Discover the top places to see and best things to do in Puglia, Italy – food, beaches, trulli, wine, and must-visit hidden gems in Apulia.
Planning a trip to Puglia, Italy? Congratulations – you’re about to fall in love. This Italian region is where olive trees grow older than most civilizations, wine costs less than bottled water, and sunsets look Photoshopped (but aren’t).
- Where is Puglia, Italy? Puglia (Apulia) is located in southern Italy, forming the heel of Italy’s boot-shaped peninsula, bordered to the east by the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea to the south.
- What is Puglia, Italy, famous for? Puglia, a favorite vacation spot for Italians, charms with stunning landscapes, historic towns, and authentic Italian cuisine, all at a fraction of the cost of northern Italy.
Whether you’re here for jaw-dropping beaches, slow travel vibes, or to question why pasta in the south tastes better than anywhere else on Earth, this Apulia/Puglia travel guide will help you plan like a pro.
Table of Contents
🗺️ Best Places to See & Things to Do in Puglia, Italy
Grab a gelato, open your map (yes, the heel of the boot), and let’s explore the top things to do in Puglia – no stress, just sunshine, wine, and adventure.
🍝 Bari – Real Italian Life
Bari, the capital, is the starting point for exploring other towns in Puglia/Apulia. This raw, lively, and unapologetically authentic city is a maze of pasta-rolling nonnas, seafront strolls, historic streets, and vibrant everyday life that makes the city unforgettable.
📍 Places to See
- Bari Vecchia (historic old town)
- Basilica di San Nicola
- Lungomare Nazario Sauro (waterfront promenade)
- Castello Normanno Svevo
- Piazza Mercantile and local markets
🎉 Things to Do
- Make Bari-style focaccia and fresh pasta with Apulian nonnas
- Sample focaccia Barese and other local street foods
- Take day trips to Polignano a Mare, Alberobello, or Matera
🛏️ Where to Stay
🕊️ Ostuni – The White City
Ostuni feels like a sun-bleached maze of whitewashed beauty, with panoramic views and slow, wandering streets – the kind of place that makes you dream about staying forever.
📍 Places to See
- Piazza della Libertà
- Ostuni Cathedral
- Arco Scoppa (iconic archway near the cathedral)
🎉 Best Things to Do
- Dine at Osteria del Tempo Perso for rustic Pugliese dishes
- Masseria oil tasting tour among thousand-year-old olive trees
- Learn to make orecchiette pasta and dine with a local nonna
🛏️ Where to Stay
🍷 Locorotondo – The Town Built for Slow Living
Locorotondo is a peaceful, whitewashed, historic, circular, old town wrapped in vineyards, flowers, and wine-fueled daydreams – slow, scenic, and impossible not to love.
📍 Places to See
- Chiesa Madre San Giorgio
- Parco Comunale viewpoint overlooking vineyards
- Palazzo Morelli (for architecture swooning)
🎉 Things to Do
- Enjoy a wine tasting with a sommelier
- Ride an e-bike through the countryside
- Craft a stone souvenir with your own hands
🛏️ Where to Stay
🏡 Alberobello – The Land of Trulli
Alberobello is a whimsical, storybook village of trulli homes, where ancient charm, cozy stays, and comforting Pugliese food turn every moment into a fairy-tale memory.
📍 Places to See
- Rione Monti and Aia Piccola (trulli districts)
- Trullo Sovrano (largest trullo)
- Parrocchia Sant’Antonio di Padova
🎉 Things to Do
- Stay overnight in a trullo for a unique experience
- Learn to make pasta and tiramisu in a local home
- Indulge in a cheese and wine tasting in a trullo
🛏️ Where to Stay
🌴 Polignano a Mare – Cliffs, Caves & Coastlines
Polignano a Mare is where dramatic cliffs, turquoise sea, and pure coastal chaos come together to create one of the most photogenic places in Puglia.
While you’re there, don’t forget to visit Ristorante Grotta Palazzese, a world-renowned, centuries-old cave restaurant carved into limestone cliffs overlooking the Adriatic Sea.
