Why Visit Puglia, Italy? 10 Undeniable Reasons to Travel to Puglia
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links; more info here.
Alright, Iโll be honest with you: Iโm completely obsessed with Puglia, Italy. After falling in love with this incredible region in Southern Italy over the course of two months, I can (and will) give you plenty of reasons why you should visit Puglia.
But bear in mind, you should not visit Puglia if you dislike stunning beaches, diverse landscapes, astonishing architecture, amazing food, and minimal crowds. See what I did there?
But really, why visit Puglia?
With 15 Blue Flag Beaches, a Baroque city, miles of ancient olive groves, three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, an archipelago, endless picturesque narrow streets, and two sea-cave-dotted coastlines, Puglia (Apuglia in English) is one of the most spectacular and strikingly beautiful destinations in Italy.
Keep reading for the inside scoop on all of the magic that awaits you in Puglia! Letโs talk about what youโll see and do when you visit Puglia, Italy, plus my first-hand tips and your essential packing list.
Mamma mia! Andiamo!
Why You Should Visit Apuglia, Italy ASAP
It would be impossible to list all the reasons to travel to Apuglia, the โheelโ of Italyโs boot. They are infinite!
This article will merely scratch the surface of what youโll encounter when you visit the lesser-traveled, archetypal Italian region of Puglia, where youโll discover the magic for yourself!
1. Discover a Unique Italian Culture
Since the Paleolithic Age, Puglia has been settled, fought over, and protected by Italic groups such as the Messapii, Byzantines, Lombards, and Greeks.
Endless legends about Pugliaโs history, heritage, seas, and landscapes have been passed down through generations – along with recipes, traditions, and a sense of Pugliese pride.
Pugliaโs culture is unique in that itโs rooted in agriculture. And historically, itโs one of Italyโs poorest regions.
Over 83% of Pugliaโs 3 million-ish acres of farmland has been owned and worked by the same families for generations. Farming is more than a pastime or businessโฆ It’s a way of life, which is reflected in the region’s vegetable-based cuisine.
With its coastline kissed by the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, Pugliaโs culture is steeped in maritime traditions and the rhythm of the sea. Like in Polignano a Mare, where Patron Saint Vitus protects fishermen from storms. Or in Vieste, where youโll learn the Legend of Pizzomunno.
Why explore Puglia?
- To learn tales of times passed.
- To taste culture through local cuisine.
- And to witness the fascinating traditions of a region that is unchanged by the hands of time (or tourism).
2. Relish in Authentic and Unique Experiences
One of the major reasons to visit Puglia is to experience quintessential traditions of Southern Italy. Like…
- Fishing on a wooden trabucco over the Adriatic Sea in Gargano;
- Observing how traditional olive oil is produced in underground stone oil mills at a masseria (ancient farmhouse) in the Itria Valley
- Waking up in a trullo in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Alberobello;
- Learning to make traditional pasta from scratch; and
- Riding along ancient Roman paths through olive trees from the back seat of a retro Ape in Ostuni.
My favorite authentic experience in Puglia took place in Polignano a Mare, where I learned how not to use a fork and knife to eat mussels.
My Puglia native boyfriend, along with the owner of the restaurant, taught me to open the mussel shell with my mouth and slurp the meat straight in. That way, full attention is on the flavors of the sea!
My second favorite was sleeping in a trullo at Trulli Holiday Albergo Diffuso in Alberobello. Such an enchanting experience! Add it to your Puglia itinerary right this second!
Puglia is the opposite of touristy. Unlike Rome or the Amalfi Coast, youโll encounter very little English signage or English-speaking people in Puglia. So, although Puglians will be delighted to share their culture with you, be sure to know some Italian phrases or use Google Translate and hand gestures to get by.
READ MORE: The Perfect Puglia Itinerary: 7-10 Day Road Trip
3. Visit Picturesque Whitewashed Towns
You might visit Puglia and wonder if your Italy trip somehow took a wrong turn, and you ended up in Greece. Donโt believe me? During the 8th to 5th centuries BC, much of Southern Italy was once an ancient Greek colony called Magna Grecia!
While visiting Puglia, youโll notice Greek influences reflected in many of Pugliaโs villages and medieval towns.
Like while you drink wine and people-watch in Locorotondoโs whitewashed Centro Storico.
Or in Vieste, where alleys of white-painted buildings lead you straight to the turquoise waters of the Adriatic Sea.
For more whitewashed towns, head to the best beaches around Otranto or Gallipoli, โthe pearl of the Ionian Sea,โ then spend an evening under the twinkling lights of Ostuni, โItalyโs White Cityโ located in the heart of the Puglia region.
