Ultimate 7 Day Puglia Itinerary - Can’t-Miss Places, Towns & Experiences

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A slow road trip through southern Italy’s quieter side

Why Visit Puglia?

Puglia doesn’t sell itself the way Rome or Florence does – no big landmarks, no overly staged piazzas. Puglia is perhaps one of the most authentic and off the beaten track parts of Italy.

Known famously as the heel of Italy for its location on the map, it is known for its whitewashed towns, olive groves, vineyards as well as some of italy’s best coast lines.

The pace is slower here — most towns are small, easy to explore on foot, and better suited to travellers who prefer authenticity and immersive travel over checklists.

This itinerary focuses on a handful of stops that work well as a loop — not rushed, not packed, just a steady way to see the region without feeling like every hour needs to be scheduled. There’s a mix of coast and countryside, with enough flexibility to swap days or stretch out the trip if needed.

If you’re after box-ticking, this probably isn’t the itinerary for you. But if you like long walks, charming old towns, and are seeking a taste of the real Italy, then this is the Puglia itinerary for you.

Is 7 Days Enough? (And How to Use This Itinerary)

Seven days is enough to get a feel for Puglia’s pace — especially if you’re not rushing. This itinerary is built for people who prefer fewer stops, more time. It’s not about cramming in every town; it’s about staying long enough to notice what makes each place different.

I would say this one week itinerary can easily be extended to 2 weeks by doubling the time spent in each town if you’re looking for a slow pace and more immersive experience.

How to get around Puglia

We opted to rent a car for flexibility, but you can reach some smaller towns from Bari by train or bus if you don’t mind longer connections. If you’re still weighing up whether it’s better to drive or take the train in Italy, I’ve broken down the pros and cons in this detailed post:
Driving vs Trains in Italy: Is Renting a Car Worth It?

If you’re skipping a rental car, this guide to rideshare and Uber alternatives in Italy might help for short hops between towns.

Puglia Itinerary Map – Route Overview

Here’s the route I followed, starting and ending in Bari:

Puglia 7-day loop:

Day 1: Bari
Day 2: Alberobello & Locorotondo
Day 3: Matera
Day 4: Ostuni
Day 5–6: Lecce
Day 7: Polignano a Mare → Bari / Brindisi

This route worked well as a loop, with minimal backtracking and short daily drives — most under 1.5 hours.

Day 1 – Arrive in Bari

Start in Bari, Puglia’s biggest transport hub. If you’re flying in, the easiest route into the city is by airport shuttle or regional train, or alternatively for more peace of mind a prebooked transfer. Both are cheap, regular, and save the hassle of negotiating with taxi drivers after a flight.

Bari Vecchia (the old town) is compact and worth a wander — especially in the afternoon once things cool down.

Where to stay:
For a detailed Bari Area Guide on where to stay as a first time visitor – check out my Bari Neighbourhoods Guide and Hotel recommendations here.

For somewhere with a local vibe, close to the Old Town, I reccomend staying on Strada Delle Orecchiette aka . We booked this gem of place without realising it happened to be right on Strada Delle Orecchiette which is a locally famous street where fresh orecchiette (the region’s ear-shaped pasta) is made by hand by the expert nonnas, right on the doorsteps along this street.

From early morning until afternoon, you’ll spot them sitting at wooden tables, artfully shaping dough into perfect pasta shells.

Getting around tip:
Bari’s Old Town is meant for walking, so no car required. If you’re renting a car for the road trip round Puglia, picking it up on Day 2, can save parking stress in Bari.

However if you do chose to hire a car upon arrival in Bari, make sure to park in assigned car parks outside the ZTL zone just outside of Old Town, due to local restrictions on driving cars in the historic town centers.

Overall, Bari feels busy, especially in the old town, but it’s generally safe with the usual precautions. Here’s a more detailed safety breakdown if you’re on the fence.

Day 2 – Alberobello & Locorotondo

Alberobello is famous for its trulli, and yes, it gets crowded — but it’s still worth seeing. The key is staying overnight. Once the tour groups leave, the town feels much more local and hence is best explored before the day tourists in the morning or late evening.

Where to stay:
There are loads of tourist-trap trulli, but this trullo guesthouse is a quieter option on the edge of the main strip — no coach crowds outside your door in the morning.

