Puglia Region travel tips

I think it's too many nights in Polignano a Mare and Otranto unless you want to just relax and enjoy the area.

Personally, I would suggest more time in Lecce and use that as a base to wander around the boot. And I also suggest a few hours in Gallipoli.

When are you going? I visited this area last May and the crowds were not bad at all. Come summer it's wall to wall tourists--mostly Italians.

It's also very, very hot in the summer, but I'm guessing lfinnegan26 is not traveling then.

I agree about Lecce (pop. 95,000). It's a lovely baroque city (take the tourist office's walking tour) that's got a lot to see; I wouldn't want to rush through it on a day-trip or in part of a day. Many of the popular towns in Puglia are quite small, and you'll be able to see their entire historic areas in 2 hours.

However, Polignano (pop. 18,000) and Otranto (pop. 5700) may work for the specific towns to be visited.

Places I've enjoyed (all on brief visits, mostly via the vans arranged by the Lecce tourist office) include Alberobello (trulli!), Martina Franca, Locorotondo, Gallipoli, Taranto, Ostuni, Otranto, Polignano a Mare, and Monopoli. I've also read that Bari itself as a nice historic center, but I've never been there. I'd pick up a guide book to that area, because I'm sure many other places are worthwhile.

Many people heading to Puglia take advantage of proximity and also go to Matera in Basilicata. While a week is more time than most people have (and longer than I had on either of my two trips), you'll have to pick and choose. Some of the towns are popular just because they're on the coast (beach time), old and cute. Others have significant sights--often distinctive cathedrals. So you should consider how sight-driven a tourist you are. You might prefer a string of small towns where you can while away your time soaking in the atmosphere, or you might be the sort who is all about historic sights.

Did you see this thread? https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/travel-guidebook-for-southern-italy

Good suggestions for guidebooks, plus I listed a lot of towns in Puglia and why to visit them.

Great suggestions to all, thank you!

I will be there May 18-25

Has anyone rented a car, thinking of renting in Lecce and dropping in Otranto after driving from train station Lecce to Otranto (and then next day driving the heel). Is it difficult to navigate the roads/parking, thank you. The excursions from Lecce seemed a bit pricey, so I thought renting a car and staying in Otranto would be a good option.

We've been to Puglia four times now, each time for two to four weeks. We always rent a car --- one trip with family it was a 9-passenger van.

You will always have to park outside of the historical centers of towns and walk in. Several towns had parking lots, others you just find a spot and figure out how to pay for it. Parking to visit a town for a few hours was never a problem, parking overnight was always some place where the hotel or airbnb host told us to park. I should say that none of our Puglia trips was during the summer so presumably that made parking easier.

The roads are fine. It really helps the driver to have a "navigator" who is following along on Google Maps and giving directions and helping to watch out for signs.

We stayed in Lecce for a week and just visited Polignano a Mare (on a different trip) for a couple of hours, and felt like that was about the right amount of time for each. Probably our favorite area in Puglia is around Cisternino, Locorotondo, and Ostuni --- we've stayed a week in or outside of each of these towns and did many day trips. Otranto we did as a very short trip from Lecce, mostly to see the floor of the cathedral. Our interests are art & architecture & old towns, and food ---- not so much natural scenery and definitely not beaches. Your interests may be the opposite!

I really appreciate this thread as we will be spending 5 days in Puglia in May. Alberobello is our base for 3 of those nights, so we will be visiting the small towns and the coast. Favorite local restaurants recommendations are always welcome. Thank you

If you stick with this order, I don't see any advantage to going to Lecce to pick up the car. You could get it in Bari, then you would have it for driving around the Itria Valley (pretty agricultural landscapes in addition to the trulli) while in Polignano. Driving in and out of Lecce is somewhat hairy, but that is only remotely stressful driving you will encounter. The coastal drive south of Otranto is nice.

Pugliese restaurants we liked best two years ago:

Osteria Monacelle (favorite place on this trip) in Ostuni
Vicolo 45 in Ostuni (it's in a cave)
Osteria del Tempo Perso in Ostuni (better known and a bit fancier than what we prefer but certainly not "fancy")
Trattoria Fiori di Zucca in Lecce ( just outside the walls)
Pizzeria Doppio Zero in Cisternino (different ancient grains used in the dough)
L'Antica Locanda in Noci (interesting seasonal vegetables like wild grape hyacinth bulbs in spring) (it's where we've eaten on two different trips while visiting Alberobello and not liking the options there)