- Travel Guide to -
pUGLIA, Italy
How to get from the airport to the city center
From the airport you have 4 possibilities to get near the Bari Centrale.
Option 1 : Shuttle Bus – Terravision
Once you get out from the airport, you will see the blue banner “Shuttle Bus” . The journey from Bari airport to Bari Centrale costs 4 euro and it lasts about 30 minutes. You can book you tickets online, and also you can check the timetable on the website (click here ) or at the desk located in the airport.
Option 2 : Train – FERROTRAMVIARIA
Once you left the luggage claim area, you will see you will see signs that lead you to the train station. ( you don’t have to get out from the airport ). The journey costs 5,10 euro and it takes 20 minutes until Bari Centrale. You can buy your tickets online (click here ), or from the counter located near the train station. Choosing the train was the best option for us, because has frequent departures and it matched with our landing.
Option 3 : BUS no. 16 – AMTAB
This is the cheapest way to get to the center, but also the longest. It costs 1 euro for a trip and takes about 40 minute to get at the City Centre, because the connection is not direct as the bust stops several times before reaching the city centre. You can find more informations about stops&timetable on their official website (click here ) .
Timetables Bari Airport – City Centre
- Working days: service operating every 60 minutes from 05.40am to 10.20pm
- Weekends and holidays: service operating every 60 minutes from 06.00am to 09.00
Option 4 : TAXI
Bari taxi service has fixed fares which include all extra and supplements.
Route: Airport – Murat – S. Nicola – Libertà – Stazione Centrale : 23 € (fixed price).
Travel time is about 25 minutes depending on traffic.
The route from the airport to the industrial area starts from 15€, reaching Torre a Mare (the most distant neighbourhood from the airport) and costs approx 35€.
How to move around Puglia
We choose to book our accommodation in Bari, just near the train station, and it was perfect because we move very easy with the train all over the Puglia region.As you probably know, Italy has a very well developed infrastructure, so choosing the train for visiting is a smart decision.
Tips : the name of the accommodation is Apulia Rooms Bari, very nice, clean and well localized.
Important information about the train :
- If you want to get at Polignano a Mare, Monopoli, Ostuni and others the railway company is TrenItalia. You can buy yout ticket online (click here )or directly from the train station.
- If uou want to get at Alberobello, Cisternino, Otranto and others the railway company is FSE. You can buy yout ticket online (click here ) or directly from the train station.
- If you want to go at Matera the railway company is Appulo Lucane. You can buy yout ticket online (click here ) or directly from the train station, but pay attention because it s a private line, so it has a different location to buy tickets.
Best places to visit in Puglia
#1 Bari
Oh…but I have to say you about one street, very important named Strada Arco Basso ( search on Google maps )or Strada delle Orecchiette, a famous street in Bari characterized precisely by a small tunnel that once crossed leads to the oldest tradition of Bari Vecchia , that of the production of the fantastic and very popular orecchiette from Bari . The orecchiette prepared by housewives in front of the people are a real attraction of the historic center of Bari , as well as to represent an original cross-section of Apulian everyday life.
After visiting the Old Town, I recommend you to walt to Lungomare Imperatore Augusto. The best is to visit in the afternoon, because is very animated and you can see a nice sunset there…here you can taste a typical puglian product named sgagliozze, a fried polenta. And don’t forget to reach Porto Vecchia, a small port with blue boats (very nice for photos ).
If you want to spend a day at the beach, I notice you that in Bari you will find some beaches, the most popular is Pane & Pomorodo, but you have to get the train or to walk about 40-50 min from the city center until the beach.
#2 Alberobello
I admit that Alberobello was the main reason for visiting Puglia… for a long time I dreamed of visiting this unique place in the world..So, we take the train from Bari Centrale very early in the morning to avoid the crowd, because Alberobello is famous all around the world and there are a lot of turists during the day. The train from Bari Centrale to Alberobello costs 5,20 euro for one person. ( don’t forget to check the schedule on the official website – chick here )
Once I get there I was…. in love…yes, in love, I love you Alberobello, you are so stunning! Ok, let’s get back to reality.
