FOUR DAY ROAD TRIP IN PUGLIA
From the dreamy Swiss Alps to the luxurious Lake Como; the next destination on our European honeymoon took us down to Southern Italy. When most travelers think of Southern Italy, places like Positano, Capri, Sicily, and Amalfi Coast comes to mind. But instead, we opted to check out Puglia — a region elusive to most Americans, while most Italians and Europeans flock to for their summer vacations.
Although several Puglia road trip itineraries are already out there, we want to help you plan your own by sharing the route we designed; a guide that best fit our needs and comfort. Just like you, we’ve had many evenings of planning, research and unimaginable amount of Google mapping for our road trip. Our main goal for this leg of our honeymoon was:
We wanted a route that would take us to all the highlights we wanted to visit, at a pace that gave us the freedom to explore and experience lesser-known cities, see some of the best beaches, and eat as much seafood and delicacies Italy had to offer.
So, if you’re looking to plan your journey in Puglia and need some ideas, information, and inspiration on where to visit and stay in this region, then look no further!
If you want a quick list of which cities we visited during our road trip in Puglia, please see below:
Bari
Ostuni
Alberobello
Monopoli
Polignano a Mare
Puglia road trip route: overview
When planning our trip, we found Bari to be the most central and easiest to get to either by road, train, and flight. Since we were arriving from Lake Como, we chose to fly to Bari on a short flight, which took less than an hour. There is a Trenitalia (high speed train in Italy) option from Milan to Bari, but that would have taken eight to ten hours, so we opted for the shorter option so we can spend more time exploring Puglia. Also, for our trip, we decided to drive to our furthest destination from Bari to Ostuni and then slowly drove back to Bari stopping by each city for a night or two. That way, we weren’t mindlessly driving back and forth, but rather explored each new city organically as we concluded our trip in Bari to fly back home.
Another benefit of flying into Bari airport, especially if you’re deciding to do a road trip, is the car rental storefronts that are located inside the airport.
We opted to book our car rental online before arriving at the airport (another valuable tip to save time and money) through Travelocity, but we also recommend the below:
Big tip for Americans: most European cars are manual transmission, and the price difference between manual and automatic are noticeably different. The costs for a five-day rental for a manual can cost anywhere from $20-30 a day, while an automatic can run closer to $50-100 a day. So for those that can drive manual, you’ll have a plethora of car options to choose from but for everyone else, the options won’t be as plentiful and be prepared to pay 2-3x more than the manual option. Also, when looking at car options, if you can, the smaller, the better. We’ve had our share of close calls and scares while traversing through the beautiful towns in Puglia because the well-preserved cities had very narrow roads and alleyways. So if you want a stress-free travel experience, select a smaller car than you would pick when back at home — I guarantee you’ll have a much more pleasant experience.
Lastly, if you’ve never rented a car or haven’t done an international road trip before, we highly recommend you read this post before you fly to Italy — 9 Essential Car Rental Tips for Travelers — which will save you money, reduce stress, and help you avoid scams, hidden fees, and more.
PUGLIA ROAD TRIP ITINERARY
ARRIVAL IN BARI AIRPORT
Flying from Milan, we arrived at Bari’s Karol Wojtyla Airport around 3:00 p.m., and quickly made our way to the rental shop to pick up our car for our week in Puglia.
We didn’t get to spend too much in Bari and mainly used it as a transport hub for our road trip to Puglia. We recommend travelers who have a bit more time than we do to stay a night or two in this bustling but relaxing coastal town. While Bari is the busiest and most metropolitan city in Puglia, it still has an old-school Italian charm compared to Rome and Milan. You won’t regret checking this city out — we’ve met plenty of travelers who used Bari as their home base to explore the rest of Puglia. It’s entirely up to you and how much time you have to explore this amazing region. But if you’re strapped on time like us and want to spend every valuable minute checking out the cities and beaches, try to aim for your arrival earlier in the day rather than later. That way you’ll have time to pick up your rental car and make your way towards your destination before the sun sets (driving in an international country can be daunting, especially with new traffic laws and rules, so we highly recommend driving while there’s light as opposed to at night).
After picking up our car and doing a quick inspection, we set our Google Maps to Ostuni and headed towards our first Pugliese city!
DAY ONE — OSTUNI
99.4 kilometers / 2 hours
As you leave Bari airport, the drive will quickly change from the Italian cityscape to rural farmlands full of cacti and bronze and copper-colored dirt. It’s an easy drive to the old city of Ostuni and the biggest advice we can give is to park at one of the many public parking spaces that are located outside the old city center. We made the mistake of driving our cross-over rental car into the city, and I almost had a panic attack driving through the very narrow roads.
Depending on where you’re staying, the type of vehicle you’re driving, and ultimately how comfortable you feel driving in and out of the narrow streets of Ostuni, we highly recommend choosing a public parking spot that’s closer to the outer edge of the city.
Things to do in Ostuni:
Wander and get lost within the city; or if you like something more structured and guided, consider taking this popular walking tour
Enjoy some Italian pastries and foccacia with a side of expresso while walking along Ostuni’s Gothic-style cathedrals and whitewashed walls. If you need some recommendations on where to eat, check out our Things to Eat in Ostuni, Puglia!
