23/06/2026
7 Days in Puglia
If you have 7 days in Puglia, the biggest mistake is trying to see everything. On the map it looks easy, but once you start moving between old towns, beaches, parking areas, coastal roads, and dinner reservations, you quickly understand that Puglia is not a region to rush.
For a first trip, I would divide the week into two bases: the first part around Monopoli, Polignano, or Ostuni, and the second part in Lecce. This gives you a good balance between the Valle d’Itria, the Adriatic coast, and Salento without packing your suitcase every morning.
Start with Bari and Polignano a Mare. Bari is a good arrival point and deserves at least a proper walk through the old town, especially around the Basilica di San Nicola and the narrow streets where local women still make orecchiette by hand. Later, continue to Polignano a Mare for the sea views, but don’t build the entire day around the famous beach photo, because in high season it can be extremely crowded.
On the second day, stay in Monopoli. This is one of the best towns to base yourself in because it has an old port, a beautiful historic center, restaurants, beaches nearby, and a more relaxed feeling than Polignano. It is the kind of place where you don’t need a complicated plan. Walk, eat, swim if the weather is good, and enjoy the evening when the town becomes more alive.
Use the third day for Alberobello, Locorotondo, and Martina Franca. Alberobello is touristy, but the trulli are still unique and worth seeing once, especially early in the morning before the tour buses arrive. After that, Locorotondo feels calmer, whiter, and more elegant, with beautiful lanes and views over the countryside. If you still have energy, continue to Martina Franca for its baroque streets and a slower evening atmosphere.
On the fourth day, visit Ostuni. Many people come only for the “White City” photos, but the best part is the position of the town above the olive groves and the way the old streets twist up and down the hill. I would go later in the afternoon, when the heat is softer and the light makes the white buildings look warmer.
Then move to Lecce for the second half of the trip. Lecce is not just a quick stop; it is one of the most beautiful cities in southern Italy, with baroque churches, Roman remains, courtyards, cafés, and a very elegant evening passeggiata. Give it time, because Lecce becomes more beautiful when you are not rushing from monument to monument.
From Lecce, spend one day in Otranto and along the Adriatic coast. Otranto has a lovely old town and an important cathedral, but the real beauty of this day is being able to move along the coast toward places like Baia dei Turchi or Torre Sant’Andrea. This is where having a car makes a big difference, because the best coastal spots are not always easy to reach by train.
For the final day, choose between Gallipoli and Santa Maria di Leuca. Gallipoli is better if you want a lively seaside old town, seafood, sunset, and more energy. Santa Maria di Leuca is better if you want a bigger coastal drive and the feeling of reaching the very end of Italy’s heel.
You can do parts of this itinerary without a car, especially Bari, Polignano, Monopoli, Ostuni, and Lecce by train. But if you want beaches, masserias, smaller villages, and the freedom to move around Salento properly, a car makes the trip much easier.
Puglia is not just a list of pretty towns. It is slow meals, white villages, olive trees, hot afternoons, blue water, and evenings when the streets finally fill again. Give it time, and it becomes much more than a checklist.