Once you get at Alberobello train station, you have to go directly to Scalinata dell'Amore, the famous Alberobello steps that tell a love story on each step. Because is a very instagramable place, it get crowded after 9 AM, so that’s the reason you have to get here first. Also at the top of these stairs, you will find Belvedere Terazza Santa Lucia, a spectacular viewpoint of the trulli houses. So, grab a camera and take some photos early in the morning, because this spot it also get crowded, trust me! After that, going down the steps you will reach the point zero for all the objectives in Alberobello.. So, if you turn left you will get in Aia Picolla, the less popular but more authentic area and if you turn right you will find Rione Monti, the famous Alberobello district. You have to start visiting Rione Monti, the commercial district of the village, with approx. 1000 trulli houses painted in white. Most of the internet pictures are taken here, in this part. Once you get here, you have to check all the streets, like: Via Monte Pertica, Monte Cucco, Monte S.Michele, Monte San Marco, Via Monte Nero etc. Every street is unique, with trulli houses, with shops, with a lot of flowers.. Via Monte Pertica, famous for the trulli roofs painted with different symbols at the entrance. This is a very old and interesting costum in our times for the significance of these symbols. Their origin of this primitive signs is unknown but they usually have a religious, astrological, Christian or magical meens… For example it is assumed that some of them signify the sign of the owner of the trulli house. Via Monte Nero is also a very nice street, with a lot of flowers and very instagramable in the morning, before the shops get open. At the and of this street you wil find Trullo Siamese, one of the oldest trulli and the unique with two cones at the roof, and also with two entrances. After visiting Rione Monti, you have to come bach at the zero point and get to Aia Picolla. The whole district is the most rapresentative and calm of the city, still inhabited by citizens and free from the chaotic mood of the other district of trulli. Here it's still possible to feel the charm of this unique kind of housing. National monument since 1930 and Unesco World Heritage since 1996, the "Rione Aia Piccola" it's surely a must for those who visits the town of Alberobello. It was vey nice visiting this part…there are a lot of trulli houses with people who live there, and also I saw a lot of rental houses. And also you will find here a gate with a spectacular view at the Rione Monti district.
#3 Monopoli
Monopoli is another Puglian town perfect for a day trip, located just near Polignano a Mare. We get here with the train ( Trenitalia ) from Bari Centrale. It costs 3,40 euro for one person, and it takes 26 minutes to get there.
Here you could enjoy a day at the beach and also wander around the old town centre which is fabulous. Besides its beauty, Monopoli also has an interesting history : was founded by the Greeks, taken over by the Romans and beset by various invaders. The Old Town is bordered by its still-solid castle named Castle of Carlo V, built in 1552. I was very impressed by the beauty of this old city. Porto Vecchio is also a very important turistic spot you should visit here, very popular for the his blue boats and baroque style buildings around it.
You should also walk throught Via San Vito street, one of my favorite of this trip, surrounded by white buildings and a lot of cacti, and then continue to Via Papacenere.
After visiting the old city, you can go to Spaggia Cala Porta Vecchia, a small beach which stands at the foot of the ancient defense walls of the city of Monopoli or you can continue walking along the cliffs and find another sand beaches&rocks to enjoy the sun and see beautiful spots with the rocks.
#4 Polignano a mare
Perhaps the most famous and romantic city of the Puglia region, maybe because of the famous beach Lama Monachile, or maybe because is the place where Domenico Modungno was burn…I’m not sure, but I can tell you this small city has a very nice vibe, and for sure here you will listen or see people on the street (like us) who involuntarily singing “Volare, oh,oh… Cantare, oh,oh,oh,oh… Nel blu dipinto di blu… felice di stare lassù…”, the famous song of Domenico Modungno. It was so nice visiting this city, I feel it imprinted very strongly in my soul.
A trip from Bari Centrale to Polignano a mare costs 2,70 euro for one person and it takes 23 minutes to get there….or you can choose visit in the same day with Monopoli, in this case the trip from Monopoli to Polignano a Mare it costs 1,10 euro and it takes 5-10 minutes to get there.
1. Take a picture at Pietra Piatta, a famous spot with a beautiful view of the town and of the famous Lama Monachile Beach, located just behind Domenico Modungno statue, descending the steps named Scalinata "Volare". Unfortunately, the area with the statue and the steps were under renovation when we were there, so we had to improvise and enter through the courtyard of a restaurant located on the waterfront below. So it is important not to give up, like we did. ( it happens in July of 2022 )This spot is also very popular for watching the sunset.
