Apulia packs Roman ruins, cave dwellings and two coastlines into the heel of Italy's boot — without the crowds or prices of Tuscany or the Amalfi Coast. Here are the 14 best things to do in 2026.
A UNESCO World Heritage town built almost entirely of conical-roofed limestone houses found nowhere else in the world — walk the Rione Monti district for the best concentration.
A dramatic clifftop old town above the Adriatic, with a network of sea caves best explored by boat, including the famous Grotta Palazzese restaurant carved into the rock.
A hilltop old town painted almost entirely white, with narrow winding lanes and sweeping views over olive groves down to the Adriatic.
Known as the "Florence of the South" for its extravagant 17th-century Baroque architecture, carved from soft golden local limestone — the Basilica di Santa Croce is the standout.
A maze of narrow medieval streets where local women still hand-roll orecchiette pasta outside their doorways — plus the Basilica of Saint Nicholas and the Norman-Swabian Castle.
A striking 13th-century octagonal castle built by Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II — so architecturally significant it appears on Italy's one-cent coin.
Italy's largest network of show caves, with dramatic underground chambers of stalactites and stalagmites — a short drive from Alberobello.
Italy's easternmost town, with a striking cathedral, a Aragonese castle and some of the clearest water on the Adriatic coast.
The southern peninsula's turquoise water rivals the Caribbean in photos — Porto Selvaggio and the Maldive del Salento are local favourites.
A circular hill town in the Valle d'Itria, less visited than Alberobello but equally charming, with excellent local wine.
Apulia is the birthplace of burrata cheese — seek it out at a local caseificio (dairy) for the freshest possible version, ideally the same day it's made.
Spend a night (or just an afternoon) at a converted farmhouse estate surrounded by centuries-old olive groves — Apulia produces more olive oil than any other Italian region.
A small island town connected to the mainland by a bridge, with a historic centre, a castle and some of Salento's best sunset views.
The "spur" of Italy's boot in the north — dramatic cliffs, pine forests and a completely different, wilder landscape than the flat olive groves further south.
Currency: Euro. Card payment is widely accepted in cities, though cash helps in smaller towns.
Getting around: A rental car is close to essential for the inland hill towns; the coastal train line covers Bari, Polignano a Mare, Monopoli and Brindisi.
Language: Italian. English is widely spoken in tourism in the main towns.
How many days do you need in Apulia? 5 days covers the essential highlights. 7–10 days lets you add Lecce, Salento and the Gargano peninsula.
Is Apulia safe? Yes — one of Italy's safer regions overall.
Do I need to book Alberobello tours in advance? Not strictly required, but booking ahead in summer avoids the biggest crowds and guarantees availability.
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