Puglia is made for a relaxed road trip, with whitewashed old towns, seaside swims and long dinners. This route keeps each day focused on one area where possible, so you and your husband can enjoy the drive without spending the whole trip in the car.
Budget
About €900–€1,400 per person for 7 days, excluding flights and accommodation; includes meals, sightseeing, fuel and parking, but varies with dining choices and beach-club use.
Best time to visit
Late May to June or September to early October for warm weather, pleasant swimming and fewer crowds than in peak summer.
Bari Vecchia and the waterfront
Ease into the trip in Bari’s historic centre, where the main sights, local food and evening stroll are all close together.
Morning
Explore Bari Vecchia
Wander the lanes around and the old town’s little squares. From central Bari, allow about 10 minutes on foot to reach the old town.
Morning
Visit
Step inside this much-loved Romanesque basilica, a short 5-minute walk from .
Afternoon
See Bari Cathedral
Visit the cathedral and its crypt, about 5 minutes on foot from the basilica.
About €3Afternoon
Walk the seafront promenade
Enjoy the Adriatic views along Bari’s waterfront, around 10 minutes on foot from the cathedral.
Evening
Dinner in the old town
Settle in for a first-night Puglian dinner; the restaurant is roughly a 10-minute walk from the seafront.
About €25–€40
Polignano a Mare and Monopoli
Pair dramatic cliffside scenery with a laid-back harbour town, both easy to reach along the coast.
Morning
Take in the view at
Admire the famous beach and cliffs from the viewpoints above the water. It is about a 40-minute drive from Bari.
Morning
Stroll Polignano’s old town
Explore the lanes and sea-facing terraces, around 5 minutes on foot from the beach viewpoint.
Afternoon
Enjoy Monopoli’s harbour and historic centre
Drive about 20 minutes south to Monopoli, then wander between the harbour, castle and old-town lanes.
Afternoon
Visit
See the coastal fortress beside the harbour, just a 5-minute walk from Porto Antico.
About €5Evening
Dinner by the harbour
Stay in Monopoli for a relaxed seafood dinner, about 5 minutes on foot from the castle.
About €25–€45
Alberobello and Locorotondo
Spend the day among the Valle d’Itria’s distinctive trulli and hilltop lanes, with only a short drive between towns.
Morning
Explore the trulli of
Walk the sloping lanes between Alberobello’s iconic conical-roof houses. Allow about 45 minutes by car from Monopoli.
Morning
Visit
See inside a remarkable two-storey trullo, around 10 minutes on foot from .
About €2.50Afternoon
Wander Locorotondo’s old town
Drive about 15 minutes to this pretty hilltop town and explore its whitewashed lanes at an easy pace.
Afternoon
Pause at the Belvedere
Take in the view over the Valle d’Itria, a 5-minute walk from the old town’s central lanes.
Evening
Dinner in Locorotondo
Enjoy a slow dinner in the historic centre, about 5 minutes on foot from the belvedere.
About €25–€40
Ostuni and the Adriatic coast
Discover Ostuni’s bright white old town, then head down to the coast for a breezy seaside evening.
Morning
Explore Ostuni’s old town
Climb through whitewashed lanes and little piazzas in the Città Bianca. It is about a 35-minute drive from Locorotondo.
Morning
Visit Ostuni Cathedral
Admire the ornate façade and interior, roughly 10 minutes on foot from the lower old-town lanes.
About €2Afternoon
Relax at Torre Guaceto
Drive about 35 minutes to this protected coastal reserve for a swim or a walk; check access and beach services before setting out.
Evening
Dinner at a Masseria
Return inland for a farm-to-table meal; allow around 25 minutes by car from Torre Guaceto, depending on the chosen route.
About €50–€90
Lecce’s baroque heart
Spend a full day on foot in Lecce’s compact centre, mixing ornate architecture with a leisurely aperitivo and dinner.
Morning
Visit
Take time to appreciate Lecce’s richly detailed Baroque stonework. From Ostuni, the drive is about 1 hour 10 minutes.
About €9Morning
See
Walk about 10 minutes through the historic centre to this atmospheric square and its cathedral.
Afternoon
Explore the Roman amphitheatre
See the remains at Piazza Sant’Oronzo, about 7 minutes on foot from .
Afternoon
Browse Lecce’s artisan lanes
Look for papier-mâché workshops and local crafts around , a 5-minute walk from the amphitheatre.
Evening
Aperitivo and dinner in the centre
Stay close to the old-town sights for a relaxed meal, about 5 minutes on foot from .
About €25–€40
Otranto and the Salento coast
Head to Otranto for an easy mix of old-town exploring, sea views and a beach break.
Morning
Walk Otranto’s old town
Explore the harbour-side lanes and historic walls; the drive from Lecce takes about 45 minutes.
Morning
Visit Otranto Cathedral
See the remarkable medieval floor mosaic, a short 5-minute walk through the old town.
Afternoon
Visit Aragonese Castle
Tour the fortress just a 5-minute walk from the cathedral.
About €10Afternoon
Swim at
Drive about 15 minutes north for a swim and some downtime on the coast; bring water and check local beach access conditions.
Evening
Dinner in Otranto
Return to town in about 15 minutes and enjoy dinner near the harbour.
About €30–€50
Gallipoli and the Ionian coast
Finish with a change of coast, exploring Gallipoli’s island old town before a sunset dinner by the water.
Morning
Explore Gallipoli’s old town
Cross into the historic island centre and wander its narrow lanes. From Lecce, allow about 40 minutes by car.
Morning
Visit
Tour the castle beside the old-town entrance, around 5 minutes on foot from the central lanes.
About €7Afternoon
Relax at
Drive about 10 minutes south for a final beach afternoon; seasonal beach clubs may charge for loungers.
About €10–€30Evening
Dinner overlooking the Ionian Sea
Return to Gallipoli’s old town in about 10 minutes for dinner and a last waterfront stroll.
About €30–€50
Good to know
Driving and parking
Use accommodation with parking where possible. Historic centres often have restricted-traffic zones (ZTL), so park outside the old town and walk in; check your rental-car coverage and local road signs.
Route and overnight stays
A convenient split is Bari or Monopoli for the first two nights, the Valle d’Itria or Ostuni for the next two, and Lecce for the final three. Adjust the route to your arrival and departure airports.
Reservations
Book popular restaurants and any masseria dinner ahead, especially on weekends and in summer. Attraction prices and opening hours can change seasonally, so check before visiting.
Beach days
Bring water, sun protection and beach shoes. Some beaches have limited parking or seasonal access arrangements, so arriving early makes the day easier.