Exactly how to get to each town on this map

Bari Area

Trani and Giovinazzo (20-40 minutes from Bari): From Bari Centrale, trains in the direction of either Foggia or Barletta pass through Trani. The one to Barletta also stops in Giovinazzo. I recommend visiting them on the same day (in whatever order you feel like), so to get from one to the other, you can also use the train (buses are available too, but I haven't tried them). Note that there isn't even a ticket machine in Giovinazzo, so book the ticket to Trani/Bari online.

Polignano a Mare (30-45 minutes from Bari): From Bari Centrale, trains in the direction of Fasano have a stop in Polignano a Mare. The same train can also take you from Polignano a Mare to Monopoli.

Monopoli (30-50 minutes from Bari, 5 minutes from Polignano): From Bari Centrale, trains in the direction of Fasano or Lecce have a stop in Monopoli.

Ostuni (45-60 minutes from Bari): From Bari Centrale, trains in the direction of Lecce have a stop in Ostuni, but note that its train station is a few km away from the city center itself, so your options are:

1. Walking, which, to quote my shuttle driver, "is like climbing Mount Everest". This is a hilltop city, so if the weather is nice, it might be fine, but I do not recommend doing this on a hot day.

2. Right outside the station, you'll have a paid van shuttle service to the city center, which is what I opted for. Depending on when you're visiting, if it's crowded, you'll have to wait in line to get on the shuttle, which keeps going back and forth between the station and the historic center.

3. Buses to the city center are also available. When you purchase your ticket at Bari Centrale or on TrenItalia, choose the destination Ostuni Citta instead of just Ostuni, and it'll include the bus journey too.

4. Taking a taxi.

Alberobello, Locorotondo, and Martina Franca (1 hour and 5 minutes - 1.5 hours from Bari) : From Via Giuseppe Capruzzi (behind Bari Centrale), there's a bus that passes through Alberobello, Locorotondo, and Martina Franca (its final stop). You can purchase the ticket at Dea Cafe, but I prefer time-saving online booking.

This is the bus that can drive you a little crazy because it's very popular and crowded, with most people using it to get to Alberobello in the morning (you'll have no issue if you're visiting off-season).

There are attendants for this particular bus that keep everything in order, but the line can be extremely long. This means that you need to get to the bus stop in advance to stand in line (45 minutes, if not more, is not too early), and even then, if the bus is full, you'll either be directed to a second bus or you'll be told to wait for the next one or use the train instead (which doesn't offer a direct route).

That said, when I told them I was going to Martina Franca, I was allowed to get on the bus before those traveling to Alberobello.

When you get back to Bari, you have the same issue in Alberobello, so wait in line and be patient, but if you're returning from Locorotondo or Martina Franca, there shouldn't be any problem.

If you want to travel from Alberobello to Locorotondo or Martina Franca, or travel between Locorotondo or Martina Franca, you can take a direct train.

Lecce Area

Lecce: From Bari Centrale, there's a handful of trains with Lecce as their final destination (and vice versa).

Gallipoli: Getting to Gallipoli from Lecce can be super easy or a little tricky, depending on when you're visiting. From mid-June to mid-September, you can take a direct train, so there's no issue.

At other times, your options are a direct bus at very inconvenient times or a train ride to Zollino + a bus to Gallipoli (you can book these two tickets together through Omio or TrenItalia). Note that some of the direct buses depart near the train station, and others from Palazzetto dello Sport, which is located a couple of km away from the city center. Also, the routes of the buses to Gallipoli can be exhausting because they pass through so many towns on the way.

If you're not visiting from mid-June to mid-September, this is something to consider. I'm very glad I visited Gallipoli, but getting there and back was quite annoying.

Salento Coast - Cave of Poetry, Torre dell'Orso Beach, and Faraglioni di Sant'Andrea: There's a good chance you'll want to explore these gems on the same day, especially since they're so close to one another. If you're visiting from mid-June to mid-September, seasonal buses pass through all 3 places, so your options are:

1. A bus from Lecce (near the train station) with stops in Roca (you'll have a bit of walking to do to get from the bus stop to the entrance to the Cave of Poetry), Torre Dell'Orso, and Sant'Andrea. I recommend booking these tickets on TrenItalia.

2. A bus from Lecce's bus terminal at Piazza Carmelo Bene, which is part of seasonal lines called Salento in Bus. These are its timetables and stops for June & September and July & August. You book tickets on this site (translate the page), which isn't the most user-friendly, but it's manageable. You need to pick both the city/town of departure/arrival and the exact bus stop (the latter can be chosen from a map). So - for Lecce, pick the stop that suits you best; for the Cave of Poetry, choose Roca Vecchia - Melendugno as the town and Santuario Madonnina as the arrival stop or Area Archeologica as the departure stop; for Torre dell'Orso, choose Torre dell'Orso - Melendugno as the town and one of the two stops; for Faraglioni di Sant'Andrea, choose Torre Sant'Andrea - Melendugno as the town and the one stop available on the list.

If you're visiting at other times and still don't want to rent a car yourself, I suggest hiring a private driver, so you can also explore more of Salento. I know it's a bit of a cheat and might not be your favored option if all you wanted was to use public transport, but I'm telling you it's worth it!

Tours here are also an option, but they can be pricier than a driver, they don't always include all the spots you want to visit, and your time in each place is limited, so why not plan YOUR perfect day in Salento? I'll include the details of my driver at the bottom - super recommended!

Salento Coast - Santa Cesarea Terme, Castro, and Cala dell'Acquaviva: These places are less convenient to reach by public transport because you first need to get from Lecce to Maglie or Otranto, so I do recommend a private driver (or a tour if you find one you like), but if you still want to get to know your options:

1. From mid-June to mid-September, a bus from Maglie passes through both Santa Cesarea Terme and Castro, which you can book on TrenItalia.

2. In July and August as part of Salento in Bus, there's a bus from Maglie to Santa Cesarea Terme and Castro (timetables here) or from Otranto to Santa Cesarea Terme, Castro, and Cala dell'Acquaviva (timetables here). Again, you book tickets on this site (translate the page).

It is much more of a headache to plan a care-free day trip from Lecce to these 3 spots (if you stay in Otranto, maybe it's ok), and again, I know it's kind of a cheat, but a private driver is a fantastic option if you don't want to skip out on these places.

My driver: Super nice, friendly, and professional - I have to recommend my driver Fabio (contact him via the email address or WhatsApp number on his Facebook page and consult him on the customized route you want to plan). He might respond in Italian, but once you meet up, there's no problem communicating in English. His price is per hour for all passengers, so I think it's much better than paying for a tour unless you want a tour guide and not just a driver.