10 Days in Puglia: Ultimate 10-Day Puglia Itinerary

Camille L.

Recommended 9 or 10 days Puglia itinerary

In order to help you plan your Puglia itinerary in the South of Italy, we have prepared a 10 days trip that will allow you to discover all the places of interest in Puglia.

So what to do and see in Puglia in 10 days?

Program: The pretty villages of Ostuni, of Alberobello or Matera, the baroque city of Lecce and nature getaway in the National Park Gargano. 

All accompanied by our tips and tricks to make the most of your stay. And of course our selection of the best accommodations for each stage!

Discover now our 9-10 days Puglia itinerary!

Day 1-2: Bari/Ostuni

For this 10-day road trip in Puglia, I propose to land in Bari , the main airport of the region.

As a road trip obviously can not be done without a car, you will have to go and pick up your car at the rental counter.

After these practical considerations, get your car back and start your 10-day trip to Puglia by leaving Bari. Do not worry, I include Bari’s visit, but at the end of the program!

Join the first typical village of Puglia to visit: Polignano a Mare. It is about 40 minutes south of Bari. In Polignano you can discover the historic center known for its houses clinging to cliffs. Many points of view,impressive enough to admire.

You can also go down to the pebble beach, at the entrance of Polignano, to make the souvenir photo that we see on all the postcards of the city. Allow 2 hours to visit Polignano a Mare.

The white houses perched on the cliff of Polignano a Mare, around Bari

Continue this first day of your 10-day trip to Puglia, with a visit to Monopoli, just 15 minutes drive from Polignano. Here too, it is the historic center that is worth seeing. It is very pleasant to walk there to admire the emblematic monuments such as Charles V Castle, Piazza XX Settembre and the Cathedral. Plan an hour visit.

And to finish the day, go to Ostuni, stage of the next 2 nights. The city is on a promontory located 40 minutes from Monopoli: with its houses with whitewashed facades,  it is visible from afar! We understand immediately why Ostuni is nicknamed the “Citta Bianca”, the white city. The goal here is to bring a little light in the narrow streets.

To visit Ostuni, no choice, it will be on foot. You can start by going to see the cathedral of Ostuni and the episcopal palace located next door, these are the 2 main places of interest of the city. If this interests you, know that the palace houses a diocesan museum containing many documents referring to local history.

I then propose to climb a little more, to the church Sainte-Marie. The place allows to admire a very beautiful panorama on all the valley of Itria and the surrounding countryside.

I think it will be time to have a little snack and dinner. There are many bars and restaurants in Piazza della Liberta, Ostuni’s main square where everyone meets in the evening. For the meal, if you want to eat a good pizza and not too expensive, I recommend the pizzeria “L’Impasto Napoletano”, 200 m from the piazza.

And if you want to discover all things to do in Ostuni, check out our article: Visit Ostuni, Puglia.

Then join your accommodation in Ostuni for the night, I give you a selection just below.

Ostuni, the white city of Puglia, in southern Italy

The next day, for this second day of your 10-day itinerary in Puglia, visit Alberobello, certainly the best-known village in the region! This means nothing to you ? And yet I’m sure you have seen at least one picture of the village.

And yes, Alberobello is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its rather original habitats: trulli, small houses with a circular base and conical roof. There are hundreds in Alberobello.

Walk around the village at random to take a closer look. Most are now converted into hotels, souvenir shops and cafes / restaurants.

A tip: visit Alberobello early in the morning because it is ultra tourist and many buses arrive from 10 am. The car parks are quickly complete and the streets a little crowded.

For all the tips to organize your visit, see our article: How to visit Alberobello?

The Trulli, traditional houses of the Itria Valley

We continue the morning by 2 other villages not to be missed during your stay of 10 days in Puglia:

After a morning spent visiting villages, I propose a program a little more nature for the afternoon, with 2 possible options:

Return to sleep in Ostuni.

You have seen, this 10-day trip to Puglia by car, included quite a visit to the historic center.Access to these is generally reserved for residents or a real maze of narrow and one-way streets. I advise you not to enter by car and always try to park a little before. This will prevent you from getting mad at the wheel and especially a fine!

Accommodation in Ostuni

The famous Trulli of Alberobello, in the Itria Valley

Day 3-5: Lecce

For the second leg of this 10-day holiday in Puglia, I suggest you to join Lecce.

The road from Ostuni to Lecce goes through Brindisi, so I recommend you stop there for a quick tour. This is not necessarily a must visit of Puglia but as you will necessarily go there, so much to take a look. You can stroll through the historic center, by the harbor and also visit the Provincial Archaeological Museum, MAPRI.