Check out our guide to the best things to do in Ostuni for all the details.
4. Explore the Parco Nazionale del Gargano (Gargano National Park)
Why visit Puglia? To hike down a trail of Aleppo pines and reach a beach of Mediterranean daydreams.
To visit the ancient Umbra Forest (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) in Monte Sant’Angelo, and take a kayak tour of the Grotta Sfondata in Vieste. All while snapping countless photos along the way!
Just over an hour by boat from Rodi, Gargano, you can reach Pugliaโs very own, little-known archipelago: the Isole Tremiti (Tremiti Islands), part of Gargano National Park!
Scuba dive, snorkel, hike, and get lost in the incredible natural beauty of this five-island archipelago.
READ MORE: Where to Go in Puglia: 18 Incredible Places to Visit in Puglia, Italy
5. Delight in Some of the Best Beaches in Italy
The beaches in Italy certainly donโt suck. When I say that Pugliaโs beaches are some of the best in the country, I mean it!
In Gargano, pine-covered mountains tower above sun-soaked nudie pebble beaches. And on the east coast, along the Salento Peninsula on the Adriatic, white limestone cliffs offer secluded coves in towns like Polignano a Mare.
On the west coast, Salveโs sandy beaches stretch on like the Maldives towards the southern tip of Puglia.
Whatโs more? The Tremiti Islands off the northern coast of Puglia offer a retreat not unlike that of Capri, minus the constant boat traffic and sea of tourists.
Itโs no wonder all of northern Italy vacations in Pugliaโs beach towns!
(Sorry, Amalfi Coast. I love you too, but this coast has you beat.)
6. See One-of-a-Kind Architecture
Lecce Baroque, Alberobello trulli, and Locorotondo cummerse; there are one-of-a-kind architectural wonders to be marveled at all over Puglia!
The golden-hued Baroque architecture in Lecce is alone one of the top reasons to visit Puglia. Youโll know why when sunlight hits the Baroque buildings in the Piazza del Duomo.
Check out our guide to the best things to do in Lecce, Italy for more inspiration!
Alberobelloโs conical-roofed stone dwellings, known as trulli, are adorable and have a humorous origin story, while Locorotondoโs cummerse look like something out of a winter wonderland! You can only find these historical treasures in Puglia, Italy!
Thereโs also the Castel del Monte, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an emblem of the 13th-century military architecture thatโs iconic to the Puglia region.
7. Savor Divine Food & Wine
Pugliaโs rich soil grows the freshest ingredients for real Italian cuisine: flavorful grains for pasta, grapes for wine, veggies for sides, and olives for 40% of Italyโs own olive oil production.
Savor some of Italyโs most delicious food when you visit Puglia! The regionโs cuisine of poverty, cucina povera, is similar to farm-to-table style food: local, fresh, and veggie-focused.
Taste Apuglian culture in its extra virgin olive oil and traditional cuisine such as the famous Orecchiette pasta (little-ear-shaped pasta).
Don’t forget to try Panino al Polpo (octopus sandwich), Taralli (bread snack), and the many veggie-based bites like Melanzane Grigliate (grilled eggplant), and Patata Novella di Galatina (Galatina potatoes).
While in Puglia, there are a few foodie experiences you canโt miss:
- Orecchiette Cooking Class and Wine Tasting in Lecce
- Street Food Tasting and History Tour in Lecce
- Puglia Bike Tour: Cycling Through the History of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Magical Private Chef Dining Experience in Your Puglia Rental Home
Red wine lovers will find heaven in the Primitivo and Negroamaro wines of Salento, while the rolling vineyards of the Itria Valley produce some of Pugliaโs finest white wines. You must visit at least one local vineyard for a wine-tasting while visiting Puglia!
Here are some of the top experiences for oenophiles:
8. Meet the Lovely People of Puglia
When I traveled to another region in Italy and told someone I was living in Puglia, a huge smile spread across their face.
Though Italy has some strong regionalism, everyone loves Puglians for being relatively laid-back, open-minded, and kind-hearted people.
If you need directions, donโt hesitate to stop someone and request their help. Puglians are proud of their wonderful region and eager to share with you all the things that make Puglia worth visiting.
9. Experience Relaxed Tourism
Northern Italian tourists seeking a relaxing holiday in warm weather are drawn to Pugliaโs stunning beaches. Northern Europeans also visit Puglia, Italy to sample wine and olive oil, and explore the coastal towns.
In Puglia, you wonโt find hordes of tourists like you do in Florence or Venice.
But make no mistake, tourism is growing.
For the ultimate laid-back Puglia holiday, visit during the off season (from October to March), like I did! I was often the only American tourist around, and I liked it that way.
