Puglia, Italy is such an amazing place if you’re wanting something different from the Amalfi Coast or the other Italian hotspots everyone talks about.
A friend I met while doing farm work in Australia was from here, and she used to hype it up all the time. So when it was finally my turn to book a trip to Italy, I reached out to her for recommendations on what I should do and where I should go. Turns out she wasn’t exaggerating one bit.
Quick Facts
- Region: Puglia, Southern Italy (the “heel” of the boot)
- Best for: beaches, coastal walks, food, and slow travel
- Getting around: a rental car is best for day trips, public transport can be unreliable in quieter areas
- How long to stay: [link to your Puglia itinerary post here]
Where to stay in Puglia
Why Puglia, Italy Deserves a Spot on Your Travel List
Between the beaches, the food, and the little towns scattered along the coast, there’s a reason my friend never stopped talking about home. Here’s everything I got up to while I was there. This place is perfect for someone who wants to slow down and spend their days at the beach eating and drinking.
Beaches
One of the things my friend always spoke about was the beaches back home in Puglia, Italy, she was constantly showing me photos of how perfect they were. And let me tell you, I spent about 70% of my time in Puglia at the beach.
There were beaches where you could pay for a spot with an umbrella, right next to restaurants serving amazing food, or you could find a free stretch of sand and post up for the day. Most of the beaches we came across had calm, wave-free water. It was so blue, and the temperature was perfect.
I’ve written a separate article covering all of my favourite beaches in Puglia, so I won’t repeat myself here, but just know the beaches alone are worth the trip.
Our tip: Best Beaches in Puglia Article
Cooking Class
Puglia, Italy is known for its food, and it does not disappoint We did a cooking class while we were there, and it was such a fun experience. It was a small class, so we got a lot of attention from the family running it, which made it feel personal rather than like a tourist activity.
Eat and Drink
Speaking of cooking classes, the food in Puglia was always so delicious. I wish I could have stuffed my face even more than I did. The seafood was incredible, especially the octopus, it’s very famous here and something you genuinely must try.
I also became a huge Hugo Spritz fan while I was there, though I ended up trying all sorts of different spritz along the way. Imagine this: cold spritz, fresh seafood, and the Italian sun. Doesn’t get better than that.
[link to your favourite food and drink places here]
Coastal Walks
Exploring Puglia, Italy on foot became one of my favourite parts of the trip, I’m an early riser, and with that comes the reality that not much is open yet. My friend I was travelling with liked to sleep in, so I used those quiet mornings to go on coastal walks instead.
The beaches were empty and so pristine at that hour. There wasn’t much of a marked trail, I was mostly just walking along the rocks, and it was incredibly peaceful. A morning swim afterward quickly became my favourite part of the day.
Day Trips
If you set up base in one place, it’s easy to go around and do day trips from there. Each small town we visited was so unique and so beautiful in its own way. We travelled by train, but I’d actually recommend renting a car instead, mostly because public transport can be unreliable in the quieter areas outside the main towns. We ended up getting stuck in one town on the way to another and had to turn back. That was probably more so bad luck, but after speaking with locals a car is definitely nice if you want to explore more than just what public transport can access. My friend and I did A LOT of walking.
- Alberobello – This is a popular place for its homes, which have such unique architecture. It’s a place I’d recommend, but I’ve shared some other spots below that I’d visit first.
- Monopoli – We set up base here, and it was perfect. We were near the train station and also just a quick walk to the water and all of the restaurants. It was such a beautiful, picturesque place. I’d recommend basing yourself here if you want somewhere to come back to each night with easy travel to everywhere else.
Tuttoapposto Winebar
- Lecce – The bigger “city” of the south, and it has a distinct look of its own. We ended up not making it there because our train stopped a few stops away due to something happening on the tracks, and the town we got stuck in didn’t have Ubers, so we were worried about being stranded. But from what we heard, and from people we met on the train, it’s a lovely place to visit.
- Gallipoli – This is where my friend is from, and I really loved this area. She picked us up so we were able to see quite a bit and explore different beaches. We really enjoyed our time here and would recommend it.
Gallipoli
- Ostuni – We did our cooking class here. It’s a touristy town, but still a nice place to walk around and grab a bite to eat. We went for our class, wandered the streets, and headed back, so we feel like we got to enjoy what it had to offer without needing a full day.
- Matera – One of the oldest cities and part of its own region just next door. This place should be on your list, it has so much history and is such a beautiful place to just walk around.
- Polignano a Mare – This is a small town, a good place to escape the crowds. It’s quaint and very cute, perfect if you want something a little different.
I’ve written a separate article about how many days to spend in Puglia if you’re trying to plan out your own trip
[link here]
Final Thoughts
Puglia was the perfect trip for a relaxing time and to just travel slow. There was no rushing from place to place, no packed schedule, just beach days, good food, and slow mornings. It’s the kind of trip where you leave feeling like you actually rested, and I already know I’ll be back one day.
If you’re planning your own trip to Puglia, Italy, check out my other guides to help you plan it out:
Best beaches in Puglia
How many days to spend in Puglia
Where we ate and drank our way through the region