Then head to Lecce. The best is to park your car at the car park next to the Lecce cemetery. The rate is only € 2 for the day and it is located just a hundred meters from the entrance to the old town symbolized by the Porta Napoli. It is the most practical and the cheapest.

Lecce being considered THE baroque city of Italy, there is a multitude of historical monuments to see. The city is in addition super harmonious thanks to the use of the stone of Lecce, a very soft limestone, for the construction of all the buildings. It really is one of the cities to visit during a road trip in the Puglia!

I recommend you go first to Piazza Sant Oronzo, the huge main square in Lecce. This is where you will find the tourist office where I advise you to go to get the map of the city, always very useful to find your bearings.

In the Piazza you can admire the Roman amphitheater in excellent condition. There are also a lot of cafes and restaurants if you have a dip.

Piazza Sant’Oronzo, in Lecce

For the rest of the walk, go to Piazza del Duomo, one of the largest and most impressive in Puglia. Who says Piazza del Duomo, says cathedral. This is where the cathedral of Lecce is, which you can visit if you wish. On the square, are also to see: the campanile, the episcopal palace and the palace of the seminary.

Continue the day with another must-visit tourist attraction in Lecce: the famous Santa Croce Basilica and its facade adorned with a magnificent rose window and hundreds of carved details. More than a century has been needed for its construction! The interior is also worth seeing for the 17 altars and it’s free!

Finish the afternoon according to your desires, to discover the palaces and churches of Lecce, present throughout the city.

The next day, second day in Lecce and a more cultural program with the visit of 2 museums:

And if you do not mind to visit another museum, you can then visit the castle Charles V and its monumental walls. It houses the museum of the cartapesta or paper mache museum, a typical activity of Lecce. 

And to close this day, I propose a visit a little atypical: that of the cemetery of Lecce. The place is famous for hosting many Baroque tombs, also made of Lecce stone. Their architecture is really impressive, a little in the style of the monumental cemetery of Milan (if you know). The atmosphere is peaceful and really not creepy.

After a second night in the city, it’s time to see the surroundings of Lecce. And good news, after 2 days spent walking around the city, it is that today I propose you some bathing breaks and stroll by the sea.

First stop of the day in Torre dell Orso, 35 minutes from Lecce by car. A large sandy beach and clear water are waiting for you! At the end of the beach, you will find the Due Sorelles, 2 faraglioni very photogenic and found on all the postcards of the city. To better admire them, I advise you to climb by the path to the right of the beach, at the top of the cliff.

Only 5 minutes from Torre dell Orso, then stop at Torre Sant Andrea. Here too, there are beautiful pictures to make faraglioni. Do not hesitate to give yourself time to swim, this is the place!

The Faraglioni of Torre Sant Andrea, one of the most beautiful natural landscapes of Puglia

Finally, join the last stop of the day, Otranto, 20 minutes from Torre Sant Andrea. Explore its historic center to discover the castle and its ramparts and Otranto Cathedral. Finish the day by the sea, in quiet mode at the beach of Otranto and one of those located nearby.

Return to spend a last night in Lecce.

If you want to know more about things to do in Lecce, check out our article: What to see in Lecce. 

Accommodation in Lecce

Piazza del Duomo and Campanile in Lecce

Day 6: Matera

For this third leg of this 10-day trip to Puglia, this morning depart for Matera.

But before arriving in Matera, on the road, there are some unavoidable stops to do:

Take the car back to Matera. In fact, the city is not part of the region of Puglia but that of Basilicata, located next door. However, as it is near Taranto and Bari, it would be a shame not to integrate it in places to see in Puglia in 10 days and not to stop in one of the oldest cities in the world.

Matera is world renowned for its Sassi of cave dwellings dug into the rock that the first inhabitants date back to Paléothique! Since that time, homes have certainly evolved but have always been occupied. Some of its caves were even turned into rock churches by monks who took refuge there. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the site has nearly 3,000 caves and churches.

The Sassi of Matera, Italy

To visit Matera on foot and do not miss out on places of interest, go first to the tourist office to get a map of the city. It also offers 3 different routes (more or less long).

In any case, I advise you to start your visit by the Piazza del Duomo, common starting point of the 3 walks.

Here is the itinerary that I recommend for the afternoon:

At the end of the walk, the city will certainly be illuminated and you can make other sublime photos.

To discover Matera in detail, I invite you to consult our article: Visit the Sassi of Matera.

Accommodation in Matera

Matera by night

Day 7-9: The Gargano

For the fourth leg of this 10-day stay in Puglia, I take you on a tour of the Gargano and its national park, the largest in Italy.

But do not burn the steps, before joining the Gargano, leaving Matera, I strongly recommend you to go through the Belvedere Murgia. From the exit of the city, it takes about 10 minutes by car. It is at the Belvedere that you will have the most beautiful overview of the Sassi of Matera.

