During my semester abroad in Florence, Italy, I booked a 20-euro flight to Bari on a whim for a long weekend. This was my first time traveling alone, and I was excited to dip my toes into the adventures of solo travel. Although I visited Bari in February during the low season, I was quickly captivated by the vibrance of the city and the relaxed atmosphere of Puglia and southern Italy.
If you’re visiting Bari, I’ve cultivated a list of sights and excursions for a budget-friendly visit to this Pugliese gem.
Arriving in Bari
If you arrive in Bari via the airport, you can take the train into the city center for just five euros. You can buy tickets online or at the train station kiosks, and the station is just a short walk outside the airport. Within 20 minutes, the train takes you to the city center and main station, Bari Centrale.
Explore the Old Town
Bari’s Old Town has the charm of a vintage postcard; well-loved Vespas lean lightly against the sandstone walls and pastel buildings with striped awnings that glow in the sunshine as laundry flaps gently in the breeze. Spend your time wandering the maze of cobblestone streets, uncovering churches and landmarks as you go.
Bari’s iconic pasta street, Strada delle Orecchiette, is a highlight of the Old Town. After passing under a low stone archway entitled “Strado Arco Basso” the streets are lined with tables balancing screens of drying orecchiette, a typical Pugliese pasta named for its distinct ear shape. If you’re lucky, you’ll witness some Italian nonnas shaping the pasta from coils of dough before it’s packaged in transparent bags and sold.
Another unmissable gastronomic spot in Bari’s Old Town is Panificio Santa Rita, a bakery serving oven-fresh focaccia barese. This wonderfully fresh focaccia is topped with tomato, olives, and oregano and is best enjoyed fresh while standing on the street outside the bakery. While hidden away on a side street, you won’t miss this bakery as the line is often out the door.
Marvel at the churches
Bari’s Old Town has two spectacular churches that are free to visit. First is Bari Cathedral, or the Cathedral of San Sabino. This striking white Romanesque cathedral is a pleasure to visit, and its simple interior glows in the sunlight that pours in through the rose window. Be sure to visit the crypt, whose ornate columns and vaulted ceilings preside over an altar containing the remains of Saint Sabinus, the church’s namesake. The crypt is also home to a mummy; Saint Columba’s remains can be viewed in a glass case on the left side of the crypt.
Bari’s most prominent church is the Basilica di San Nicola. Its stately Romanesque architecture houses the remains of Saint Nicholas (think Santa Claus), making it an important pilgrimage site for Catholics and Orthodox Christians. The nave features a decadent wooden ceiling, gilded with gold and adorned with frescoes, and an impressive ciborium (canopy) rests over the altar. This church also features a lavish crypt, where pilgrims can kneel before the remains of Saint Nicholas.
Walk along the sea
Bari has a wonderful seaside promenade, the Lungomare di Bari, that offers stunning views of the marina and the coast. Admire quaint blue and white fishing boats, or watch the sunset from Pane e Pomodoro beach. Or, stroll on top of the historic city wall, La Muraglia, and admire the views from up high.
Take a day trip!
Italy is highly connected by train, making it simple and inexpensive to adventure outside Bari for the day or an afternoon to explore the surrounding villages. While in Bari, I visited Polignano a Mare, Monopoli, Alberobello, and Matera, each with its distinct charm.
Polignano a Mare
From Bari Centrale, Polignano a Mare is just a short 40-minute train ride down the coast. Walk under the historic gateway, Arco Marchesale, to explore the Old Town, shops, and cafes. As you wander, keep an eye out for poetry, as the area Vicolo della Poesia features poetry graffiti on stairs and buildings from the local writer “Guido il Flâneur.” Later, head over to the Terrazza Santo Stefano for picturesque views of the sea and coastal cityscape.
Before heading to Polignano a Mare’s iconic beach, stop at the overlook Belvedere su Lama Monachile for perfect views of the stunning cove lined by rugged cliffs. During your hike down to the sea you’ll pass under the elegant Ponte Romano, whose five sandstone arches glow under the Mediterranean sun. The beach at Lama Monachile is rough and rocky, but the waters are calm and crystalline, making for a refreshing dip on a sunny day.
Monopoli
Just fifteen minutes away from Polignano a Mare is the charming town of Monopoli. From the train station, wander down to the Old Town, whose white-washed streets are lined with verdant cacti and potted plants. At the Porto Antico, sapphire-blue boats bob lazily in the water, and you can stroll along the port before arriving at the 16th-century sandstone fortress, Castello Carlo V. Following the city wall, you’ll encounter two bastions, Bastione Santa Maria and Bastione di Babula, complete with canons and excellent views of the sea.
At the end of the wall, you’ll find the city beach, Cala Porta Vecchia, a small strip of sand with turquoise waters near the Old Town. If you continue along the coast, you’ll come across a collection of small coves and grottoes, my favorite being Spiaggia di Porto Verde. These beaches are secluded with glassy water and are likely to be crowded on a summer day.
Alberobello
Alberobello is a UNESCO World Heritage site whose unique trulli houses captured my heart with their whimsical charm. This darling village set into the hillside looks like it came from a fairytale, where petite, white-washed houses with conical stone rooves populate the neighborhoods. Stop by the Church of Santa Lucia, a simple, boxy church with an excellent view of the city. Continue up the hill to Trullo Sovrano, a heritage museum where you can pay 2 euros (bring coins) to go inside a Trullo with its original furnishings.
Afterward, go back down the hill to the Rione Monti area, where you can wander the winding streets, admiring the many trulli. Look out for several special trulli, including the Siamese trulli, subterranean trulli, and the four iconic painted rooftops. Stop by the Church of Sant’Antonio to see a small trullo church with stunning murals.
Alberobello is charming, small, and very touristic, best for a half-day excursion. Alberobello can be reached by bus from Bari, using the Ferrovie del Sud Est buses at the Bari Largo Sorrentino bus stop behind the train station. For me, it was a bit confusing which bus you are meant to board, so don’t be afraid to ask the bus drivers for help. Once in Alberobello, they drop you off on Via Cavour and tell you the next bus will come to the same stop in two hours, ensure you pin the bus stop for your return, as it is not in the main tourist zone.
Matera
Matera is a magnificent stone city set in a ravine in Basilicata. Its fame comes from the unique cave dwellings that populate the cliffside in the Sassi (“stone”) districts. In the 1950’s this city was considered “the shame of Italy” due to poverty and disease in the Sassi but has since flourished due to investment and economic stimulus.
If you’re arriving by train, you’ll find yourself walking through a seemingly ordinary Italian town. However, a stop at Belvedere di Piazza Giovanni Pascoli provides your first look at this astonishing stone city. Continue down and you’ll find yourself in the heart of the Sasso Caveoso, the caves district, where otherworldly stone dwellings surround you. Wind your way around to the Church of Saint Mary of Idris, an archaic-looking church built into the limestone cliff. From the church, take in spectacular views of the ravine and cityscape.
For panoramic city views, embark on a hike from the visitor center on Via Madonna delle Virtú. Descend into the ravine before crossing the Tibetian Suspension Bridge, and begin your ascent to the top of the cliff, passing ancient caves and rock churches. At the lookout point, Belvedere Murgia Timone, you’re rewarded with exceptional views of Matera. More info on the hike here.
Matera was my favorite day trip from Bari and was recommended to me by the owner of the hostel I stayed at. You can take the train from Bari to Matera, but these trains depart from the FAL Railway Station, adjacent to but in front of Bari Centrale, to the right of the roundabout.
