10-Day Puglia Tour Packages

Insider tips: Recommended 10-day Puglia tour itineraries

Compiled by

MelissaPuglia travel expert at TourRadar

• 9 Days in Puglia, incl. Bari and Lecce

  A 9-day route covers 13 distinct locations. Visit UNESCO sites like Alberobello's trulli and Castel del Monte, savor traditional dining at Masseria le Stanzie, and take in coastal gems from Otranto to Polignano a Mare's limestone cliffs.

  

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  • Day 1

    Bari

    Arrive in Bari and meet your guide at 2 PM. The historic center "Bari Vecchia" comes alive in the afternoon when locals take their daily passeggiata. Visit the Pontifical Basilica of Saint Nicholas and walk to Castello Svevo for views of the city. You'll find locals gathering in Piazza Mercantile around 6 PM for aperitivo hour.

    
  • Day 2

    Trani - Castel del Monte - Alberobello

    Drive to Trani (1 hour from Bari), often called the "Pearl of Puglia." Visit the pink Cathedral early to beat the crowds. After lunch drive to the UNESCO site Castel del Monte. The best photos of this unique octagonal castle are around 2 PM. Spend the evening in Alberobello among the trulli houses. Look for accommodation in Rione Monti where you'll find the most authentic trulli.

    
  • Day 3

    Matera Day Trip

    It's a 1-hour drive to Matera's cave dwellings. Morning light creates beautiful shadows in the sassi districts. One visitor says: "Visit the Casa Grotta to see how cave-dwellers lived - but wear sturdy shoes as the limestone streets are slippery when wet." Head back to Alberobello for dinner.

    
  • Day 4

    Locorotondo - Ostuni - Lecce

    Start in Locorotondo where morning views stretch across Valle d'Itria. Next is Ostuni, the "White City." You'll need good walking shoes for the steep medieval streets. A helpful tip: Skip the hot climb and take the local shuttle from the parking area at the bottom. End your day in Lecce.

    
  • Day 5

    Lecce & Otranto

    See Lecce's decorated churches in the cooler morning hours. After lunch drive 30 minutes to Otranto on the coast. Stop at the Cathedral to see its amazing 12th-century floor mosaic. For dinner book ahead at Masseria le Stanzie where they show you traditional pasta-making.

    
  • Day 6

    Gallipoli

    Visit the morning fish market by Gallipoli's port for great photos. If you want to swim get to the beach before 11 AM when crowds arrive. Return to Lecce and join the evening walk around Piazza Sant'Oronzo.

    
  • Day 7

    Martina Franca - Valle d'Itria

    Explore elegant Martina Franca in the morning. If it's Thursday you can visit the local market. Have lunch at a traditional masseria in Valle d'Itria. Plan your 1.5-hour drive back to Bari before 5 PM to avoid rush hour traffic.

    
  • Day 8

    Monopoli & Polignano a Mare

    Start at Monopoli's medieval port. In Polignano a Mare visit Lama Monachile beach before 10 AM to avoid crowds. A recent visitor notes: "Have lunch at one of the cliff-edge restaurants but reserve ahead as the best spots fill up days in advance."

    
  • Day 9

    Departure from Bari

    Spend your final morning in Bari before leaving. The airport is 30 minutes from the city but allow extra time in summer when roads get busy.

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• 9 Day Southern Italy Itinerary, incl. Naples and Puglia

  A 9-day tour weaves through 12 Pugliese cities, showcasing UNESCO-listed Alberobello's trulli houses and Castellana Caves' ancient formations. Watch mozzarella making in Andria, savor wine tasting in Manduria, and rest in boutique hotels like Palazzo Rollo in Lecce.

  

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  • Day 1

    Naples

    Start in Naples and book a hotel near Spaccanapoli in the historic center. You'll be close to all the best pizza spots. "The pizza at L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele lives up to the hype - get there before 7 PM to avoid hour-long waits."

    
  • Day 2

    Naples to Bari (3.5 hours by train)

    Take a morning train to Bari and explore the Old Town (Vecchia Bari). Between 9-11 AM, you can watch local nonnas making orecchiette pasta on wooden tables in the narrow streets. Visit the 11th-century Basilica di San Nicola in the morning before it gets too hot.