Walk the outer city walls (we highly recommend during sunset; the views and colors are insane)
Day two — alberobello - monopoli
53.3 kilometers / 1 hour
Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home of the unique trullo, is the most touristic place in Puglia. We wanted to make sure we arrived there before the tour buses, so we left bright and early to make our way to see the magnificent city.
The drive from Ostuni to Alberobello is a beautiful one. The well-paved road goes through wineries and olive groves, and as you get closer to Alberobello, you’ll start to see the little trulli homes becoming more and more frequent in your view.
Since Alberobello is a small town and super touristy, we found the views to be amazing but the food to be lacking and quite expensive for Puglia. And once the hoards of tour buses started to roll in, the city became quite packed. It was around 10:00 A.M. when we started noticing an uptick in tourists, so we recommend getting here early when it’s quiet and peaceful.
After our quick tour of this quaint city, we quickly got on the road to make our way towards Monopoli. The drive to Monopoli was another beautiful drive with even more wineries, and fields of olive trees. And as you descend the hill towards the coastal town, you’ll be met with one of the most beautiful views of the ocean — this drive was truly amazing.
Day THREE - MONOPOLI
Our day in Monopoli was unfortunately derailed by torrential rain (we visited mid-September). The idea of exploring a coastal, cobblestoned town when wet sounded like a recipe for me to get injured, so we decided to take a vacation from our vacation.
Tip: When we travel for more than a couple of weeks at a time, Mishi and I love to take a day or two to actually relax. Whether that be a spa and pamper day, chilling by the pool, getting a massage, or doing absolutely nothing. Sometimes, we just stay in, order from a nearby restaurant and watch Netflix. We’re not as young as we used to be, so taking some downtime from the hustle and bustle of traveling really helps us enjoy the longer trips without feeling burned out or tired.
So with nothing on our agenda, we slowly got out of bed and went downstairs from our Airbnb and visited the local cheese and charcuterie store, bakery, and the neighborhood market. We got our haul of goodies and enjoyed our rainy ocean view, cooking home-cooked meals (Italian style of course) — our spread included various cheeses, cured meats, wine, and focaccia. The bakery located directly below our Airbnb had the most divine desserts — from croissants to pistachio-covered éclairs; there were too many desserts to pick from, and we eventually left the store with enough pastries to last us our entire trip. As for our meals, Mishi prepared perfectly cooked steaks with pappardelle pasta complemented with a dollop of burrata.
Even though unexpected weather can sometimes ruin a trip, we chose to use it as an excuse to relax and actually enjoy our vacation. Oftentimes, we’re so caught up in the moment — trying to see and do everything, eating at every highly rated restaurant and street stall, and exploring every nook and cranny of a city. We sometimes forget why we really go on these trips: to enjoy our time with each other, cultivate unforgettable memories to last a lifetime.
DAY FOUR — POLIGNANO A MARE
8.4 kilometers / 15 minutes
The last city on our Pugliese road trip was the beautiful Poglignano A Mare and from Monopoli, it was only a short and simple 15-minute drive. The minute we parked our car (again, outside the city center), we instantly fell in love with this town and it quickly became our favorite.
We walked along the coast from the parking lot into the city and this quaint town was charming, delightful, lovely, and all of the above. It’s incredibly beautiful and as you explore the narrow alleys and cobblestoned passageways, you’ll see why this place is special.
We recommend heading to the center of the town and then east towards the eastern gate, where you’ll see a few restaurants perched along the coast. Make your way across the bridge, and eventually, you’ll see some stairs that will lead you down to some seaside rocks and tide pools. This area has one of the most gorgeous vantage points of the city that’s magically crested along the cliffs.
After exploring the city, we chose to eat at one of the restaurants that sat right in front of the famous beach, Cala Monachile. We enjoyed fresh and cooked seafood alike, some wine, and watched people of all walks of life enjoying themselves on this beautiful day.
Our day in Poglinano a Mare was a scorcher, with the temperature in the upper 90s. After spending all day in this unforgettable city, we grabbed one of the many tuk-tuks that sat outside the city for a quick ride back to our car, escaping the beating sun.
Last day — monopoli to bari CENTRALE STATION
59.1 kilometers / 1 hour
With an afternoon train ride departing Bari Centrale Station to Naples, we slowly drove along the coast from Monopoli back to Bari Airport, admiring one last view of the coastal towns that sit along the eastern highway. As we approached Bari Airport, we quickly returned the rental car and rode one of the trains that connected the airport to the city’s central station. Upon reaching Bari Centrale Station, we easily found our train cart and bid our final farewell to one of the most beautiful regions of Italy.
OUR THOUGHTS ON OUR ROAD TRIP IN PUGLIA
Driving in Italy or anywhere internationally has its own differences and quirks, so we highly recommend you read our recent post — 9 Essential Car Rental Tips for Travelers — before you finalize your route and rent your car in Puglia.
As mentioned, we have found and booked our car rental via Travelocity for our visit in Puglia. Another excellent alternative is Rentalcars.com, and you should take a look at both in order to find the best deal for your dates.
We hope we've given you some inspiration and ideas for planning your own trip to Puglia! Be sure to read our other Puglia guides to help you plan the best Puglia
