Last Updated on September 8, 2025 by Lauren Belzer Sanford
If Italy is shaped like a boot, Puglia is its heel—and trust me, it’s where the magic happens.
While I love Italy as a whole, unlike the crowded streets of Rome or Florence, Puglia is a region that still feels charming, somewhat untouched, and unspoiled. Think whitewashed towns, olive groves stretching as far as the eye can see, sparkling Adriatic waters, and food so fresh it makes you wonder why you ever ate pasta anywhere else.
On my last trip, I explored five cities that completely stole my heart: Polignano a Mare, Ostuni, Alberobello, Monopoli, and Lecce. Each one offers something different, from cliffside beaches to baroque architecture to UNESCO World Heritage sites. Here’s my full guide to a few of the best cities in Puglia—and why they deserve a spot on your itinerary.
1. Polignano a Mare
Perched dramatically on cliffs above the Adriatic Sea, Polignano a Mare is one of the most photographed towns in Puglia. The highlight is Lama Monachile, a small pebble beach squeezed between limestone cliffs, where the turquoise water practically glows.
Photos by Courtney Linden Photography
Related: Our Stay at Masseria Le Torri
Things to do in Polignano a Mare:
- Wander the old town’s narrow streets, where poetry is scribbled on doors and balconies overlook the sea.
- Take a boat tour to discover the dramatic sea caves. You’ll see why the coastline here is so iconic!
- Stroll across Ponte Lama Monachile for views that will stop you in your tracks.
- Take a photo at the Monumento a Domenico Modugno, the original singer of Volare!
- Enjoy an evening spritz with a view (anywhere in Puglia, but especially Polignano).
Where to eat in Polignano a Mare:
- Grotta Palazzese – The famous cave restaurant! Be prepared, as it is a luxury dining experience, so you will likely spend a substantial amount of money. Previously, reviews from friends (and online) stated wonderful views but subpar food for the high price tag. My parents visited in June 2025, before our wedding festivities, and said the views were wonderful and the food was good (and fancy). We heard a few tour guides that we passed by explained to their guests that there is a new(er) chef, so the food has gotten better!
- Pescaria – Known for its legendary seafood sandwiches, this spot has become an institution in Puglia (and beyond). They opened in Polignano in 2015, and quickly boomed, opening additional locations throughout Italy, including big cities like Rome and Milan. Don’t miss the tuna tartare or octopus sandwich!
Don’t leave without trying a caffè specialie. Polignano’s signature espresso with sugar, lemon zest, and cream!
Ostuni
Known as La Città Bianca (The White City), Ostuni rises on a hilltop like a mirage. It doesn’t feel real! Driving toward it, the first glimpse of the whitewashed old town against the endless olive groves is one of those pinch-me moments I’ll never forget. It almost looks like the entire city has been dusted in flour, glowing in the Puglian sun.
Once you arrive, the best thing to do is exactly what we did: wander. The entire old town is a maze of narrow alleyways that beg you to get lost. We spent hours ducking into tiny archways, stumbling upon colorful doors framed with bougainvillea, and following the sound of clinking glasses to perfect spots for a spritz. Every turn seemed to lead to a new piazza, a scenic overlook, or a hidden staircase.
Related: Where to Stay in Puglia: Boutique Hotels & Dreamy Masserie
Things to do in Ostuni:
- Get happily lost in the historic center—it’s truly part of the experience. Some of my favorite memories are of simply sitting on the steps with gelato (or something cold) in hand, watching daily life unfold around us.
- Visit the Ostuni Cathedral, with its Gothic rose window that dates back to the 15th century.
- Take a drive through the surrounding Valle d’Itria, dotted with trulli houses, vineyards, and centuries-old olive groves. It’s countryside straight out of a fairytale.
- Have dinner at one of the masserie outside of the city – there are quite a few to choose from!
Where to eat in Ostuni:
- Osteria del Tempo Perso – Set inside a cave, this restaurant feels atmospheric and ancient, and the food is as memorable as the setting. I can still taste the orecchiette with tomato and ricotta forte.
- Borgo Antico Bistrot – My favorite aperitivo stop in Ostuni, with tables spilling onto the piazza, Aperol spritzes flowing, and the perfect view of the whitewashed streets as the sun sets. It’s the kind of place you sit for “just one drink” and end up staying for hours.
Related: The Best Restaurants & Aperitivo Spots in Ostuni
Planning to stay overnight? Spoiler: you absolutely should! Check out my guide to the best Airbnbs in Ostuni and where to stay in Puglia, which includes some beautiful stays in and around the city.
Alberobello
If you’ve seen photos of Puglia, chances are you’ve seen Alberobello’s trulli—the conical-roofed stone houses that earned this town UNESCO World Heritage status. Walking into Alberobello feels like stepping into a fairytale. Imagine hundreds of little white cottages topped with gray stone cone-shaped roofs clustered together on winding cobblestone lanes and stairways.
