- Fly to Bari for the north and the Valle d'Itria, or Brindisi for Lecce and the Salento
- Hire a car, as the best masserie, beaches and villages are spread out
- Puglia has two coasts, so you can usually find a calm sea on one of them
- June and September are warm without the August crowds
- Airports
- Bari (BRI), Brindisi (BDS)
- Best time to go
- May-June and September
- Type
- Region
Puglia, called Apulia in English, is the long heel of Italy's boot, with more coastline than any other region on the mainland. It is a flat, sunny land of olive groves and dry-stone walls, dotted with whitewashed hill towns, conical trulli houses and fortified farmhouses called masserie, many of them now places to stay. The food is simple and excellent: orecchiette, burrata, focaccia, raw seafood and olive oil from centuries-old trees.
British visitors have taken to Puglia in a big way over the past two decades, but it still feels less polished and less crowded than Tuscany or the Amalfi Coast. See our Italy guide for other regions.
Why go to Puglia
- Alberobello and the Valle d'Itria – the UNESCO-listed trulli district, plus the white towns of Locorotondo, Cisternino and Martina Franca.
- Lecce – a honey-coloured city of extravagant baroque church fronts, and the gateway to the Salento peninsula.
- Polignano a Mare – a clifftop old town with a famous pebble cove, half an hour from Bari by train.
- Bari – a working port city with a lively old town, the Basilica of San Nicola and the women making orecchiette in the street.
- Ostuni – the "white city" on a hill above the olive groves, in the province of Brindisi.
- The Salento coast – sandy beaches and clear water around Otranto, Gallipoli, Porto Cesareo and down to Santa Maria di Leuca.
- The Gargano – the "spur" of the boot, with beech forest, sea caves and resort towns such as Vieste and Peschici.
- Castel del Monte – Frederick II's mysterious octagonal castle near Andria, in the province of Barletta-Andria-Trani.
Where to stay
| Area | Why stay there |
|---|---|
| Valle d'Itria | Trulli and masserie stays, central for day trips |
| Polignano a Mare or Monopoli | Seaside towns with train links to Bari |
| Lecce | Best city base for the baroque and the Salento beaches |
| Salento coast | Beach holidays around Otranto, Gallipoli or Torre dell'Orso |
| Gargano | Family beach resorts and walking, but far from the rest of Puglia |
The other provinces – Foggia in the north and Taranto on the Ionian Sea – see fewer foreign visitors but are worth a look if you are driving through.
Getting there
Bari (BRI) and Brindisi (BDS) both have flights from the UK, with more choice from late spring to early autumn; check seasonal routes from your nearest airport. Bari suits the Valle d'Itria, Polignano and Matera, just over the border in Basilicata. Brindisi is closer to Lecce and the Salento, about 45 minutes by road.
Trains run down the Adriatic coast from Bari to Brindisi and Lecce, and you can reach Puglia by rail from Rome or Naples in roughly four hours or more. However, the countryside, masserie and smaller beaches really need a hire car. Driving is generally relaxed outside the cities, though old town centres often have restricted traffic zones (ZTL).
Best time to visit
May, June and September are the sweet spot: hot, sunny and with sea warm enough to swim from June. July and August are very hot and Italian holidaymakers fill the beaches, especially around mid-August. Spring brings wildflowers, and October is often still warm enough for the beach. Winter is mild but quiet, and many seaside places close.
Puglia has an Adriatic and an Ionian coast. If the wind is whipping up one, the other is often calm.
Top attractions in Apulia
LandmarkColosseum
Rome's great amphitheatre, where up to 50,000 spectators once watched gladiator fights, is the city's most iconic sight.
LandmarkFlorence Duomo
Florence's cathedral, crowned by Brunelleschi's record-breaking dome, is the symbol of the city, with the bell tower…
NatureMount Etna
Europe's tallest active volcano, with lava fields, craters and sweeping views over eastern Sicily.
NaturePath of the Gods
A spectacular cliff-top trail high above the Amalfi Coast, with views over Positano and out to Capri, that is free to…
LandmarkPompeii
The Roman town buried by Vesuvius in AD 79, Pompeii is the most complete ancient city in the world and an unforgettable…
ViewpointSeceda
A grassy ridge above Val Gardena that drops away in a dramatic wall of jagged peaks, reached by cable car from Ortisei.
Apulia on the map
Frequently asked questions
Is it Puglia or Apulia?
The same place. Puglia is the Italian name and the one you will see on signs; Apulia is the traditional English name.
Can you visit Puglia without a car?
Partly. You can link Bari, Polignano, Monopoli, Ostuni, Brindisi and Lecce by train, and reach Alberobello by local train or bus. To stay in a masseria or explore the beaches properly, a car makes life much easier.
How long should I spend in Puglia?
A week covers the Valle d'Itria and Lecce at a relaxed pace. Ten days to two weeks lets you add the Salento beaches or the Gargano.
Is Puglia good for families?
Yes. Shallow sandy beaches in the Salento and on the Gargano, villas with pools and an easy-going food culture make it a popular family choice.
Written by
Anna Beach, family & practical travel editor
Anna knows which beach has shade at 3pm and which car hire excess is a rip-off. She covers sun, islands, family trips and practical travel tips.
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