An Amazing 10 Day Puglia Itinerary – Road Trip Across Southern Italy

by Chris Heckmann
Alberobello, Puglia with an Italian flag in the foreground

Are you headed to southern Italy and looking for an amazing 10 day Puglia itinerary? Well then, youโ€™re in luck! On this page we will introduce a fantastic Puglia road trip and explain everything you need to know to have the perfect vacation in this underrated part of Italy! 

Puglia is often an afterthought for most international visitors to Italy. They usually flock to places like the Amalfi Coast, Rome, and Venice. And donโ€™t get me wrong, those places are simply amazing. But there is a true rawness to the rolling hills of Puglia. You feel like this is the real Italy, not plagued with American tourists and overpriced hotels. 

On this 10 day Puglia itinerary you are going to get an in-depth look at Puglian culture. Iโ€™ve done this exact road trip after a ton of research myself as well as consulting with born and bred Puglian friends. So you can trust youโ€™re getting the best info here to plan yourself an amazing trip to Italy! 

Note: this article contains affiliate links, which means that should you purchase something or get a quote through them I may make a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps keep the site running with up to date information. I do not represent World Nomads, Booking.com, or Rentalcars.com. This is information only and not a recommendation to buy the product mentioned in this article.

Summary of the Main Sites You Will See

We will go through all the sites in the 10 day Puglia itinerary below, but letโ€™s start with an overview of the main things you are going to see on this trip. 

Additional optional places:

  • Brindisi
  • Bari 

Things you will unfortunately miss on this itinerary:

  • Otranto
  • Lecce
  • Castel del Monte
  • Castro 
  • Torre Santโ€™Andrea

There are plenty of other things to see and do in Puglia, but this itinerary will focus on historic and beautiful Puglian cities (with a side trip to Matera). You could pack more into a 10 day Puglia itinerary, but part of the allure of Puglia is living โ€œLa vita lentaโ€. The slow life. Slow down and enjoy! 

10 Day Puglia Itinerary – Important Information

How to get around Puglia

It is highly recommended that you complete this 10 day Puglia itinerary as a road trip in a rental car. Trying to do this trip without your own vehicle will be asking for a stressful vacation. And you donโ€™t want that!ย Rental cars in Italy are pretty damn cheap and you can often get economy rentals for around 20 euros per day.


Click here to find a great rate on a rental car in Italy!


Where the trip starts and ends 

This 10 day Puglia itinerary starts and ends in Bari, the largest city in Puglia. So the assumption is that youโ€™ll be flying into Bari the day or night before starting this road trip. 

The Bari airport is west of the city and has direct flights to many European destinations, though most of these are on regional airlines like RyanAir. Itโ€™s a regional Europe airport and does not have intercontinental flights. If youโ€™re coming from the US, your best bet for a one stop flight to Bari is Lufthansa through Frankfurt or Alitalia through Rome or Milan. 

Itโ€™s also possible to do this trip starting and ending in Rome. As Rome is a major international airport with flights all over the world, you might find itโ€™s quicker and/or cheaper to fly to Rome and drive an extra 4.5-5 hours to Puglia. 

We chose this option, as it was much cheaper and a little bit quicker for us than flying to Bari. I love driving in Italy and didnโ€™t mind the extra time in the car. Plus we got to stop at some other cool places like Castelmezzano and Casertavecchia

Landscape of Puglia 

The landscape of Puglia can be described only as endless rolling hills of olive tree groves sprinkled with freshly painted white trulli. We will get into what a trullo (trulli is plural of trullo) is exactly later, but basically itโ€™s a traditional conical roofed stone house that is only found in Puglia. 

Puglia is known for olive oil production and you will see literally millions of olive trees as you drive across the Puglian countryside. They are everywhere, and most residents have olive trees in their yards as well. 

Puglia is not mountainous like much of Italy, but it is known for its particularly dramatic coastal cliffs on the Adriatic Sea. Other than the cliffs, the landscape is just endless hills. The climate is very dry and arid so you also see various cactus species and fig trees everywhere. The figs picked right from the tree are seriously to die for!

