The towns of puglia, italy, in order from "don't waste your time" to "must visit"

24/10/2025 0 Comments

The towns of puglia, italy, in order from "don't waste your time" to "must visit"

Puglia is such a beautiful region of Italy that is slowly rising in popularity for its historic town centers and incredible beaches. While each town offers something a little different from its neighbours, you might have to be selective depending on the duration of your trip, which is where this guide comes into play. I had the opportunity to spend a month exploring the region and compiled a list of the towns you HAVE to see and the ones you could skip if you are pressed for time. We'll start with the ones you could skip and make our way to the most beautiful and interesting towns of the region, so stick with me to the end!

tarento 0/10

Taranto is the second-largest city in the region of Puglia and, during this trip, I figured out quickly that, the bigger the city, the least interesting it is. In my opinion, Taranto is a lost opportunity. The historic center is almost completely abandonned, the houses boarded up, trash everywhere in the street, it was sad to see. I think Taranto could be a beautiful city, with its immense bay, multiple islands and little fishinng ports, but it let itself go. The city concentrated its efforts on being one of the main commercial ports of Italy and let trash accumulate in its streets and water. Unlike Naples, which is also a pretty dirty city and important commercial port, but at least managed to conserve its historic center, even the historic center in Taranto is trashed. As soon as we parked, I had this feeling that we shouldn't stay. I didn't feel in danger, but definitely unconfortable and like I had to stay vigilant. All of this to say, you could skip Taranto without feeling like you missed out on anything, that's for sure. Hopefully, the city decides to invest in maintaining its infrastructure and cleaning up in the next few years.

bari 1/10

Compared to Taranto, Bari is absolutely beautiful! The historic center was clean and there was life there, but still, like every big city, there was a lot of poverty and we met multiple people begging for money. While it was a fun short walk along the waterfront or in the historic center, it just felt like there wasn't anything in particular to see or do. The churches looked like any other church, there were a few restaurants, but none that were of particular interest, no interesting viewpoint, just nothing to make this city unique. Since most people land at the Bari airport to visit Puglia, I guess you could spend half a day exploring while you are here, but I wouldn't go out of my way to visit Bari.

brindisi 2/10

Brindisi was a little like Bari, nothing particular to see here, but the waterfront was beautiful. There is a large walkway on the harbour that is very pretty and offers a nice view on the bays. I did feel quite comforable in Brindisi compared to Bari and Taranto, but I wouldn't have spent more than half a day.

leuca 5/10

Leuca is a very small town and the region surrounding it is more interesting than the town, but there are a few things that make it worth the visit. The first one is the Cascata monumentale of the Acquedotto Pugliese which you can see below. The waterfall is only activated a few times a year and, considering the size of the staircase, the waterfall would be a sight to see. I would have loved to see it, but there was no showing during my visit. Santa Maria di Leuca being the last town on the Southern tip of Puglia, the waterfall signifies the end of the aqueduct bringing fresh water to all of Puglia and is more than a hundred years old. Other than that, the town offers beautiful views on the two seas meeting righ outside its harbour, a few nice beaches and some restaurant.

grottaglie 6/10

Grottaglie, while very small, deserves a detour in my opinion just for its Quartiere delle ceramiche, or neighbourhood of the ceramics. As you have probably guessed, it is known for its ceramics. You can visit the most talented artisans and look at their art, or even spend a few euros. Honestly, even if you are not shopping for anything, it is worth the visit just to look at these pieces of art. From plates and bols to intricate "Pumi", the signature bud-shapped goodluck charm that can be seen on balconies everywhere in Puglia, you'll be impressed by the variety of colours and designs.

locorotondo 7/10

I unfortunately didn't have the chance to visit Locorotondo in good weather, but I found the town so charming. Surrounded by vineyards of the Itria Valley, its simple hisoric center was filled with restaurants and terrasses and the alleyways were well decorated and clean. I would have loved to see it under a sunnny day.

alberobello 8/10

Alberobello probably has the most unique city center of all of Puglia. Known as the capital of the Trulli, these cone-shaped houses, it is filled with history and wonder. Even better, we visited during the Saint Cosmas and Damian festival at the end of September. The streets around the cathedral were decorated with light arches and music filled the air all throughout the day. While it doesn't take long to visit the whole town center, I enjoyed staying in Alberobello and it was a good homebase for the surrounding towns, the Itria Valley and even close enough to visit some beaches.

