Puglia, the sunlit heel of Italy’s boot, has always been a crossroads—Greek settlers, Norman knights, and Bourbon kings all left their mark on its Romanesque cathedrals, whitewashed villages, and fortified farmsteads. Today it’s famed for crystalline Adriatic and Ionian seas, ancient olive groves, and cities that glow golden at dusk.

From Bari’s walled old town to Lecce’s theatrical baroque, the region invites slow travel—long lunches, late swims, and gelato-fueled passeggiate. Day trips reveal icons: the conical trulli of Alberobello, sea caves of Polignano a Mare, and the dramatic ravine-city of Matera just beyond the regional border.

Expect unforgettable flavors: oven-warm focaccia barese, orecchiette with cime di rapa, silky burrata, and primitivo and negroamaro wines. Practical notes: summers are hot, many historic centers operate ZTL (limited traffic zones), and trains/buses connect major towns easily. Reserve restaurants on weekends and book popular boat tours in advance.

Bari (Days 1–4)

Bari is Puglia’s lively capital, a port city where laundry flutters above maze-like lanes and nonnas hand-roll orecchiette at their doorways. Its heart, Bari Vecchia, holds the relics of St. Nicholas, the austere Castello Normanno-Svevo, and a waterfront promenade perfect for sunset.

Local highlights include plate-sized focaccia barese, fresh seafood, and nightlife around Piazza del Ferrarese and Piazza Mercantile. Use Bari as a hub for coastal Polignano a Mare, the trulli of Alberobello, and Matera’s cave dwellings.

• Where to stay: Browse centrally located apartments and boutique stays on VRBO Bari or hotels with sea views and old-town access on Hotels.com Bari.
• Getting to Bari: Fly into Bari (BRI) or Brindisi (BDS). Compare flights on Omio (Flights). From Rome, high-speed and Intercity trains to Bari take ~4–5 hours, from Naples ~3.5–4.5 hours—check schedules/fares on Omio (Trains). Regional buses are also frequent on Omio (Buses).
• Essential tours (pick and book early): Bari walking and street-food tours, a day trip to Alberobello + Matera, and a Polignano sea-caves boat experience.

Day 1: Arrival in Bari, Old Town Warm-Up

Afternoon: Arrive and settle in near Bari Vecchia. Start at Piazza del Ferrarese and stroll the seafront Lungomare. Step into the Basilica di San Nicola to see the crypt and learn why Bari became a pilgrimage city.

Evening: Snack stop at Panificio Fiore for still-warm focaccia barese (tomato, olive oil, olives). Dinner at La Tana del Polpo (reservations recommended) for grilled octopus, crudi, and hand-made pasta. Nightcap in Piazza Mercantile; try Speakeasy Bari for creative cocktails or a glass of primitivo at Vini e Panini. Gelato at Pasticceria/Gelateria Gentile before turning in.

Day 2: Bari by Foot—History and Street Food

Morning: Explore Bari Vecchia’s labyrinth: Castello Normanno-Svevo ramparts, Cattedrale di San Sabino, and “Strada delle Orecchiette,” where women deftly shape pasta by hand. Coffee and pasticciotto at Pasticceria Boccia or Caffè Borghese.

Afternoon: Join a guided city walk to get the legends behind St. Nicholas, the Aragonese walls, and daily life in the old town. Book: Bari Walking City Tour.

Afterwards, try panzerotti (fried turnovers) at Di Cosimo or a quick seafood lunch at Mastro Ciccio (order the octopus bun).

Evening: Taste Bari through its staples—focaccia, sgagliozze (fried polenta), and local wines—on a small-group food walk. Book: Bari: Street Food Walking Tour with a Local Guide.

For dinner, book Biancofiore for seasonal seafood pastas or Al Pescatore for a classic grilled catch. Gelato at Martinucci toward the marina.

Day 3: Day Trip—Alberobello Trulli and Matera’s Sassi

All day: See two UNESCO heavyweights in one curated outing from Bari. In Alberobello, wander Rione Monti and Aia Piccola among conical trulli; learn how dry-stone techniques and pinnacles evolved. In Matera, descend into the sassi, rupestrian churches, and cave homes carved into the ravine. Book: Alberobello and Matera private bus tour from Bari.

Return to Bari for a late Apulian dinner—try La Uascez for bombette (stuffed meat rolls) and taralli with local wine.

Day 4: Polignano a Mare and Monopoli—Coastal Day

Morning: Take a regional train from Bari Centrale to Polignano a Mare (30–35 minutes, ~€3–€6 each way; check Omio (Trains)). Walk the terraces over Lama Monachile for dramatic cliff and cove views. Espresso and an almond granita at Super Mago del Gelo Mario Campanella, a local institution.

