Puglia (Apulia) is the south-eastern region of Italy that forms the heel of the Italian boot and lies between the Adriatic and the Ionian Sea. It is famed for white hill towns, the stone trulli houses of Alberobello on the UNESCO list, baroque Lecce, the cliffs and beaches of Salento and excellent, cheap cooking. The landscape is full of olive trees, vineyards and stone walls and the olive oil here is among the best in Italy. Puglia is today popular with Czechs for lower prices and a calmer atmosphere than Amalfi or Tuscany. From Prague you fly to Bari or Brindisi in two hours. The best time is May to June and September; in summer it is over thirty-five degrees and the beaches are full. The region is large, so you cannot travel without a car and it is good to reckon on a week. You pay in euros.
The places worth your time in Puglia, and what to expect at each
Alberobello
A town of more than a thousand stone trulli houses with conical roofs, on the UNESCO list. The Rione Monti quarter is full of souvenirs and tourists, but picturesque. It is one of the best-known places in Puglia.
Tip: Come early in the morning or in the evening, when the crowds are smaller. Visit also the calmer Aia Piccola quarter. Staying overnight in a trullo is an experience.
Polignano a Mare
A town on a cliff above the Adriatic with the small Lama Monachile beach between rocks and a white historic centre. It is the birthplace of the singer Domenico Modugno and a favourite place for photographers. Beneath the town are caves reached by boat.
Tip: The beach is small and full; come early in the morning. Go for coffee with granita. In the evening the cliffs are lit.
Ostuni
A hilltop town with white houses, narrow lanes and a cathedral, eight kilometres from the sea. The night view of the white town is unforgettable. Around are olive groves and beaches.
Tip: Stroll the lanes early in the morning or in the evening. Pay for a restaurant with a view of the valley; prices are mid-range.
Lecce
A baroque city with richly decorated façades of soft yellow stone, a cathedral, a Roman amphitheatre and Piazza Sant'Oronzo. It is the capital of Salento and the loveliest city of Puglia. In the evening it is full of lively bars.
Tip: Walk on foot; the baroque church of Santa Croce is the loveliest. Taste pasticciotto, the local dessert.
Basilicata
A city of cave houses, the Sassi, on the UNESCO list and European Capital of Culture 2019, lying in the neighbouring region of Basilicata. It is one of the oldest inhabited places in the world. Stone houses and churches carved into the rock create an unforgettable scene.
Tip: It is two hours' drive from Bari. Come early in the morning and at sunset. For the night choose a cave hotel.
near Andria
An octagonal castle of the thirteenth century on the UNESCO list, built by Emperor Frederick II. Its geometry and purpose remain a mystery to this day. It stands on a hill amid fields.
Tip: Entry costs about ten euros. Come at sunset; in season book in advance.
Salento
A town on an island joined to the mainland by a bridge, with a baroque cathedral, a fish market and the Baia Verde beach. It is a popular Salento resort with fine beaches and nightlife. The old town is small and calm.
Tip: Taste fresh fish and seafood in the harbour. Beaches are full from July to August.
Salento
A seaside town with a castle, a cathedral with a twelfth-century floor mosaic and clean sea. It is the easternmost point of Italy. The surroundings have caves and coves.
Tip: Entry to the cathedral is free; the mosaic is unique. Beaches are better south of the town.
Castellana Grotte
A cave system with stalactites and underground halls, thirty kilometres long, of which three are open. The loveliest is the White Cave with alabaster formations. It is one of the largest cave complexes in Italy.
Tip: Tours take an hour to two; bring a jacket, as inside it is fifteen degrees. In season book in advance.
Photos: Alberobello and the Trulli — ParisTaras (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Polignano a Mare — Luca Margheriti (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Ostuni, the White City — ParisTaras (CC BY 4.0) · Lecce, the Florence of the South — Benjamin Smith (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Matera — Benjamin Smith (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Castel del Monte — O.S. at German Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Gallipoli — Colar (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Otranto — Benjamin Smith (CC BY-SA 4.0) · The Castellana Caves — Alessandro e Damiano (CC BY 4.0)
Areas and districts, matched to the kind of trip you are taking
Best for: city and transport
The capital of the region with the airport, old town and port. It is a good base and gateway. Suits the first night and trips.
Best for: trulli and vineyards
The area around Alberobello, Locorotondo and Martina Franca with trulli and vineyards. It is calm and rural. Ideal for agriturismo.
Best for: beaches and baroque
The peninsula with Lecce, Gallipoli, Otranto and the loveliest beaches. It has the most tourists in summer. Suits a seaside holiday.
