Puglia, Italy has charm, hidden gems and is home to some of the best coast lines in the country. The region itself though is pretty spread out so it’s important to know some of the best towns in Puglia to visit ahead of booking your trip there!
Located in the south of the country aka in “the heel”, it is a region where you can spend weeks in and still not touch the surface. With that being said, I am listing my favourite towns that I saw on my 7 night trip to Puglia!
Spoiler Alert! We stayed in Martina Franca
The Best Towns in Puglia, Italy: Ultimate List
#1. Ostuni
This charming Puglia town is considered the “white washed” city because as the name suggests, all the buildings are white.
It’s perched on the top of a hill making some of the view points just incredible. Within the city, you can find a series of labyrinthine streets, tiny and windy alleys, and staircases that wind through the town’s historic center. This is definitely one of the bigger cities in Puglia and has some of the best restaurants!
Restaurant to visit: Terra Nostra – Salumeria e Osteria
Where to stay in Ostuni: Masseria Moroseta
#2. Martina Franca- the most underrated town in Puglia
Martina Franca was the town in Puglia that we stayed in and we were SO glad we decided on this one. First of all its centrally located between the popular towns. It takes 30 minutes to get to Ostuni, 20 minutes to Alberobello and an hour to Monopoli.
It also is one of the towns you won’t find on every Puglia list…….for now that is. It is definitely underrated and truly became one of our favorites. The town square was so grand and picturesque, had some of the best restaurants and the scale of it was not hard to navigate.
Restaurant to visit: Osteria Origini
Where to stay in Martina Franca: Casa Nonna Stella
#3. Matera- the oldest town in Italy
Calling all Game of Thrown fans! Matera is a place where a ton of Game of Thrones episodes were filmed so if it looks familiar that’s why.
More importantly though, it is one of the oldest cities in Italy and in the world earning Matera UNESCO World Heritage status. The restaurants, homes and buildings are made up of soft limestone rock and are all built into the old formation. You feel like you are stepping back in time!
Restaurant to visit: Regia Corte – Eccellenza Del Territorio
Where to stay in Matera: Il Belvedere
Travel Tip🚗: There is no better way to explore the region of Puglia other than by getting in a car and going from town to town! My favourite car site to use is Discover Cars where you can select a vehicle from the trusted companies like Hertz or Sixt and get the proper insurance you need!
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#4. Polignano a Mare
When people think of Puglia, the image of Polignano a Mare’s famous beach generally comes to mind. It is not only the most famous spot in Puglia, but over the last few years, it has become “Insta famous” and has people flocking to this region simply for this shot!
Restaurant to visit: Pescheria Da Pasqualino
Where to stay in Polignano a Mare: Trame – La Naca sul Porto
#5. Alberobello
When people think of Puglia, they think of the iconic “Trulli” homes and Alberobello is the birthplace of these unique stone buildings with conical roofs.
If there is one town in Puglia that you cannot miss, it’s this one.
And yes of course it’s touristy but if you find the right spots to visit and go at the right times, Alberobello transports you to the true Puglia.
Tip: Visit mid week and before 9AM or after 6PM for dinner once the tour buses are long gone!
Restaurant to visit: Ristorante L’Aratro
Where to stay in Alberbello: Trulli Holiday Albergo
#6. Lecce- One of the best beachfront towns in Puglia
Lecce has been one of the towns in Puglia that people call “The Florence of the South”. It boosts elaborate Baroque architecture, a bustling town square ( the biggest) and a city that you can spend several days in to shop!
Lecce is also a great place to base yourself if you want to explore a lot of Puglia’s beaches!
Restaurant to visit: A’Roma L’Osteria
Where to stay in Lecce: Palazzo Bignami
#7. Bari
Bari is the town in Puglia that may look familiar to you! It is one of the bigger cities within the region and is considered the capital!
Bari is one of the towns that is often overlooked by tourists- one where you fly into and then head out towards one of the smaller, more charming towns. However once you peel back the city layers of Bari, you will find some of the most authentic scenes of traditional Puglia life.
It has quick access to the beach, a bustling food scene and is home to the Orecchiette Nonna’s who make fresh pasta daily on the streets!
Restaurant to visit: Ristorante Perbacco
Tip: Book the tour/cooking class instead of visiting a restaurant so you can eat Orecchiette in the home of a Nonna! It’s world famous and the best thing we did in Puglia
Where to stay in Bari: La Felicia
I hope you enjoyed reading about the best towns in Puglia! I shared my full Puglia Guide on my Instagram if you want a visual of everywhere we visited! It was truly one of the most unique spots we went to in Italy over the years!
If you have any other questions about all the towns in Puglia or about the region in general, always feel free to email me!
Marisa xoxox
Tips for your Puglia, Italy Trip
Book Flights🛫
We always use Cheapoair.com when we travel so we can compare the best routes and times to book our flights
Travel Insurance🗺️
We always travel with insurance- we learned the hard way that it is one thing you cannot leave home without!!
Hotels Under One Roof 🏨
We use Booking.com to look at all the different accommodation options available. We love the various filter ( 5 star, kid friendly etc) that help us find the best places to hang our hat!
Book The Best Tours⛵
Nothing beats Viator when it comes to tours. I love seeing the real photos from other travellers and the up to date reviews. It also shows which ones are the most popular and often booked which is a great way to help you decide!
Easy, Breezy Car Bookings🚗
You need a car in Puglia so I recommend booking with Discover Cars for fast, easy and reliable quotes!
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