Polignano a Mare from above
The coast of Puglia is simply stunning

Total mileage covered

While Puglia is quite a large region, this road trip is concentrated to the most beautiful part of it with the most famous sites. So in the car youโ€™ll only actually cover about 450 km (280 miles). There will be little side trips here and there, but not big days on the road on this itinerary (unless youโ€™re starting from Rome). 

The total driving time is only about 6-7 hours, with the longest day of driving being barely 90 minutes without any planned detours. Itโ€™s a very nice, relaxing road trip that focuses more on getting out on your feet than pressing a pedal in your car! 

If you go with the starting and ending in Rome option, add 950 km and 10 hours of driving to that total. Itโ€™s about 5 hours each way to Bari and once you past Naples you get to a very desolate and unpopulated part of Italy, which is nice and easy to drive through. 

Puglia vs Apulia 

You might hear people refer to Puglia as Apulia. They are the same thing. Puglia is the Italian name and Apulia is the English name. I know, it makes literally no sense but thatโ€™s how it is. In this article I use the Italian name and call it Puglia. 

Money and expected total trip cost

Italy uses the euro and you likely wonโ€™t need any cash for this trip, as everywhere in Italy takes cards these days. Itโ€™s always good to have some backup euros in your pocket though. 

While Puglia is getting pricier and pricier each year, it is still one of the lesser visited parts of Italy for international tourists, which helps keep costs down. This isnโ€™t Venice where brand name luxury hotels are topping 1000 euros per night. In summer, when prices are higher, you can expect a nice room or small apartment to run you on average around 140-160 euros per night. 

Itโ€™s possible to find cheaper places and possible to find more luxurious, expensive places. But this is a good average to work with for budgeting purposes if youโ€™re trying to stay in decent places with good service and nice views. If youโ€™re looking for as cheap of a stay as possible, your budget should be around 100 euros per night. There really arenโ€™t too many budget accommodations in Puglia. The suggestions listed as โ€œbudgetโ€ in this itinerary are typically around 90 euros per night.  

Chris Heckmann and Nimarta Bawa in front of Matera, Italy
You will also venture out to Matera on this 10 day Puglia itinerary

As discussed before, rental cars are pretty cheap in Italy and for 10 days you will probably pay 200-300 euros for an economy rental. Youโ€™ll probably only have to fill up with gas once, so Italyโ€™s high petrol prices wonโ€™t break the bank. 

Food is also pretty cheap in Puglia. The region caters mostly to domestic Italian tourists, so menu prices reflect that. Pizzas start around 6 euros and go up from there, with pastas starting around 8 euros and up. It all depends which restaurant youโ€™re at, but this gives you a good idea of how cheap it can be. 

So when it comes to the total price of your trip, it will vary greatly depending on where you stay, but you can reasonably expect to get away with spending about 250 euros per night for two people including a nice dinner and the rental car.  

Language 

Youโ€™re going to need to have Google translate on your phone and working offline for this trip. Puglia is not a popular international travel destination and the vast majority of tourists are domestic Italian travelers. This hasnโ€™t created a huge need for English amongst the locals, even those that work in hospitality. 

You wonโ€™t run into too many people who speak English on this trip. The younger generation has a much higher English proficiency, but you can safely assume that anyone over 40 will not speak a word of English. Thatโ€™s not a hard rule, of course, but just be prepared for the people who run your guesthouse, the waiters, the taxis drivers, etc. to not speak any English. 

Weather in Puglia

Puglia has a strong Mediterranean climate, meaning warm, dry summers and mild winters. It hardly ever rains and the skies are usually clear and blue. Itโ€™s an arid climate, ideal for cultivating grapes and olives. 

July is the hottest month, with an average high of 85 degrees (29 C) and overnight lows around 67 (19 C). January is the coolest month, with an average high of 55 degrees (13 C) and overnight lows staying well above freezing (provided temperatures are for Bari and vary slightly across the region).

