| Andria to | Bari 60 km |
| Barletta 11 km | |
| Brindisi 170 km | |
| Foggia 82 km | |
| Lecce 208 km | |
| Taranto 140 km | |
| Trani 13 km |
• Viaggiare in Puglia
www.viaggiareinpuglia.it
Puglia’s official tourist website has a mix of inspirational and practical, up-to-date information.
• Aeroporti di Puglia
www.aeroportidipuglia.it
Official website of Puglia’s two international airports.
• Trenitalia
www.trenitalia.com
Italy’s national train operator.
• Autostrade
www.autostrade.it/en/home
Italy’s motorway operator has a comprehensive website.
EU citizens can travel to Italy with a national ID card. British nationals and citizens of non-EU countries must have a passport. This must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of your departure from Italy.
Ambulance 118
General Emergency Number 112
Coastguard 1530
Fire Brigade 115
Police 113
Puglia has a typical Mediterranean climate with long, dry summers and mild winters. Temperatures can soar to the high-thirties degrees C in summer.
As a rough guide, shops open from 9am to 1 or 1.30pm and then from 4 or 5pm to 8pm Monday to Saturday. Variations occur, though, and special and Sunday openings are common in peak season. Many supermarkets and big department stores stay open throughout the day. Restaurants generally open from around noon to 3pm and then from 7.30pm to 11pm (or later in summer). Bars and cafes usually open from around 7.30am to 8pm, though some serve until 1 or 2am.
Italy’s national holidays include:
New Year’s Day 1 January
Epiphany 6 January
Easter March/April
Easter Monday March/April
Liberation Day 25 April
Labour Day 1 May
Republic Day 2 June
Ferragosto 15 August
All Saints' Day 1 November
Immaculate Conception 8 December
Christmas Day 25 December
Boxing Day 26 December
In addition, all towns and cities have their own Patron Saint holidays throughout the year.
European mobile phones can be used in Italy. Overseas and non-EU phone owners should check with their provider about roaming charges. Coverage is generally fairly good but it can be patchy in some more remote areas. Free wi-fi is generally available in hotels, B&Bs, agriturismi, masserie, vacation rentals, though signal quality can vary. Many bars and cafes also offer free wi-fi.
Peak season rates apply in July and August, though prices also spike at Christmas, New Year and Easter. Shoulder season runs across spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October).
Italy uses the Euro. ATMs are widespread across the region. Major credit cards are widely accepted but some smaller shops, restaurants and hotels may insist on cash. Tipping is not mandatory and Italians are generally not big tippers. In restaurants service is generally included but if it’s not, it’s OK to round the bill up to a convenient sum. In smarter establishments, five to 10% is fine.
In Puglia, the custom of the afternoon siesta, known locally as ‘la controra’, is a fact of life. Shops, and often museums and monuments as well, close for much of the early afternoon, typically from around 1pm until 4pm or 5pm in summer. Closing time is rarely before 8pm. In summer, shops in touristy areas will often stay open throughout the evening, sometimes closing as late as midnight.
Puglia is served by two international airports, both managed by Aeroporti di Puglia. Regular flights are scheduled to and from main European hubs – see www.aeroportidipuglia.it for updated timetables.
Bari ‘Karol Wojtyla’ International Airport Situated some 15 km northwest of the city centre – 20 minutes by taxi, 15 minutes by train (Ferrotramviaria), 30 minutes by bus (Tempesta). Best suited for destinations in central and northern Puglia. Brindisi Airport Also known as Salento Airport, it’s about 6 km from the city centre – 15 minutes by bus (STP) or taxi. Fly here for destinations in the Itria Valley and Salento. Foggia’s Gino Lisa airport mainly serves private flights and helicopter connection with the Tremiti Islands.
Alidaunia (www.alidaunia.it) operates daily flights from Foggia to the Tremiti Islands. Services are year-round with two weekly flights stopping at Peschici and Vieste en route during summer. Some private helicopter services are also available on request at regional airports.
Car hire is available at Bari and Brindisi airports and in the region’s main cities.
Roads
Road Rules
EU driving licenses are recognised in Italy. If your license doesn’t have photo ID or if you hold a non-EU license you’ll need to get an International Driving Permit (IDP).
A license is required to ride a scooter – a car license will do for bikes up to 125cc.
Drive on the right, overtake on the left. It’s obligatory to wear seat-belts in front and rear seats. Wearing a helmet is compulsory on all two-wheeled vehicles.
The blood alcohol limit is 0.05%; for drivers under 21 and those who have had their license for less than three years, it’s zero.
Unless otherwise indicated speed limits are: 130 km/h on autostradas; 110 km/h on main roads outside built-up areas; 90 km/h on secondary roads outside built-up areas; 50 km/h in built-up areas.
Taxis can be useful for short city journeys. You’ll find ranks at main train stations, otherwise you can call for a radio taxi. Uber is not available in Puglia. On average, most city journeys cost between €10 and €20. Flat rates may apply from city centres to airports.