📍 Places to See
- Centro Storico (whitewashed alleys + flower balconies)
- Chiesa Madre di S. Maria Assunta
- Ristorante Grotta Palazzese
- Villa Comunale viewpoint (vineyard + trulli)
🍷 Things to Do
- Enjoy an eco-boat tour with snorkeling
- Apulian cooking class with an Aperitif and wine
- Street food tour of traditional Apulian cuisine
- Dine in a sea cave at Ristorante Grotta Palazzese
🛏️ Where to Stay
🍽️ Cisternino – A Food Lover’s Paradise
Cisternino is a humble, food-obsessed charmer – the kind of town where grilled meat, warm streets, and real Italian life turn a simple meal into a memory.
📍 Places to See
🎉 Things to Do
- Ride a Vespa through the Itria Valley
- Visit a winery and an oil mill
- Visit Ostuni, Locorotondo & Polignano
🛏️ Where to Stay
⛵ Monopoli – Seaside Charm & Slow Vibes
Monopoli is a sun-soaked coastal dream where fishing boats, hidden beaches, and seafood-filled evenings create the perfect slow-summer fantasy.
📍 Places to See
- Monopoli Harbor with colorful fishing boats
- Cala Porta Vecchia and nearby coves
- Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi
- Local beaches: Lido Santo Stefano, Lido Cala Cerasa
🎉 Things to Do
- Tour Monopoli by gozzo (traditional fishing boat)
- Enjoy local specialities on a street food tour
- Dine on fresh seafood at Osteria Perricci or Il Guazzetto
🛏️ Where to Stay
🪨 Matera – Magic in Stone
Matera is a hauntingly beautiful ancient cave city where golden sunsets, stone-carved history, and cinematic magic create an unforgettable, almost otherworldly experience.
📍 Places to See
- Sassi di Matera (ancient cave districts)
- Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario (traditional cave home museum)
- Matera Cathedral (Cattedrale di Matera)
- Church of Santa Maria de Idris (rupestrian church)
- Piazza Don Vittorio POLONI
🎉 Things to Do
- Tour cave homes on a Sassi di Matera tour
- Enjoy a traditional Lucanian dinner in a cave restaurant
- Photograph sunset from Belvedere Pascoli over the Sassi
🛏️ Where to Stay
🌅 Otranto – Coastal Charm & Crystal Waters
Otranto is a dreamy Adriatic town where turquoise waters kiss medieval walls; stroll the seafront, admire the mosaic cathedral, and watch sunsets paint the sea pink.
📍 Places to See
- Cattedrale di Santa Maria Annunziata (with famous mosaic floor)
- Castello Aragonese (historic seaside fortress)
- Centro Storico Otranto (harbor area)
- Cava di Bauxite (old bauxite quarry)
- Nearby beaches: Baia dei Turchi, Spiaggia Alimini
🎉 Things to Do
- Explore the caves of the Pearl of Salento
- Enjoy a four-course meal at a local home
- Tour an underground oil mill and olive oil on rustic bread
🛏️ Where to Stay
🏖️ Gallipoli – Island Old Town & Golden Beaches
Gallipoli is an old town that rests on a tiny island, surrounded by clear Ionian waters and sandy beaches – romantic, sun-kissed, and perfect for slow wandering.
📍 Places to See
🎉 Things to Do
- Sail along the turquoise coast
- Explore Salento’s coastal gems by boat
- Dine on fresh seafood at Osteria del Canneto
🛏️ Where to Stay
⛪ Trani – Cathedral by the Sea
In Trani, a glowing white cathedral overlooks the harbor, pastel buildings line the streets, and quiet coastal elegance makes it one of Puglia’s most photogenic towns.
📍 Places to See
- Cattedrale di Trani (iconic Romanesque cathedral by the harbor)
- Castello di Trani (historic seaside fortress)
- Centro Storico (harbor town)
🎉 Things to Do
- Savor an authentic Italian panino
- Take a tour of Castel del Monte from Trani
- Explore vineyards and savor wines on a wine tour
- Dine on fresh seafood at Osteria La Cisterna Trani
🛏️ Where to Stay in Trani
🏛️ Lecce – Baroque Beauty & Historic Charm
Lecce is one of the most scenic and culturally rich towns in Puglia/Apulia, often called the “Florence of the South” for its stunning Baroque architecture.
