Puglia Travel Guide

Puglia may be home to some pretty special stretches of sand, but the region doesn’t trade off its beaches alone. Yes, you could spend an entire holiday basking in the sunshine and slurping gelato in seaside cafés, but there are rich pickings for water sports, boat trips and snorkelling excursions the full length of the coast. But if your group wants more from a holiday than sun, sea and sand, there is plenty to explore inland. Puglia’s untouched landscapes include wild nature reserves and architecture that’s been layered on over the centuries while crumbling cathedrals, dominating palatial structures and ancient forts lend Puglia’s towns and cities a haunting quality. Baroque Lecce and historical yet vibrant Bari are the big players, their architecture and attractions making each one worthy of at least day trip. Most of the bigger towns offer cycling or walking tours to help visitors get under the skin of the area, and the region’s celebrated cuisine and wine production can be uncovered on market tours and cooking classes. If you’re planning activities in Puglia and looking for a place to start, here’s a handful of our top things to do.

Things to do in Puglia

• You’ve heard about windsurfing, but what about kitesurfing? Don’t worry, you’ll be in good hands with the instructors at Locals Slento Kitesurf. Courses for all ages, it’s a new water sport to try your hand too. And with a one-to-one with a tutor, it’s all about having fun.

• Take to the waters on a luxury yacht as you glide across the Ionian Sea. Day trips have an exclusive feel to them with only a limited number of passengers. Perfect for families, friends and lovers, it can be as relaxing or as lively as you like. 

• Rent a bicycle and see the best sights up close and personal. You can go at your own pace and stop off leisurely to take the perfect Instagram pic. It’s well worth taking a look at Velo Service.

• Whilst you’re in the olive oil capital, it would be rude not to have a taste. Azienda Olearia Schrinzi has some brilliant tours to immerse you into the heart of olive oil production.
• From cooking classes and wine tastings to self-drive adventures and outdoor tours, Authentic Puglia Tours offers a range of unforgettable experiences. Run by a wife-and-husband team, they specialise in bespoke luxury journeys that reveal hidden gems and off-the-beaten-path treasures, immersing you in the charm and culture of Puglia.

If you’re looking for more activities to explore with your clan, visit our blog on the best group activities in Puglia.

Visiting a new holiday destination can be challenging – sometimes you wish you knew someone who could give you the genuine lowdown. Luckily, we’ve got the local’s guide to an authentic Puglia that will make your trip just that little bit more special.

Plan your holiday around the best festivals in Puglia

• If you’re lucky enough to be here early August, don’t miss the Sagra della Polpetta in Felline. It’s the Glastonbury of meatballs, so treat those tastebuds to little pieces of meaty heaven.

• La Festa di San Nicola attracts thousands of travellers from all over the world in May to celebrate the arrival of  San Nicola’s relics in Bari. The three-day homage includes carrying a large statue of the patron along the coast on a colourful flotilla and finishes with a firework display.

• The Carnevale di Putignano is one of Puglia’s most loved and important festivals. Beginning Boxing Day, the festival continues for an explosive two months, making it not only the longest but one of the oldest festivals in the world. Expect floats, masked merryman and heaps more.

• La Notte di San Giovanni makes for one of the most magical summer nights in Puglia. The celebration of St. John’s Night usually falls on the solstice in June and the event includes street theatre with the themes of superstition and mystery. It’s an evening to remember.

• La Notte della Taranta is Italy’s biggest music festival, dedicated to celebrating traditional culture. Every August, the towns of Grecia Slentina, south of Lecce, including Melpignano come alive with fusion concerts and dancing. If you love rock, mixed with folk music, this is the festival for you.

• Tens of thousands of visitors from Italy and Europe gather around the magical streets of Locorotondo in August for Sagra Pirotecnica della Valle d’Itria a celebration of their patron saint San Rocco. Some of Italy’s renowned firework specialists come together to compete in pyrotechnists – the action begins at midnight but it’s worth staying up for.

Puglia has some remarkable festivals, each so distinct from each other, if you’re seeking more check out the yearly festival lineup.