Gallipoli
Gallipoli is a walled island town in Puglia, southern Italy, known for its fishing harbor, old streets and sandy Ionian beaches.
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Gallipoli is a walled old town on a small island off the Ionian coast of Salento, in the Puglia region of southern Italy. A road bridge links the island to the mainland. Inside the walls you find a fishing harbor, narrow streets and a baroque cathedral. The name comes from Greek and means beautiful city. Sandy beaches lie along the coast on either side, so the sea is never far away.
The town suits a harbor meal, an old town walk and a beach day. Staying in the old town puts the harbor and cathedral within walking distance, while the beach strip is the choice for a day on the sand. Two or three days cover the old town, a harbor meal and a beach day without rushing. Avoid August, when crowds are heaviest. Late spring and early autumn are the best months for the sea and the streets.
Gallipoli in five
- Stay in the old town for the atmosphereThe island lanes are the draw, but parking is limited and rooms are small. Choose a base on the mainland strip if you have a car and want easy beach access.
- Book beach clubs ahead in summerSunbeds near the town sell out in July and August, and clubs set daily prices. Reserve ahead or walk farther along the free beaches in the morning.
- Rent a car for SalentoLecce, Otranto and the quiet coves are spread out, and trains are slow. Compare pickups before you land, and expect narrow roads and ZTLs.Lecce
- Go in June or SeptemberThe sea is warm, beach clubs are open and the town is calmer than in August. May suits walkers who want cooler days.
- Eat seafood at the harborAsk what came in that morning, and order by the day's catch. Raw seafood and grilled fish are the local specialty, so check prices before you sit.
Need to know
- Airport
- Brindisi (BDS) about 1–1.5 hr by car; Bari (BRI) farther
- Getting there
- Car or slow local train from Lecce, about 1 hr
- Getting around
- Old town on foot; car or bike for beaches
- Best base
- Old town island or the beach strip
- Time needed
- 2–4 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh13°Low8°Quiet, closedJanuaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 60 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Quiet, closed
- FebruaryPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh15°Low9°Quiet, closedFebruaryPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 62 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Quiet, closed
- MarchPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh16°Low10°Mild, quietMarchPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 72 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- AprilPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh19°Low12°Spring, EasterAprilPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 64 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, Easter
- MayPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh23°Low16°Warm, calmMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 68 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, calm
- JuneClear5 rainy daysHigh28°Low21°Beach seasonJuneClear
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 32 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Beach season
- JulyClear2 rainy daysHigh32°Low23°Hot, busyJulyClear
Best
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 14 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busy
- AugustClear5 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh32°Low24°Peak crowdsAugustClear
Good
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 25 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Peak crowds
- SeptemberClear8 rainy daysHigh27°Low21°Warm seaSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 62 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea
- OctoberClear9 rainy daysHigh23°Low17°Mild, quietOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 85 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- NovemberRain13 rainy daysHigh19°Low13°Rain returnsNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 136 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain returns
- DecemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh15°Low10°Quiet, closedDecemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 67 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Quiet, closed
Average daily high and low in Gallipoli, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Gallipoli
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
16
- Feels like
- 12°
- Humidity
- 74%
- Wind
- 21 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Gallipoli
10:16 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today18°13°100%Monday: Rain. High 18°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Tue18°14°60%Tuesday: Thunderstorms. High 18°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 60%.
- Wed19°12°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 19°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu19°12°3%Thursday: Cloudy. High 19°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Fri19°11°18%Friday: Clear. High 19°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 18%.
- Sat17°9°23%Saturday: Rain. High 17°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 23%.
- Sun19°16°23%Sunday: Rain. High 19°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 23%.
Updated 09:17 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- Jul–AugFestival della Valle d'ItriaCisternino, a day trip
- AugNotte della TarantaLecce, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Lecceabout 40–60 min by car or trainA Baroque city with lively evenings and good food.Read the guide
- Otrantoabout 1 hour by carA walled port with a mosaic floor in the cathedral.Read the guide
- Porto Selvaggioabout 20 min by carA nature park with pine trees and cliffs; read the park's rules first.
Before you go to Gallipoli
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Rules for Gallipoli, checked
- Italy is in the Schengen area. Many non-EU visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period; check entry rules on the Italian visa site before you book.Source
- Dial 112 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Italy.
- Cover shoulders and knees before entering the cathedral or other churches in the old town.
- Check with the Ministry of Culture before you buy antiques, since some cultural objects need an export license to leave the EU.Source
Plan around Gallipoli
Regions, rail, entry rules and money
Read the guideLecceBaroque city 40–60 min away
Read the guideOtrantoWalled port on the Adriatic side
Read the guideBrindisiAirport and port at the heel's northern end
Read the guideGetting around EuropeRail, buses and when a car pays off
Read the guideBest time to visit ItalySeasons, crowds and heat by region
Read the guideGallipoli FAQ
Is Gallipoli worth visiting?
Yes, for summer beach days and the island old town. It is crowded in August, so go outside peak weeks for a better visit.
How do you get to Gallipoli?
By car from Brindisi in 1 to 1.5 hours, or by slow local train from Lecce in about an hour. Check the timetable, because trains thin out in the evening.
Where should I stay in Gallipoli?
In the old town for atmosphere, in a nearby beach resort for easier parking and sand. Book early for July and August, when many places require a minimum week.
Does Gallipoli have good beaches?
Yes. The town beach, Baia Verde and others along the strip have sand and clear water. In summer, clubs occupy most of the best stretches, so walk farther for free spots.
How many days do you need in Gallipoli?
Two days for the old town and a beach day, three or four if you pair it with Lecce and Otranto by car. A week suits a full Salento beach holiday.