  • Day 3

    Polignano a Mare & Andria

    Stay in Polignano a Mare, known for its stunning clifftop setting. Take a morning trip to the UNESCO site Castel del Monte in Andria (1-hour drive). Go early since there's little shade. Stop at a local caseificio for burrata tasting - this creamy cheese originated here.

  • Day 4

    Castellana Caves & Alberobello

    The Castellana Caves stay at 18°C (64°F) year-round, perfect for escaping the summer heat. Take the full 3km cave tour to see the stunning White Cave. In Alberobello, one visitor notes: "Visit the trulli zone after 4 PM when most tour groups have left - the evening light makes the whitewashed structures even more magical."

  • Day 5

    Lecce

    Spend a full day in Lecce, often called the "Florence of the South." Take a morning walking tour to understand the intricate baroque architecture. The Basilica di Santa Croce's facade took over 100 years to build. Stop at Caffe Alvino in Piazza Sant'Oronzo for a refreshing caffe leccese.

  • Day 6

    Manduria & Martina Franca

    Start in Manduria's wine region, home of Primitivo wines. Do wine tastings in the morning when your taste buds are fresh. Spend your afternoon in Martina Franca, which offers a less crowded but equally beautiful historic center. Join the locals for an evening walk along Corso Vittorio Emanuele.

  • Day 7

    Ostuni

    Bring good walking shoes for Ostuni's steep, sometimes slippery streets. Try a morning cooking class to learn orecchiette pasta and local dishes. A traveler suggests: "Book a restaurant with a terrace facing west - watching the sunset turn Ostuni's white buildings pink is unforgettable."

  • Day 8

    Matera

    Visit Matera's cave dwellings in nearby Basilicata. Take a morning tour to understand its fascinating history. Consider staying in a cave hotel but pack light - you'll carry bags through narrow stone passages.

  • Day 9

    Altamura to Naples

    Start early in Altamura to try their famous DOP bread fresh from wood-fired ovens. The drive back to Naples takes about 3.5 hours. If you're flying out, leave extra time for airport traffic.

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• 8 Day Southern Italy Itinerary, incl. Bari and Lecce

  A 7-day route covers 10 Puglian cities from Bari to Polignano a Mare. The tour features UNESCO sites in Alberobello, wine tastings at Semeraro Winery, and tours of Lecce's Baroque architecture, with stays at luxury wine resorts.

  

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  • Day 1

    Bari to Alberobello

    Land at Bari Airport and travel one hour to Alberobello, a UNESCO town known for its trulli houses with distinctive cone-shaped roofs. Spend your afternoon walking through the Rione Monti and Aia Piccola districts. Visit the trulli later in the day after tour groups leave you'll get better photos in the softer light.

    
  • Day 2

    Locorotondo & Ostuni

    Start in Locorotondo with its circular historic center and excellent local wines. A short 30-minute drive takes you to Ostuni, the 'White City' built across three hills. Walk up to the cathedral through winding streets but watch your step on the smooth limestone paths. Finish your day with dinner at a traditional masseria farmhouse.

    
  • Days 3-4

    Taranto & Wine Country

    Drive an hour to Taranto to see Italy's biggest mussel farming operations. Visit two wineries to learn about both old and new ways of making Primitivo wine. Plan your wine tastings for the morning when your taste buds are sharper. The local Primitivo di Manduria DOC makes excellent red wines perfect for dinner.

    
  • Day 5

    Matera

    Travel 1.5 hours inland to Matera, an ancient city built into rock. Walk through the sassi districts where homes were carved right into limestone cliffs. Get a local guide to help you navigate the complex streets and learn the fascinating history. Bring water and sunscreen since you'll be outside most of the day.

    
  • Day 6

    Lecce

    Take a 1.5-hour drive to Lecce, often called the 'Florence of the South.' Walk through town in the morning to see beautiful Baroque churches built from golden local stone. Visit the Roman amphitheater and Basilica di Santa Croce. Remember that shops close between 1-4 PM for the traditional afternoon break.

    
  • Day 7

    Polignano a Mare

    Finish your trip in Polignano a Mare, known for its cliffs and sea caves. Book an early morning boat tour to see the coastline before crowds arrive. Stop at Caffè Turchi for gelato with a view of the Adriatic Sea.

    
  • Day 8

    Departure from Bari

    A 45-minute drive takes you back to Bari Airport. Book a flight after noon to avoid morning traffic.

    

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