How to Spend 5 days in Puglia
Let me start off with an honest piece of advice: 5 days is too short for a visit to my wonderful region. Puglia is just too big and there's too much to see for you to be able to truly explore the area in such a little amount of time.
Having said that, you can still see some great places and have a wonderful visit. I understand that many visitors are "tacking” Puglia on to longer trips around Italy, so if 5 days is all you can spare, I get it. I'm here to help you make the most of it!
Read on for my advice on how to spend 5 days here.
Table of Contents
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Puglia planning cheatsheet
Plan your itinerary with expert advice
- Book a Puglia travel consultation with a local expert
My favorite hotels in Puglia
- Palazzo Bozzi Corso - all out luxury in Lecce. $400+/night
- Palazzo de Noha - gorgeous boutique B&B in Lecce. $300/night
- Borgo Canonica - Trulli hotel in Valle d'Itria countryside. $200/night
- Masseria il Frantoio - rustic-chic farmhouse in Ostuni. $200/night
- B&B Murex - excellent value in Bari's old town. $100/night
Guided tours and activities
- Private guided tours with Paolo (me!)
- Valle d'Itria day trip: Alberobello & Ostuni
- Santa Maria di Leuca boat ride
- Salento coast day tour: Otranto, Leuca, & Gallipoli
How to get around
- Car rentals with DiscoverCars
- Train tickets from Trenitalia
- Bus routes on BusBud
Let’s plan your itinerary!
I’ve tried to share my best advice in this itinerary, but there’s a lot to see here.
So if you could use some personalized help figuring out your Puglia plan, schedule a Puglia travel consultation with me!
Itinerary Overview
With only 5 days, you need to make some tough decisions on what to include and what to cut out. Remember, Puglia is big and if you try to cram in too much, you'll just spend all your time driving. Also, part of the pleasure of visiting Southern Italy is doing things how do them - leisurely! This isn't a place to rush.
Because people coming on shorter trips tend to visit in the summer months, I've planned this itinerary with that time period in mind (mid-May to mid-October). While I have not set aside any dedicated beach days, I've tried to leave open the possibility for a morning or late afternoon dip on most days.
So, what have I included for you? For this trip, I have you spending 3 days in the Valle d’Itria area, including a day trip to Matera. Then, you have 2 days in the Salento peninsula, with a bit of time in Lecce and along the coast.
You'll need 2 separate bases to maximize your time and minimize driving.
Where you'll go
Day 1 - Polignano a Mare in the morning. Monopoli and a swim in the afternoon. Ostuni in the evening.
Day 2 - Alberobello, Locorotondo, and Cisternino in the morning. An afternoon dip at the beach and the evening in Martina Franca.
Day 3 - Full-day trip to Matera
Day 4 - Lecce and Gallipoli (with some optional beach time)
Day 5 - Otranto, Santa Maria di Leuca, and the Salento coastline
For more ideas on places to visit and things to do, have a look at my article on the best places in Puglia and my Puglia travel guide.
Where to stay
Ostuni and Lecce are the obvious choices, but you have many towns to choose from. For help deciding on the best base for you, have a look at my guide on where to stay in Puglia.
How you’ll get around
In theory, this itinerary is doable with public transport. But it's not really. Unless you plan to hire a private driver for every day, you simply can't afford to waste time using the train/bus. Further, because each day has you visiting multiple places (and because the countryside between them is beautiful), you really want to have a car.
To find a reasonably priced rental, I always suggest checking prices on Discover Cars. It's a car rental website that includes options from all the typical international chains, but also lots of smaller local companies, which tend to have better prices.
Day 1 - Polignano, Monopoli, and Ostuni
Today is designed to work whether this is your arrival day to Puglia or you already got in the day before.
You'll begin the day with a visit to Polignano a Mare and then a boat ride. From there, head to Monopoli for lunch and a wander. In the afternoon, you have a bit of time for a swim, and then can visit Ostuni in the evening.
Polignano a Mare
Morning - Polignano a Mare and a boat ride
Polignano is just 30 minutes south of Bari, so if you're arriving to Bari airport or Bari centrale train station, you can get here quickly to start your trip. If you're already in Puglia, then you're good to go!
Polignano is famous for having been constructed atop limestone cliffs, with buildings practically tumbling into the sea below. It also has a tiny city beach (Lama Monachile) that's flanked by cliffs on both sides. If you come here in the summer, I thoroughly recommend having a look at the beach, but not planning to swim at it. It's always outrageously packed and, honestly, not very pleasant.
