Bari As A Base With No Car

Posted by Jay (Chicago) on 09/07/25 01:52 PM

5-7 days in Bari, regional train over there after a couple weeks chilling in Rome. March 2027. It looks doable, I think. Daytrip train to Polignano a Mare, Monopoli and Lecce, there and back. I think I'd want to hire a guide/driver to take us to the Trulli houses in Alberobello and Matera, and anyplace else the guide thinks would be cool over the course of a day. Any thoughts on that?

Looking for a good AirBnB in Bari Vecchia (Old Town), maybe not too far from the old women sitting outside handmaking the oriecchiette. One apartment I was eyeing in the neighborhood said '500 meters' to the train station, and that's about 3/10 mile. That I can handle. Videos of Bari remind me a little of Salerno, but opposite with water on the east.

March in Rome is nice and I suspect the southern Adriatic Coast would be at least that warm.

Posted by Kenko

Citizen of the World

09/07/25 03:34 PM

3508 posts

Alberobello can be reached from Bari by bus in one hour and Matera can be reached by bus from Bari’s airport in one hour.

www.GetYourGuide.com can link you up with tour guides.

Posted by Mike

Boston

09/07/25 04:53 PM

1877 posts

2027? Bari is a good choice. If you can, I suggest being in Puglia for Holy Week through Easter Monday. There are Easter ceremonies, displays and processions in virtually every town in the area and you don't have to be religious to find them captivating. Easter in 2026 is April 5, in 2027, it's March 28.

Posted by Jay OP

Chicago

09/08/25 05:59 PM

2227 posts

2027? Bari is a good choice. If you can, I suggest being in Puglia for
Holy Week through Easter Monday. There are Easter ceremonies, displays
and processions in virtually every town in the area and you don't have
to be religious to find them captivating. Easter in 2026 is April 5,
in 2027, it's March 28.

Yes, Mike, 2027. Not going anywhere this winter and February and March are good months to travel. Less tourists and cool temps, nothing like Chicago or Boston that time of year.

We were just in Rome & Florence early April this year and even 2 weeks before Easter, both cities were packed. You don't think Bari would be overrun? If not, I am up for it. We would be starting the trip in a neighborhood in Rome, just hanging out for a couple weeks--we like that. Then taking the train to Bari, and basing there same way for about a week. But Lecce is also looking good as a base--just gorgeous.

Posted by rachele

09/08/25 10:02 PM

759 posts

Been to Puglia twice - once in March and once in May. Nice weather both times. We used public transportation both times and were able to see everything we wanted to see. Except on Sundays, when buses in particular had a very reduced schedule. In addition, a lot of businesses were closed, which is good to keep in mind when planning your days.