17/09/2026
7-Day Puglia Road Trip: The Route I’d Actually Drive
Puglia looks narrow on a map, but trying to squeeze the whole region into a few days is one of the easiest ways to spend your trip inside a car. I would concentrate on the coast, Valle d’Itria and Salento, then treat Gargano as an extension if you have extra time.
1. Day 1 — Bari + Trani
Start in Bari and give yourself time for Bari Vecchia rather than immediately driving away. Walk through the old town, see the Basilica di San Nicola and try focaccia barese. Later, drive north to Trani for its waterfront and cathedral. Trani is especially beautiful toward sunset.
Day 2 — Castel del Monte + Polignano a Mare
Head inland to Castel del Monte in the morning, then turn back toward the Adriatic. Spend the afternoon and evening in Polignano a Mare. Walk through the historic center, see Lama Monachile from above and stay after the day-trippers begin leaving.
Day 3 — Monopoli + Alberobello + Locorotondo
Start in Monopoli while the harbor and old streets are still quiet. Then drive inland to Alberobello for the trulli. It becomes extremely busy during the middle of the day, so arriving earlier is worth it. Finish in Locorotondo, which is smaller, calmer and perfect for an evening walk.
Day 4 — Cisternino + Martina Franca + Ostuni
This is the day to slow down and enjoy Valle d’Itria. Cisternino is compact and easy to explore, Martina Franca has a much more elegant Baroque character, and Ostuni gives you the famous whitewashed hill-town views. The roads between them are part of the experience, with olive groves, stone walls and trulli everywhere.
Day 5 — Lecce + Otranto
Spend the morning in Lecce rather than treating it as a quick stop. Its Baroque architecture deserves a few hours. Later, drive to Otranto for the cathedral, castle and seafront. If the weather is good, this is also where I would start adding beach time to the trip.
Day 6 — Otranto Coast + Santa Maria di Leuca
Follow the eastern Salento coast south. This is one of the drives where I would deliberately leave space in the schedule because you will keep wanting to stop. Finish at Santa Maria di Leuca, right at the southern tip of the heel.
Day 7 — Gallipoli or a Slow Return North
Instead of racing back, cross to the Ionian side and spend time around Gallipoli, or use the final day for somewhere you rushed earlier. Puglia works much better when you leave one day slightly flexible.
Gargano deserves special mention. Vieste, Peschici and Gargano National Park are absolutely worth visiting, but they are far enough north that I would not squeeze them into this seven-day route. If you can add another two days, make Gargano a separate northern extension.
A car makes this trip dramatically easier, especially once you move inland. April to June and September to October are my favorite periods for this kind of itinerary because you get long days without the worst summer crowds and heat.
And one rule I would keep throughout the trip: do not drive into historic centers simply because Google Maps tells you to. Puglia has plenty of ZTL zones. Park outside the old town and walk in.
This is one of those road trips where the famous stops are only half the experience. The stretches between them — olive trees, masserie, tiny towns and sudden views of the Adriatic — are often what you remember most.
