Puglia, lying between the Adriatic and Ionian seas in southeastern Italy, is a Mediterranean dream with its sun-drenched landscapes, endless olive groves, white stone houses and distinctive cuisine.
The region fascinates not only with its nature but also with its characteristic towns and cities. Alberobello with its conical-roofed trulli houses is a fairytale land; Lecce, known as the “Florence of the South” with its baroque buildings, fascinates architecture lovers. Ostuni, with its whitewashed houses built on the hills, is known as “La Città Bianca”. Polignano a Mare looks like a postcard with its houses built on the cliffs and the deep blue sea; Bari is the starting point of the route with its bustling heart of the region, historic streets and life along the coast. Although located in the neighboring Basilicata region, Matera is also an indispensable stop on this journey; with its cave houses and stone texture, it takes you back in time.
Puglia is impressive not only for its sights but also for its cuisine. Flavors such as burrata, orecchiette, taralli and focaccia barese are not just a meal here, but a way of life. This guide has been prepared for those who walk the stone roads of Puglia, who are guests at its tables and who follow the sun.
When to go to Puglia?
Puglia can be visited all year round, but the best time to explore the region is of course spring and autumn. Nature comes to life between March and May, and the seaside season usually begins in mid-June. In September and October, the temperatures are still pleasant and the crowds are fewer.
During the summer months (especially July-August) temperatures can exceed 35 degrees Celsius and the coastal towns can be quite crowded as everyone, including Italians, is on vacation. We do not recommend going during this period.
How to get to Puglia?
It is quite easy to reach Puglia from Turkey. The direct flight from Istanbul to Bari , the capital of the region, takes about 2 hours. Bari has the largest airport in Puglia and is the most preferred point of entry to the region.
There are direct flights from many European cities to Bari and Brindisi , another important airport in the south. Especially in the summer months, flights to these two airports increase; it is possible to find direct flights from Germany, France, Switzerland, England and Scandinavian countries.
For those who want to come by sea, there are ferry services to Bari or Brindisi from port cities such as Albania (Durrës) and Greece (Patras or Igoumenitsa). This route can be an alternative option especially for those traveling by car.
Puglia is also very accessible for those planning to travel by train within Italy. For example, it takes about 3 hours by train from Naples to Bari. High-speed train lines such as Trenitalia or Italo also offer connecting or direct services from major cities such as Rome, Florence and Bologna.
Whichever mode of transportation you choose, when you arrive in Puglia everything slows down – your journey, like life here, is put into slow motion.
We bought our flight tickets through turna.com, using our accumulated points. Turna.com also offers bus, car rental, hotel and ferry services at advantageous prices.
How Many Days Should I Spend in Puglia?
Puglia is a large region; at least 7-8 days is ideal for those who want to visit each city by digesting it. However, if your time is more limited, we recommend at least 5 days to enjoy this region.
Our route was: Bari, Altamura, Matera, Alberobello, Polignano a Mare, Monopoli, Ostuni, Lecce, and back to Bari with a stop in Andria & Trani on the way back.
* Although Matera is located in the neighboring Basilicata region, we think it should be included in the Puglia route.
Transportation in Puglia
Puglia is a region of small towns and villages that are far from each other rather than big cities, so renting a car is almost essential to explore the region freely. Since public transportation options are limited, we strongly recommend renting a car to travel at your own pace and make discoveries along the way.
We booked our car through turna.com before the trip and took delivery as soon as we landed at Bari Airport. The roads in Puglia are not very new, do not expect wide highways. It would be good to choose your vehicle by taking these road conditions into consideration. From time to time it is necessary to deviate from the main road and take narrow village roads or farm roads. Nevertheless, in general, the journey is quite pleasant and the traffic is quite calm. We also had no parking problems in any city.
We were warned about one thing: in the north of the region, especially around Foggia, there are occasional car thefts. We won’t be going to Foggia on this trip , but we rented our car fully insured, and we recommend you do the same – it ‘ s an important detail for peace of mind.
Although we did not use public transportation , there are train and bus services between some cities.
for example:
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It takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes by bus from Bari to Matera.
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The journey from Bari to Lecce by train takes about 1 hour 40 minutes.
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The route Bari – Alberobello is more complicated and usually requires a connecting train or bus.
These public transport options can work well for getting between cities, but you may need to plan well in advance if you want to get to smaller towns and villages. The frequency of public transportation is quite low, especially on rural routes. Therefore, renting a car is still the most practical and flexible way.
Accommodation in Puglia
The most authentic and local option to stay in Puglia: Masserias. Converted from historic stone farmhouses, these accommodations are often set in nature, among olive groves or vineyards, allowing you to experience both local architecture and rural life. We think this is the most meaningful accommodation choice. We recommend staying in 2-3 different locations depending on the length of your trip in order to visit the region in the most efficient way.
If you want to be a bit more in the city life: Bari and Lecce
If you want to be closer to the sea: Monopoli, Gallipoli, Tricase
If you aremore gastronomy and culture oriented: Altamura, Alberobello and Otranto
Turna.com is currently offering a 10% discount on hotel bookings until May 31.
The topic we will talk about the most in Puglia will of course be the food. You can review the blog post we prepared on this subject before here. What to eat in Puglia? What are the local dishes and products of Puglia? & you can learn about the culinary philosophy of the region.
You can find all the guides we have prepared for Italy here.
