Do you want to know the best things to see and do in Puglia ? We tell you our 10 favorite experiences. From historic cities to spectacular beaches, from villages that seem taken from a storybook to one of the most characteristic cuisines of Italy...
What to see and do in Puglia
It is the heel of Italy and without a doubt one of its most spectacular regions. Land of frontiers, of conquest, of sea, sun and horizon. Where unreal villages mix with Aragonese castles, with Roman amphitheatres, with Greek ruins and beaches that could easily be mistaken for the Maldives. Then you come across women still making homemade pasta in the street and you immediately return to the most authentic Italy.
✓ Here we leave you the best one-week itinerary in Puglia
These are the 10 must-do things in Puglia:
1. Visit Alberobello and feel like you're in a fairy tale
There is no place like Alberobello in the whole world, for one reason: its trulli . These typical buildings are small white houses, topped with a conical stone structure, which look more like the homes of fairies and elves.
Walking among them is like finding yourself in a Disney village, but without princesses in distress or dragons throwing fire at you (which, honestly, is appreciated).
✓ In this post we tell you everything to see and do in Alberobello .
✓ If you want to take a guided tour, this one looks great.
2. Flip out over the beaches of Salento
The Salento Peninsula is one of the regions that make up Puglia, and it occupies the heel of Italy . You may have never heard of it, but Italians are sure that it is one of the country's great jewels. Its coasts are bathed by two seas : the Adriatic on its eastern side, and the Ionian , in the part of the Gulf of Taranto, so there is no shortage of spectacular beaches around here .
And without exaggeration, we can tell you that they have nothing to envy of destinations like the Caribbean or the Maldives : their waters are just as crystal-clear and clean, although obviously there are no palm trees (but this is compensated by a good plate of linguine alle vongole). However, what is never missing is the wind, and you will soon learn a saying: “ Salentu, lu sole, lu mare, lu ientu ” (Salento, the sun, the sea, the wind).
Some of the stops that we recommend in Salento are (we also put them on the map):
- Punta Prosciutto Beach
- Pescolouse Beach (Salento Maldives)
- Pizzo Point
- Faraglioni of Sant'Andrea
- Cave of Poetry
- Turks Bay
- Gallipoli village
3. Get to know the capital of the Baroque: Lecce
We continue exploring Salento, but this time we swap the sand of the beach for the white stones of the churches. We head towards what is known as “ The Florence of the South ”, a tribute to open-air Baroque, where elegance and decadence intertwine in perfect harmony. This city is truly unique, with a rich history marked by the imprint of Messapians, Greeks, Romans, Normans, Aragonese and Bourbons.
✓ In this post we tell you everything to see and do in Lecce .
4. Feel vertigo in Polignano a Mare
With its characteristic houses clinging tightly to the impressive cliffs , beaten by the Adriatic Sea, Polignano has won more than one traveller's heart. Ours, of course.
But don't think it's just love at first sight: as soon as you set foot in its historic centre and let yourself be carried away by the flow of narrow streets, shops, squares and churches, you'll know that what you feel for this Puglian town is true love. It's impossible to resist its charm, absolutely impossible.
✓ Here we tell you everything to see and do in Polignano a Mare .
✓ Don't miss a boat trip around Polignano.
5. Stumbling upon the most authentic Puglia in Bari
We couldn't really call Bari a pretty city (even though it has some lovely corners). We didn't even find it to be a 100% friendly and pleasant city. But it has the " bad boy charm ".
Thanks to its overwhelming personality and honesty in showing itself as it is, Bari will be one of those destinations that you will not remember for what you saw, but for what you felt . Its old town ( Bari vecchia ) is a miniature Puglia, with all the good and bad of this southern region that we love so much. Don't miss Arco Basso street, where every morning there are women preparing homemade orecchiette (typical pasta).
✓ In this post we tell you what to see and do in Bari .
6. Try the gastronomy, one of the best things to do in Puglia
Puglia, my friend, is a destination that cannot be understood without its gastronomy. Here, eating is not just about nourishing oneself, eating is about enjoying the land , its traditions and its culture. Juicy olives to crunchy taralli, orecchiette al dente, freshly baked focaccia and tempting pasticciotti… You will never go hungry here, that is guaranteed!
✓ Here we tell you what are the typical dishes to eat in Puglia .
7. Explore the Itria Valley
Renting a car is the best way to get around Puglia. Although many places can be visited by bus or train, many others are isolated and you run the terrible risk of missing them.
One of the most interesting car routes is the one that runs through the so-called “ Itria Valley ”, a karst area in the central part of Puglia, which includes very charming towns and villages such as Alberobello , Locorotondo , Ostuni , Noci , Cisternino , Martina Franca…
In addition to Alberobello, you cannot miss Locorotondo and Ostuni . Here you will find a network of streets that cross a forest of white houses, where the only note of colour is that of the flowers and the doors, painted in the most varied shades of green, blue and red.
⭐ Don't have a car? This tour takes you to discover several interesting points in the Valle D'Itria .
8. Feeling tiny in front of Castel del Monte
Shrouded in legend and mystery, this imposing and impregnable castle, once owned by Frederick II , was built around 1240 and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Here the number 8 is the real protagonist: the floor plan is octagonal and it seems that everything revolves around it (there are 8 rooms, 8 towers, 8 windows per floor…) Why this obsession? Perhaps because the number 8, placed horizontally, represents the symbol of infinity… who knows.
Another mystery has to do with the Holy Grail itself , as some claim that it is located here, hidden among the majestic walls of the Castle.
⭐ Here you can sign up for a guided tour of Castel del Monte
9. Visit the Gargano National Park
If you are looking for a break from the hustle and bustle, the Gargano National Park is the place for you. And it is also the place for you if you are looking for lush nature and villages that still retain the charm of a bygone era, such as Vieste or Manfredonia .
A curiosity: this park corresponds to the “ sperone d'Italia ”, a karst formation that stands out from the silhouette of the “Italian boot”, something like the spur of a cowboy's boot. Have you noticed it?
It is one of our must-see places in Puglia and we hope to visit it as soon as possible!
10. Sleep in a masseria
And we end with an experience that we are sure you will love: sleeping (at least one night) in a traditional “masseria”. What is it? The masserias of Puglia are old farmhouses where both the owners and the workers lived. Something like the Catalan farmhouses (hence their name), the Andalusian farmhouses or the Basque farmhouses.
Today, after extensive restoration work, many of the farmhouses have opened to the public as rural-chic accommodations , and they certainly have a unique charm. Surrounded by nature and peace, in these farmhouses you can rediscover the pleasure of the “dolce vita” by doing nothing and enjoying everything.
Map of the best things to see and do in Puglia
Here is a map with the must-see places to visit in Puglia:
More places to see in Puglia
In the heel of Italy, incredible towns await you, such as Gravina in Puglia , San Vito or Monopoli , natural places that will leave you speechless, such as the Castellana Caves or the Tremiti Islands , cities full of history and beauty, such as Otranto or Brindisi , colourful enclaves such as the Eremo de Vincent , which someone already defines as the Parc Güell of Apulia and much, much more.
These 10 are, for us of course, the best things to see and do in Puglia … but they are far from the only ones! Have you visited this region of Italy? What are your must-sees in Puglia?