The town's historic center is quite pleasant, but has no specific sights to look for. So, just go for a wander and enjoy it. For a little "pick-me-up", stop by Supermago del Gelo and order a caffè speciale. You can find out for yourself what it is!
After checking out the town, it's time for a boat ride! Polignano's little marina is about 5 minutes outside of town, so either grab your car or hop a quick bus ride over to it. Most tours last from 1.5-3 hours and include a stop or two for a swim. Here are a couple of options:
1.5 hour small group boat ride - I think a 1.5 or 2-hour tour is the right choice since you have other places to be today, and that's what this tour is. Group sizes are capped at 10 people, so it's a nice, personal experience.
Private boat tour - This is identical to the above tour, with the only difference being that it's private. The boat can accommodate groups of up to 10 people.
An alley in Polignano's center
Lama Monachile beach in Polignano
Polignano stretched out along the clifftops
Afternoon - Monopoli and a swim
From Polignano, it's just a 20-minute drive down to the little city of Monopoli. Also on the coast, Monopoli has a lovely historic center with whitewashed buildings, pedestrianized streets, and a very picturesque marina filled with colorful wooden fishing boats.
When here, be sure to go for a wander through the center, walk along the seafront promenade next to the old city walls and on the jetty out to the lighthouse, visit the beautiful Cathedral, and check out the Grotto Churches which house some wonderful frescoes. Also do some people-watching in Largo Fontanelle square.
For lunch, Radimare on the edge of the old town offers really interesting food. For something in the historic center, Piazza Palmieri is always good.
I personally really like Monopoli because, despite being popular with tourists, it's a big enough town to not get overrun and it still feels local.
All around town you have lots of good beaches and some seaside "cliffs” with pretty little coves that offer great swimming opportunities. To the north, it's mostly cliffs, while to the south heading towards Savelletri, you'll find sandy beaches, most of them accessed only via beach clubs (you'll have to pay for a drink or sun bed).
After your swim, head to your hotel to relax and/or check in.
Monopoli's marina
Evening - Ostuni
As evening sets in, head out to Ostuni to check out the town and have dinner. Although very busy and touristy, most people visit in the day time, so being here in the evening lets you enjoy the town with far fewer crowds.
A pretty whitewashed town that sits high up on a hill overlooking olive groves and the sea, Ostuni is very small, but quite charming. The only major sight is the cathedral, which has an ornate rose window on its exterior and some interesting painting on its ceiling.
Plan to just wander around the historic center, dipping down into little alleyways that often pop out at gorgeous viewpoints. An absolute must while here is a stop at Cremeria Alla Scala, one of the best gelaterias in Puglia.
For dinner in town, Osteria del Tempo Perso is a classic. It's very popular though, so you will certainly need to make a reservation.
Piazza della Libertà in Ostuni
Arco Scoppa arch by Ostuni's cathedral
An alleyway in Ostuni
Overnight in Ostuni or Monopoli
Ostuni
Palazzo Stunis - Great boutique hotel right in the center. $250 USD
Masseria Il Frantoio - Charming 4-star hotel in the countryside on the edge of town. $200-250 USD
Hotel Primo Ostuni - Brand new hotel a quick walk to the center. $175 USD
Monopoli
Hotel Don Ferrante - Monopoli’s best hotel. $250-400 USD
Il Melograno - 5-star Masseria a few minutes drive outside of the city. $150-350 USD
Palazzo Indelli - Modern and breezy hotel near the marina. $200 USD
B&B A C-Caste - Lovely boutique guesthouse in the center. $125-175 USD
Day 2: Towns of the Valle d’Itria
Spend your second day exploring the charming little villages that dot the bucolic Valle d’Itria. Home to picturesque trulli, pretty countryside, and whitewashed villages like Alberobello, this is iconic Puglia.
You'll visit 4 different towns today: Alberobello, Locorotondo, Cisternino, and Martina Franca.
Learn more about this part of Puglia in my Valle d’Itria travel guide.
Trulli in Alberobello
Morning - Alberobello and Locorotondo
Start the day early and head straight for Alberobello. Home to the iconic stone Trulli houses, this is probably Puglia's most famous town.
Because Alberobello is a major tourist attraction, you absolutely need to get here early. I'd recommend arriving no later than 9:00 am (with earlier being better). Thousands of people visit here every day, including day trippers coming from cruise ships, so it becomes an absolute madhouse any time after 10:00 am.
