Visiting Puglia in Italy - what is worth knowing and answers to popular questions (2023)

FAQs

What is Puglia most known for? ›

Puglia is famous for its olive oil production. The region provides around 40% of the country's olive oil, which amounts to around 300,000 tonnes every single year! In the past, Puglia was known as the 'bread basket of Italy'. Puglia has the longest coastline of any Italian mainland region.

Puglia has the longest coastline if you compare it to any other region of the mainland Italy. There's the Adriatic sea, the Ionian Sea, gulf of Taranto and the Strait of Otranto on all the sides, so it means plenty of beach time.

You need at least 4 or 5 days to travel around Puglia, since towns and beaches are spread out. Don't even try to see Puglia in 3 days, because you'll be rushed and barely able to see anything. A week is ideal, and more time will allow you time to relax and soak up the sun.

The best time to visit Puglia is during the spring, early summer and autumn. High summer, July and August, is hot, reaching the mid 30°Cs inland, and it's busy, too, with inflated prices to match demand. May, June and September are lovely, with temperatures in the 20°Cs, and good for walking and cycling.

Puglia has a mediterranean climate with hot dry summers and mild winters. If you enjoy hot perfect sunny days the best time to visit Puglia is between July and August.

Orecchiette con le cime di rapa – handmade orecchiette pasta with turnip tops – is definitely the most iconic food of Puglia. Orecchiette – literally “small ears” – is a shape of pasta dating to around 1500.

Frisella: A crunchy, dry bread baked in a stone oven with a drop of olive oil. Friselle are one of Puglia's most famous, and practical, foods: They've been around for centuries, since the fact that they can be stored for many months made them perfect for long journeys.

This essentially agricultural nature means that Puglia's cuisine is home-country inspired, predominantly using the abundant local produce such as durum wheat, tomatoes, artichokes, fava beans, rocket, courgettes, beans, fennel, peppers, onions, beef and lamb.

English is not that widely spoken

Not a surprise given that it's not an English speaking country, but definitely one to note if you're used to travelling in the north of Italy or other popular tourist destinations in Europe.

What is the nicest part of Puglia? ›

The four main areas of interest to tourists are the Valle d'Itria, the coastline around Bari, the Salento Peninsula in the far south, and the Gargano Peninsula in the north. A good strategy when deciding where to stay in Puglia is to choose a base for each of these areas and visit nearby towns on day trips.

Puglia Walk

Mostly the path was through ancient vineyards or open country. The occasional walk on the minor roads were acceptable but not as relaxing.

What are the best areas to stay in Puglia? Bari, Polignano, Monopoli, Alberobello, Ostuni, Lecce, and Vieste are the best towns to stay in Puglia for tourists because they are the most popular towns with plenty of things to do and see.

If you're entering and leaving Puglia from Italy, it's easy to do so via train, as there's a major station in Bari. If you're coming from a different country, you'll likely fly in and out of Bari or Brindisi, which is about a 1.5-hour train from Bari and a half-hour train from Lecce.

July is the hottest month in Puglia, with temperatures averaging around 30°C.

Many restaurants will continue lunch service until around 2.30pm. But be prompt - try to sit down before 2pm if you want to be sure of eating. Dinner | The only people eating in restaurants at 8pm are British. At 8.30pm the German, Scandinavian and northern Italian visitors join them.

In Puglia, winter is relatively mild. The temperatures of the cities along the coast usually never fall below 0 degrees C (32 ° F) while the highs can even reach 16 degrees (51.8 ° F) in the areas of Salento and the lower Murgia.

Is Puglia expensive? Puglia isn't anymore expensive than the rest of Italy, but it's definitely not cheap. You can expect to spend at least €100 (and probably more than that) per person, per night for accommodation, transportation, meals and activities while in Puglia.

September is by far the best month to explore this region as the crowds clear, but the weather holds on long enough to capture some of the best draws of this idyllic destination. Plus, prices tend to lower throughout the month too.

What do people eat for breakfast in Puglia? ›

Breakfast in Puglia is important. It's always had with coffee, tasty, but most of all always very sweet. Most people enjoy a cornetto vuoto (empty), con cioccolato or con crema with their espresso, but you can also order the highly loved pasticciotto. Pasticciotto is a small cake made of pastry and dates from 1745.

Altamura bread is one of the most famous gastronomic products in Puglia. Its fame has very ancient origins. It was even famous in roman times and today the city's ovens make bread following the traditional recipe.

Pasticciotto is the pride of Puglia. Try it at these four bakeries. LECCE, Italy — Warm, crumbly and traditionally filled with a silky, lemon-scented custard, pasticciotto is a shortcrust pastry from Puglia, the southern region of Italy that forms the heel of the boot-shaped country.

Orecchiette: The Icon Of Puglia Worldwide

The most renowned example of typical traditional handmade pasta of Puglia is certainly orecchiette. The meaning of the Italian word “orecchiette” is small ears, due to the their shape.

Orecchiette pasta is the gastronomic symbol of the southern region of Puglia. Strictly made by hand, orecchiette are round and concave, with the center thinner than the edges and a rough surface; they measure about 3/4 of an inch finger.