The most rain falls from November to March, about 2.5 inches (60mm) per month. It hardly ever rains in summer, and humid days are few and far between. Itโ€™s hard to imagine a better climate!

Best time of year for this itinerary

The best time of year for this road trip across Puglia is May to September. Puglia never gets super crowded like the Amalfi Coast or Cinque Terre or Venice, so visiting in summer wonโ€™t overwhelm you. Though if you can avoid August Iโ€™d advise that, since thatโ€™s the month when most Italians take their summer holidays. 

Where to stay

Each day of the itinerary is described in more detail in the following sections and each overnight stop includes recommendations for where to stay. 

Travel insurance

When visiting Italy itโ€™s advised to have a quality travel insurance policy. We use World Nomads when we travel internationally. World Nomads provides coverage to travelers in over 100 countries. You can find a great policy on World Nomads by using the link below. 

The Ultimate 10-Day Puglia Itinerary 

Without further ado, letโ€™s get into the specifics about the itinerary now. I wonโ€™t go into great detail about any of the specific stops here, but youโ€™ll get a good summary that will give you the info you need to plan your trip. This road trip around Puglia is going to be amazing!

Day 1: Polignano a Mare

The first stop on this 10 day Puglia itinerary is the beautiful coastal city of Polignano a Mare. Once you arrive at the Bari airport and rent your car, head straight down the highway to Polignano a Mare. Depending on where you are staying, you might have to leave your car outside the city.ย 

Old Town Polignano a Mare is car-free and if your accommodation is inside the old town you will have to leave your car outside the city center. Your accommodation will arrange it for you, but it will not be free. If youโ€™re staying outside the old town there might be parking available so pay attention to the parking situation when booking your accommodation.

Either way, once you get to Polignano a Mare, leave the car. You wonโ€™t be getting in it again until you leave two days later. Youโ€™ll be on foot here in Polignano a Mare. 

A view of old town Polignano a Mare
Is this the best view of old town Polignano a Mare?

Spend the rest of the afternoon getting acquainted with the city. Walk around the old town, weaving through the narrow streets and quiet alleyways. Polignano a Mareโ€™s old town is known for being situated atop pa sharp cliff that drops off into the Adriatic Sea below. 

Most of the coast here features dramatic cliffs with crashing waves. There are tons of nice views of the cliffs and of the famous beach Lama Monachile below from in and around the old town. One of the best views can be found at Belvedere su Lama Monachile. The viewpoint looks down on the tiny cove beach below with dramatic cliffs on each side. 

Another one of the most Instagrammable places in Puglia is the view of Lama Monachile from the main bridge. Here you look back to the old buildings built atop the cliff beyond the beach. Itโ€™s simply to die for!

Polignano a Mare is probably the most busy city you will visit on this itinerary. Itโ€™s not super crowded, but much more popular with international tourists than many other places in Puglia. Due to this, there are a ton of restaurants to choose from for dinner. 

The restaurants within the old town are a bit overpriced and crowded, so head to Via Roma just outside the gates of the old town. This is a long pedestrian street lined with restaurants and shops. Itโ€™s an attractive street worthy of the old town and youโ€™ll find multiple good options for dinner. Just note that in this part of Italy itโ€™s common for people to make bookings for dinner, so if you donโ€™t have one, you might have to wait a little for a table. 

End the night with a local beer at Hops Birreria & Wine Bar in the old town. Polignano is one of the more happening towns in Puglia so there is always something going on at night all days of the week. 

Where to stay in Polignano a Mare

Budget: There are no budget options in Polignano a Mare but for a great price for what you get check out Al Giardino Del Nespolo

Mid Range: A Casa di Elena 

High End: Aquamarea

Optional stops for Day 1

If you arrive in Bari earlier in the day you might want to spend a little time checking out the largest city in Puglia. Bari isnโ€™t quite as picturesque as the other places youโ€™ll visit on this itinerary, but it can be a neat place to spend an hour or town walking around the city center and having a good lunch. 