The part of town with Trulli is split into two sides: Rione Monti and Aia Piccola. As you enter the town center from the parking lots on its edge, Rione Monti is on your left and Aia Piccola on the right.
There are hundreds of trulli in Rione Monti and they've been wonderfully restored, but they're almost all now just souvenir shops selling tacky junk.
Aia Piccola is much smaller, but its quieter and doesn't have any stores in it. A walk through it gives you a much better sense of what the town must have been like before mass tourism and before residents moved out to the new parts of town. It's also on a hill, so offers a great view over the trulli.
You need maximum of an hour to enjoy the town.
From Alberobello, Locorotondo is just 10 minutes away by car. But rather than head straight there, I highly recommend going for a drive in the countryside near Alberobello. With fields of rich reddish brown soil, fruit orchards, and little vineyards enclosed within stone walls, this is some of the prettiest terrain in Puglia.
For a drive, just pick a direction and then stick to the backroads. The drive towards Putignano is particularly lovely, but everywhere is great.
The Aia Piccola area of Alberobello
Trulli in the countryside near to Alberobello
After you've finished a lovely drive, head over to Locorotondo (still sticking to the backroads for the best scenery).
Like many of these towns, Locorotondo too sits high on a hill overlooking the fertile valley beneath it. All whitewashed and filled with narrow alleys and tight streets, it's an absolute pleasure to wander around.
There are no specific sights to see, so just enjoy a relaxed walk and take in the views from the excellent Belvedere viewpoint.
There are lots of cute shops in town, many selling the traditional "luci del sud”, a type of carved wooden sign that has pretty multi-colored lights outfitted onto it. Huge versions of these adorn our cities during the Christmas holidays.
Like Alberobello, Locorotondo is very small, so an hour or two in town is plenty.
If you're already hungry, it's tough to go wrong with a pizza at Pizzeria Casa Pinto.
Locorotondo seen from the road entering town
The town center
Just off the main square
Afternoon - Cisternino (and maybe another swim?)
When you've finished up in Locorotondo, hop back in the car and head over to Cisternino, 15 minutes away.
I really like Cisternino. It's a bit less pretty than Locorotondo, but it’s bigger, has a denser historic center, and feels a little less touristy. Aside from being very nice to wander around, it's also a great place to eat!
The town has been famous for centuries for its butcher shops, many of which also have unique little ovens in which they prepare bombette (grilled meats wrapped around vegetables and cheese) and other specialties. Some of them now have full-fledged restaurants, like Bére Vecchia. If you haven't had lunch yet, this is where I'd suggest.
When I'm here, I always like to stop to enjoy the view at the town's panoramic viewpoint and grab a coffee at Cremeria History Vignola, whose outdoor seating area also has a gorgeous view.
Chiesa Madre San Nicola in Cisternino's Piazza Garibaldi
From Cisternino, you're just about a 20-minute drive from the very nice Parco Naturale Regionale Dune Costiere, where you have sandy beaches that are free to access. If you're feeling like a swim, you could head here or to one of the beach clubs around Savelletri.
If a swim or some downtime doesn't appeal, you could go check out the very pleasant (and almost totally unvisited) town of Ceglie Messapica which is 20 minutes away.
A beach in the Parco Naturale Regionale Dune Costiere. Photo: Carlo Pelagalli, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Evening - Martina Franca
Today, I've saved the best for last! Martina Franca is my favorite town in the Valle d’Itria and somewhere that you must spend at least a few hours in. It's a real little city with a population of 50,000 people, and although it's becoming popular, it still receives a fraction of the visitors of other towns in the region and it very much still feels like a local place.
On arrival, head straight to Piazza Plebiscito, the town's main square, and do some people watching. Since you'll be here in the evening, you'll see lots of locals out and about, taking part in their evening stroll, the famous passegiata.
While in town, be sure to pop into the Basilica di San Martino church and the Palazzo Ducale. The city is also famous for its capocollo (a cured meat), so you should try some!
Piazza Plebiscito in Martina Franca
Overnight in Ostuni or Monopoli
For hotel recommendations, see my suggestions from day 1.
Day 3: Day trip to Matera
Leave Puglia behind today (at least for a few hours!) and head to Matera in the neighboring region of Basilicata.
One of southern Italy's most spectacular cities, Matera is an absolute must visit. The clifftop location is stunning, the historic center is a delight, and a hike in the surrounding canyon transports you to a different world.
Read more about the city in my guide to Matera.
