Pros and cons of traveling through Puglia without a car

I created this guide to show you that it's possible to have an amazing Puglia trip without a car, much like I did, but it's also important to consider and be aware of the disadvantages and imperfect aspects, so here's what I see as the pros and cons of such a trip.

Pros

• Zero car rental fuss: This is probably the biggest advantage and the main reason you're planning a car-free trip. You don't need to drive, you don't have to worry about parking, and public transport expenses are lower than car rental expenses in most cases.

• Plenty of highlights and hidden gems are reachable by bus and train, and most routes and timetables are convenient, so you're not limited to visiting just 2 or 3 places. You can still explore Puglia beyond the obvious and enjoy its history, culture, countryside, and coastline.

Cons

• At the end of the day, you don't have the flexibility of a road trip: You can't get to every nook and cranny of Puglia, you can't stop wherever you want whenever you want to, and you need to stay in certain towns to get around by bus/train, while those with a car can stay in smaller seaside villages or in a beautiful Masseria (traditional farmhouse estate, many of which turned into accommodations) in the middle of the countryside.

• Buses and trains to certain towns can get crowded (not a problem if you're visiting off-season).

• Sometimes, bus/train routes and timetables are not ideal at all, so getting to some places takes more effort.

• Once in a while, there's a train strike (I've experienced one, and it wasn't fun) that forces you to find another transportation solution.

• Not that parking is guaranteed to be right outside your doorstep, but there's some walking distance to/from the train station to/from the historic center of each town.

I realize these cons might deter you from planning a car-free trip to Puglia, but they shouldn't. For me, not renting a car and not driving was worth the imperfect sides of using public transportation, and I saw so many people of all ages do the same.

Note: If you do want to get to places not reachable by car, booking a tour or hiring a private driver are still great solutions. They can be pricey, but sometimes, that's worth it.

Note 2: If you base yourself in more than one town throughout the trip, it is good to know that there's an overhead compartment for luggage on the train.