We explored Puglia on a road trip in October and completely fell in love with the region. The weather was perfect — warm enough to swim, but with far fewer crowds — and we loved driving through olive groves, along the turquoise coastline, and past beautiful trulli houses. We stayed in the beautiful white town of Ostuni, but for this route, we recommend splitting your time between here (or Monopoli) and Lecce. Here is our complete 7-10 day Puglia itinerary!
Day 1: Arrival in Bari
Welcome to Puglia! Bari is the region’s capital city, where the international airport is. Many just pass through quickly on their way to other destinations, but we actually really liked the atmosphere here; there are lively piazzas, coastal views, and authentic local life.
We just stopped for a few hours to see Bari Vecchia (the old town), have a nice lunch, and a stroll along the lungomare promenade. After, we continued our drive to Ostuni (our chosen base for exploring Puglia!).
Tip: You can also choose to stay in Bari for the night. (Browse your hotel options here)
Day 2: Monopoli
On day two, we drove to the city of Monopoli — one of our favorite towns in Puglia! Less than an hour away from Bari and Ostuni, it’s a great spot for a day trip, with a beautiful coast and lively historic center. And, although we didn’t do this ourselves, we think it would also be a great place to stay overnight on your Puglia itinerary.
The town has a much more local feel to it than some of the other places we visited in Puglia. Our favorite spot was Porto Antico, the harbor area where fishermen bring in their catch of the day.
Tip: The best way to enjoy the scenery here is with a picnic; grab a delicious Italian sandwich at Gustavo. Nick had the Parmigiana, which was so good!
Afternoon: Polignano a Mare
After exploring Monopoli’s Old Town in the morning, we continued north along the coast to Polignano a Mare. We relaxed on the iconic Lama Monachile beach, but there’s also the option to book a boat trip to explore the surrounding beaches and caves.
Day 3: Alberobello
One of the highlights of our Puglia itinerary was a visit to the iconic Trulli village of Alberobello. The town’s curved white huts with limestone conical roofs are unique and date back to the 14th century. These days, locals still live in them!
Top tip: Grab a gelato at La Bottega del Gelato and wander up to this location for the best view of the historical part of Alberobello.
It’s best to visit Alberobello early in the morning, as it gets very busy. We parked our car here (in the historic center) and spent an hour or two roaming the picturesque streets.
Afternoon: Olive Oil Farm
After visiting Alberobello in the morning, we booked an afternoon olive oil tasting in the countryside — definitely one of the most local experiences we had in the region.
Puglia produces around 40% of Italy’s olive oil from some of the country’s oldest olive trees! We visited this Masseria, a small family-run business that gave us a fantastic tour and tasting.
Tip: You can also buy their farm-produced olive oil after the tasting.
Day 4: Day trip to Matera (a must on any Puglia itinerary)
Spend day 4 in the oldest European city and one of the most magical we’ve ever seen: Matera. Built into a valley, this city is known for its ancient cave dwellings carved into limestone rock. While it’s not officially in Puglia, it’s a must-see and only a 1-hour 40-minute drive from our base, Ostuni.
We parked at this location, from where we walked up the many stairs to the Sassi, the oldest part of town. Here, you can explore the ancient caves, which have been used since prehistoric times! They were once churches, homes, and shops, now converted into museums, luxury hotels, and even restaurants.
Tip: These were our favorite viewpoints of the city: Viewpoint 1 + Viewpoint 2. For impressive scenery and great drinks, we recommend this bar terrace.
Day 5-7: Ostuni
We chose to stay in Ostuni on our Puglia itinerary, which was the ideal base! It’s only a maximum of an hour’s drive away from all the best places on this itinerary. The ‘white city’ sits atop a hilltop, offering views across Puglia’s flat, olive-grove-covered landscapes (this was one of our favorite locations).
Wander up the hillside streets, marveling at the white houses surrounded by flowers and cacti, and stop to see sites like Arco Scoppa or Piazza della Libertà.
Where to park? On arrival, we parked here, just an 8-minute walk into the centro storico.
Day 6: Cooking Class (Highlight of Our Puglia Itinerary)
Before we started our day, we grabbed breakfast in Ostuni (we love Burro Cafe or Crumb35!). Afterward, we jumped in the car for one of our favorite experiences in Puglia: this cooking class.
Set amongst the beautiful Apulian countryside at a cozy family villa, this cooking experience is taught by the matriarchs of the household — a fantastic mother-daughter duo.
We learned to make focaccia bread underneath the pretty garden pergola, experimenting with our toppings, and eating lots of Orecchiette pasta (native to Puglia). There was even traditional live music, so we danced with everyone in the group, including the family, which was so much fun! (Read here how to book it).
Day 7: Departure
If you’re visiting Puglia for only 7 days, this is your final day. Savor the last moments exploring Ostuni’s enchanting alleys or enjoy a leisurely breakfast or lunch at a local café, soaking in the vibrant atmosphere.
Doing a 10-day Puglia itinerary instead?
After ticking off the last things to do in Ostuni, head further south to the beautiful city of Lecce.
Also read: our favorite things to do in Puglia, Italy
Lecce has been nicknamed ‘the Florence of the South’, and we can definitely see the similarities! Stop off in Piazza del Duomo, admire the stunning Basilica di Santa Croce, and visit the city’s incredible palaces.