📍 Places to See
- Basilica di Santa Croce (intricate Baroque facade)
- Piazza del Duomo (historic cathedral square)
- Anfiteatro Romano (Roman amphitheatre)
🎉 Things to Do
- Take a tour of Lecce’s Baroque architecture
- Taste olive oil, cheese, and wine in Lecce
- Sip coffee in Piazza Sant’Oronzo
🛏️ Where to Stay
- Palazzo Paisiello – Luxury Rooms Lecce
- Arco Vecchio Urban Suite – Epoca Collection
- Patria Palace Lecce – The Leading Hotels of The World
🏞️ Gravina – Ravines, Caves & History
Gravina in Puglia is a historic hill town famous for its dramatic ravine, ancient cave dwellings, and charming old town streets, offering a quieter, off-the-beaten-path experience compared to coastal towns.
📍 Places to See
- Gravina Sotterranea (underground cave dwellings)
- Ponte Viadotto – Acquedotto Madonna della Stella (aqueduct bridge)
- Chiesa di San Francesco d′Assisi (historic church)
🎉 Things to Do
- Explore the Gravina Sotterranea
- Tour the cave houses and rock churches
- Sample local cuisine at Osteria La Murgiana
🛏️ Where to Stay
🏛️ Canosa di Puglia – Ancient History & Archaeology
Canosa di Puglia is a historic town rich in Roman and Daunian ruins, ancient churches, and archaeological treasures, perfect for history lovers.
📍 Places to See
- Cattedrale di San Sabino (medieval cathedral)
- Ipogei Lagrasta (ancient Roman funeral complex)
- Il Parco Archeologico di San Leucio (archaeological site)
- Museo Archeologico Nazionale Canosa di Puglia
- Mausoleo del Principe Boemondo d’Altavilla
🎉 Things to Do
- Explore the Roman and Daunian ruins
- View Daunian and Roman artifacts in the museum
- Take photos on the Ponte Romano sul Fiume Ofanto
🛏️ Where to Stay
🍕 Puglia Restaurants & Food
Apulia is a paradise for food lovers – here’s what to eat and where:
- Burrata – creamy and indulgent, best at La Moresca in Ostuni or Puglia Gourmet in Bari.
- Orecchiette pasta – try it with tomato, cime di rapa, or ragu at Trattoria Nonna Tetti in Lecce.
- Focaccia Barese – grab a slice at Panificio Fiore in Bari or Pasticceria Boccia in Polignano a Mare.
- Bombette (stuffed grilled meat) – the specialty of Cisternino, especially at Macelleria da Totò.
- Local wine – sip Primitivo or Negroamaro at Cantine San Marzano near Taranto or Palmento San Cristoforo in Lecce.
Apulia restaurants and food highlight rustic, regional flavors that are as memorable as the towns themselves.
🚆 How to Get to Puglia
Getting to Puglia from Rome is easy by plane, train, bus, or car – perfect for exploring Italy’s charming towns and coastline. Get your Puglia travel guide and go!
- 🛬 By Air: Fly into Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport or Brindisi Airport.
- 🚉 By Train: From Rome, take a Frecciarossa high-speed train (~4 hours) to Bari or Lecce.
- 🚍 By Bus: FlixBus and regional services connect Rome, Naples, and other major cities to Puglia towns like Bari, Lecce, and Otranto.
- 🚗 By Car: Renting a car is ideal for exploring small towns, scenic coastal roads, and hidden gems off the beaten path.
☀️ Best Time to Visit Puglia
The best time to visit Puglia is spring (April-June) and early autumn (September-October), when the weather is warm, crowds are smaller, and beaches and towns are at their most beautiful.
- May-June & September-October: Perfect weather, fewer crowds.
- July-August: Beautiful but hot and busy.
- Winter: Quiet, great for culture, not beaches.
Puglia/Apulia is a sun-soaked region where charming towns, stunning coastlines, and unforgettable food combine to create a travel experience like no other. Whether you wander whitewashed streets, sip local wine, or watch sunsets over the Adriatic, every moment here feels magical.
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