Best for: cliffs and swimming
Towns on the coast south of Bari with cliffs and small beaches. It is romantic with restaurants. Suits couples.
Bari (BRI) and Brindisi (BDS) airports have flights from Prague in two hours. From Bari a train runs to the centre, from Brindisi to Lecce. The region is large and hard to travel without a car. Car rental costs about thirty euros a day. By car from the Czech Republic it is about two thousand kilometres through Italy.
Bari Karol Wojtyła (BRI) · 10 km
Brindisi Salento (BDS) · 6 km
Without a car in Puglia you can travel by train along the coast, but for trulli and beaches a car is most comfortable. Roads are good. Parking in towns is limited. Trains run from Bari to Lecce in two hours.
Useful apps: Google Maps, Trenitalia, FlixBus, Moovit
Puglia has a Mediterranean climate with a hot dry summer and a mild winter. In July it is around thirty-one degrees and the sea twenty-five. The best time is May to June and September. In July and August it is full and hot.
Best time
May to June and September
What to avoid
July and August (heat and crowds)
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | 12° | 13° | 15° | 19° | 24° | 28° | 31° | 31° | 27° | 22° | 17° | 13° |
| Night | 5° | 5° | 7° | 10° | 14° | 18° | 21° | 21° | 18° | 14° | 10° | 7° |
| Rainy days | 50 | 45 | 45 | 40 | 25 | 15 | 10 | 25 | 50 | 70 | 65 | 60 |
| Sea | 14° | 13° | 14° | 15° | 18° | 22° | 25° | 26° | 25° | 22° | 18° | 15° |
Puglian cooking is rustic and fresh: pasta, vegetables, fish and olive oil. A main dish costs ten to twenty euros. People drink Primitivo, Negroamaro and beer.
Orecchiette con cime di rapa
Ear-shaped pasta with a broccoli rabe sauce, anchovies and chilli. The best-known dish of Puglia.
Burrata
A fresh cheese with a creamy centre from Andria, creamy and delicate. Served with tomatoes.
Focaccia barese
A leavened flatbread with tomatoes and olives from Bari. A traditional snack.
Panzerotti
Fried filled pockets with mozzarella and tomato. A favourite street food.
Pasticciotto
Short pastry with custard, a speciality of Lecce. Served for breakfast with coffee.
Fresh seafood
Cuttlefish, octopus and sea urchins, often eaten raw. Best in harbours.
Primitivo di Manduria
A strong red wine of the region. Suits meat and cheese.
Espresso
€1–1.5
Lunch in a trattoria
€12–25
Orecchiette
€8–12
A beer
€3–5
Castel del Monte
€10
Castellana Caves
€15
3★ hotel (night)
€80–180
Car rental (day)
€30
Indicative prices that change over time — treat them as a guide, not a price list.
1 day
2 days
3 days
Matera
70 km · 1 hr 15 min by car
A city of cave houses, the Sassi, on the UNESCO list, in the neighbouring region of Basilicata. It suits a full-day trip.
Lecce
150 km · 2 hrs by car or train
A baroque city with rich façades, the capital of Salento. It suits a full-day trip.
Castel del Monte
70 km · 1 hr by car
The octagonal castle of Emperor Frederick II on the UNESCO list. It suits half a day.
A week suffices for the main places. For the trulli and coast four days are enough, for Salento another three. The region is large and you need a car.
Yes, for trulli, beaches and villages a car is most comfortable. By train you can go along the coast, but it is limited. Rental costs about thirty euros a day.
May to June and September, when it is warm and less crowded. In July and August it is full and over thirty-five degrees. For swimming the best is June to September.
From Prague you fly to Bari or Brindisi in two hours. By car it is about two thousand kilometres. For a car it is better to fly and rent one.
It is cheaper than Amalfi or Tuscany: lunch costs twelve to twenty-five euros, a hotel eighty to a hundred and eighty euros a night. Cheapest is accommodation away from the coast.
Orecchiette, burrata and focaccia barese. With them fresh seafood and Primitivo. Pasticciotto is the typical dessert of Lecce.
Yes, it has gradual beaches, calm towns and good cooking. Children will enjoy the trulli and caves. For beaches the best is Salento.
Yes, it is a safe region. Watch for pickpockets in towns and do not leave belongings in the car.
Check the latest visa requirements for entering this country. Some nationalities may need to apply for a visa or e-visa before travel.
Check visa requirementsLanguage
Italian
Currency
EUR
Timezone
Europe/Rome
Dial Code
+39
Population
59M
Area
301,340 km²
Voltage
230V / 50Hz
Driving Side
Right
