7-Day Puglia Tour Packages

Insider tips: Recommended 7-day Puglia tour itineraries

Compiled by

MelissaPuglia travel expert at TourRadar

• 7 Days in Puglia, incl. Lecce and Gallipoli

  A week in Puglia unfolds through cooking classes in Santa Maria di Leuca, wine tasting in Nardò, and visits to Lecce's baroque churches. The itinerary includes a coastal cruise near Castro and traditional olive oil production demonstrations near Gallipoli.

  

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  • Day 1

    Santa Maria di Leuca

    Land at Brindisi Airport and make your way to Santa Maria di Leuca. The drive takes about 1.5 hours. Try to schedule your flight for mid-afternoon to avoid the busy morning port traffic in Brindisi. Start your trip with a traditional Pugliese aperitivo in the evening. Bring a light jacket since the sea breeze gets cooler after sunset.

    
  • Day 2

    Cooking in Salento

    Start your food adventure with a hands-on cooking class using local seasonal ingredients. Get to the morning markets by 8 AM when the locals do their shopping. Spend the afternoon relaxing by the pool. In the evening head to a local pizzeria for authentic pizza and finish with the regional digestivo Amaro del Capo.

    
  • Day 3

    Castro & Otranto

    Take a 2-hour morning boat trip from Castro to see the sea caves. Make sure to pack water shoes because the limestone rocks can get slippery. Head to Otranto in the afternoon. It's the easternmost point in Italy. Visit the 11th-century cathedral between 3-5 PM to see its impressive floor mosaic when there are fewer tourists around.

    
  • Day 4

    Market Day & Pasta Making

    Hit the local markets early since vendors usually pack up around 1 PM. Learn to make Puglia's signature ear-shaped pasta orecchiette. While the dough rests for 30 minutes you can prepare other ingredients. Spend your evening visiting nearby towns and trying local specialties.

    
  • Day 5

    Nardò & Lecce

    Begin with wine tasting in Nardò focusing on local Primitivo and Negroamaro wines. Head to Lecce in the afternoon known as the "Florence of the South." Take a guided walk through its baroque center. As one visitor shared: "Walking Lecce's historic center around 6 PM is magical - the limestone buildings glow golden in the setting sun."

    
  • Day 6

    Gallipoli & Olive Oil Experience

    Visit a traditional frantoio (olive oil mill) in the morning before 11 AM when the sunlight through the ancient trees looks best. Spend the afternoon exploring Gallipoli's port and old town. Stop by the fish market around 4 PM when the boats come in. End your trip with a farewell barbecue featuring Pugliese specialties.

  • Day 7

    Departure from Brindisi

    Head back to Brindisi Airport. The drive takes about 1.5 hours so book flights after 11 AM for a relaxed transfer. Some travelers like to spend extra time exploring Brindisi's historic port before leaving.

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• 7 Days in Puglia, incl. Bari and Lecce

  Coastal beauty defines this 9-destination Puglian tour, starting from Bari's historic port. The itinerary features UNESCO-listed Alberobello's trulli houses, swimming at Punta Suina beach, and Matera's ancient cave dwellings, plus drives along both Adriatic and Ionian coasts.

  

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  • Day 1

    Bari

    Start in Bari's old town (Bari Vecchia). Get there by early afternoon to walk the narrow streets where local nonnas still make orecchiette pasta on wooden tables outside their homes. Visit Piazza Mercantile at sunset when locals begin their evening passeggiata. Stay in the Murat district for convenient access to both the old town and transport links.

    
  • Day 2

    Alberobello & Coast

    Take the morning train (45 minutes) to Alberobello to beat the crowds. Visit the trulli houses in Rione Monti district early since it gets busy after 11 AM. Head to Monopoli for lunch at one of the seafood spots near Porto Vecchio. Spend your afternoon in Polignano a Mare during golden hour when the limestone cliffs look their best. You can catch the bus back to Bari until 9 PM.

    
  • Day 3

    Ostuni & Lecce

    Leave Bari early for Ostuni, the "White City." The climb to the old town needs good walking shoes since the limestone streets can be slippery. Get to baroque Lecce by afternoon and stay in the historic center. Watch the local limestone buildings take on a warm golden color at sunset.

    
  • Day 4

    Adriatic Coast

    Bring water shoes for the rocky beaches. Visit Torre dell'Orso first to see the twin limestone stacks in the turquoise water. In summer get there by 9 AM to find good spots before crowds arrive. Visit Otranto in the evening to see the lit-up castle and enjoy fresh seafood by the water. The drive back to Lecce takes 30 minutes on well-lit roads.

    
  • Days 5-6

    Gallipoli

    Drive 40 minutes to Gallipoli stopping at Punta Suina beach on the way. The old town is on an island linked by a 16th-century bridge. Park in the new town and walk across. Use these days to explore beaches along the Ionian coast. Try a boat trip to Marina di Leuca's sea caves. Book at the port for better prices than online.

    
  • Day 7

    Matera & Return to Bari

    Drive to Matera (1.5 hours) in the morning. Visit the ancient cave dwellings before it gets too hot. Take water with you as you'll need it on the steep streets. The unique architecture makes the climb worthwhile. You can get back to Bari in an hour.

    

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• 7 Days in Italy, incl. Rome and Puglia

  A 7-day food-focused tour across 3 cities costs approx. $210 per day. Guests stay at Rome's NH Collection Centro, delve into Bari Vecchia's pasta traditions and Basilica of San Nicola, before settling at Hotel delle Palme in Lecce. Private walking tours feature focaccia and pasticciotto tastings.

  

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  • Days 1-2

    Rome

    Plan to arrive mid-morning or early afternoon to skip Rome's rush hour traffic. Stay at NH Collection Roma Centro, which offers easy walking access to major sites. Spend your first afternoon at the Spanish Steps area after 4 PM when crowds thin out. Start day two on an early hop-on-hop-off bus to beat the crowds. If you're visiting the Vatican Museums, use the Viale Vaticano entrance instead of the main one on Viale delle Mura Aurelie to avoid long lines. Remember to dress appropriately for Italian churches with shoulders and knees covered.

    
  • Day 3

    Rome to Bari

    Take the four-hour train ride along Italy's eastern coast. Choose seats on the right side for beautiful Adriatic Sea views. Bring your own food since Rome's Termini station is expensive. In Bari, you can walk 15 minutes from the station to Hotel Excelsior or catch a taxi right outside.

    
  • Day 4

    Bari

    Take a morning walk through Bari Vecchia to watch locals make orecchiette pasta on the streets. Try the local focaccia barese at Panificio Santa Rita in the old town. Visit the Basilica of San Nicola before noon to avoid tourist groups and see the pasta-making ladies in nearby streets.

    
  • Day 5

    Bari to Lecce

    The train takes 1.5 hours. Book first-class in summer for better air conditioning. Hotel delle Palme puts you right in the center, perfect for exploring Lecce's baroque architecture before your guided tour.

    
  • Day 6

    Lecce

    Join the morning walking tour from Porta San Biagio. Wear good walking shoes for the cobblestone streets. A TourRadar traveler shared: "The pasticciotto tasting was a highlight – go to Caffe Alvino early as they often sell out of the warm, freshly baked ones by afternoon."

    
  • Day 7

    Departure

    Leave at least 45 minutes to reach Brindisi Airport from Lecce. Morning flights usually have less traffic. Check your hotel's breakfast schedule since some don't start serving until 7:30 AM.

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