Day 2: Polignano a Mare

Today will be a chill day exploring and relaxing in Polignano a Mare. Start your day with a leisurely walk along the coast, starting at the rocky cliffs just past Monumento a Domenico Modugno, where you get arguable the best view of Old Town Polignano a Mare, and continuing on towards Cala Paguro and Lido Cala Paura. If youโ€™re a walker you can keep on going up the coast as far as youโ€™d like. Great views are everywhere!

As the sun is reaching its highest point in the sky, head to Lama Monachile. This is the most famous beach in Puglia, so you can count on it being crowded. Itโ€™s not sand, but pebbles and rocks, but the beauty of the cove cannot be beat.

You should be able to find some free space on the rocks to set your towel down and soak in the sun. If you go earlier in the morning it will be less busy, but due to the steep cliffs on either side, the sun only shines directly on the beach during the middle of the day. 

Lama Monachile in Polignano a Mare, Puglia, Italy
Lama Monachile can get busy, but it’s hard to beat this view as you sunbathe

For a late lunch, check out Pescaria, a local casual fish joint where you order at the counter. Just be prepared to wait in line as it is a very popular place! Then spend the rest of the afternoon either hanging out in the old town, or exploring more of the coast in the other direction, towards the south, as more hidden coves and spectacular cliffs await. 

If money is not an issue for you, then you donโ€™t want to miss a dining experience at Grotta Palazzese Restaurant. The restaurant is literally built into the sea cliff overlooking the Adriatic Sea. Now, the reason I saw โ€œmoney is not an issueโ€ is because the tasting menu starts at 195 euros per person. If thatโ€™s fine with you, just be sure to book well in advance (like when you plan your trip), as itโ€™s usually booked out months in advance. 

If dropping 500 euros on dinner isnโ€™t your thing, head back to Via Roma and have another nice dinner on the terrace. Itโ€™s your last night in Polignano a Mare so enjoy it!

Day 3: Polignano a Mare to Monopoli

Right down the coast from Polignano a Mare is the similar coastal city of Monopoli. But before parking for the day in Monopoli, stop by Grotta di Cala Incina just off the highway. This part of the Puglian coast has some dramatic coral rock cliffs and grottos. This is just one of them, but the easiest to see as there is parking access for your car. 

Monopoli sits on a relatively flat part of the Adriatic coast. Home to about 50,000 residents, itโ€™s considerably larger than Polignano a Mare but has a similar sized old town. Old Town Monopoli is mostly flat and features a maze of narrow pedestrian-only streets flanked by whitewashed houses, in true Puglian style.

Youโ€™ll only have one day in Monopoli but thatโ€™s really all you need. Some things to be sure to see in Monopoli are Porto Antico, Castello Carlo V, Cattedrale Maria Santissima, Cala Porta Vecchia, and Palazzo Palmieri. The best thing to do in Monopoli is to walk around the old town and the coastal walkways, taking in the sights and sounds of the city. 

Perhaps the most beautiful view in Monopoli is from Porta Antico, which is a small cove full of colorful fishing boats. The walk along the coast from Porta Antico to Cala Porta Vecchia is lovely and while itโ€™s not long, youโ€™ll find yourself stopping often for photos.

a view of fishing boats int he bay in Monopili, Italy
Porta Antico offers some of the best views in Monopoli

The beach at Cala Porta Vecchia itself is not great, and at high tide there is no beach. So if your plan is to go to the beach there, make sure itโ€™s low tide.

Have dinner in the old town before retiring for the night. One more day on the coast, then you wonโ€™t see the water again! 

Where to stay in Monopoli

Budget: Monopoli Mia

Mid Range: Corte Sant’Angelo

High End: Vittorio Emanuele Charming Suites

Optional stops for Day 3

Itโ€™s only a 15 minute drive between Polignano a Mare and Monopoli, so not really much more to see.