Otranto 8/10

While Otranto is fairly small and easy to visit in a day, it deserves a detour. It's also surrounded by some of the most beautiful beaches and swimming holes of the region, so you might as well stop on the way. The cathedral of Otranto is a must-see, known for its beautiful mosaics that cover the entirety of the floor. If you want to see a real middle age castle with a moat and draw-bridge than you will love the Castello Aragonese that overlooks the historic center. The harbour also has some of the clearest and bluest water I've ever seen.

Lecce 8/10

Lecce is known as the Florence of the south. Did it compare to Florence in my opinion? Absolutely not! While Lecce does have the historic and artistic sides of Florence, the vibes and the architecture are completely different. But if you want to visit a city filled with barocque churches, beautiful monuments, so much art and history that you won't know where to look, without the crowds of Florence, then Lecce is the perfect place for you. I spent a full morning exploring its historic center, and could have spent the whole afternoon as well and probably wouldn't have seen everything.

ostuni 8/10

Ostuni is one of the towns in Italy where I felt at ease the moment I steped foot on the paved sidewalk. The view on the Itria Valley, the little crooked streets and alleyways, the beautiful architecture, I just loved everything about this town. While not very big, there is a lot to see around Ostuni, so it was a good homebase for the neighbouring towns, vineyards and olive groves. This city is especially pretty at sunset as the colours reflect on the white walls, and you can see the sea in the background.

polignano a mare 9/10

Polignano a Mare is probably the most popular town of Puglia and it deserve the recognition it gets. While the historic center is very pretty and fun to visit, the main attraction is the Lama Monachile beach known for its cliffs used for Red Bull cliff diving competitions. You have also probably seen the popular Grotta Palazzese restaurant on social media that is located in a grotto in the cliff overlooking the sea. The only downside to Polignanno a Mare is the price. We opted to stay in Monopoli and spend a day visiting Polignano a Mare because actually staying there was too expensive. I also recommend taking a boat tour to see the grottos, either departing from Monopoli or Polignano.

monopoli 9/10

Monopoli was one of my favorite towns in Puglia. We stayed there for a few days while we visited Polignano and a few of the surrounding beaches and I fell in love with the city. It is just big enough to have all the services you would need, but small enough to feel cozy and approachable. The old town was really nice, and while the beach in town was under construction during our visit, there were still a few access points for a swim and some spaces to enjoy the sun. I also like that there was a free parking lot close to the old city that made it affordable and easy. It was just a nice town, where I instantly felt comfortable, with one of the most beautiful cathedrals that we saw (also free), good restaurants and not very crowded at the end of september.

Gallipoli 10/10

I probably have a soft spot for Gallipoli because of the two-weeks I spent there working remotely, but I loved this quiet little town. Though it's probably not as quiet in the summer, if I'm honest. I really loved the architecture of the old town and the fact that it is located on an island. I loved that there were multiple beaches at a walking distance, and I loved the sunsets. I loved that the restaurants were fairly priced and that the churches were free to visit and really beautiful. I loved that the whole Salento peninsula was about an hour driving distance from Gallipoli, so I got to explore the whole peninsula without packing and switching accommodation. Honestly, I really enjoyed the laid back vibes, the fact that I felt safe even at night or by myself and the fishermen selling their fish at the harbour in the morning. All in all, a perfect destination for someone looking for a slow holiday destination, but still wanting to fit in some sightseeing and outdoor activities. It is rarely on the itineraries I've seen for Puglia and I think that's a shame!

Puglia is such a beautiful region of Italy that is slowly getting some recognition, but I think it's a great option for someone who either has already seen the bigger cities like Rome, Venice or Florence and wants to see something new of Italy, or someone who wants to experience Italy without the hassle of those very popular and crowded cities. Visiting at the end of September and through mid-october, I had some rain showers and wind, but most days were beautiful and warm enough for beach days, but also comfortable enough for sightseeing.

Is Puglia a destination you want to visit? Let me know if I can help plan the perfect trip for you.

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