Afternoon: Explore sea caves and hidden coves by boat, usually with a swim stop if seas permit. Book: Boat tour of the Polignano a Mare caves with aperitif.

Lunch at Pescaria for cult-favorite tuna tartare buns or octopus sandwiches. Optional hop to nearby Monopoli (5 minutes by train) for its pretty harbor and cathedral.

Evening: Back in Bari, aperitivo along the Lungomare. Dinner at Per Bacco for homemade pastas with seasonal vegetables, or Al Sorso Preferito for old-school trattoria vibes. Pack for tomorrow’s easy train south.

Lecce (Days 5–7)

Lecce is the “Florence of the South,” a stage set of honey-colored baroque façades, cherubs, and swirling stone carved from soft local pietra leccese. It’s a city of long, languid evenings, refined cuisine, and creative bars.

From here, the Salento peninsula beckons: Otranto’s mosaic-studded cathedral, Gallipoli’s island old town, and Santa Maria di Leuca where two seas meet. Expect superb olive oils, rustic breads, and hearty legume dishes like ciceri e tria.

• Where to stay: Search elegant palazzi stays and quiet courtyards on VRBO Lecce or central boutique hotels on Hotels.com Lecce.
• Getting from Bari to Lecce: Direct Regionale Veloce trains run ~1h35–2h, €11–€18; check times/tickets via Omio (Trains). Buses can be similar duration on Omio (Buses).
• Essential tours (book ahead): Lecce history and street-food walk, a hands-on orecchiette class with wine pairing, and a boat day to Santa Maria di Leuca’s caves.

Day 5: Transfer to Lecce, Baroque First Look

Morning: Train from Bari to Lecce (~1h40). Drop bags and refresh with a caffè leccese (espresso over ice, often with almond milk syrup) at Caffè Alvino facing Piazza Sant’Oronzo.

Afternoon: Orient yourself on Via Libertini and Via Palmieri—peek into the Roman amphitheater, then Santa Croce’s exuberant façade of animals and garlands. Light lunch at Doppiozero (salads, puccia sandwiches, local cheeses).

Evening: Aperitivo at Quanto Basta, one of southern Italy’s leading cocktail bars. Dinner at Alle Due Corti for classics like ciceri e tria and meatballs in tomato sauce, or at Osteria degli Spiriti for refined seafood and an excellent cellar. Gelato finale at Gelateria Natale.

Day 6: Lecce’s Stories, Bites, and Pasta by Hand

Morning: Dive into Lecce’s past with a historian-led stroll and tastings—sample rustico leccese (puff pastry with mozzarella and béchamel), taralli, and local sweets while learning the city’s baroque language. Book: Lecce History and Street Food Tasting Small Group Tour.

Afternoon: Hands-on cooking in a historic setting—learn to make orecchiette and pair with Puglian wines, guided by locals who’ve rolled pasta all their lives. Book: Orecchiette Cooking Class and Wine Pairing in Lecce.

If you prefer museums, visit MUST or the Diocesan Museum for art and carved stonework.

Evening: Sunset wander through Porta Rudiae to the Duomo square, luminous after dark. Dinner at Le Zie Trattoria (home-style Salentino fare; cash often preferred) or Trattoria Nonna Tetti for rustic dishes and house wine. Nightcap on Via Umberto I at La Drogheria for amari.

Day 7: Salento’s Tip—Otranto and Santa Maria di Leuca

All day: Early start for Otranto (train or bus ~40–70 minutes via Omio (Trains) / Omio (Buses)). See the Cathedral’s 12th-century Tree of Life mosaic and Aragonese Castle, then continue to Santa Maria di Leuca, where the Adriatic meets the Ionian under a lighthouse. Cap your trip with a cave-hopping boat tour along the cape—swim stops in turquoise grottoes when conditions allow. Book: Boat tour to the caves.

Lunch by the water—think grilled spigola and friselle—then return to Lecce for final shopping (cartapesta papier-mâché crafts and olive-wood kitchenware) before your afternoon departure.

Practical Travel Notes

• Intercity transit: Omio is handy for comparing Puglia trains/buses and booking mobile tickets: Trains, Buses, and for flight options to/from Italy on Flights.
• Seasonality: Boat tours are weather-dependent; spring and fall are ideal for lighter crowds and warm seas. In August, book restaurants, tours, and beach clubs far in advance.
• Driving: If you rent a car, respect ZTL zones in historic centers and use paid lots outside the walls. Trains/buses work well for this exact itinerary.

In a week, you’ll have tasted Bari’s soul, navigated Polignano’s sea caves, stood among Alberobello’s trulli, and traced Lecce’s baroque flourishes—then sailed where two seas meet at Leuca. This Puglia itinerary blends coastal drama, village time, and deeply local food traditions you’ll crave long after you’re home.