Matera
Morning and afternoon - Drive to Matera, optional stop in Altamura, canyon hike, and visit Matera
Matera is not in Puglia, but because it sits right on the border (and is spectacular) it's included in most itineraries. Although I'm from Lecce, I actually live in Matera, and I agree that it's a must visit.
From Ostuni, Monopoli, or Martina Franca, you're 1-1.5 hours away. It's a long drive, but worth it. If you're coming from Monopoli or Ostuni, you'll probably take the road that passes by Bari and then goes inland, passing by a pretty little town called Altamura. I often recommend a stop here, but whether you should or shouldn't depends on if you're planning on doing a hike while in Matera. If you want to hike, I'd skip the stop. If you don't, then absolutely stop in Altamura along the way.
Matera is famous for its cave houses, known as sassi, which are dwellings that were quite literally carved out of the side of the cliff. The residents here lived in these dwellings (which were rather miserable) until as late as the 1960s. Today, they've largely been renovated and quite nicely spruced up and the entire historic center is a magical place of stone buildings, steep staircases, and winding streets. It's one of Italy's most picturesque places.
Everything in the center (known as the sassi area) is pedestrianized, so when you get here park in the new part of town and walk in.
In the center, there are a number of cave dwellings that you can visit which recreate what living in these conditions would have once been like. You also have a few lovely churches (like the Chiesa di Santa Maria de Idris) and a network of underground water cisterns, like the Raccolta delle Acque. In general, it's just an incredibly atmospheric place that really does feel a bit like something out of a fairy tale.
This is somewhere to let yourself get lost in, so plan to give yourself at least 3-4 to explore the town.
Another great thing to do while here is a 1.5 to 3-hour hike in the Murgia Materana canyon. The popular hike to the "Tibetan bridge” is relatively moderate and it starts right from the edge of the sassi area, so is super easy to reach. You can find the route on Alltrails. Along your hike, you'll pass by rustic cave dwellings that are carved into the canyon's walls. All along the trail the scenery and views back towards Matera are spectacular.
If you want to do the hike, I'd recommend starting in the morning right when you arrive as it is often far too hot in the afternoon to really want to go hiking.
Whenever you want to grab lunch, I always recommend L’Abbondanza Lucana.
If you're interested in a guided tour of the city, I'm a local guide here and I offer two tours:
Matera walking tour - This is a 3-hour tour where we visit Matera's main sights, including some of the rock churches and cave dwellings.
Matera city tour and canyon hike - This is a 5-hour tour where we first hike in the canyon and then go for a walk in the city center, stopping by the main sights and lots of my favorite hidden spots.
The Murgia Materana canyon
Matera
Evening - A bit more time in Matera or a drive back to your hotel
Because Matera is at its most atmospheric in the evening, I'd really recommend sticking around until the sun sets. When darkness falls and the street lights come on, the entire city glows with a golden light that is like nowhere else on earth. Walking around the quiet cobblestone streets in the evening is something that I simply cannot recommend enough.
A great place to grab a cocktail with a view over the city's rooftops is at Quarry.
If the idea of driving back in darkness doesn't appeal to you, then head back in the late afternoon and plan on having a relaxed dinner somewhere close to home - you've done enough driving for one day!
Matera all lit up at night
Overnight in Ostuni or Monopoli
For hotel recommendations, see my suggestions from day 1.
Day 4: Lecce and Gallipoli
Time to switch things up and make your way to a new part of Puglia; the Salento peninsula. About one hour south of Ostuni, awaits Puglia's most beautiful city: Lecce, the capital of the Salento region.
The Salento peninsula is totally different from the Valle d’Itria. Here, the fertile soil gives way to dry and rocky ground and the towns and villages exchange white stone for a yellow-ish sandstone. The coast too is different, with rocky cliffs replacing sandy beaches.
For more info, check out my guide to Lecce and my Salento Peninsula travel guide.
Piazza Sant’Oronzo in Lecce
Morning - Lecce
The drive to Lecce from Ostuni or Monopoli will take you about an hour and it's all done on a main highway. There's nowhere particularly interesting to stop along the way, but if you really want to, you could stop in Brindisi.
Once you get into Lecce, drop your bags off at your hotel (you'll be staying here for the next two nights) and then head straight out to the historic center.
This is Puglia's most beautiful city and you should plan to spend the entire morning and a part of the afternoon exploring it. Here are some things you can't miss:
The city's historic gates - Porta San Biagio, Porta Napoli, and Porta Rudiae are all lovely and worth marking on your map. They're in different parts of the city, so getting between them will also take you past many other sights.
