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Are you planning a trip to Puglia? From Monopoli to Ostuni to Otranto, make sure you add these amazing places to visit in Puglia to your itinerary!
I’ve never made it a secret that Italy is one of my favourite countries in the world. It’s got everything – an amazing history that dates back over 2,000 years, beautiful baroque towns like Florence and Verona, and Italians have a zest for life rarely found anywhere else in the world.
Now, is this why I keep going back to Italy? Of course not. It’s for all the delicious pasta and pizza you get everywhere. And the gelato might have something to do with it too.
When Chloe and I were deciding where to go on holiday this year, we knew it just had to be Italy again.
The last time we were in Italy we travelled around the Marche region extensively. This time around we wanted to go back to Puglia, a place we hadn’t been back to since 2018.
When going on holiday, I have a rule that we can’t go back to the same place twice. I really love exploring new places, so why go back to the same small town when things have changed? We absolutely loved Monopoli the first time we went, it was absolutely gorgeous. What happens if we went again, this time with our son in tow, and it was completely different? I always worry that the good memories will be erased.
Anyway, what that means is we’ve now travelled extensively through Puglia on two different trips. I would say we’ve definitely covered the best places to visit in Puglia, that’s for sure. That’s why I wanted to put this guide together, to shine the spotlight on the region of Italy. Hopefully it helps you plan your trip here, because it is such a beautiful place to visit!
Contents:
Alberobello
Let’s start with the place that put Puglia on the map – Alberobello. This place is famous for its fairytale trulli houses that are picture postcard perfect. These cone-shaped limestone buildings look like wizard hats, and it is such a unique town to visit.
No matter how many blogs you read on where to visit in Puglia, Alberobello is on every single list. It really is such a stunning place to visit, and because of that you get allllll the tourists. Busloads of them. Pretty much from 10am till 6pm, the town is rammed with tourists walking around. It’s still beautiful and worth visiting, but it is busy.
What I always suggest is staying in Alberobello. There are loads of cute trulli houses (this is the one we stayed in), and once it hits 6pm, most of the tourists leave and you’ll have the place to yourself. It really is night and day. The best thing about Alberobello is just walking around and seeing how unique it is. If you’re looking for somewhere to eat/drink, a big shout out goes to Trulli e Puglia Wine Bar. They do the best antipasti and wine flights.
Another top tip is head to the viewing terrace at Belvedere Santa Lucia for a picture-perfect panoramic shot of the town.
Locorotondo
Next up is Locorotondo, one of the most charming little towns in Puglia and a place that often flies under the radar. As this place is only a 15-minute drive from Alberobello, you can easily see both in a day if you’re driving around.
This town is all about the details – whitewashed houses with wrought-iron balconies, colourful flowers spilling from windowsills, and tiny alleyways that twist and turn like a maze. It’s also perched on a hill, which means you’ll get sweeping views over the Valle d’Itria.
We spent a couple of nights in Locorotondo and we found it really charming. Most evenings we would wander around town, have a couple of aperitivos, before working our way through all the restaurants here. It’s the kind of town where you just slow down and soak it all in.
One place I’d really recommend is the vineyard Sírose – Azienda Agricola di Bufano Domenico for a drink. This is such a lovely spot overlooking the countryside, and it’s perfect for sunset. Also, we had an amazing meal at Kaitz – that was probably our favourite restaurant in Locorotondo.
Monopoli
Ah, Monopoli. This place holds a special spot in our hearts. We first visited back in 2018 and totally fell in love with it. Monopoli has that perfect mix of old and new – a stunning historic centre with narrow cobbled streets, bright blue fishing boats bobbing in the harbour, and lively restaurants and bars that spill out onto the piazzas.
We stayed at this lovely spot for a couple of days that had a rooftop terrace overlooking the church. It was so cute! From here, each morning we would grab coffee and pastries, then wander through the streets.
There’s also a great little beach right in the centre of town, which was ideal for cooling off after a morning of sightseeing. If you’re looking for a relaxed but vibrant coastal town, Monopoli is your place.
Polignano al Mare
Just up the coast from Monopoli is Polignano al Mare, a cinematic coastal stunner dramatically perched on limestone cliffs above the Adriatic Sea.
