Suggested itineraries

Note: You can adjust these to your liking! Want to spend another day in Bari instead of one of the day trips? Go for it! Want to enjoy a full day in both Polignano and Monopoli or just half a day in each one? OK! Want to skip out on one of the famous towns such as Ostuni? It's all good. It can be challenging to balance between traveling more slowly and wanting to see all the best spots, so you can play with these itineraries to adjust them to your pace and preferences, even throughout the trip itself.

Note 2: It didn't work out for personal reasons, but from Alberobello, I wanted to take a taxi to the nearby Cantina Masseria Torricella for a winery tour and wine tasting. Book your spot a few days in advance, and if you visit Alberobello and this winery, don't try to visit Locorotondo on the same day too.

5 days in Puglia based in Bari:

Day 1 - Bari

Day 2 - Alberobello (if you have time, you can also visit Locorotondo, but be aware of the timetables of the last bus going back to Bari)

Day 3 - Polignano (if you have time, you can also visit Monopoli)

Day 4 - Lecce

Day 5 - Ostuni if you want to see another highlight or Giovinazzo + Trani if you prefer hidden gems

Note: Lecce is 1 hour and 40 minutes from Bari by train, and even if you only have 5 days, I think it's worth the day trip because it's so beautiful and unique, but if you prefer taking day trips closer to Bari, skip Lecce and take two separate day trips to Polignano and Monopoli or take both day trips to Ostuni and Giovinazzo + Trani.

7 days in Puglia based in Bari:

Day 1 - Bari

Day 2 - Alberobello

Day 3 - Martina Franca + Locorotondo

Day 4 - Polignano (if you have time, you can also visit Monopoli)

Day 5 - Lecce

Day 6 - Ostuni

Day 7 - Giovinazzo + Trani

Note: Again, if you prefer skipping Lecce, visit Polignano and Monopoli on two separate days.

10 days in Puglia based in Bari AND Lecce:

Day 1 - Polignano

Day 2 - Alberobello

Day 3 - Lecce (+ staying in Lecce)

Day 4 - Gallipoli

Day 5 - Salento Coast (3-4 places out of the Cave of Poetry, Torre dell'Orso Beach, Faraglioni di Sant'Andrea, Santa Cesarea Terme, Castro, and Cala dell'Acquaviva)

Day 6 - train back to Bari + a day in Bari

Day 7 - Ostuni

Day 8 - Monopoli

Day 9 - Martina Franca + Locorotondo

Day 10 - Giovinazzo + Trani