This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel.
Brescia is located in the northern part of Italy and is fairly central for visiting many of the tourist sights of Italy's northeast coast. Brescia is in between Milan and Verona (the home of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, and the touristy site of Juliet's balcony). Brescia has recently become more touristy since the establishment of the UNESCO Heritage Site, however it is still known as one of the cheaper Italian cities to stay. Many tourists use it as a base to explore the surrounding cities, as Milan, Venice, and Florence are no more than two hours away by train. But Brescia is worth seeing for its own merits, as it is at the foot of the Alps and the scenic Lake Garda.
Brescia is a large city, second largest of the Lombardy region, and thus has lots to see. In fact, Brescia has a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the monastic complex of San Salvatore-Santa Giulia. The monastery has a museum with Roman ruins and art, a basilica dating from the ninth century and stunningly colourful frescoes. Other touristic sites include the Castle of Brescia, the Duomo Nuovo, and the Duomo Vecchio (the New Cathedral and the Old Cathedral), and the tower with the astronomical clock in the Piazza della Loggia. There are also numerous churches and museums that are worth visiting, housing many frescoes, statues, and paintings of note.
It is easy to reach hotels and hostels in Brescia by car, train, bus, or plane. High-speed trains allow quick travel from nearby cities in Italy, however slower trains or buses may provide a more budget friendly option. You may fly into several airports nearby. Brescia has its own airport, or you may choose the nearby airports of Bergamo, Verona, and Milan (which all host the budget airline, Ryanair).
There are several hotels and hostels in Brescia's city centre that can be easily reached by walking and by the easy-to-use Brescia metro system. The budget friendly choices in the city centre can go quickly during peak season, so make sure you plan ahead and book accordingly!
Written by local expertz for Brescia
Shannon Neuber