Hi. Hoping someone can recommend a walkable town in Sicily or Sardinia or Puglia near or on the beach. Traveling with 2 friends who like to walk around town and see some sights and have restaurants nearby. Near a train would be helpful to visit other towns. Thanks in advance. I will have only 8 days on the ground.
Posted by
Bay Area, California
1584 posts
I think Sicily is better. My sibling has been there twice, without a car. Sardinia requires a rental car for the best experience.
Posted by
11367 posts
Polignano a Mare, Puglia fits your description.
Posted by
North Italy
338 posts
Trani in Puglia too.
https://slowtravelitalyspain.blogspot.com/2023/04/why-i-love-trani.html?m=1
Posted by
OP
36 posts
Thank you for the info. Still in the planning stages.
Posted by
3 posts
Hi!
I think apulia perfectly fit for you and your friends.
If you get an accomodation in Bari (city center), you will have the bari centrale train station near you.
From there, you can easily reach (by train) a lot of beautiful small cities around bari like Polignano a Mare, Monopoli, Alberobello, and Matera. (matera is better by bus). All of them can be visited by walking. In matera you will need a whole day of walking in the stones.
Besides, in Bari city center there are many good restaurants. If you are interested i could suggest the best ones for a good fish dinner :)
Posted by
OP
36 posts
Thank you. Having fun planning this trip.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15462 posts
All beautiful regions.
Towns that fit your requirements (beach, great for sightseeing):
SICILY:
Mondello (actually a district now incorporated in the City of Palermo)
Taormina or Giardini Naxos at the bottom of the hill.
Cefalù
PUGLIA:
Otranto
Polignano a Mare
SARDINIA (Best beaches in Italy, but a car is recommended as trains are nearly non existent and buses are not too frequent):
Castelsardo
Stintino
Santa Teresa di Gallura
Palau
San Teodoro
(just to name a few)
Posted by
OP
36 posts
Thank you. Sardinia is first on my list but sounds like a lot to get around.