The Basilica di Santa Croce - An absolute Baroque masterpiece, this church was under renovation for almost a decade and it's facade was totally covered. Now, it's finally finished. The inside is also worth seeing.
Duomo and Piazza Duomo - The city's cathedral is actually significantly less ornate than the Basilica, but it's still beautiful, as is the wide square that surrounds it.
Piazza Sant’Oronzo - This is the city's main square. A huge open space, it's great for people watching, especially while sipping a caffè leccese at the outdoor terrace of Alvino. As you will undoubtedly notice, there's also an excavated Roman Amphitheater in the middle of the square.
Chiesa di Santa Chiara & Chiesa di San Mateo - I know I've already mentioned two churches, but these two are also worth noting. You can go inside both, but the main reason to visit is to enjoy the beautiful Baroque facades.
The second Roman Amphitheater - Most people never realize that Lecce's historic center actually has two Roman amphitheaters. The second is much smaller, but the fact that it's on a quiet back street tucked between a bunch of apartment buildings makes it even more interesting!
In my opinion, much of what makes Lecce so pleasant is that it's beautiful, but it's not packed with places you have to enter. This was a city built to impress on the outside. So, wander around the pedestrianized streets, linger over a coffee, and pay attention to the buildings you pass, looking for the beautiful Baroque flourishes.
If you're interested in some shopping, you have lots of good local stores as well as big chains surrounding Piazza Mazzini just outside of the old town. In terms of crafts, you should be on the lookout for cartapesta (papier-mâché) which is very typical of Lecce. Cartapesta Riso is a good store/workshop if you want to have a look.
To get the most out of your visit, you should absolutely take a guided tour. And, even more specifically, you should absolutely take one with me! If you're interested, you can have a look at my Lecce walking tour.
Basilica di Santa Croce on the left
The Duomo
Basilica di Santa Croce
Lecce's lesser-known Roman Amphitheater
Afternoon - Lunch in Lecce, then a choice: swimming at the beaches north of Gallipoli or sightseeing in Nardò and Galatina
For lunch, stay in Lecce and enjoy a great meal in one of the city's excellent restaurants. You're spoiled for choice here and I'm not going to bother listing all my favorites, but you can find lots of ideas in my guide to Lecce.
After your meal, hop in the car and head in the direction of Gallipoli, a pretty fishing town on the Ionian coast about 30 minutes from Lecce. I'd recommend spending the late afternoon in town and then perhaps sticking around for dinner. But… before you get there, you should do something else. But what exactly that is depends on your mood!
If you feel like a swim, there are some excellent beaches all around Gallipoli. If you want to relax at a beach club, Torre Squillace has good ones with platforms from which you can jump straight into the sea (it's rocky, not sandy). For sandy beaches, you have a handful to choose from in/around the town of Porto Cesareo. Both places are 30 minutes from Lecce, and a bit north of Gallipoli. Even closer to Gallipoli, you have Spiaggia di Lido Conchiglie, a nice sandy beach.
If you're not in the mood for swimming, you could instead make a couple of stops on the way to Gallipoli. I'd suggest going first to the really pretty town of Nardò, which despite being a very nice town, saw almost no tourists up until the last 4 or 5 years. The other place I'd suggest is Galatina, a sleepy little village whose main draw is the Chiesa di Santa Caterina, which houses stunning frescoes from the 14th century. There's also a great pastry shop in town called Ascalone that has been open for over 300 years.
One of many great beaches near Porto Cesareo. Photo: Paolo Damiano Dolce, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Piazza Salandra in Nardò
Evening - Gallipoli
In the late afternoon or early evening, you should be arriving to Gallipoli. The town is split in two, with the old town on a little promontory jutting out into the sea and the new town occupying the mainland behind it.
The historic center is tiny, but fully pedestrianized and very pleasant. You can walk along the city walls, look at the impressive Angevin castle, meander through the alleyways, check out the fishing boats in the little port, and enjoy the view over the city beach, Spiaggia della Puritá. Do also go inside the Cathedral, which has some good frescoes in the crypt.
I'd recommend having dinner right here in town, but you could also head back to Lecce which, I must admit, has better food choices.
