Planning
Is Puglia worth visiting? An honest answer
Puglia, the heel of Italy’s boot, has gone from insider tip to bucket-list in just a few years. So is it actually worth the trip, or has the hype run ahead of it? Here’s the honest answer, from someone who grew up here.
What makes Puglia special
Three things, mostly. The towns: chalk-white hill towns like Ostuni, Locorotondo and Cisternino, the cone-roofed trulli of Alberobello and Lecce’s extravagant baroque, the “Florence of the South”. The sea: some of Italy’s clearest water, from the Adriatic coves around Polignano to the Ionian sands of the Salento. And the food: cucina povera done brilliantly, orecchiette, burrata, seafood, olive oil, Primitivo and Negroamaro, at prices that still surprise. Start with our pick of things to do, the best beaches and where to eat.
Who’ll love it, and who won’t
You’ll love Puglia if you’re here for beaches, food and slow days: couples, road-trippers, and anyone who’s had enough of the crowds in Tuscany and on the Amalfi Coast. You might be frustrated if you want one walkable city and no driving, or a museum-heavy cultural tour: Puglia is rural and spread out, and its pleasures are scattered across the countryside, not stacked in a single old town.
The honest catches
Three to plan around. You’ll really want a car: public transport is thin and the best bits are between the towns (see renting a car). It’s spread out, so don’t try to “do it all”; pick a base or two. And August is hot and busy: prices peak and the honeypots fill, while May, June and September stay gorgeous and calmer (see the best time to visit). None of these are dealbreakers; they just shape a good trip.
So, is Puglia worth it?
For a sun, sea and food trip through southern Italy: emphatically yes and still better value than the famous-name regions. Give it a week, hire a car, split your stay between the Valle d’Itria and the Salento, and eat everything. Our 7-day itinerary and where to stay guide will get you there.
Raised in the province of Brindisi, 30 years in Puglia. About this site