To reach the Gargano from Matera, it’s a bit of road waiting for you because it takes about 2 hours to reach Manfredonia, gateway to the Gargano. Then add 1h15 to reach Vieste, place where I advise you to sleep.

The road connecting Manfredonia to Vieste is sublime because you will go along the sea and enjoy magnificent panoramas all along. This was my favorite route during my road trip in Puglia! Take your time to browse it, there are many photo stops to make. And if it is warm enough, you will also find beautiful covesfor swimming.

When you arrive in Vieste, spend the afternoon exploring the historic center. And why not opt ​​for a boat trip to discover the nearby marine caves? These boat trips are part of the activities to do absolutely during your trip in Puglia.

Vieste, in the Gargano Nature Park

After a restful night in or near Vieste, today I also recommend a nice panoramic road, which connects Vieste to Peschici. You can admire strange constructions by the sea, trabucchi. This very ingenious system of ropes and nets allowed fishing. Some still serve and some have been converted into a restaurant serving delicious fresh fish.

Peschici is a small village whose main interest lies in its historic center and the castle offering a view of the beach and the entire coast.

After Peschici, take the road that goes up to Vico del Gargano. With its narrow streets and charming stone houses, the medieval village is one of the most beautiful villages in Italy.

And if you visit Puglia in love, know that Valentine is the protector of the city and there is even a kiss alley in Vico! During your walk, I advise you to go through Bella’s palace, the castle and the many churches including that of Santa Maria Pura or San Giuseppe.

For the end of the day, go to Lake Varano, one of the largest in southern Italy. In this bucolic and soothing place, you can observe many birds like herons or flamingos. Of boat trips are also organized. If that tells you, you can stay there until sunset, because that’s when Lake Varano is the most beautiful.

Lake Varano, to see in the Gargano

Return to spend a second night in Vieste or in the surroundings.

Today, in the morning program, a short hike in the Foresta Umbra, a protected nature reserve in the heart of the Gargano Natural Park.

There are several trails to discover the fauna and flora typical of this forest, including the famous wild orchids that many botanists come to admire. The trails are not necessarily well marked, get a map in the visitor center. 

After the ride, take your car rental for about 50 minutes, time to reach the village of Sant Angelo. It is known to be one of the most important religious centers of Gargano and Puglia. The Via dei Longabardi,which runs through the village, was indeed a sacred route from Spain to Jerusalem and was used by many pilgrims.

They also stopped at the sanctuary of Archangel Michael, a church in a cave and you can go see. Located in the Rione Junno district, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In Monte Sant Angelo, I also advise you to go see:

If you want to organize your own Gargano tour program, check out our article: How to visit the Gargano Park.

From Monte Sant Angelo, then join Bari for the night. It takes at least 1h50 of road.

Depending on the length of your morning hike in Foresta Umbra, you may have time to stop in Trani. The city is located on the way and this will give you the opportunity to admire its beautiful and very photogenic cathedral by the sea.

Accommodation in Gargano

Stay in an apartment in Gargano

For a family holiday with your children or friends for your holidays in Gargano, I recommend you to choose an apartment. You can eat and there is more space for everyone. They are also located in residences with swimming pool, which is nice to cool off!

The best hotels to stay in Gargano

If you are traveling as a couple, here is my selection of hotels for a romantic stay in Gargano. Most of them even offer free access to the private beach with deckchairs and parasols available.

The best holiday villages in Gargano

For lovers of holiday villages with swimming pool, playground, entertainment and restaurant, I have selected the best.

The beach of Vieste and the Pizzomunno

Day 10: Bari

The next day, and unfortunately for you the fifth leg means the end of this road trip of 10 days in Puglia.

Depending on the departure time of your plane or if you have the chance to take off the next day, here is an example of a route to visit Bari in 1 day:

For more details on Bari, it’s in our article: Top 12 things to do in Bari.

Accommodation in Bari

Feel free to give us your opinion and suggestions on our road trip in Puglia!

Lungomare of Bari, for day and night walks

2 weeks in Puglia

If you have the chance to visit Puglia in 2 weeks, I advise you to spend more time in the Gargano.

You can go hiking and really enjoy the beautiful coves and beaches. By planning a 15-day stay in Puglia, you can take a trip to the Tremiti Islands or even spend two full days there. They are known for their beautiful natural landscapes.

If you have any questions about organizing your 2 weeks road trip in Puglia , do not hesitate to ask me about it.

Budget: 10 days of road trip in Puglia

To visit Puglia in 10 days by car, here are the expenses to plan:

Total budget for 10 days for 2 people: 1,260 €

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Check out all our articles about Puglia : All BonAdvisor’s articles about Puglia are listed here.

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