One week in Puglia – Complete Travel Guide
Have you heard that Puglia’s popularity with tourists has skyrocketed these last years? Well, it’s so easy to say why and turn Puglia into a must-visit destination for you all. This Italian region offers it all, beautiful landscape and UNESCO’s heritage sites, turquoise-water beaches and delicious food, nice hotels and Airbnb, stunning views, and almost everything you are searching for. If are interested to know more about this destination, well, you are in the right place. This Puglia travel guide will give you all the necessary information. Let’s go…
How to reach Puglia?
To capital city of the region is Bari, and it has also the biggest airport (The Karol Wojtyla Airport) and generally lots of connections with the world and tendentially the flights are cheaper by this airport. The second biggest airport in Puglia is in Brindisi city, the Airport of Salento. This could also be a choice, so I suggest you check the flights to and from both airports.
How to get around in Puglia?
If you have already been to other regions of Italy, like Lombardy or Tuscany, don’t expect the Puglia public transport system to be as accurate, or better it can just ruin your experience. Renting a car in Puglia is a must. I suggest this was the only way to fully enjoy the experience and to visit all the top places in Puglia.
Best time to visit Puglia?
The weather is perfect for enjoying the beaches from late spring to early autumn, but as the best time to visit Puglia. I would suggest early June and mid-September. I strongly recommend you avoid peak season especially the two central weeks of August. The beaches and all other attractions will be overcrowded.
Here is the perfect one-week itinerary in Puglia:
Day One – Arrival in Bari – Polignano a Mare
After arriving in Bari, the capital city of Puglia, take the car and ride towards Polignano a Mare.
*In case you are not renting a car you can take the train to Polignano a Mare from Bari Central Station, there is a train every 5 minutes and the ticket costs 2.6 euros.
Polignano a Mare is quite a walkable city and exploring it by walking, in my opinion, is the best idea.
What to see in Polignano a Mare?
Old Town – Have you ever heard about the white houses in Italy? Well, in the Old Town, you can find exactly that spot: charming streets with white houses. Enjoy spending some time walking around the city and searching for Piazza dell’Orologio, the main square of the city.
Polignano a Mare – Old Town
Poetry of the city – While walking through the Old Town you will notice some poetry written on the stairs, walls, and doors. This is quite a particular thing, and searching for these poetries will immediately become your new favorite activity, a particular one.
Lama Monachile Beach – Cala Porto is the most famous public beach in Polignano a mare. Walking to this beach from Old Town you will catch a beautiful view along the seaside, (imagine all the white houses meeting the sea) will meet a lot of cats, and also will have cute little souvenir shops. I woke up early in the morning and had the chance to have this beach almost only for me, and the view was stunning.
Viewpoints – Along the seaside are a lot of viewpoints and beautiful spots. One reason why Polignano a Mare has become such a lovely city to visit by the tourists is exactly these beautiful pictures you see on Instagram now and again. But, the most popular view is Terrazza Santo Stefano. You can look at white houses on top of the cliff and the sea below.
Other activities in Polignano A mare:
Contemporary Art Museum
Saint Mary of the Assumption Church
Domenico Madugo Statue
The Ponte Lama Monachile
Visit Porta Grande
Eat a gelato
Day Two – Monopoli
Firstly, you can reach Monopoli from Polignano a Mare central station by train. There is a train every 5 minutes and the ticket costs 1.1 euro. This unspoiled seaside town is definitely one of the best places in Puglia and a stop there is a must.
What to see in Monopoli?
Monopoli Cathedral – Basilica of the Madonna della Madia. This Cathedral represents perfectly all the beauty and charm of the Italian Cathedral. The interior is mind-blowing and it has plenty of frescos and statues. The building is open every day but do mind not entering during mass time. I suggest visiting it early in the morning.
Monopoli Old Town – Definitely, I suggest you never miss an Old Town in Italy. Spend some time wandering the delightful little winding streets and meet some locals to find out a bit about the town’s history. Is such an amazing way of learning about the city, and always worth it.
Via Traiana – Did you know about via Traiana? I didn’t remember about this historical road until my host in Monopoli told me about it. Remarkably this road was an ancient Roman Road from the Imperial Era. It was built by the emperor Trajan and it connects Benevento with Brindisi. And the Monopoli has the longest stretch of this road.
P.S.: Remember The Ponte Lama Monachile, it is an extension of Via Traiana
The Castle of Charles – Was born as a rudimentary fortress on the ancient Greek Acropolis, to defend Monopoli from invasions and pirates. Nowadays it is used as a conference center and to celebrate wedding ceremonies. It is said that for some time it was used as a jail indeed.
Enjoy the beaches – Sandy beaches with crystal clear water are exactly what you expect from Puglia, right? In the city, you can find the Cala Porta Vecchia, but from the easy-to-go location is clear that this one will, most probably, be overcrowded. Anyway, there are a lot of stunning beaches only a few minutes away, but you can only reach them by car.
Il bastione del Molino Ruins – another proof of how much they wanted to protect Monopoli, Even though the site is relatively small it looks like it has always been such a gem.
Other activities in Monopoli:
The Chiesa di San Salvatore(313AD)
Enjoy the local delights, especially seafood.
