Travelling from Canada. 12 day 11 nts fly into Bari wanting to do 3 areas above. Does this sound reasonable/doable?
Rent car drive to Ostini. Stay in that area 3 nts Oct 9-11. Visit that area and surrounding villages. Drive to Lecce. 3 nts in that area.
Either drive to Matera and take a train from there to TROPEA or visit Matera when in Ostuni and train from LECCE to Tropea. Two nights in TROPEA. Rent-A-Car there and drive to Sicily. Thinking we would drive to TAORMINA for 2 Nights then to Palermo. Stay there for 2 nights and then fly back to Canada from there.
This is a lot of info, but I’m wondering if we’re on the right track or any suggestions/changes to that itinerary?
Five hotels over 11 nights. Does it make sense in Sicily to try to do both Palermo and TAORMINA?
Any other suggestions/recos?
Posted by
Upstate NY
157 posts
Sounds like you’re interested in seeing some beautiful places! Of all the areas you’ve mentioned, I’ve only visited Puglia (stays in Santa Maria di Leuca, Lecce and Polignano a Mare) and Matera. I understand people enjoy travel at different paces, but trying to hit all of those spots would feel very fast to me. I think Matera deserves 24 hours at an absolute minimum. I’ve never been anywhere like it and very much appreciated mornings and nighttimes there. The lighting felt special and, if you’re able, to hike into the canyon, across the suspended bridge and up to the caves, is wonderful.
I’m visiting Sicily in November. Please share any recommendations after your return!
Posted by
seattle
2407 posts
Seems like a lot of destinations. You could easily spend most of your time in Matera and Pugia. Maybe a round trip ticket to/from Bari and travel around by train and/or bus. Have you visited Naples? It is a fascinating city and could be easily be included in your itinerary.
I would save Sicily until you can spend 10+ days there.
Posted by
Minnesota
1095 posts
Big Picture: Way too much precious vacation time spent moving around if you ask me. And as much as I love Sicily, to doesn't really make sense with this trip. Save it for next time.
Less is often more wrt your vacation itinerary.
Posted by
new york
1738 posts
Twelve days in not even enough to see the highlights of Puglia, or Sicily, so my answer is "no, it does not sound like a good plan."
Example: There is no train from Matera to Tropea. You'd have to take a bus to Metaponto and then get on a train, and change trains once or twice before ending in Lamezia Terme...from Lamezia, you'd need another train to Tropea...that would take an entire day.
The quickest way to go by train from Lecce to Tropea involves getting to Bari, and then several changes of trains with the shortest journey taking about 9 hours or so....