This is one of Puglia’s most iconic spots – you’ve probably seen that photo of people diving off the cliffs into crystal-clear waters below. The beach at Lama Monachile is small but stunning, squeezed between two cliffs with a Roman bridge running overhead.
As a word of warning – I would say this isn’t a proper beach destination! The beach is small and rocky, so you’re better staying in Monopoli if you want a beach spot. But the beach is pretty iconic so bring your swimmers along just in case. Also, the town gets very busy with tourists too, just as a heads up. It’s definitely worth visiting though, so make sure you add it to your list!
Ostuni
Known as La Città Bianca (the White City), Ostuni is a glowing hilltop town that looks absolutely stunning from afar – and even more so up close.
We arrived just before golden hour and watched the sun set over the olive groves that stretch all the way down to the sea. It’s one of those views that sticks with you.
The town itself is a beautiful maze of whitewashed buildings, staircases, and hidden courtyards, and it’s got a great mix of boutique shops, cafés, and rooftop bars. Make sure you check out the cathedral – it’s got a unique rose window and a bit of a Gothic vibe.
As Ostuni is built on a hill, you can’t drive your car here (not that I wanted to – the streets are super skinny). Instead, a lot of the hotels have little tuk-tuks that transport people around. They are so cute and make for a fantastic photo. The town is small enough to walk though.
Otranto
We based ourselves in Otranto for a few nights on our most recent trip to Puglia and absolutely loved it. I would say if you’re looking for a proper seaside town with an actual sandy beach (hard to come by in Italy), then Otranto is your spot.
Right on the eastern edge of Puglia, Otranto is where history meets the sea. It’s a proper old-school coastal town with thick fortress walls, a gorgeous harbour, and clear turquoise water that’s perfect for swimming. The waters are shallow too, so we were able to take our toddler into the water without having to worry about waves or anything like that.
As usual, we just ate our way through the town. Our favourite restaurant here was Lu Tata N’zinu – their pizzas were unreal. You can also get tickets and explore Aragonese Castle. Walking along the ramparts gives you a great view over the coastline. Inside there’s a huge, intricate mosaic floor that’s over 900 years old. There’s also a night market during summer which added to that holiday vibe.
One thing I noticed about Otranto is it’s a proper seaside holiday spot for Italians. It’s where they choose to go on holiday. Because of that, it felt like a hidden gem in a way, like we were told about this secret spot not everyone knew about.
Lecce
Often called the “Florence of the South”, Lecce is the cultural heart of Puglia and a must-visit for any architecture or history lover. The main square really is something to see.
The Baroque buildings here are absolutely stunning. Every corner you turn reveals another intricately carved church façade or grand old palazzo – it’s like walking through an open-air museum.
Compared to many of the coastal towns here, Lecce is more of a city vibe with fantastic restaurants, wine bars, and little shops tucked away down every alley. Definitely plan to stay overnight – it’s even more beautiful after dark.
Mesagne
Mesagne was one of the surprise highlights on our most recent trip. It’s a small town that doesn’t always make the big travel guides, but that’s exactly why we loved it.
The historic centre is small but super photogenic, with creamy stone buildings, a castle, and lots of archways and hidden alleyways to explore. What made it even better was how quiet it was. This is definitely off the main tourist drag, so much so that when we went out for lunch one day hardly anywhere was open! Most restaurants only opened up at night, and the town square was deserted. We came back again in the evening and it was full of life – it was like a completely different place.
It also served up some of the best food we had in Puglia (shout out to Giudamino). There’s a real focus on local, seasonal ingredients here, and you can tell everything is made with care.
Gallipoli
Not to be confused with the WWI battle site in Turkey, Gallipoli in Puglia is a historic fishing town with a laid-back, beachy vibe.
The old town is set on an island connected to the mainland by a 16th-century bridge, and it’s full of charm – think sun-bleached buildings, old fishermen mending their nets on the quayside, and seafood restaurants serving up the day’s catch.
We came here for the beaches – and they didn’t disappoint. There are loads of options nearby, from family-friendly sandy stretches to hidden coves with barely a soul around.