When we first arrived, I couldn’t help but feel a bit like a kid in a make-believe storybook village. It’s almost surreal to see these homes in person after years of seeing them on Instagram and Pinterest. The best advice I can give? Wander slowly. The trulli may all look similar at first glance, but each one has its own personality—some transformed into artisan shops, others into cozy wine bars, and many still used as homes to this day. Some of the owners are even open to letting you inside to see!
Things to do in Alberobello:
- Explore the Rione Monti district, where more than 1,000 trulli line the hillside streets. It’s the most touristy part of town, but for good reason—it’s amazing, and the views from the top are wonderful.
- Cross over to the quieter Aia Piccola district to see trulli still used as private residences. Here, you get a feel for daily life in the town and escape the crowds ever so slightly.
- Pop into one of the many artisan shops—you’ll find hand-painted ceramics, locally pressed olive oil, and linens embroidered with traditional Apulian designs (I brought home an adorable tote bag and tea towel).
We did not stay long enough for a meal in this canonical town, but we have heard that there are quite a few delicious spots to grab a bite!
Even though Alberobello can be crowded during the day, it’s worth a visit, and maybe even staying into the evening if you can (and this goes for many of the Itria Valley’s cities). As the tour buses leave, the streets empty, these villages glow!
Monopoli
Often overshadowed by nearby Polignano, Monopoli is another coastal town worth adding to your Puglia itinerary. With its colorful fishing boats bobbing in the harbor and the Adriatic Sea stretching beyond the old stone walls, this town has a slower pace despite its bigger size.
We spent an early afternoon here with our family of eleven before a boat excursion to the caves of Polignano. We wandered through the historic center—sun-bleached alleyways opening up into lively piazzas—and stumbled across a little window serving spritzes. There’s something magical about sipping an Aperol spritz in the shade on a hot, hot day, watching locals go about their day while boats drifted in and out of the harbor.
Things to do in Monopoli:
- Wander the old town, with its honey-colored stone buildings and lively piazzas. It feels less crowded than Polignano but just as charming.
- Walk along the old port to see the traditional blue-and-red fishing boats, known as gozzi.
- Explore the Castello Carlo V, a 16th-century fortress with panoramic views over the sea.
- If you have time, spend the afternoon at one of the sandy beaches just south of town!
- Take a boat trip to Polignano a Mare and its caves. The view looking back at Monopoli from the water is lovely!
Where to eat in Monopoli:
Since we were heading out on a boat tour, we popped into a casual spot for a quick lunch (perfect for a large group), but if you’re planning your trip, here are two well-loved options:
- Osteria Perricci – A family-run seafood institution right by the water.
- Bella Blu Gelateria – The perfect place to end your evening stroll with gelato.
Monopoli had a way of surprising me—I went in with little expectation, and looking back on it, it’s one of the towns I can’t wait to return to and spend a little more time exploring.
Lecce
Nicknamed the Florence of the South, Lecce is a baroque masterpiece, where intricately carved stone churches and grand piazzas glow in warm golden tones. On paper, it’s a must-visit cultural hub in Puglia worth spending multiple days in, but our personal experience was more of a short and sweet snapshot of the city.
Max and I visited as a “mini day trip” from Masseria Santo Scalone outside of Ostuni. It was mid-June, the heat was intense, and we only lasted a few hours before retreating back to the countryside pool. Still, those hours were filled with beauty: wandering cobblestone streets, peeking into piazzas, and admiring the ornate details of Lecce’s famous baroque architecture.
Things to do in Lecce:
- Marvel at the Basilica di Santa Croce, a stunning example of baroque design.
- Stroll through Piazza del Duomo.
- Spot the Roman amphitheater, tucked right in the heart of the city, a part of Lecce’s layered history.
- Try a caffè leccese—a local specialty of espresso poured over ice with almond syrup. It was a little sweet for me, but refreshing all the same.
Where to eat in Lecce:
- La Cucina di Mamma Elvira – Where Max and I had lunch. I ordered the spaghetti alle vongole (because of course I did), and it was delicious. My parents also ate here during their longer stay in Lecce and loved it just as much.
- Le Zie Trattoria – A local staple for traditional Salento-style cooking.
Though our time in Lecce was short, it was enough to leave an impression. Next time, I’d love to return in cooler weather and give the city the full attention it deserves!
Even after exploring these five gems, I know I’ve only just scratched the surface of Puglia. Each town had its own magic—cliffside swims in Polignano, getting lost in Ostuni’s whitewashed streets, wandering through Alberobello’s fairytale trulli, spritzes by the sea in Monopoli, and baroque beauty in Lecce—but there’s still so much more waiting to be discovered in my new favorite region in Italy!
On my next trip, I’d love to revisit some of these favorites, but I also have a list growing longer by the day: Locorotondo and Cisternino for their charm, Matera across the border in Basilicata with its caves straight out of history, and Otranto further south, where the Adriatic meets the Ionian and the beaches are said to be some of the most beautiful in Italy.
The truth is, Puglia isn’t the kind of place you visit once and check off your list. It’s a region that pulls you back, with new corners to uncover and familiar ones worth repeating. Something tells me I’ll be back over, and over, and over again.
Pin Your Next Escape
