puglia

Puglia is amazing. We truly enjoyed staying a few days in old town Bari, where we got a good glimpse of Italian daily life. For iconic views stop in Polignano a Mare. Alberobello, in the Itria Valley, is something to see, but also very commercial...don't need to spend too much time there. Ostuni, Martina Franca, Otranto, and Lecce will not disappoint. Highly suggest Matera, in Basilicata I think, for its unique beauty and history. If you have a car, it is easy to navigate the coast and explore. There may still be a lot of Italians on vacation at that time, but you will undoubtedly have a wonderful time regardless of where you end up!

we had planned on going to Sicily however it seems like its difficult to get to. either have to fly via Rome or Naples to Catania.

If your heart is set on going to Sicily, check skyscanner.com as there appears to be a direct flight from Bari to Catania.

Once you arrive to Catania you can travel via bus to Syracuse.
I’d recommend staying in beautiful Ortigia, the historic center of Syracuse. You can also take day trips to nearby towns such as Noto, Modica or Ragusa.

You may also consider traveling to Taormina, or for a more relaxing atmosphere, head over to Lipari, one of the Aeolian Islands.

Have a wonderful trip!

Priscilla's suggestions are great. But if you only have 8 uncommitted days, that would mean all of those days would be spent in Sicily, with no other time in Puglia. Since Puglia is "out of the way" for other parts of Italy, once you've taken the time to get there, why not stay there?

Here's a detailed trip report on Puglia - it doesn't sound like you'll run out of things to see and do: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/trip-report-bella-puglia-plus-basilicata-and-rome

There is so much to see in Basilicata and Puglia. Matera, in Basilicata, is stunning. You can read about it and see photos online. While I haven't been to Maratea (a beach town, not to be confused with Matera), also located in Basilicata, is supposed to be lovely.. I know someone who lives in Basilicata and highly recommends it. It's one of her favorite beaches. I've been to Polignano a Mare - and enjoyed the beach -unlike the beaches in northern Italy, which are pebbled beaches - it's sand - which is my preference. It is a bit commercial - a holiday getaway for locals, as well as tourists, however, I would have stayed a couple of days, rather than doing a day trip, had I known how beautiful and relaxing it was. If you visit Lecce, you can also do a few day trips from there. As fellow travelers once told me - you can't get it wrong. You'll love wherever you go! Have fun and enjoy the ride!

Volotea flies non stop from Bari to Paletmo.

I'm confused. Do you have 18 nights total with 10 in Puglia and 8 someplace else or 10 days total and have 2 days planned for Puglia and don't know where to go? If you have only 10 nights stay in Puglia There are many areas to visit. If you have 10 nights in Puglia planned with an additional 8 nights go to Matera and spend 2 nights then head to Sorrento. From Sorrento you can visit Capri, Positano, Pompeii Naples etc.

Thank you all for your responses. Our itinerary is 3 nights ROME, 1 night BARI, 2 nights MATERA, 3 nights POLIGANONO A MARE, 1 night OSTUNI, 3 nights LECCE, 2 nights OTRANT0... 8 days unplanned. If we omit SICILY where any suggestions to spend 8 nights?

We stayed 3 nights in Matera, 4 in Lecce and 4 in Locorotondo. We really liked Locorotondo - a great base and that’s without a car. Lovely walks into the countryside, used local train to see the grotto, also to get back after a day of Cycling from alberobello (wow depressingly commercial) and walking from Cisternino (village ok). We squeezed in Ostuni for a few hours in transit from Lecce; similar in Bari enroute from Matera to Lecce.

Thanks so much for your response.

Are you looking to distribute the extra 8 days or stay in one place for 8 days?
For me, the essentials for Puglia are a 1) stay in neighboring Basilicata for Matera, 2) somewhere/anywhere on the coast, 3) somewhere in the Itria valley, and 4) a stay in the Salento to include at least a visit to Lecce
I could spread 18 days among those areas, but an outlier in Puglia is the Gargano peninsula. Another idea could be somewhere else in Basilicata (the mountains or the sea).

