11 Best Things to Do in Alberobello, Italy + Must-Know Tips!
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When you visit Alberobello, in the Puglia region of Italy, you’ll be transported straight into the pages of a medieval fantasy novel. The town’s magical atmosphere, iconic stone huts (trulli), intriguing history, and warm culture make Alberobello well worth visiting.
Wondering about the best things to do in Alberobello?
For starters, you’ll stroll the whimsical, trulli-lined cobblestone paths and fall in love with this one-of-a-kind Southern Italian town. (That’s a given.)
Then, in between sips of aromatic local wines and bites of traditional Pugliese cuisine, you’ll explore historic piazzas and churches; shop for local handicrafts; and even spend the night in your very own trullo. Told you, this place is enchanting… And that’s only half of it!
After two recent trips to this whimsical little village, I’ve put together the ultimate guide to Alberobello!
Ready to discover the 11 best things to do in Alberobello? Plus, where (and what!) to eat, the best trulli resorts, and all the must-know tips? Read on!
Alberobello, Italy: Must-Know Facts & History
The hilltop town of Alberobello is located in Southern Italy, in the region of Puglia.
Alberobello started as a simple farming village like any other; it wasn’t until the mid-14th century that the construction of the trulli put Alberobello on the map.
Nowadays, thanks to the iconic trulli – and their archetypal Italian origin story – Alberobello is one of the top places to visit in Puglia…
So, Where Did the Trulli Come From?
No one knows the precise details, but it’s said that, in the mid-1300s, Count Giangirolamo Acquaviva ordered the construction of dwellings that could easily be dismantled.
And so, the locals stacked small limestone slabs atop cylindrical whitewashed huts, forming those recognizable conical roofs.
But why? When the royal inspection arrived, down came the roofs. No ceiling, no dwelling, no taxes!
As you explore, a handful of special trulli, with Primitive, Christian, and Cosmic symbols painted onto their roofs, will catch your eye. They’re the most photographed ones, by far!
Legend has it, locals believed the symbols were good luck charms that would ward off evil. I’d say, mission accomplished!
Why Visit Alberobello, Italy?
Wondering if Alberobello is worth visiting?
Underwhelming. Overhyped. Tourist trap. That’s what some say about this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
But after spending months in Puglia, no one’s opinion could stop me from experiencing Alberobello for myself – and spending the night in my very own trullo.
So, what’s my take? Should you visit Alberobello? Well…
Alberobello is the most touristy town in Puglia.
Between 12 to 5 PM, the thousands of day-trippers milling in and out of colorful souvenir shops and posing for Instagram photos make Alberobello feel like Italian Disneyland… And there’s no denying that!
But when the crowds clear out? There’s nothing quite like a romantic evening in Alberobello, strolling among the trulli, hopping from one wine bar to the next. Or savoring an espresso and a pasticciotto in the morning sunshine, before browsing the little shops, churches, and museums in peace.
This side of Aberobello is whimsical and charming as can be. And it’s worth seeing with your own eyes.
With this Alberobello guide at your fingertips, you’ll discover the best of Alberobello – including authentic restaurants, cool wine bars, panoramic terraces, local culture, and more!
11 Best Things to Do in Alberobello, Puglia, Italy
Okay, let’s dive into the 10 best things to do in Alberobello!
1. Spend the Night in a Trullo
I grew up thinking I’d always find my prince charming, live in a castle, and have a small cluster of animals around me at all times. None of that has come true yet.
But I felt pretty close to living in a fairytale when I spent the night in a trullo in Alberobello.
Waking up in a UNESCO World Heritage Italian cottage, in the Puglian countryside, is a dream come true!
I stayed at Trulli Holiday and adored the entire experience – from the reasonable price to the enchanting Rione Aia Piccola location and complimentary breakfast.
If you’re looking for something luxurious and romantic, then Le Alcove and La Mandorla are the two most exquisite options. Think: splendid breakfast spreads, candle-lit bath time, and lounging in cozy robes by a warm fireplace.
Staying in a trullo is one of the most unique things to do in Alberobello!
Click here to find the best deals on accommodation in Alberobello.
2. Take a Cooking Class
I already told you that Alberobello is a bit too crowded to fully enjoy in the middle of the day.
Taking a cooking class led by a local home cook is the perfect way to escape the crowds, learn about Pugliese culture, and savor local flavors!
Want to learn how to make orecchiette (the world-famous “little ear” pasta of Puglia) from scratch? How about ravioli?
In this Small-Group Pasta and Tiramisu Class in Alberobello, you’ll learn to cook two different pasta shapes and tiramisu in a local’s home kitchen. Then, you’ll feast on the dishes you just made, together, over some local wine. This is Italy, after all.
Click here to book your cooking class!