Spiaggia della Puritá in Gallipoli
The city's marina
Overnight in Lecce
Palazzo Bozzi Corso - Pure luxury in a noble palace. $600+ USD
Il Risorgimento - Modern 5-star hotel for a reasonable price. $200 USD
Patria Palace - A good 4-star in the historic center with old world charm $200 USD
Palazzo Rollo - Boutique guesthouse at a good price. $125-200 USD
Palazzo Bignami - Family-run B&B on the edge of the centro storico. $140 USD
Day 5: Otranto and the Salento coast
Yesterday you saw a bit of the Ionian coast of the Salento peninsula, so today you're going to see the other side; the Adriatic coast.
You'll start in the elegant town of Otranto and then spend the entire day driving along the coast on one of Italy's most gorgeous roads, SP358. From Otranto to Santa Maria di Leuca, the tip of the peninsula, are 60 kms of sun-drenched rocky coast loaded with pretty villages and swimming spots.
A view of the coast from along the SP358 road in Salento
Morning & afternoon - A full day exploring the Salento peninsula's Adriatic coastline from Otranto to Santa Maria di Leuca
Before I even mention the plan for today, be sure to pack your bathing suit, a towel, and some sandals. Even if you start the day thinking that you don't want to go swimming, I’d be willing to bet that you’ll change your mind after an hour or two of looking at the unbelievably beautiful waters of the Adriatic coast.
So, depart Lecce and head straight to Otranto, an elegant little seaside town a 30-minute drive away. Otranto is one of Puglia's prettiest towns and it has a delightful seafront promenade, a decent city beach, and a lovely historic center surrounded by enormously thick city walls.
The town's cathedral is also famous for two things: an incredible mosaic floor and a nave that holds the remains of some of the 800 martyrs who were killed during an Ottoman invasion of the city in medieval times.
Plan to spend 1-2 hours walking around the town and absolutely do go inside the church. Also, the city's impressive Aragonese castle is an event space/museum that features rotating exhibits so it's always a good idea to check what's on display.
Otranto's seafront promenade
Otranto's city beach
Departing Otranto, head south in the direction of Santa Maria di Leuca. Almost as soon as you get out of town you'll be on an incredible road that hugs the cliffs and the coast, offering views over the sparkling Adriatic sea. On clear days, you can see the mountains of Albania in the distance.
Do not make the mistake of plugging the directions into your GPS. You want to take SP87 to start with and then continue onto SP358 (it's the same road). If you follow your GPS to Leuca, you will go inland and defeat the entire purpose of this day.
Along your way, you'll pass by a series of pretty little towns. Which ones you stop in is sort of irrelevant; they're all pleasant beach towns with nothing particular to see. Most will have nice cement jetties built along the water though and you can jump straight off of these and into some of the cleanest and clearest water you'll ever see.
Here are some of my favorite stops:
Santa Cesarea Terme - A tiny town that's high up so offers great views. Also a good place for a coffee or spremuta (fresh orange juice).
Castro Marina - A pretty town that is worth wandering around. I like the restaurant Bolina here which is simple, but good, and provides a great location overlooking the water. You can literally swim while you wait for your food.
Tricase Porto - There's a nice marina here, but the real reason to stop is to have lunch at the excellent Taverna del Porto seafood restaurant.
Marina di Andrano - Great jetty for swimming.
Ponte Ciolo - A tall bridge over the water from which [insane] people like to cliff jump into the water below. There's a cafe overlooking the bridge and the sea.
Santa Maria di Leuca - This is where the Ionian and Adriatic seas meet. The town itself is actually quite nice and there's a church and lighthouse on a cliff overlooking the ocean that is an absolute must visit. If you're up for a boat ride, you can take a 1 or 2-hour tour along the coast which is spectacular. This is the end of your drive.
The town of Castro Marina
Santa Maria di Leuca's marina
Boats in Tricase Porto's Marina
A view from the SP358 road
Evening - Dinner and a final night in Lecce
After a very long (but also very excellent) day, head from Leuca back to Lecce, about an hour's drive.
For dinner, I'd suggest a hearty pasta and good grilled meat at A’Roma. If you'd prefer seafood, check out always classy Alex. Or for typical Pugliese dishes with inventive twists, La Cucina di Mamma Elvira is always a safe bet.
To end your trip with a little action, head to Quanto Basta for a cocktail and some mingling with the locals.
Overnight in Lecce
See hotel recommendations from day 4.
More Puglia travel info
For more advice on planning your trip to Puglia, have a look at some of my other guides and itineraries!
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Paolo Maragliulo
Puglia Expert based in Lecce
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Hi, I'm Paolo, and I've been a tour guide and travel consultant here in Puglia for the last 20 years. If you're looking for some local advice on your trip, I'd love to help!
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