Hi, we're going on a last minute trip to Puglia next week, I am trying to plan it and help is appreciated! We're landing and departing from Rome and planning to rent a car from the airport.
Thank you!
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
17666 posts
I don’t know if you plan to drive directly from the Rome airport immediately after landing, but it’s a rather long drive (300 miles to Bari) to be undertaken immediately after an overnight flight. Consider staying the first night in Rome, or, even better, if you want to minimize the long drive, taking a train (or a flight) to Bari and renting a car in Bari the next day. Be aware that my family told me today that there are already gasoline shortages at several gas stations because of the crisis at the Strait of Hormuz.
It looks like you have 11 nights on the ground, however the last night must be spent in Rome before the flight home. So you have possibly only 9 nights in Puglia.
1 nights in Bari before renting a car
3 nights in Lecce or Otranto (30 min from each other) to see both. This is the farthest point, which I would do first.
I would do at least 3 or 4 nights in Central Puglia (Monopoli, Polignano, Locorotondo, Alberobello, Ostuni)
Any of the above towns can be used as a base, except for Ostuni, which is less central, but you can visit all from one location.
2 nights for Matera. Matera can also be visited on a day trip from there above, if you don’t mind the 75 min drive each way and you don’t care to spend nights in Matera.
After Matera I would drive to Bari in the morning, return the car in Bari, then catch a train or flight to Rome. You could also drive to Rome airport, and return the car at FCO, before spending the night at the airport before the flight.
Another possible destination would be the Gargano peninsula (Vieste). I would have suggested to try to include it if you had more time, but it’s a convoluted drive to get there and your trip is too short.
Posted by
Idaho, USA
9536 posts
Roberto’s info is excellent. I would stay overnight in Matera for the experience of getting the chance to sleep in one of the caves that has been turned into a B&B. And the city illuminated at night is spectacular.
Posted by
OP
Chicago
10 posts
Thank you Roberto and Jean!
We actually arrive in the 7th, and will spend the first day in the area and rest, then start on the 8th.
I have this idea of visiting Tivoli on the way there and Castera on the way back. I love gardens and and nature. I read somewhere that Gargano had one of the best spring wildflowers, and we might go there for a day from Tivoli. It's a long drive, I wish we had more time, but we don't.
Posted by
Germany
47 posts
hey!! we also flew in/out of Rome and drove down, and it worked pretty well but yeah it’s a bit of distance
The drive is like 4 to 5h depending where in Puglia you’re heading, so I’d maybe plan a small stop on the way (we stopped around Naples just to break it up a bit, but make sure you park either in a parking or a bit outside Naples). Once you’re there, having a car is definitely a good call for places like Polignano a Mare, Monopoli, Ostuni which are all close enough to go without stress.
I’d personally pick 1-2 bases max and not move every night. We stayed near Monopoli and just did day trips which made it way more relaxed. When we were planning, I checked a few guides like here and here just to get a feel for different areas, helped a lot to narrow things down. You’ll have a great time :)