3. E-bike Through the Itria Valley (Valle d’Itria)
Let me make this clear. This E-bike Tour of Valle d’Itria with Tastings of Typical Products is one of the best tours I have ever been on, anywhere in the world.
Setting off from the nearby city of Martina Franca (just a 20-minute drive from Alberobello), you’ll journey on premium e-bikes through the gorgeous Valle d’Itria – past olive groves, vineyards, wildflowers, and countless trulli. The landscape couldn’t be more idyllic!
Along the way, you’ll meander through the charming town centers of Cisternino and Locorotondo. Then, the experience peaks at an agriturismo for a delicious farm-to-table lunch.
And, sorry to spoil the surprise… But the lunch is so much more than a “tasting” – as the description promises. No.
This is a generous feast of many different cheeses and cold cuts, typical veggie dishes, polpette di pane, fresh bread, olive oil, bottomless wine, and more… It is pure Pugliese bliss.
This is another perfect activity to escape the mid-day crowds of Alberobello.
And, honestly, it’s a must-do. As far as I’m concerned, your Puglia itinerary is incomplete without booking this Ebike Tour of Valle d’Itria.
Click here to book your e-bike tour!
4. Explore Rione Aia Piccola
Since the trulli in Rione Aia Piccola are lived-in homes and vacation rentals, you won’t find many shops or restaurants here! This residential quarter is beautiful and authentic, making it well worth a wander while you’re in Alberobello.
The iconic light green Puglian cacti complement the whitewashed walls and stone-roofed trulli perfectly, while ornamental wheat bunches and potted flowers only add to the charm of this authentic neighborhood.
Rione Aia Piccola is totally picturesque, making it a great place to snap some photos. There are fewer tourists and no shortage of aesthetically pleasing nooks and corners here!
5. Mosey Around Rione Monti & Souvenir Shop
The quarter of Rione Monti, on the southern end of town, comprises the highest concentration of trulli in Alberobello!
Pop inside Bar “Il Trulletto”, a trullo-turned-coffee-shop for a little caffeine as you walk up along the cobblestone pathway. There’s a bazaar of souvenir shops that sell handmade, Alberobello-embellished goodies to peruse until your little heart’s content.
Soft, handwoven, lace-trimmed cotton hand towels, conical-roof-shaped pot holders with colorful embroidery, and cute canvas tote bags were my favorite scores. I even got my dad a beautiful biking jersey with trulli on it!
In this district, you’ll also find the smallest trullo in Alberobello, Il Trullo Più Piccolo, and the Trullo Siamese, two conjoined trullos with dual conical roofs!
6. Visit Trullo Sovrano
I spent a solid hour exploring the small heritage museum inside the two-story Trullo Sovrano – the largest trullo in Alberobello.
You’ll begin to understand how the people of Alberobello lived hundreds of years ago, as you stroll through the bedroom, dining room, and more.
The thick walls allowed the fireplace to warm the entire home, where the family slept on beds of wheat and plant fibers.
And of course, growing food, cooking, and eating is ritualistic here in Italy – and the Trullo Sovrano’s cute kitchen will have you make no mistake of that!
Something interesting I learned in the small museum is that bread dough used to be kept in the marital bed to rise. Why? Well, that was the warmest spot in the house! (Or, trullo, rather.) Everything is made with love here in Southern Italy.
The museum is open daily from 10 AM to 12:45 PM, and 3:30 to 6:30 PM. Tickets cost just €2.
7. Eat Traditional Pugliese Food
Eating traditional Pugliese food is one of the best things to do in Alberobello!
Each region in Italy has developed distinct flavors and techniques over the centuries – and, beyond that, so have many of the towns. The cuisine of Alberobello is hearty, mostly vegetarian, and scrumptious.
Often, traditional Pugliese dishes and gastronomic traditions reflect the economic hardships of Southern Italy… This is the case throughout the entire country, really. Ever heard of Italy’s cibo povero, cucina povera, or “peasant food”?
My suggestions? You must try at least two of the following: fave e cicoria (fava beans and chicory with croutons), panzerotti (calzone), orecchiette (pasta shaped like “little ears”), the Pasqualino sandwich (tuna, capers, salami, cheese), burrata, and local wines (mostly red and rosé).
Scratch that, try all of them!
P.S. Read on for all of my top Alberobello restaurant recommendations! I’ve detailed where you can find each one of these regional delicacies. (You are very welcome!)
8. Church of Saint Anthony of Padua
Built in 1926, the Church of Saint Anthony of Padua is the only trullo church in the world! You’ll find it in the Rione Monti quarter, perched on a little hill above a community greenspace.
Within the trullo church is a fresco by Adolfo Rollo, a famous Pugliese painter. Like many other Puglian churches, this one is simple with a modest interior.