Day 4: Monopoli to Torre Lapillo

Today you will bid farewell to the Adriatic Sea and make your way across the heel of Italy to Torre Lapillo. Itโ€™s a 90 minute drive with no stops, so if you want to stop in the city of Brindisi along the way be sure to get going early. 

Torre Lapillo sits on the Ionian Sea on the west side of the heel of Italy. In stark contrast to the rest of the places youโ€™ll see on this trip, Torre Lapillo is not a stunningly beautiful city, but more of a typical run-of-the-mill coastal town. The draw here, however, is the beautiful turquoise water of the Bahia del Sol Porto Cesareo beach. 

Torre Lapillo beach in Puglia, Italy
Take a relaxed beach day at Torre Lapillo

This is one of the most pristine beaches in Puglia (and all of Italy for that matter). Golden sand stretches the entire length of the town and the shallow, clear water continues out further than youโ€™d care to walk. Itโ€™s more like something youโ€™d see in Turks and Caicos and not Italy. But thatโ€™s Bahia del Sol Porto Cesareo!  

Be sure to arrive in Torre Lapillo in time to check into your hotel and enjoy the afternoon on the beach. Other than your brief sunbathing at Lama Monachile in Polignano a Mare, this is the only beach time you will get on this Puglia road trip. So soak in that Italian sun!

Torre Lapillo is a beach town catered to tourists (though almost exclusively Italian tourists) so there are plenty of restaurants and bars to choose from for dinner or a drink out. 

Where to stay in Torre Lapillo

Most of the accommodations in Torre Lapillo require a 3-night minimum stay. So options are limited when just staying one night. 

Budget: B&B Lady Jolanda

Mid Range: Salento Sottovento Luxury BeB

High End: Villetta Lido Canne

Optional stops for Day 4

Along the drive today you will pass Brindisi. This is one of Pugliaโ€™s larger cities – home to about 87,000 people – and also has one of the region’s only airports. Brindisi is not really known for anything in particular, but it has a neat little old town with charming streets and alleyways that can be worth getting lost in for an hour or two. 

Day 5: Torre Lapillo to Ostuni

Leaving the coast behind, today youโ€™ll head to Ostuni. Ostuni is little known internationally and many people skip it on a trip to Puglia. But the White City, as itโ€™s known, is deserving of your time and interest. So youโ€™ll be spending the day in Ostuni, getting in touch with true Puglian hospitality and culture.

Puglia is called the White City because all the buildings in the old town are painted white. Now, while this is true for many Puglian towns, Ostuni takes the whitewashed architecture to new heights. The old city sits on a hill and is surrounded by a medieval wall. And as you inferred, the wall is also painted white. 

Ostuni, Italy as seen from outside the old town
Ostuni is set atop a hill in beautiful Puglia

Ostuniโ€™s old town is a bit bigger than the other old towns of Puglian cities youโ€™ll visit on this road trip, but itโ€™s still quite small. Itโ€™s easy to walk around it in an hour or two, though it does feature lots of stairs and steep streets, unlike other Puglian old towns. Or if you donโ€™t want to walk up all those hills, you can take a tuktuk tour of the old town. Yup, a tuktuk, just like Southeast Asia or India!

From the north side of the city you can see the Adriatic Sea, as itโ€™s only 6 km away. Many Ostunians escape to the beaches on the coast on nice weekend days. Or even just for lunch on a work day. In the words of my friend Giorgio from Ostuni, โ€œsometimes I go to the beach for lunch.โ€ โ€œHow long is lunch usually? I ask. โ€œMaybe 2 hours.โ€ Gotta love Italy!

For dinner, book a table at Osteria Del Tempo Pers and enjoy some fine Puglian cuisine in a cave setting. Ostuni and its little cafes and restaurants are just so charming that you might never want to leave!