2. Walk on the Ponte di Polignano bridge and admire the famous Lama Monachile beach from above.
3. Visit the old center - The tiny old town, reached through the Porta Vecchia gate ( l’ Arco Marchesale ), combines charming, white-washed streets with beautiful old churches. All you have to do is get lost and discover every street by yourself, without any map…and make sure you check all of the three terraces famous for their beautiful view.
4. Look around and find the famous poetry steps.
5. Go to Terrazza Santo Stefano, one of the 3 terraces and the most famous for his belvedere point
6. Walk Along The Promenade Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo – after visiting the Old Town, you should walk on this promenade and admire the rocks and the beauty of Adriatic Sea.
7. Explore the sea and the colourful marine wildlife of Polignano by boat
#5 Ostuni
Ostuni is a charming old town, with alleys, stairs and steps, ups and downs, at the highest point there are panoramic points overlooking the Adriatic Sea. I find Ostuni different from the others city in Puglia… maybe because it is not located along the sea or maybe it just has a different vibe. More sophisticated I think. But like the others city, the most famous and turistic part is the old town. The white old town has a lot of spots to be discovered…so get lost on the streets and try to find Porta Azzurra, the famous colorful door. If you are hungry go to Piazza della Liberta, a street surrounded by bars and restaurants.
Once you get to Ostuni Train Station, you have to walk a lot until you will get in Ostuni Old Town, the turistic area, because is located on the top of the hill. So, you have 2 posibilities to get there without walk : take a taxi or wait for the bus. We make the mistake to visit Ostuni Sunday, when the bus has a lighter schedule. To buy tickets for the bus you have to go inside the bar located in front of the train station. The ticket costs 1 euro for a trip, but you have to buy also for the returs, or you can buy directly from the driver but is more expensive (3 euro as I remember) .After my experience I recommend you to rent a car if you want to visit Ostuni ot visit during the week. But I think the car is the best option because I saw on the internet a lot of beautiful spots outside the city, and it is a little bit difficult to get there without a car. I will leave here the bus schedule, but I only took photos for the weekend days ( sorry for that ).
There are a lot of beautiful sport, but I my favorites are:
- the steps the door
- Porta Azzurra
#6 Matera
Matera was not in our plan, but in the last day to choose to visit and it was the best decision because it became my favorite city from this trip. If you want to get here remember that the train that operates this route is ApulloLucane ( click here ), a private line. A ticket from Bari Centrale to Matera Centrale (be careful to choose exactly this station) it costs 5,20 euro for one person, and it takes 1:45 minutes to get there. Or you can get there with the bus (FlixBus) in 1:20 minutes ( the cost depends ), but the final station in Matera is at 3 kilometers from the Central Matera, so you have to walk a lot.
Because we visit in July, we choose to visit early in the morning to avoid the crowd and the hot temperatures, because trust me it is very hot around that rocks.
So, as I say, visiting Matera was the best decision I take. Claimed as the third-oldest continually inhabited settlement in the world, Matera is one of the most unique and spectacular places I’ve visited in Italy…and not only… feels like a trip back in time! Located on the edge of a rocky ravine, Matera is divided into two valleys, Sasso Cavoso and Sasso Barisano. When you arrive here, all you have to do is just walking around the alleys and go under the tunnels that connect houses, churches, and ravines, offering endless views with a lot of history.
1. Walk around the main road and check the belvedere points : the best are Belvedere Luigi Guerricchio detto dei "Tre Archi" or Belvedere di Piazza Giovanni Pascoli;
2. Explore the streets and stairs with beautiful spots of Sassi;
3. Visit the Chiesa di Santa Maria di Idris, the famous church carved into the rock;
4. Take a walk on Vico Solitario, the street located just behind Chiesa di Santa Maria di Idris, and admire the view and the caves and the wonderful natural rock formations;
5. Go hiking to the viewpoint of Parco Regionale della Murgia Materana and enjoy the spectacular view over Matera;
6. Check Fontana dell'amore and enjoy the beautiful view over the Church;
7. Visit Sassi in Miniatura Museum and buy a souvenir from there.
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