If you looking for somewhere close by, then Locorotondo is 15 minutes away and much less visited. Think whitewashed houses with flower-filled balconie, and wine shops where the person pouring actually made the bottle.

If you prefer not to explore without a car, there are some excellent, well priced organised day trips which combine both Alberobello & Locorotondo in a day.

Optional activity:
If you want to break up the sightseeing, this bike tour and olive oil tasting experience is small-scale tour run by a local passionate about the region and the treasured olive oil of this region (Tip: the small batch olive oil bottles here also make grest souvenier gifts)

Day 3 – Matera

Matera isn’t technically in Puglia as it’s just over the border in Basilicata — yet I would say Matera was my favourite place to visit in this region. I love the views and dystopian like landscape of the town, with small dwellings carved into stone caves. The town is built into stone cliffs and caves, and staying overnight gives you the best chance to explore it once the crowds are less, plus a sunset in this town is definitely worth being here for. On of my best memories of Matera was watching the sunset and seeing the city in its evening glow.

Getting there:
Drive from Alberobello to Matera (~1 hr). Easy roads, and parking is manageable if you’re staying just outside the historic Sassi area.

Alternatively there are plenty of organised tours that conveniently combine transport to Matera with Alberobello.

Things to do:

Walking the Sassi di Matera, best to just pick a direction and get lost in the alleyways. If you’re looking for iconic shots of the city I recommend walking along the
Visit Casa Noha or MUSMA if you want to understand the history without a guided tour. If you prefer a guided tour with a local, this one is has excellent reviews.
Grab aperitivo in a cave bar — plenty of them tucked away behind unassuming doors

Where to stay:
Being in Matera, you must stay in one of the iconic cave dwellings – typically small boutique hotels or BnBs. I would highly recommend this one we stayed at Le Dimore Dell’ Idris – affordable and right near the old town edge with an amazing view from the balcony area outside.

Day 4 – Ostuni

Ostuni’s one of those towns where the best thing to do is walk and get lost in the many narrow cobbled alleyways. The whitewashed old town sits on a hilltop with sea views if you head to the right edge. Half a day is the bar minimum to see this town, however I highly recommend staying overnight and trying one of the famous restaurants like this one known for in the town center.

Getting there:
From Alberobello, it’s about 45–50 minutes by car from Bari. If you’re not driving, buses exist but are irregular — best to rent a car from Discover Cars.

Where to stay:
We stayed at Ostuni Guest House, a short walk from the Ostuni Town Centre. Ostuni Guest House is a modern apartment inside a huistoric building, with a stunning roof terrace. Located close to attractions such as Costa Merlata and Torre Guaceto Reserve as well and many restaurants, it was a perfect base from which to explore Ostuni and get some stunning views from the roof terrace!

Curious about what to eat beyond focaccia and orecchiette? This guide to Puglian food breaks down what’s actually worth trying — and where to find it.

Day 5-6 – Lecce (2 Nights)

Lecce is the largest of the Puglia town. It’s bigger, busier, and built around Baroque architecture that feels more Spanish than Italian in places. Two nights here makes sense, as its a great base from which to explore coastal area and beaches like Torre dell’ Orso, Otranto and Sant Andrea.

Where to stay:
Some of the best places to stay are near Porta Napoli or tucked into side streets. Look for places that include breakfast.

I highly recommend Casa And So where we stayed in the old town, comfortable rooms with highstandard of amenities and a stunning rooftop with great evening views of the sunset over the Old Town.

Things to do:

Self-guided walking loop around the historic centre
Try rustico leccese (a buttery pastry filled with tomato and cheese). Cafe Alvino is highly recommended for this
Try an authentic Puglian cooking class. This home-style class is small-group and run from someone’s actual kitchen, not a studio. People in Puglia pride themselves on the region’s pasta and rightly so, as I never had a pasta dish I didnt love here, so this is definitely the place to learn the art.

Day 6 options:

Stay in Lecce and explore the Old Town at a slower pace. Do a wine tasting at one of the many local wine cellars or local wine bars. I really enjoyed this one we did on our last day here at La Strada Del Vino Wine Bistrot, a quaint little wine bar by Piazza Sant’ Oronzo.
Or take a day trip to the coast (Torre dell’ Orso, Otranto and Sant Andrea work well with a rental). Public transport to the coastline is limited, so booking a day tour to the coastal towns from Lecce is a good alternative.