Where to stay in Ostuni

Budget: Bombonera

Mid Range: Caterina’s Suites & Apartament

High End: Masseria San Paolo Grande (a beautiful resort outside the city)

Optional stops for Day 5

Ceglie Messapica is another beautiful little Puglian city just south of Ostuni. There is not anything that really stands out about it when compared to the other Puglian cities youโ€™ll see, but it might be worth a stop for lunch if youโ€™re trying to tick off charming old towns to visit.  

Day 6: Ostuni to Alberobello

Leaving the White City behind, today youโ€™ll be stopping by two of Pugliaโ€™s more famous cities on the way to its (arguably) most famous city. Cisternino and Locorotondo and two Instagram-worthy little cities between Ostuni and Alberobello. Dedicate an hour or two to exploring each city. They look similar, but have their own unique character. 

Itโ€™s only a 40 minute drive between Ostuni and Alberobello, so with the two additional stops youโ€™re looking at only about an hour on the road. Have lunch on an outdoor terrace in either Cisternino or Locorotondo before heading towards Alberobello. But you arenโ€™t going straight to the city today. Youโ€™re in Italy after all, so why not try some wine!?    

While Puglia is not the biggest wine region in Italy, its climate is very friendly to grape cultivation so you will find lovely wineries across the region. Most of them are inland near Alberobello. If you like wine, plan to visit at least one winery before heading into the city. 

a dead end street in Cisternino in Puglia, Italy
A quiet street in Cisternino
Wine at Terrecarsiche winery in Puglia, Italy
Wine tasting at Terrecarsiche Winery

My recommendation for a winery to visit is Terrecarsiche. Itโ€™s about another 20 minutes past Alberobello and the winery is in a city and not at their vineyards, but Terrecarsiche makes some of the best wine in Puglia. When you visit the winery, they will explain – in English – all about their wine and let you try just about anything.

All of their wines are delicious and youโ€™ll be hard pressed not to bring a few bottles home. Just email them in advance to set up a tasting, as they donโ€™t get too many walk-ins and if you plan in advance the employee who is fluent in English can be there. 

If thatโ€™s a bit far out of your way, a good alternative is Masseria Torricella. Theyโ€™re winery is at the vineyard, so itโ€™s more of a pristine and beautiful setting, and they also have a restaurant. 

Lastly, for a true Italian olive oil experience, stop by Frantoio Olerio Giovanni Loliva. Giovanni is an old local dude who makes olive oil from his own home. He has a full processing facility on his property and heโ€™ll be happy to show you and let you taste his olive oil. He doesnโ€™t speak a word of English but heโ€™ll understand enough hand gestures to let you try some delicious olive oil. We still use Giovanniโ€™s olive oil when we make pasta at home! No advance booking required, so long as Giovanni is home. 

Olive oil at Frantoio Olerio Giovanni lOliva
Just trying some olive oil at a home processing facility in Puglia

For dinner, consider eating outside Alberobello at Ristorante La Nicchia. The restaurant is located inside a beautiful trullo and has excellent local food. Just note that it doesnโ€™t open till 7:45 and English will most likely not be spoken by any of the staff. Some tour buses also come through, so if you can make a booking that will be best.  

Where to stay in Alberobello

Budget: Palazzo Scotto (not really budget, but a nice place for the price)

Mid Range: Casa Relax Isabelle (just outside the city)

High End: La Mandorla Luxury Trullo

Optional stops for Day 6

The wineries and olive oil plant are optional, really. If you donโ€™t want to do that you can head straight to your accommodation in Alberobello and chill out. 

Day 7: Alberobello

The most internationally famous city in Puglia is without a doubt Alberobello. This Puglian city is straight out of a fairy tale. In a country full of beautiful cities and villages, Aleberobello really stands out. 

The city is famous for having the highest concentration of trulli in the world. What are trulli? A trullo (the singular of plural โ€œtrulliโ€) is a rectangular limestone masonry house with a conical stone roof. The rectangular part is almost always painted white and the roof is a natural grey rock left unpainted. The masonry construction is mortarless, a prehistoric building technique found around the world in places like Machu Picchu, among others. 