The first time I visited, the Church of Saint Anthony was covered in glowing snowflake lights, making this trullo church extra magical. The perks of visiting Alberobello in the winter extend beyond just fewer crowds!
Hot tip: Want to visit Alberobello during the holiday season? Visit the Presepe di Luce, in the Rione Aia Piccola neighborhood, to walk through Alberobello’s nativity light show that is endearing beyond words.
9. Savor the View from Villa Comunale Belvedere
One of the best things to see in Alberobello? The enchanting view from the panoramic terrace at the Villa Comunale Belvedere.
There, you’ll gaze out at the trulli zone, where the stone huts look like Hershey’s Kisses spread over the little valley of Alberobello.
To get there, make your way to the Church of Saint Lucia (Chiesa di Santa Lucia), then head up the staircase, for a panoramic view above the town center.
Snap a photo, and cherish the moment in the whimsical town of Alberobello, Italy.
10. Take a Walking Tour of Alberobello
Love going on walking tours in new destinations? (Me too.)
Then you’ll love this walking tour of Alberobello. There’s a ton of historical importance to soak up on these ancient streets!
Enjoy your private tour of the Trullo Sovrano, the Basilica of Saints Cosmas and Damian, and Sant’Antonio Church. Then get the inside scoop on the symbology of the painted trulli of Alberobello and the Trullo Siamese, and sample local olive oils, liqueurs, and taralli!
Click here to book your private walking tour of Alberobello.
11. Visit the Basilica of Saints Cosmas and Damian
Alberobello’s main church, Basilica of Saints Cosmas and Damian, lies outside of the Centro Storico (Old Town). It’s set back from the trulli – amongst the ongoings of the newer part of Alberobello – and is worth a stop while you’re there.
Old Italian men sit on benches under the shade of perfectly manicured trees and signal to each other with their hands for “café”, holding imaginary espressos. The daily life of Alberobello natives flows on, around La Basilica Minore dei Santi Cosma e Damiano.
Standing astutely in Piazza Antonio Curri, at the end of the main road, the church’s hourly bell is a call, a reminder, to savor the sweet present moment in the land of dolce far niente (translation: something we all need more of – pleasant idleness).
Where to Eat & Drink in Alberobello, Italy
What would a Maddy’s Avenue destination guide be without a carefully curated list of authentic, delicious eating and drinking establishments?
So in true form, here are the best places to eat in Alberobello!
- Trulli e Puglia Wine Bar: The owner, Mimmo, is the friendliest, most generous man you’ll meet in Alberobello! Visit this wine bar to enjoy a local bottle of natural wine in the late afternoon. A must!
- Ristorante Il Pinnacolo: Order the linguine in creamy pistacchio sauce topped with crunchy pistacchios, fresh burrata, and crispy pancetta. It’s to die for. The pizzas here are also fantastic.
- Principotto: Come here to get your Southern Italian street food fix. Quick, filling, flavorful, and local, Principotto serves everything traditional: calzones, octopus sandwiches, and fava bean stew.
- Ristorante La Cantina: To my misfortune, La Cantina was closed when I visited Alberobello (maybe I should’ve bought that lucky Alberobello charm bracelet after all). This spot is a favorite for locals, so you know it’s good. Spend an evening feasting on the best pasta in the town center. I’m confident you’ll be glad you did.
- Ristorante Trullo D’Oro: Romantic dinner for two? Just one is okay, too. Trullo D’Oro is one of Alberobello’s finest restaurants. You’ll delight in exceptional Italian cuisine and five-star service inside of an authentic trullo.
- Ristorante Casa Nova: This 1700s olive oil mill is a great spot for dinner and dessert, served up with that beloved familiar Italian hospitality. The gnocchi was so rich and my sweet tooth was thrilled with the massive chocolate brick I got to shave onto my gelato.
- Gusto Salumi & Formaggi: My favorite way to eat in Italy is by ordering affettati (charcuterie), hand-selected by the macellaio (butcher). Needless to say, the cheese and meats in Italy are delectable, and the salumeria often has wine to pair perfectly. Informal, but full of flavor!
- La Lira Focacceria: Head to this cozy bakery for the famous Pasqualino sandwich of Alberobello, made with rosetta or turtle bread, tuna, capers, salami, and cheese. If you’re vegetarian, don’t worry! There are plenty of meat-free, carbohydrate-heavy delights at La Lira too.
Where to Stay in Alberobello
Next up in this Alberobello travel guide? Let’s talk about spending the night in Alberobello.
In the high season, day trippers flood the town’s cobblestone streets, so staying the night is the best way to experience the town’s authenticity; the early morning and evening are much more serene! (In the low season, this isn’t as much of an issue, but you should still plan to stay the night.)
