Puglia
Go for the trulli of Alberobello, baroque Lecce and the longest coastline of any mainland Italian region, on two seas.
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Puglia is the region that forms the heel of Italy's boot, in the south of the country. Its regional capital is Bari, and the main airports are Bari and Brindisi. The region has the longest coastline of any mainland Italian region, with rocky cliffs and sandy beaches, and it lies between the Adriatic Sea to the east and the Ionian Sea to the southeast.
Travelers come for the trulli, conical dry-stone houses with limestone roofs, which are concentrated in the Valle d'Itria around Alberobello. They also come for Lecce's Baroque buildings, carved in golden local limestone. Food is a draw too: orecchiette, olive oil, artichokes and seafood are key local ingredients. A car is the easiest way to reach the smaller towns, because the rail network is less comprehensive than the road network, especially in the south. Late spring and early autumn are the best seasons, and they suit sea swimming. In summer, temperatures in Lecce and Foggia can reach or exceed 40 °C. Plan several days and choose one or two bases, then make day trips from them.
Puglia in five
- Rent a car outside the citiesTrains link Bari, Lecce and a few coastal towns, but the white hill towns, farm stays and beaches are far easier with a car. Check parking and restricted traffic zones in each old town.Italy by train off-peak
- Pick one or two basesBari and the Valle d'Itria cover the center of the region, and Lecce suits the south. Moving every night wastes the time you came for.Bari
- Fly into Bari or BrindisiBari serves the center and north, Brindisi the south. Price both and compare them with the cost of a one-way car rental, since the drop-off fee can change the answer.
- Book summer beaches and sea-view stays earlyJuly and August fill up with Italian vacationers, and some coastal towns close in winter. May, June and September give warm weather with fewer crowds.
- See Alberobello early or lateThe trulli districts fill with day-trippers from late morning. Go at dawn or after the coaches leave, and stay overnight if you want the streets quiet.Alberobello
Neighborhoods
Bari
- Best for: First trips, no-car days, short stays
- To airport: A short train or bus ride from Bari airport
- Price band: $$
- Bari has the airport and the main rail station
- Polignano a Mare is a cliff town a short train ride south
- Easy base for day trips by train
Skip if you want quiet countryside or a farm stay.
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Lecce
- Best for: Culture and beaches together
- To airport: Under an hour from Brindisi airport by car or train
- Price band: $$
- Compact old town you can walk
- Beaches on the Adriatic and Ionian sides
- Sea towns like Otranto and Gallipoli by car
Skip if you want to be close to Bari's airport.
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Taranto
Taranto is a naval port in Puglia, known for Greek temple columns, an old island district and its two seas.
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Brindisi
Brindisi is a port city on Puglia's Adriatic coast, known for its Roman column and as a starting point for trips into Salento.
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Need to know
- Airport
- Bari (BRI) for the center and north; Brindisi (BDS) for the south
- Getting there
- Flights to Bari or Brindisi; trains down the Adriatic from the north
- Getting around
- Car for towns and coast; trains Bari to Lecce and some local lines
- Best base
- Bari for the center, Lecce for the south, Ostuni for the white towns
- Time needed
- 5 to 8 days; fewer if you stay in one area
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryCold, quiet
- FebruaryCool, quiet
- MarchEarly spring
- AprilGreen, Easter
- MayWarm, wildflowers
- JuneBeach season
- JulyHot, crowded
- AugustPeak, Ferragosto
- SeptemberWarm sea, calmer
- OctoberHarvest, mild
- NovemberRain, cooler
- DecemberQuiet, closures
Right now in Puglia
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
12
- Feels like
- 8°
- Humidity
- 91%
- Wind
- 30 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Puglia
09:37 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today14°10°100%Monday: Rain. High 14°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Tue14°9°80%Tuesday: Rain. High 14°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 80%.
- Wed15°8°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu14°9°2%Thursday: Fog. High 14°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Fri15°8°31%Friday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 31%.
- Sat14°9°36%Saturday: Rain. High 14°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 36%.
- Sun18°13°16%Sunday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 16%.
Updated 06:22 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- Jul–AugFestival della Valle d'ItriaCisternino, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Alberobelloabout 1.5 hours by train from BariThe trulli districts and a short stay in the Valle d'Itria.Read the guide
- Polignano a Mareabout 30 min by train from BariA cliff-top town with sea views and swim coves.Read the guide
- Materaabout 1.5 hours by car or bus from BariThe cave city of Basilicata, a day trip or an overnight.Read the guide
Before you go to Puglia
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Rules for Puglia, checked
- Italy is in the Schengen Area. Check whether you need a visa or can enter visa-free on the Italian Foreign Ministry site before you book.Source
- Dial 112 for police, ambulance or fire anywhere in Italy.
- Do not bring olive plants, cuttings or soil into Italy. Xylella has damaged olive trees in Salento, and plant material is restricted at the border.
- Tipping is not required. Some restaurants add a cover charge (coperto), and a bill that already includes service needs no extra tip.
Plan around Puglia
Regions, cities and the rules every visitor needs
Read the guideBariThe regional capital and main airport
Read the guideLecceThe baroque city in the Salento south
Read the guideAlberobelloThe trulli town and the Valle d'Itria
Read the guidePolignano a MareCliffs, coves and a day-trip town near Bari
Read the guideBest time to visit ItalySeasons, crowds and shoulder months
Read the guidePuglia FAQ
How many days do you need in Puglia?
Five days covers Bari, the trulli country and a coastal stop at a relaxed pace. Eight days adds Lecce and the Salento coast. A single area works for a long weekend, but distances add up by car.
Do you need a car in Puglia?
For the countryside and beaches, yes. Trains run from Bari to Lecce and some local lines reach Alberobello, but the white towns, farm stays and coves are far easier by car. Bari and Lecce work without one.
When is the best time to go to Puglia?
May, June and September have warm weather and open beach clubs without the August crush. July and August are hot and busy, and some resort towns close from about November.
Is Puglia better than Tuscany?
It is warmer and has more coast, with fewer big-name museums. Tuscany has the art cities and hill towns of the north. Pick Puglia for beaches, food and a slower pace.
Which airport should you fly into for Puglia?
Bari for the center and north of the region, and Brindisi for the south and Lecce. Compare fares, and check one-way car rental fees if you land in one and leave from the other.