Trulli in Alberobello, Puglia
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Trulli are only found in the Puglia region of Italy and while they can be found all over central Puglia, the highest concentration of trulli are in Alberobello. The trulli of Alberobello are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which protects the outstanding beauty and fascinating construction method of the trulli. The construction of trulli dates back to the mid 13th century, though most of what you see today has been restored. 

A full discussion of Alberobello is beyond the scope of this itinerary summary, but there are two distinct zones of trulli. One is mostly residential where people actually live and the other is mostly for tourists now, where the buildings are occupied by shops and cafes. Youโ€™ll want to spend time exploring both trulli zones, as well as some of the rest of the city, which is more โ€œnormalโ€ looking. 

Note that while you wonโ€™t have to deal with hordes of tourists for most of this Puglia itinerary, Alberobello is the one exception. The touristy parts of the city can get really crowded, as itโ€™s quite compact. Most people are day trippers, so if you really want to avoid the crowds, get there early in the morning, by 7 AM or so, before any of the shops and cafes open.

The city is most beautiful with the sun at the highest point in the sky, though. Just be prepared for plenty of other people in your mid-day photos. 

Nimarta Bawa on a street in Alberobello, Puglia
One of the beautiful streets in Alberobello
a quiet corner in Alberobello - 10 day Puglia Itinerary
Alberobello is like a fairytale

For some truly awesome specific spots to get awesome views in Alberobello refer to my article on the most Instagrammable places in Puglia, where I go through the four best spots in Alberobello for amazing photo ops. Spend the day exploring Alberobello and having some delicious meals at one of the city’s many cozy restaurants. Everyone loves Alberobello!

Day 8: Alberobello to Matera

Bidding the white painted buildings of Puglia farewell, today you will head to a city where not a block of masonry was painted, lest it disrupt the beautiful natural color of the stone. Matera is not actually in Puglia, but it’s so close that any good Puglia itinerary should include the famous Basilican city.

From Alberobello itโ€™s about a 1-hour drive to Matera, leaving the rolling hills of olive tree groves behind and entering into the barren and rocky landscape of the Basilica region. 

Matera is famous for being the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. The city is thought to date back to about 10,000 BC. At that time it was just a series of caves that prehistoric man lived in, but when you visit today, you see that the cave culture remains alive and well in Matera.

Here in Matera, you can – and should – stay in a cave hotel, eat at a cave restaurant, and view historic preserved cave homes that were occupied until fairly recently (in a historical context). 

Matera is home to about 60,000 people, but the old city – known as the โ€œSassiโ€ – is not permanently occupied. The Sassi is the historic city center that features the most beautiful buildings. Historically, it was home to the cityโ€™s poor. So in the 1950s the government forced everyone to relocate to new public housing outside the city center, leaving the Sassi in disarray.

A few decades later restoration work began on the historical city and today the Sassi is one of the most stunningly beautiful places you will ever see. The old buildings are now populated by hundreds of hotels, guesthouses, restaurants, shops, and museums. 

Itโ€™s hard to describe just how beautiful Matera is, so Iโ€™ll let the pictures below do the talking for me. 

the sassi of Matera, Italy on a 10 day Puglia itinerary
Every view in Matera is simply amazing
Matera Sassi with the main church in the background
A view of the Sassi
a steep street in Matera Italy
A stepped street in Matera

Youโ€™ll want a good two days in Matera, so be sure to arrive in the city in time for lunch. Before getting to the city though,  be sure to stop by the Matera Viewpoint for an incredible view of the city from the other side of a large gorge. There are also some historical cave homes if you wander down the trail into the gorge a bit. The trail actually connects to the city, so you could also come here as a hike from the city center.  

The Sassi of Matera is completely car-free, so assuming youโ€™re staying at one of the hotels in the Sassi, youโ€™ll have to leave your car outside the Sassi and walk in. Donโ€™t worry though, amazingly enough there is free parking right outside the Sassi that you can easily walk to your accommodation from. Just note that Matera is built on cliffs and steep hills so there are tons of steps and steep inclines all over the Sassi. 