To properly soak in every ounce of this little town’s magic, stay in a traditional trullo hut, in the center, close to all of the best things to do in Alberobello.
Best Hotels in Alberobello
Here are the best places to stay in Alberobello!
- Trulli Holiday: My experience with Trulli Holiday was superb! Private parking and included breakfast were the cherries on top of having my very own little trullo in Rione Aia Piccola. Plus, Trulli Holiday offers trulli for travelers on a modest budget! Click here to book it.
- Le Alcove Luxury Hotel In Trulli: Romanticize your time in Alberobello by booking a luxury trullo with Le Alcove. Relish the high-quality toiletries, cozy up in a waffle-knit robe and slippers, and feast upon a sumptuous (included) breakfast spread each morning! Click here to book it.
- La Mandorla Luxury Trullo: A candle-lit bathtub, rainfall shower, mirrored vanity, and a mini fireplace make La Mandorla’s trulli perfect for those looking for opulence in Alberobello. Click here to book it.
Still looking? Here’s my favorite website for finding the best deals on accommodation in Puglia – from luxury trulli and hotels, to B&Bs and homestays. Free cancellation is usually included, so you can book in advance with confidence. Remember: the best places in Puglia sell out well in advance in the high season!
How to Get to Alberobello
Whether you’re already in Puglia or not, it’s easy to get to Alberobello.
The nearest airport to Alberobello is in Bari, Puglia, just under an hour away. From the airport, you can catch a bus, train, or taxi to Alberobello, Puglia.
Alternatively, you can rent a car and drive yourself here. This is the best option if you’re planning to explore Ostuni, Lecce, and more of the best destinations in Puglia. Just be careful with those passionate Italian drivers – they love to tailgate!
P.S. If you still need to book your rental car, here’s my favorite website for finding the best deals on rental cars throughout Europe.
Alberobello, Italy Travel Guide:
Best Things to Do in Alberobello!
The small town of Alberobello (beautiful tree in English) has a charm that can’t be found anywhere else.
While there, expect to break bread with locals in trulli restaurants and dine on locally grown food from the heart of Italy’s farmland.
Wake up to the sound of birds chirping on the patio of your trullo cottage.
Pet the cats that roam the folkloric streets of Rione Monti.
And soak in the region’s mouthwatering cuisine, interesting history, and distinctive culture.
In other words, there’s no shortage of amazing things to do in Alberobello.
Include a visit to Alberobello on your Puglia itinerary and you’re sure to fall head-over-heels for Southern Italy’s most magical town.
Alberobello Travel Guide: FAQs
Yes, Alberobello is worth a visit while you’re in Puglia, Italy. The trulli houses of Alberobello are not found anywhere else in the world! Plus, Alberobello has wonderful restaurants, history, and trulli hotels! Not to mention, you’ll delight in all of the incredible food of the Puglia region, from fresh pasta and gnocchi to Pasqualino sandwiches and “peasant” fava bean stew.
Alberobello is famous for trulli: whitewashed cottages with conical roofs made of stacked stone. The reason these peculiar buildings were made was to avoid taxes. No proper roof = no proper dwelling = no taxes. Hooray! Now, the trulli are mostly converted to souvenir shops, though there are some trulli restaurants and hotels, and a trulli church, too!
It’s true, Alberobello is popular among travelers in Puglia, but that doesn’t mean it’s a tourist trap! On the contrary, this tiny cultural heritage town is worth all the hype. Alberobello is an incredibly endearing and unique town in Southern Italy that offers rich historical significance, cultural uniqueness, beautiful small houses, and numerous incredible vistas, lush accommodation options, and delicious dining experiences. There are many tourists (both Italian and foreign), but that, in and of itself, does not make the town a tourist trap. Compared to other popular destinations in Italy, the prices are quite reasonable.
Yes, you can stay in Alberobello. I suggest renting a trullo to stay in Alberobello. This way, you can get the full effect of what it’s like to be a local Pugliese in Alberobello! My top three trullo recommendations are Trulli Holiday (modest/budget), Le Alcove (luxury), and La Mandorla (luxury).
This town is endlessly enchanting, though very small in size. You only need one day in Alberobello to discover the most beautiful vistas and experience the best things to do in Alberobello. With one day here, you can see the trulli houses (and sleep in one!), buy some souvenirs, visit the churches, viewpoints, eat some delicious food, and either take a Pugliese cooking class or head out on a historical walking tour.
Alberobello is an inland town in the southern region of Puglia, Italy. There are no beaches in Alberobello, but there are beaches nearby in Monopoli and Polignano al Mare.
Alberobello is famous because the town is dotted with unique stone buildings called trulli. These white and gray huts were designed in the 16th century to avoid paying taxes. They can’t be found anywhere else in the world, so their picturesque charm is a major draw for visitors to Puglia.
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