This 7-day itinerary in Puglia is for you if you want to jump into Salento, visit the most beautiful villages of the Itria Valley, discover the Apulian capital and cross the regional border to reach Matera, the beautiful City of Sassi. . To follow this road tour, 7 days is the minimum time I recommend. If you have more, don’t worry: distribute them as best you can within the stages that you will find below and you can also allow yourself a few days of complete relaxation in the “Maldives of Salento”. Well, what do you think? If you already feel like organizing down to the smallest detail, skip to the next paragraph to see the map of the complete itinerary (which you can obviously customize)! 먹튀
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7-day itinerary in Puglia: stages and map
I want to be clear with you right away: this trip is not suitable for those looking for a vacation in which to laze around and spend most of the time in “lizard in the sun” mode. This is a trip suitable for those who want to savor Puglia , letting themselves be overwhelmed by the trulli of Alberobello, the baroque of Lecce, the caves and beaches of Salento, without missing a trip to Bari and Matera, just beyond the regional border. Take a look at the (indicative) itinerary below of about 570 km to get an idea if this trip is for you or not.
Day 1: Polignano a Mare
Once you land at Bari airport, start this 7-day itinerary in Puglia by heading to Polignano a Mare. Once you leave the car, head to the undisputed stop par excellence of the city: Lama Monachile . Consider taking a dip here or moving a little further north towards Cala Paura or Porto Cavallo beach (in this case rock shoes are recommended). After a little relaxation, gently enter the atmosphere of its historic center by entering it from Arco Marchesale and passing through Piazza Vittorio Emanuele. Stroll admiring the beauty of the viewpoints offered by the seafront, such as Largo Ardito or the viewpoint of the Santo Stefano terrace and spend the evening here.
During the first night of this trip to Polignano a Mare, stay at the Malù Bed & Breakfast with a breathtaking view or at the cheaper Romi ‘guest house in the alleys of the center.
Day 2: Alberobello and Ostuni
Leave in the morning towards Alberobello and let yourself be enchanted by the landscape of the Itria Valley. The dry stone walls that line the roadway, the trulli that emerge from the meadows and the fruit trees. The discovery of the city begins from the monumental area, where more than 1400 trulli create a truly surreal and fairytale atmosphere. Start the discovery with a Tour Puglia lasting an hour and a half to learn more about its (really curious) history. In the afternoon then go to Ostuni, the white city par excellence and spend the evening in its (needless to say), very white historic center. Treat yourself to an aperitif at the Borgo Antico Bistrot with typical products and a breathtaking sunset view.
On this second night of the itinerary, you cannot fail to stay in a trullo or in a masseria. Take a look at the PiGreco Trullo di Charme or at the Masseria Cervarolo .
Day 3: Lecce
On this third day of the 7-day itinerary in Puglia you will officially enter Salento. And what better way to be welcomed than by the Salento capital? Visit Lecce and admire the baroque that makes up its historic center and the Roman remains that emerged from the subsoil of the theater and amphitheater. Choose whether to let yourself be accompanied by a Guida Turistica in Puglia to discover the city or to visit it independently (if you opt for the second option I suggest you take a look at this guide dedicated to what to see in Lecce to save the itinerary inside it). Do not miss the Cathedral and the homonymous square, the beautiful basilica of Santa Croce and the ancient gates of the city.
Then spend the night in Lecce, but in a convenient position to park the car. I suggest you Amatè Suite or the cheaper, even if more distant, Casa Namastè .
Day 4: costs up to Otranto
It’s time to give a pinch of adventure spirit to this tour in Puglia! In the morning, depart from Lecce and head towards the east coast. Here are the Marinas of Melendugno , where you can spend the day between San Foca, the Archaeological Area of Roca Vecchia, the Grotta della Poesia, Torre dell’Orso and the stacks of Sant’Andrea and delle due Sorelle. Choose whether to spend your time in the water and on the beach or indulge in trekking along the coast. Before sunset, get back in your car and move to Otranto, where it will be a pleasure to spend the evening in its historic center full of life.
Stay in Otranto choosing between the B&B Palazzo De Mori in the historic center or the B&B Lungomare .
Day 5: Maldives of Salento, Gallipoli and Porto Cesareo
New day, new coast: start this fifth day of 7-day itinerary in Puglia by heading towards the beach of Pescoluse, where the so-called “Maldives of Salento” are located. However, remember that the west coast is very different from the east coast. Here the beaches are long stretches of fine sand, also suitable for those traveling with children and those seeking relaxation on the beach. Then spend the day on the beach, considering making a stop in Gallipoli in the afternoon and in Porto Cesareo, where you will spend the evening.
Then stay in Porto Cesareo at the B&B l’Isola , or at the Palazzo Greco B&B .
Day 6: Matera
Leave early enough in the morning to travel the 146 km that divide you from Matera, the beautiful City of Sassi . To fully understand this place, however, it is essential to know its history: for this reason I suggest you reserve your place for a guided tour of only 2.30 hours to participate in upon your arrival. Then continue the discovery on your own: do not miss the most beautiful viewpoints overlooking the Sassi, the rock churches, the cave houses and consider spending a night inside the stones for a complete experience. In this regard, I would like to point out the rooms of the Sextantio , even if the prices can be considerable in high season, or a room of the cheaper Stone Rooms .
Day 7: Bari
The last stop on this 7-day itinerary in Puglia is the Apulian capital. In all probability you will be kidnapped (metaphorically, of course) by the atmosphere that reigns in Bari Vecchia . Admire the women who work the pasta in “via delle orecchiette”, the fishermen who unload the fish of the day at “N ‘dèrr’a la lanze”, the Basilica of San Nicola and the alleys of the historic center. Take a free tour of Bari with a local guide to enrich your visit with goodies and anecdotes or take a look at this guide dedicated to what to see in Bari in one day .
Then spend the last night in Puglia at the B&B Bella Bari in the heart of the old city or at the Hotel Boston .
Travel tips (quick)
I will be very fast, I promise, but it is important that I give you some tips on the fly:
- You can land either at Bari or Brindisi airport to make sure you find the best cheap flight deals for your dates (after which you just have to reorder the stops);
- You can travel by train or bus, or by car (recommended). In the first case, it will be useful to save the official website of the Ferrovie del Sud Est. If you need to rent a car, be sure to compare the best rates on both this site and this other one . For what reason? Simply because sometimes the one is more convenient and sometimes the other, without a precise logic;
- Do you have more days available? Then you might also be interested in this itinerary in Valle d’Itria or this 7-day tour in Salento ;
- Are you still looking for inspiration? Then take a look at all the articles of Puglia .
I hope this 7 days itinerary in Puglia has inspired you to plan your trip. Obviously, take this tour only as a starting point and customize it according to your time and your travel tastes. If you have any doubts or questions, leave a comment under the article and I will answer you as soon as possible. Thank you for trusting the advice of Gaia, see you soon and enjoy Puglia!