We've been to Puglia three times now, for two weeks each in March and October, and about three weeks in November. Really love the region. Towns in Puglia close up for most of the afternoon, maybe noon to 4:00pm, even the churches. We spent this time exploring the old town centers before and after lunch, and eating long lunches from 1:00pm to 3:00pm. Always order the house antipasti!

Here are most of the towns we enjoyed either staying in, visiting the historical centers of, or eating meals in.

Alberobello --- see both the touristy side and the other side
Altamura --- famous for its bread
Bari --- Walk on Strada Arco Alto and Arco Basso, and the old town generally. Cathedrals.
Ceglie Messapica --- piazza was fun in the evening, places to eat
Cisternino --- eat
Gallipoli
Grottaglie --- ceramics
Lecce --- 5 nights in the old town
Locorotondo --- stayed in a wonderful trullo at Masseria Aprile for 5 nights
Martina Franca
Monopoli
Montegrosso to eat at Antichi Sapori
Nardò --- nice piazza
Noci --- ate there twice
Ostuni --- 6 nights in the old town, several great places to eat, (I'd say stay 3 nights rather than just one)
Polignano a Mare --- beach and views, a half-day trip was enough
Ruvo di Puglia --- Museo Archeologico Nazionale Jatta with a great collection of Greek pottery and a 13th-century Romanesque cathedral
Taranto
Trani --- 4 nights, harbor, cathedral, places to eat
Troia --- cathedral
(the southern coast --- we drove all the way around, the tip is nice at sunset, the beach towns were abandoned and kind of bleak-looking in November)

Close to Puglia:
Guardiaregia in Molise --- one night in order to see the nearby Roman ruins at Altilia Saepinum (well worth the drive from Puglia)
Matera --- 2 nights in a cave B&B (should have been 3 or 4 nights!), great places to eat

Thank you so much for your detailed report! fantastic info

I'm enjoying this great input you're receiving on Puglia, since it's in our plan for 2019. But if you do have time to take in Sicily, let me add my encouragement to visit at least the eastern end of the island...especially Taormina. Syracuse and the nearby baroque villages are also cool...stay out in old town Syracuse and eat at the little joint on the corner by the market. Great fresh fish for lunch!
Also, if you're a Godfather movie buff, the filming sites are not too far away from Taormina, and pretty much as filmed decades ago.
I've heard others say that spots in Sicily can be a little "rough," dirty and sort of unkept. This was our experience in Messina for a brief prior cruise trip stop. But Taormina is the exception...just beautiful. Stayed at the Hotel Villa Ducale up the hill from the village...highly rated, and rightly so. My review is on TA from 2 years ago.

Enjoy your time, and thanks for generating all of the good stuff on Puglia.

Thanks so much Italy Nuts fir your info. We have pretty much decided to fly to Catania & head straight to Taormina for 4 nights then down to Syracusa for 3 ;(or vide versa). Not long enough I know but will give us a taste of Sicily.

Four nights is a long time in Taormina unless you just want to spend a lot of time on the beach or sitting somewhere admiring the view. Taormina is quite small. And very, very touristy. Three nights in Siracusa, on the other hand, is a very short visit since it gives you only 2 full days to see the Ortygia historic district, the archaeological museum, the archaeological park, and the many very good day-trip destinations (Ragusa, Noto, Modica, Scicli).

Thanks acraven. I appreciate your suggestion. We may go to Siracusa first then and spend the extra time there.

Try to stay on the island of Ortigia in Siracusa - it’s the center of everything. At the edge of the market street, get a sandwich at Caseificio Borderi on Via Emmanuele de Benedictis, 6. They put on quite a show and the sandwiches are absurdly delicious, huge and affordable. Take in a show at the Teatro dei Pupi to see a famous Sicilian puppet show.

In Catania, don’t miss a stroll through the morning fish market and visit the Museo Storico Della Sbarco in Sicilia 1943 which tells the history of the Allied invasion of the island. Right next door, if you’re a movie buff, is the Museo Del Cinema.

Thank you so much Philip!