popular time to visit anywhere in Italy so tourism will be at its peak.

To swap a lake trip to a mountain one and go skiing or snowboarding, winter and sometimes early spring will be ideal for you. There's also a Christmas market in Brescia open in December.

For less crowds but still enjoyable weather, visit Brescia in the spring or fall. Just know that these seasons can get rainy so don't expect only blue skies. We visited mid-October and had a great time, even in the rain.

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What Will You Do on Your Trip to Brescia?

Now that you know the best things to do in Brescia, how will you spend your trip here? From the stunning Piazza della Loggia to soaking up history at Santa Giulia Museum, there's a lot to see and do in Brescia. Take a break from the famous cities the whole world knows and get to know another side of Italy in Brescia.