I recommend parking by Castello Tramantano. The street that circles the castle has free parking and you can usually find spots. From there simply walk to your hotel. If you have mobility concerns, contact your hotel to see if they can help you bring your bags. 

The best thing to do in Matera is to walk the old streets and get in touch with the local culture. The Sassi is quite large, in contrast to the small old towns of Puglian cities, so you can wander for hours, getting lost in the adorable streets, catching one incredible view after another. 

Some of the key specific things to see in Matera are:

  • Casa Grotta nei Sassi di Matera – historic cave church and dwellings 
  • Church of Saint Mary of Idris – church built into a rock 
  • Cattedrale di Maria Santissma – main cathedral for the city 
  • Palombaro lungo – underground ancient water cistern 
  • Belvedere di Piazza Giovanni Pascoli – famous observation viewpoint 

There are of course many more things to see and do that we wonโ€™t get into here in this itinerary. But you get the idea. Matera is amazing and you will find after two days that you still donโ€™t want to leave!

Where to stay in Matera

Budget: Casino San Giuseppe

Mid Range: Residence Le Vie Del Mosto

High End: Palazzo Degli Abati

Optional stops for Day 8

I recommend getting straight to Matera today. You want to maximize your time in the city.

Day 9: Matera

Spend another day exploring the beautiful city of Matera. Trust me, you wonโ€™t get bored. Matera is simply magnificent.

If you didnโ€™t have dinner in a cafe last night make sure to get that experience tonight. I recommend restaurant Annina 1937. Be sure to book a table, though, as the tables deep in the cave get booked out quick! 

Chris Heckmann and Nimarta Bawa in Matera Italy
It’s impossible not to fall in love with Matera!

Day 10: Matera back to airport

The drive back to the Bari airport from Matera is only about 45 minutes. Depending on what time your flight is, you might have time to take a slight detour to Gravina in Puglia, a small city known for its old arched stone bridge crossing a gorge into the city. Or you might have time to go into central Bari or some of the coastal towns north of Bari. Staying in Matera and enjoying breakfast on a balcony is never a bad thing either!

The End of Your Epic Puglia Road Trip

What an amazing road trip around Puglia it has been! I hope youโ€™ve enjoyed this underrated part of Italy. Now itโ€™s time to go home and make all your friends jealous as they were shoulder to shoulder with other tourists in Positano while enjoyed La vita lenta in Puglia!

10-Day Puglia Itinerary: FAQs

Where can I base myself in Puglia?

If youโ€™re looking to set one home base in Puglia and make day trips from there, a good place to do that is either Alberobello or Ostuni. These cities are central and well connected to the rest of Puglia by road. They also provide ample dining options, though Ostuni is much more lively at night than Alberobello.ย 

What is the most beautiful seaside town in Puglia?

Polignano a Mare is by far the most beautiful seaside city in Puglia. The old town of Polignano a Mare sits on a steep cliff that drops down to the turquoise water of the Adriatic Sea below. The old city itself is pedestrian only and full of charming streets and picturesque cafes. There is even a restaurant built into the sea cliff under the old town!

How many days do you need in Puglia?

Itโ€™s possible to take a short trip to an individual part of Puglia, but ideally you want at least 7 days to explore the region. 10 days would be even better and allow you time to really get in touch with Puglian culture and make a slow road trip across the beautiful heel of Italy.ย ย ย 

Which is better, Monopoli or Polignano a Mare?

Itโ€™s hard to argue that Polignano a Mare is not more beautiful than Monopoli. While Monopoli is quite gorgeous, itโ€™s not located atop a massive sea cliff like Polignano a Mare is. Monopoli is, however, more laid back and relaxed and a little easier to walk around. Monopoli is also generally cheaper than Polignano a Mare.ย 

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1 comment

John April 14, 2024 - 4:43 pm

This is fantastic! Thank you for all the details. So much inspiration and now planning to go to Puglia in summer.

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