A week-long trip to Puglia

Hi everyone,

Since I had a fantastic week in Puglia, and it's such a nearby and easily accessible destination from France,

I invite you to check out the article I wrote about it on my blog: www.philippebasset.com/puglia.html

I highly recommend visiting this coastal region along the Adriatic Sea for so many reasons: diverse landscapes, refined and varied cuisine, a very pleasant climate, a discreet and welcoming population, no mafia (it’s sad to say, but many Italian cities are plagued by this scourge, which brings insecurity, filth, and extortion...), and apart from July-August, there’s no risk of mass tourism!

*Dolce vita* guaranteed!

I’m happy to help if you’d like tips or recommendations :)

And plenty more photos to discover—hopefully, it’ll make you want to book a flight to Bari!

Really beautiful travel journal, it definitely makes me want to go! I’d like to know two things: how many kilometers did you cover during the week? And didn’t the itinerary feel too packed? (In other words, do you feel you had enough time at each place you visited?)

True, one week is really short (unless it's for work...) As for the number of kilometers, I'd say around 800. The itinerary worked out to about 1 hour of driving per day (except for the cross-Puglia drive inland from Vieste to Matera, which took us 4 hours, but the landscapes made the trip enjoyable).

Seeing everything is tricky, but I spent several evenings planning the best route. These weren’t "chill" vacations (I’d get up at 6 AM to go take photos, and my fiancée around 8 AM), and we’d go to bed around 11 PM. Sure, we visited a lot, but we also really enjoyed ourselves, strolling through ports or lingering at the table :)

Personally, I would’ve loved to spend a bit more time in Trani, Vieste, or Lecce, but with just one week, it wasn’t possible!

10 days would’ve been perfect for my itinerary, but even in one week, it works! (And we didn’t go any further south than Lecce...) 15 days to explore all of Puglia would be amazing!

I’ll also add that even for a long 3- or 4-day weekend, Bari, Monopoli, Polignano a Mare (or even Alberobello) can be a great idea!

Thanks for this detailed reply—it really reassures me. To be honest, I’d already started planning a trip to the region. I’d come to pretty much the same conclusions about the time needed in Puglia (for the mileage, I’d have said a thousand or more). Ten days or even longer seemed ideal, but unfortunately, for the period I’m considering (late April), there aren’t any reasonably priced flights that would allow me to do that. Unless I settle for just the northern half of Puglia, which feels a bit frustrating. So, I’ll postpone it for now and switch to another destination this time—I’m still deciding between Sicily and Sardinia, both of which I’ve already visited partially.

Are you sure?! Bari is a Ryanair airport, and judging by the "Belgium" above your avatar, you should find direct flights from Brussels to Bari for cheap!

Just to be sure I didn’t say anything silly, I tested it—I found a round-trip for 46 € :)

You're right—either not all the flights were displayed during my first search, or I didn’t look properly. Perfect, thanks a million! 🙂

My 2-week trip to Puglia from September 1st to 17th

Hi Philippe, Thanks for the info and the beautiful photos you posted. (Can we use first names?) I’m traveling alone to Puglia from September 1st to 17th, and around the 10th, a friend will join me. I’ll be flying into Bari. I’m used to traveling solo, so no worries there. At first, I’ll look for a seaside B&B to settle in for 2-3 days, and I’d like to scout for a place to rent for 2-3 months so I can come back and stay longer. I’m retired and would love to know which area you think is the most interesting—given that I love nature but still want a town nearby. Starting on the 10th, my friend and I will explore Salento... there’s so much to see!! Thanks for your advice. Elisabeth

Hi there, We’ve just decided on our September vacation—yes, we always decide super last-minute, lol ... We’ve set our sights on Italy, which we’ve never visited before! After debating between the north or south, we’re going for the south, as it seems more natural than the north, where the cities feel bigger and something we could maybe do on weekend trips during the year. We’re planning to arrive in Naples, rent a car for the whole stay (a little over two weeks), and explore southern Italy from Naples, Capri, Pompeii, and Puglia... I was wondering about the must-see spots in Puglia because it seems pretty vast. Thanks for your post! ;-)

Hi there,

I’m planning a week in Puglia at the end of May, and your beautiful photos have convinced me this is the perfect destination.

We’ll be arriving in Bari, and I’m wondering about the best route for our road trip with a rental car.

Based on your description, it seems possible to cover around 800 km in a week. If I understood correctly, you started in the north. Would it make sense to stay overnight somewhere like Vieste and then head south the next day? Could you recommend any accommodations for three people? Also, are there any spots in the south that particularly wowed you?

Thanks so much in advance! Christa

Too bad, the address for your blog isn't responding or doesn't exist anymore... I was really looking forward to this gorgeous destination though. I'll keep searching for info...

See you soon maybe!

Hello, We’re spending about ten days in Puglia in September. I tried to visit your blog but couldn’t get in. Could you possibly send me some information at my email address nellyleberre@gmail.com? Thanks in advance, and have a great weekend! Best regards