Cardone, traditional organic pasta from Puglia.

All of the fruits grown in Puglia are eaten seasonally, ensuring that they are fresh, ripe and delicious. All general fruits are grown in this region, including citrus fruits and recently they have been cultivating more exotic fruits such as avocado, mango, bananas and Goji berries.

Puglia Mozzarella is a fresh, pear-shaped, stretched curd cheese with a smooth, soft texture and sweet, milky flavour. Excellent melting and stretching properties make it a perfect choice for pizza and pasta dishes.

Ostuni: Best Place to Stay in Puglia Overall

Rising from a sea of ancient olive trees is Ostuni. This stunning white-washed city rests on a hill in the heart of Puglia. There's plenty to do throughout the day and night, from dining at excellent restaurants to relaxing at bars with beautiful views.

Vivacious, outgoing, and laidback, there are endless facets to love about Puglia. The people here know how to live; it must be the sunshine, the food, and the wine that make them so friendly.

Do I need cash in Puglia? ›

The official guidance from the Region of Puglia to business is “Encourage payment by debit cards, prepaid cards and credit cards“. As a matter of practice there is little difference. All bars, restaurants and shops are taking payment as before, whether cash or card.

Driving in Puglia is probably different from what you're used to at home. But, I can assure you, if you're assertive and do a little prep work (learn the Italian road signs, read about parking, etc), you'll be fine on Puglia's roads. The driving is 'active,' but not difficult.

The demonym for people or things from Puglia is pugliese (singular) or pugliesi (plural).

Puglia Street food is similar to what you might find in the US or New York City — scrumptious and doughy hand-held foods like the famous calzone-like Panzerotto or the typical Focaccia Barese for which Puglia is so well known.

Once just a quiet whitewashed village, today Ceglie Messapica is known as 'The Food Capital of Puglia'. The reason behind the nickname of Ceglie Messapica is the unusually high number of awarded restaurants, delicious local recipes, and cultural centres dedicated to the art of well-eating.

Perhaps Puglia's most famous town, Alberobello is a UNESCO world heritage site, boasting 1400 trulli dating back to the 1400s. The town is divided into two main parts – Monti and Aia Piccola. You can spend hours exploring it's narrow, winding streets as you make your way to the Trullo Sovrano.

Puglia is located in southern Italy, in the heel of the “boot,” just across the sea from Albania and Greece. It is 7,469 square miles, and of all Italian regions, it is the least mountainous, making up just 1.5% of its surface. About 53% is flat and 45% is hilly.

Trulli of Alberobello, Puglia, Italy

The small little white structures dot the hillside, their conical stone roofs rising up above them. From a distance, looking across to the community of buildings, they seem like a mountain range spotted from the air.

Ostuni is a unique town that resembles a bright cap rising up right from the flat plains near the southern coast of Italy. Its whitewashed defensive walls and houses in the old town with many winding streets, steps and beautifully decorated, colorful window frames can make you think you're somewhere in Greece.

Does Uber work in Puglia? ›

Yes, Italy does have Uber but not in the way that travellers expect; you can't get an Uber everywhere in the country. The lack of Uber drivers in some Italian cities has everything to do with resistance from other taxi drivers.

If Puglia is on your bucket list and you are checking out flights to Puglia you can be reassured that it is serviced by two main airports, Bari and Brindisi, which have international flights from most major European cities arriving daily.

The area is manageable to navigate over the course of seven or so days - it's not about covering miles and miles and miles and a lot of the places you'll want to visit in an area are actually only a half hour or so drive from each other.

Another time you may need water shoes is when you are at a beach or seaside location with a lot of cliffs. This beautiful grotto in Puglia comes to mind. If you're not going to get water shoes but you are going to the beach, do make sure you pack a pair of flip-flops or slides.

Italians tend to wear basic blue jeans a lot less often than their counterparts elsewhere.

You don't really need to bring this from home, of course — Italy does have toilet paper! — but it's a smart thing for ladies, particularly, to throw in their purses before leaving the hotel in the morning.

The best ones to pack are those that come with a rubber sole and cushioning for walking. If you prefer to keep your feet covered, closed-toe sandals light summer sneakers are also a good choice; however, make sure they are truly breathable as the temperatures in Italy can be scorching!

In Italy, cash is still preferred in most restaurants, cafes and other establishments, although credit and debit cards are becoming more widely used throughout Italy and are an increasingly convenient way to pay for things. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted, although American Express is not.

MasterCard and VISA are the most commonly accepted cards. You will get a better exchange rate by using your credit card, as opposed to exchanging US dollars in Italy. Keep in mind that if you pay cash, you're more likely to get a discount in an independently owned store, if you ask for it.

Since we don't have a habit of tipping in Italy, there is no set amount or percentage you are expected to tip in exchange of a service. It really is up to you if you want to leave something, and how much you leave.

What is Puglia most popular food? ›

Orecchiette con le cime di rapa – handmade orecchiette pasta with turnip tops – is definitely the most iconic food of Puglia. Orecchiette – literally “small ears” – is a shape of pasta dating to around 1500.