Tip: We bought this combined ticket for Lecce’s historical sites, including the basilica, several baroque churches, and the seminary palace. Tickets cost 9 EUR, and we pre-booked them here.
Day 9: Hit the Beach
After many days exploring different towns, we were craving some beach time, so we drove to Salento, the southernmost region of Puglia. This area is known for its coastline, with two sides to choose from: rocky coves and wild nature along the Adriatic coast, or calm turquoise waters and soft sand along the Ionian coast.
Some of our favorite beaches on the western coast were:
- Punta Prosciutto
- Spiaggia di Porto Selvaggio
- Santa Maria al Bagno
- Spiaggia di Torre Lapillo
The eastern part of the region is the place for cliff jumping, fantastic snorkeling, and cave exploration. We didn’t find as many amenities here, but that’s all part of its untouched beauty! Some of our favorites on this side were:
- Torre dell’Orso
- Baia dei Turchi
Afternoon: Torre Sant’Andrea
Torre Sant’Andrea has the most amazing limestone formations, cliffside archways, and caves. When we were here, we jumped off the cliffs with some Italians who really knew what they were doing. It’s a good idea to ask the locals before jumping, as they know where the rocks are. We also recommend bringing water shoes, as you’ll need to climb up some sharp edges to get out of the water.
We visited in October, and there were plenty of parking options close to the beach. However, in the summer, it fills up very quickly. It’s better to come very early in the morning or late in the afternoon, and don’t leave any valuables in your car! (Learn more about travel safety)
Day 10: Departure
We had an early flight, but if you have more time, savor your last moments in Lecce with a delightful breakfast at a local café and a final Pasticciotto.
Where to Stay on Your Puglia Itinerary
There are so many beautiful places to stay in Puglia, Italy! We chose to stay in Ostuni and loved it; it’s a lively city centrally located in the region, making it super easy to explore. We stayed both in a city hotel and later in a countryside villa.
Tip: For a Puglia itinerary longer than a week, we recommend staying in a few places. For example, Monopoli, Alberobello, and Lecce are also ideal bases. Here are our favorites:
Although Trulli houses are very popular places to stay, we wouldn’t necessarily recommend them for longer vacations. We found them a bit uncomfortable, mainly because of the low ceilings and lack of ventilation, which makes them prone to dampness. For a day or two, though, it’s a fun thing to do in Puglia!
How to Visit Puglia for 7-10 Days?
Puglia has two international airports: Bari and Brindisi. This Puglia itinerary focuses on arriving in Bari, but both are good options and have connecting flights throughout Europe.
Getting Around on your Puglia Itinerary
We loved having a rental car to explore Puglia; it meant we could reach secluded locations, hidden Trulli Houses, and untouched coastline. We found the region had a good mix of highways between the main towns and winding scenic roads in the countryside.
We recommend to rent a car in Italy through Sunny Cars with free cancellation and insurance included. Book your rental car here.
By Train
The train is also a great form of transportation in Puglia. All the main towns and cities, such as Bari, Monopoli, Polignano a Mare, Ostuni, Brindisi, and Lecce, have great connections, so it would be better to stay in one of these places.
Tours
You can book plenty of amazing tours from major cities that offer return transportation and a guide. Some of the best experiences we had on our Puglia itinerary were this cooking class, olive oil tour, and wine tasting!
How Much Does a Puglia Itinerary Cost?
Puglia is definitely one of the cheaper locations we’ve visited in Italy, and we found it much more affordable than more well-traveled regions such as Tuscany. We’d often save money by buying takeaway sandwiches or focaccia from local shops and making picnics for the beach.
Note: If you’re renting a car in Puglia, you’ll also need to budget for fuel and parking costs. We spent around 3 – 20 EUR per day on parking.
We sadly noticed a lot of trash left along the roads in Puglia. If you’re taking a picnic to the beach or another nature spot, please always remember to take your trash away with you.
But there are also plenty of vegetarian dishes on offer, especially compared with other regions in Italy, such as Tuscany. Some of our favorite restaurants were:
- Ostuni: Borgo Antico Bistrot (beautiful views and delicious sharing boards)
- Alberobello: Trattoria Terra Madre (organic and locally sourced ingredients)
- Polignano a Mare: Pescaria (delicious seafood sandwiches/paninis) Book your table here
- Monopoli: Gustavo (most delicious sandwich ever!)
- Matera: Conzato (fantastic views and delicious antipasti)
- Avetrana: Osteria Sud e Terre Lontane (incredible seafood plates)
- Ceglie Messapica: Osteria da Giuseppe (fresh, seasonal pasta) book your table here
Tip: Many restaurants need reservations during high season, especially in popular towns like Matera and Ostuni.
Best Time to Visit Puglia
We visited in October, which was just perfect! The average daily temperature was around 23 degrees Celsius, there were fewer crowds, and in the late afternoons/evenings, we often had the streets to ourselves. It was also warm enough that we could still swim and sunbathe.
The hottest and busiest months are July and August, so make sure to book your hotels, restaurants, and tours well before your trip. Parking is hard during this season, so it’s best to arrive at the beaches early.
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