Puglia is made for a road trip. In a week, you can combine the cliffs of Polignano, the white towns and trulli of the Valle d’Itria, a few days in a masseria and the baroque splendour of Lecce. With ten days, add the beaches and coastal towns of the Salento and a day in Matera, just across the border in Basilicata. These two itineraries show the best route, where to stay and how long to spend in each place.
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The short answer
- 7 days: Bari, Polignano, Monopoli, the Valle d’Itria and Lecce
- 10 days: add Matera and the Salento coast
- Best bases: a masseria near Fasano and a hotel in Lecce
- Getting around: a rental car is by far the easiest
- Best months: May, June and September
Before You Go
Fly into Bari or Brindisi and pick up a rental car at the airport. Distances are short: Bari to Lecce is around two hours, Monopoli to Ostuni about 30 minutes. Plan two bases rather than moving every night. Read our guides to getting around Puglia and the best time to visit Puglia.
Puglia Itinerary: 7 Days
Day 1, Bari: Arrive in Bari and spend the afternoon in Bari Vecchia: the Basilica of San Nicola, the lanes where women make orecchiette by hand and the seafront promenade. Drive on to your masseria near Fasano in the evening.
Day 2, Polignano a Mare and Monopoli: Morning in Polignano, with the Lama Monachile cove and the terraces above the sea. Afternoon and dinner in Monopoli, with its harbour and old town.
Day 3, a day at the masseria and the beach: Enjoy the pool, a cooking class or the masseria’s beach club. In the evening, visit the ancient site of Egnazia or have dinner in a nearby town.
Day 4, Alberobello and Locorotondo: Visit the trulli of Alberobello early in the morning, before the day trips arrive. Continue to Locorotondo, with its circular old town and views over the Valle d’Itria, and have dinner in Cisternino, famous for its butcher shops that grill meat to order.
Day 5, Ostuni: Explore the White City, its cathedral and its viewpoints over the olive groves to the sea. Swim in the afternoon at one of the beaches of the Ostuni coast.
Days 6 and 7, Lecce: Drive south to Lecce and spend two days among its golden baroque churches, the Roman amphitheatre and the Basilica of Santa Croce. Make a half day trip to Otranto on the Adriatic coast. Fly home from Brindisi.
Where to stay: four nights in a masseria near Fasano or Ostuni, three nights in Lecce. See our guides to the best masserie in Puglia and where to stay in Lecce and the Salento.
Puglia Itinerary: 10 Days
Days 1 to 5: Follow the first five days of the seven day route.
Day 6, Matera: Matera, in neighbouring Basilicata, is about an hour from the Valle d’Itria. Its ancient cave dwellings, the Sassi, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most extraordinary sights in Italy. Consider staying overnight to see the Sassi lit up at night. See our guide to day trips from Bari.
Days 7 and 8, Lecce: Two days in Lecce, with a day trip to Otranto and the coast road south to the sea pools of the Grotta della Poesia.
Days 9 and 10, the Salento coast: End the trip by the sea in the south of the Salento: Gallipoli on the Ionian coast, the sandy beaches near Ugento and Pescoluse, and the cliffs at Santa Maria di Leuca. See our Salento guide.
Where to stay: four nights near Fasano, one in Matera, three in Lecce and two by the sea in the Salento.
Charlotte’s tip: eat late and eat local
In summer, Puglia lives in the evening. Do sightseeing in the morning, rest in the heat of the afternoon and head out at sunset. Order burrata, orecchiette, crudo di mare and a glass of Primitivo or Negroamaro rosato.
Book your masseria first
For June to September, the best masserie sell out early. Book them first and build the route around them.
FAQ
How many days do you need in Puglia?
A week covers the highlights between Bari, the Valle d’Itria and Lecce. Ten days allow you to add Matera and the Salento coast.
What is the best route for a Puglia road trip?
Start in Bari, continue to Polignano, Monopoli and the Valle d’Itria, then drive south to Lecce and the Salento, and fly home from Brindisi.
Can you visit Matera from Puglia?
Yes. Matera is about an hour from Alberobello and Bari and makes an excellent day trip or overnight stop.