Day 7 – Polignano a Mare to Bari

Small, cliffside, and busy — but still worth seeing. The beach at Lama Monachile is worth checking out with its postcard perfect views. Early morning or late evening gives the best experience without the sunbed chaos.

Where to stay:
If the crowds feel like too much, stay in Monopoli instead. It’s 10 minutes down the coast, with better dining and fewer day-trippers.

Things to do:

Walk the cliff paths and check out the sea caves
Check out the sea caves, Polignano a Mare is known for its stunning sea caves which can best be accessed via ferry. This speedboat cruise being one the most popular boat tours to access the caves.
Coffee or aperitivo with a view (avoid the tourist-trap spots on the main square)

Day 7 – Return to Bari or to Brindisi

Wrap up the loop with a relaxed morning and a short drive back to Bari. If your flight’s later in the day, stop for brunch along the coast — Mola di Bari or Torre a Mare have waterfront cafés that feel like locals still use them.

Return to Bari

Drive – by car it takes about 45 mins from Polignano to Bari Airport
Public transport – tickets for regional trains are affordable as easy to buy on Omio

Alterntively you can also fly out of Brindisi Airport like I did. Brindisi is a smaller airport but technically closer to Lecce, Otranto and the coastal region. Only caveat is that Brindisi is more grittier and probably not as nice a city to explore as Bari in my opinion.

Return to Brindisi

Drive: Polignano → Brinidisi (~1h 10 min)

What to Pack for 7 Days in Puglia

Southern Italy in spring/summer is hot, dry, and unforgiving on overpackers. Most towns are built on cobblestones or uneven paths, so packing light is worth it. Here’s what helped most:

Small, wheeled carry-on: Keeps you mobile on station platforms and cobbled streets. This lightweight cabin suitcase worked well across all stops.
Comfortable walking shoes: These towns are made for walking. Leave sandals for the beach and go for something like these breathable sneakers.
Travel adapter (Type L): Italy uses a unique 3-prong plug in many older buildings. This multi-country adapter covered every socket situation on the trip.
Linen or light cotton clothes: Especially in July and August, anything synthetic gets uncomfortable quickly.
Day pack: Useful for short town walks or day trips. This foldable backpack takes up no space in your luggage.
eSIM for data: If you’re not getting a local SIM, Airalo worked without fuss. No queues, no physical SIM.

If you’re driving: add a phone mount for navigation and USB car charger — in my experience rental cars often have zero extras.

FAQ: Common Questions About This Trip

Do you need a car for Puglia?

Not strictly — but for this itinerary, yes. Public transport exists, but it’s slow, and some routes only run once or twice a day. Renting a car gives you flexibility and saves hours.

→ Compare rental prices at Discover Cars

Can this trip be done without driving?

If you’re skipping the countryside stays, you can adjust the itinerary around train-accessible towns: Bari, Polignano, Lecce, and Ostuni.

→ Check connections and book trains on Omio (which includes TrenItalia trains in Italy).

What’s the best time to visit Puglia?

May, early June, and September. I went in May and found fewer crowds, warm but not punishing weather, and better accommodation rates. July and August are busy — not impossible, just hotter and more expensive.

Where are the best towns to base yourself?

If you prefer fewer hotel switches:

Lecce: Best for 2–3 nights, easy day trips
Ostuni or Alberobello: For countryside charm
Polignano or Monopoli: By the coast

→ All stops in this post are bookable via Booking.com

Is Puglia safe for solo travel?

Yes. Most towns feel relaxed, even at night. I did an in depth post on safety in Bari here inlcuding tips and things to look out for. Usual solo travel precautions apply (e.g. know where you’re staying, carry a charged phone). Local buses and trains are safe, though less predictable.

Are you heading to Italy? check out our helpful guides below –

Best Places to Stay in Bari for First Time Visitors: Area Guide + 17 Top-Rated Hotels

A Guide to Rideshare Apps in Italy – Uber Alternatives in Italy

Is Bari Safe for Tourists? A Comprehensive Guide

269 Inspiring Italy Captions for Instagram

Why You Need to visit Polignano a Mare & Bari in Italy

269 Inspiring Italy Instagram Captions for Instagram

How Many Days to Spend in Cinque Terre

Nearest Airport to Matera: How to Get to Matera in Italy

121 Best Short Solo Travel Captions and Quotes for Instagram

Famous Foods of Puglia, Italy: What to Try and Where to Eat