10. Puglia is Perfect for Road Trips
Apuglia has decent public transport. But you wonโt be able to stop for road-side gelato or the perfect photo of that cute medieval corridor while riding a bus or train!
Puglia is best explored by car. So book your rental car (find the best deals on this website!), and road trip Puglia to drive cactus-lined highways past hippy-style beach campgrounds.
Cruise rugged coastlines and pull over to appreciate ancient fortified watch towers, sea caves, and natural rock formations like the San Felice Arch.
It was the nameless parts of Puglia between towns where I really felt the essence of this region, full of hidden gems and some of the kindest people youโll ever meet.
My Puglia Itinerary lays out the perfect Puglia road trip route for 7-10 days.
Final Thoughts on Why You Should Travel to Puglia Italy
Well, there you have it. Those are my top 10 reasons to visit Puglia ASAP; 10 reasons why youโre going to fall head over heels for this region – and its people, food, history, and traditions.
If youโre ready for the trip of a lifetime, then itโs time to visit some of the best places in Puglia.
From the Baroque city of Lecce to the whitewashed fishing village of Polignano a Mare, to the evergreen forests of Gargano National Park, Puglia is full of hidden gems and natural beauty. But most of all, the experience of true Italian life makes Puglia worth visiting.
Puglia, Italy Packing List
- Hiking boots or comfortable walking shoes
- Sunhat
- Natural sunscreen
- Natural mosquito repellent
- Sunglasses
- Light scarf for sun protection and churches
- Camera (this is Maddyโs go-to travel camera that takes amazing photos and videos!)
- GoPro for underwater photography
- Universal plug adapter, this is the best one literally ever
- Swimsuits
- Quick-dry Turkish towel
- Light sweater for nighttime and the coastal breeze
- Warm jacket if youโre visiting in the late fall or winter months
- Travel insurance; from delays and lost luggage to injuries, even the most perfectly planned trips can go awry. Make sure youโre covered.
- eSIM for your smartphone (so you can stay connected, use Google Maps, etc.)
Italy Quick Tips
- HOTEL: I use this website for scoring amazing deals on accommodation worldwide.
- HOSTELWORLD: If you’re traveling on a budget, this is the best website to score cheap hostel deals.
- VACATION RENTAL: I use this site for finding the perfect vacation rental for an unforgettable getaway.
- TRAVEL INSURANCE: Never go on a trip without travel insurance! It isnโt worth the risk if something goes wrong.
- GUIDED TOURS & EXCURSIONS: Many of the tours I recommend are hosted with Viator, which also works with local tour operators. Search them all here.
- CHEAP FLIGHTS: Get great deals on flights using my favorite flight fare aggregator.
- TRAVEL GEAR: A collection of all of my must-have travel gear are all listed here. Most important to remember is comfortable shoes and a scarf to use when visiting religious sites or if it gets a little cold.
- CAR RENTAL: If you need to rent a car book car rental in advance here for the best deals.
MORE PUGLIA TRAVEL INSPIRATION
Puglia, Italy FAQs
If youโre wondering what makes Puglia so special, itโs the slow-paced southern Italian way of life, stunning landscapes, and unique, down-to-earth culture. Plus sandy beaches, ancient forests, beautiful cities, and delicious food. Puglia is also special because it produces most of Italyโs olive oil!
People go to Puglia for sandy beaches, whitewashed fishing villages, Gargano National Park, a variety of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and architecturally masterful cities. Many Italians find themselves visiting Puglia for warm weather during the winter months, too.
Puglia, Italy is well worth seeing. In fact, Puglia is a top destination in Italy for road trips, since itโs the longest region in the country and has endless ancient olive groves, medieval towns, and cute seaside fishing village.
You need at least one week in Puglia to see all of the beautiful cities, absolutely amazing beaches, and lush Gargano National Park, plus to sample the delicious food, wine, and olive oil of this southern region.
The best month to visit Puglia is October, but really any time from early-July through October is fabulous. The summer months are best for beach holidays, but the crowds lessen around mid-September. The best months to visit Puglia for fewer crowds are September and October.
People visit Apuglia for whitewashed towns and seaside fishing villages, but fall in love with Apuglia for its people, hidden gems, and slower pace of life.
SAVE THIS POST ON PINTEREST FOR LATER!
Did you know…
When you book travel or purchase something through our links, we receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you? Your support enables Maddy’s Avenue to keep producing helpful travel content. Thank you!
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. When you click through a link on this page and make a valid purchase, Maddy’s Avenue may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you!). We only recommend products/services that we believe in and know you will love too. Your support enables us to continue making helpful travel content. Thank you for reading, and thank you for your support!
