Bari Vecchia is a labyrinth of alleys where life happens outdoors. Women roll fresh pasta on tables outside their front doors, kids play among hanging laundry. From Bari you can hit Polignano a Mare, Alberobello, Matera and the Salento coast in under 2 hours.
📅 Best time to visit
April through June and September-October are prime. Summer is hot but the sea makes up for it. Winters are mild.
🏛️ Why visit Bari
🍽️ Local cuisine
Orecchiette with broccoli rabe, Bari-style focaccia, rice potatoes and mussels, fried panzerotto, sgagliozze (fried polenta), Andria burrata and crudo.
🗺️ Neighborhoods to explore
Bari Vecchia for old town vibes. Lungomare for seaside walks. Polignano a Mare (30 min) for jaw-dropping cliffs. Alberobello (1h) for those iconic trulli.
✈️ How to get there
Karol Wojtyla Airport (BRI) is 10 km from downtown with shuttle buses. Bari Centrale station has trains to everywhere in Puglia plus Rome and Milan.
💡 Practical tips
- Rent a car to explore Puglia — trulli, beaches and farmhouses are way off the bus grid.
- Grab a fried panzerotto in Bari Vecchia: 2 bucks, life-changing.
- Ferries run from Bari to Greece, Croatia and Montenegro.