Puglia Guide
Your complete guide to Puglia: where to eat, drink, stay and play
Cala Monachile, one of the most famous beaches in Puglia for good reason.
So, you’re planning a trip to Puglia, Italy! Congrats on making one of the best decisions of your life — this dreamy Italian region is somewhere you’ll never forget visiting.
From blue water so clear you can see your own reflection in it, to delicious seafood pasta and charming towns, Puglia has it all.
Alberobello, home of the Trulli.
STAY
The Puglia region is home to many must-visit towns, all of which are beautiful in their own right. So where should you base yourself?
For trips less than a week, I recommend picking one town. This way, you’ll have more time beach-hopping and less time lugging your suitcases over cobblestones as you switch accommodation.
Here’s a breakdown:
Monopoli: one of the larger towns, with lots of accommodation options. The city itself also has that aesthetic white-walled vibe, and a few great beaches.
Locorotondo: a tiny, quaint town. Better as a day trip due to less accommodation.
Polignano a Mare: a seaside town famous for its iconic beach.
Ostuni: “the white city”. Incredible architechture and atmosphere.
Otranto: a port city with great tourist shopping and close proximity to some of the region’s best beaches.
Lecce: one of the larger towns, and also the southern-most tip of the boot of Italy.
Bari: the capital, and where the airport is located.
Alberobello: the famous “trulli” village. Unique and charming.
Gallipoli: a smaller town also near to stunning beaches.
These are definitely the most popular, but by no means limit yourself to these.
On our 10+ day trip, we stayed in the towns of Monopoli, Ostuni and Otranto.
All exceeded our expectations and I’d highly recommend staying in any of them.
Almost lost my mind seeing water this clear.
PLAY
There’s a fair bit to do in each of the towns, but exploring the beaches and swimming spots is how most visitors (and locals) choose to spend their time here.
Cala Dell’Acquiviva.
Must-visit beaches and swim spots:
Cala Monachile
Cala dell’Acquiviva
Cave of Poetry
Santa Maria al Bagno
Torre dell’Orso
Marina Serra
Spiaggia Porto Miggiano
Torre Sant’Andrea
Cala Monachile, from the water’s edge.
Aside from swimming, these are the must-visit towns in Puglia:
Polignano a Mare
Alberobello
Locorotondo
Ostuni
Limoncello and Aperol spritzing in Polignano a Mare.
Undoubtedly one of the best parts of any Italian vacation is enjoying the local food and drinks. Almost every bar has their own limoncello and Aperol spritz, and there’s no shortage of incredible deli sandwich and pasta places either.
DRINK
Bar Perso and Monna Lisa caffe in Ostuni are both 10/10 for vibes and views.
Monna Lisa caffe in Ostuni.
EAT
Puglia is particularly known for its seafood, so don’t be afraid to go all out on the seafood marinara pastas whilst you’re here.
Orchiette is the pasta shape of the region, and you’ll find this commonplace on the menu especially in Otranto.
For deli sandwiches, I recommend Salumeria Gustavo in Monopoli. We also made our own sandwiches to take to the beach in Otranto — you can find incredibly fresh produce at the local grocery stores.
There’s also plenty of gelato places in every town, and all of them are worth trying.
Sandwiches in Polignano a Mare.
Puglia is magical, and you could spend months exploring each town and getting to know the local way of life.
I hope you love Puglia as much as we did.
~ Fran x