Egnazia Archeological Park
Old Harbor – to watch the sunrise
Day Three – Ostuni
Called “The White City” this is the perfect place to be if you are missing Santorini. This impressive hilltop with shining white houses made Ostuni one of the most charming cities in Italy. Getting lost in the narrow streets, charming landscapes, great hallways, cute cafes, and restaurants is the perfect activity you are searching for. Furthermore, Ostuni is such a photogenic city and it will be a pleasure to spend the night there.
You can reach Ostuni from Monopoli by train, it takes around 20 minutes and the ticket costs 2.7 euros. Once arriving at Ostuni train station, you have to take a bus to reach the city center, at the exit, you can find a bar to buy bus tickets and right in front of the exit, you can take the bus in the direction of the old town.
What to see in Ostuni?
Old Town – Firstly, arriving in the old town, right in the front you will see the Church of San Francesco D’Assisi with a small square. It’s enough to walk just a few steps around to start admiring the city and to find all the beautiful spots you may have seen on the internet.
The house with the blue door – Among the myriad scenic spots boasting colorful doors in Ostuni, there is one that stands out as the quintessential symbol of this picturesque town. With a door in a white wall, a cactus, and a bicycle nearby, this is the spot every tourist will be searching for. Most probably it will be too crowded to take a picture, so be patient to catch the right moment.
Viewpoint at Corso Vittorio Emanuele II – This one is the best spot to admire all the hills and to have a full panorama of the city. The best time to visit this viewpoint is the sunset, likewise, you will have one of the most beautiful sunsets in your life.
Day Four – Locorotondo
Firstly, let me tell you that you will find Locorotondo usually out of the travel guides, and even out of influencer’s Instagram feeds, but, I want to highlight It in my blog because it is equally important to the other cities and I think is totally worth it to spend half a day exploring the city, and save the rest of the day to have more time for Alberobello. This one will be the perfect itinerary in Puglia. Is a bit “difficult” to reach Locorotondo from Ostuni, you have to change 2 buses, you have to take the bus or the train from Ostuni to Cisternino and then the bus from Cisternino to Locorotondo.
Furthermore, one more reason to visit Locorotondo is that you may get tired of so many tourists everywhere and maybe need some relaxation, and a less popular destination. So it’s the moment to go off the beaten path.
What to see in Locorotondo?
Historic center – Walk around the historic center. It may seem a small town but I assure you it is such a hidden gem and has so many beautiful spots. Have you ever heard “Vases make a house at home”? Well, in Locorotondo you will feel at home. White houses decorated with vases with colorful flowers are such a vibe. In the end, make sure you see the Vittorio Emanuele Square, grab a drink, and enjoy this small city.
One thing to note is Locorotondo at Christmas time. I know most of you will be in Puglia in summertime, but if you search for “Locorotondo during Christmas” and see all the decorations, you will love to visit the city one more time, specifically during Christmas Time.
Day Five – Alberobello
So, we left one and a half days for Alberobello, and it was not a coincidence. And isn’t even a coincidence that this city is the first one that comes to mind when thinking of Puglia.
This UNESCO World Heritage is known globally for the “Trulli”, a traditional Apulian dry (white) stone hut with a conical (grey) roof, which makes the city so particular, special, unforgettable, and a hotspot for tourists from all over the world. That’s why Puglia is often represented with Alberobello.
It’s easy to reach Alberobello from each city of Puglia and precisely from Locorotondo to Alberobello is a direct train. The trip lasted about 10 minutes and the ticket cost just 1 euro.
What to see in Alberobello?
You can easily take a self-guided walk in Alberobello and search for all the spots listed below:
Trullo Sovrano – This is called this way because is bigger than the others.
The smallest Trullo of Alberobello
Trullo Siamese – It is connected with a sweet love story of the two brothers who lived together in the Trullo and fell in love with the same woman.
Sant’Antonio Church
Casa d’Amore
Villa Comunale Belvedere
Rione Aia Piccola
Belvedere Santa Lucia
Basilica dei Santi Cosma e Damiano
La Lira – An Italian proverb says that good things come in small packages, and this is so true for the spectacular “La Lira”. “La Lira” is a traditional focaccia bakery and the birthplace of focapizza. Try to taste a bit of all the different products you find in this bakery so you explore all the Apulian baker traditions. You must consider a stop here as an integral part of your visit to Alberobello.
Day 5 – Bari
On the last day make sure to book the night flight to leave from Bari, so you will have one or half a day remaining to visit Bari. Even though the city has some of the most beautiful beaches and a charming Old Town, in my opinion, is a bit underrated. If you want to eat classic Barese food, feel a better taste of the Apuglia region, buy some souvenirs, and why not, some homemade fresh pasta or taralli, don’t skip Bari.
What to see in Bari?
Old Town – A beautiful Old Town surrounded by the sea, is what to expect from Bari Old Town. Strolling around the Old Town, besides enjoying the beauty of the city, be prepared to meet a lot of Italian ladies cooking and selling a lot of homemade products, so it will be very difficult for you not to buy something there.
One of Bari’s most important attractions is a 13th-century Romanesque cathedral, which is located also in the Old Town.
Also, other attractions worth a visit are:
San Nicola
San Sabino
Castle
Seafront
Piazza Mercantile
Important notes:
Don’t forget the Italian power adapter and Power strip.
Bring with you a travel vocabulary because you may encounter difficulty in speaking with locals.
From Apuglia, besides this region, you can visit the stunning city of Matera in the Basilicata region on a day trip but I would recommend staying one night. However, I have written all the details of this trip in another article, which you may reach by clicking here.