Trenitalia (www.trenitalia.com) runs Alta Velocità high-speed trains to Puglia’s main cities. Daily services run from Turin, Milan, Venice and Rome to Foggia, Bari, Brindisi, Lecce and Taranto. As a rule, trains to Lecce generally stop at Foggia, Barletta, Bari, Ostuni and Brindisi. Within the region, Trenitalia and several local companies run slower intercity and regional trains to most towns and cities. See www.viaggiareinpuglia.it ('Useful info' then 'Moving Around Puglia') for details of regional routes.
| Andria to | Bari 60 km |
| Barletta 11 km | |
| Brindisi 170 km | |
| Foggia 82 km | |
| Lecce 208 km | |
| Taranto 140 km | |
| Trani 13 km |
| Bari to | Andria 60 km |
| Barletta 65 km | |
| Brindisi 117 km | |
| Foggia 134 km | |
| Lecce 154 km | |
| Taranto 88 km | |
| Trani 51 km |
| Barletta to | Andria 11 km |
| Bari 65 km | |
| Brindisi 175 km | |
| Foggia 88 km | |
| Lecce 212 km | |
| Taranto 145 km | |
| Trani 11 km |
| Brindisi to | Andria 170 km |
| Bari 117 km | |
| Barletta 175 km | |
| Foggia 246 km | |
| Lecce 38 km | |
| Taranto 70 km | |
| Trani 163 km |
| Foggia to | Andria 82 km |
| Bari 134 km | |
| Barletta 88 km | |
| Brindisi 246 km | |
| Lecce 284 km | |
| Taranto 216 km | |
| Trani 92 km |
| Lecce to | Andria 208 km |
| Bari 154 km | |
| Barletta 212 km | |
| Brindisi 38 km | |
| Foggia 284 km | |
| Taranto 108 km | |
| Trani 202 km |
| Taranto to | Andria 140 km |
| Bari 88 km | |
| Barletta 145 km | |
| Brindisi 70 km | |
| Foggia 216 km | |
| Lecce 108 km | |
| Trani 134 km |
| Trani to | Andria 13 km |
| Bari 51 km | |
| Barletta 11 km | |
| Brindisi 163 km | |
| Foggia 92 km | |
| Lecce 202 km | |
| Taranto 134 km |
To bring your pet to Italy, you’ll need proof of a valid rabies vaccination and an animal pet certificate, available from your vet. The animal must also be microchipped. Animals coming from an EU country must be accompanied by a European pet passport. Check with your airline about the regulations for travelling with a pet. As a rule, small dogs and cats can be carried on board as long as the weight of the animal and carrier doesn’t exceed 10kg. Heavier than that and the pet must travel in a special section of the hold. Puglia offers plenty of pet-friendly accommodation. To avoid unpleasant surprises, always check with your accommodation provider when you book. Pets can be taken to the spiaggia libera (free beach) but regulations might apply – local councils are required to display the rules by the beach. Alternatively, there are private beach clubs that accept animals at Torre Canne, San Cataldo and Pescoluse.
Bari and Brindisi are Puglia’s main ports. Ferries sail to/from Greece, Albania, Croatia and Montenegro.
The main companies and their routes:
Ferries run to the Tremiti Islands from Manfredonia, Vieste and Peschici in summer and from Termoli in the neighbouring region of Molise year-round. Major International cruise companies serve Bari, Brindisi and Taranto ports.
Star in your own dolce vita film by cruising Puglia’s back roads in an open-top convertible. A number of operators are now offering tours of the Bari coastline and Itria Valley in vintage Fiat 500s and other classic cars. Packages vary but routes generally cover the same ground, typically taking in Polignano a Mare, the Grotte di Castellana, Alberobello, Locorotondo and Martina Franca. Lunch in a masseria is often provided and two-day tours might include a night in a trullo.
From Bari to
Foggia 134 km; 1 hr 15 mins by car; 2 hrs by train
Vieste 218 km; 2 hrs 20 mins by car
Taranto 88 km; 1 hr by car; 1 hr to 1 hr 30 mins by train
Brindisi 117 km; 1 hr 15 mins by car; 1 hr to 1 hr 30 mins by train
Lecce 154 km; 1 hr 30 mins by car; 1 hr 20 mins to 1 hr 50 mins by train
From Brindisi to
Lecce 38 km; 25 mins by car; 30 mins by train
Taranto 70 km; 55 mins by car; 1 hr to 1 hr 40 mins by train
With everything from silky sandy beaches to adventure parks, wild animals and world-class gelato, Puglia is made for family travel. Whether you’re into dinosaurs, dolphins or just splashing around at the seaside, you’ll find plenty to keep you and your little ones happy.
A great way of learning about Puglia’s rural way of life is to visit one of the region’s masserie didattiche (educational farms) or agrimusei (agricultural museums). These offer hands-on educational activities for children that range from cooking classes and outdoor workshops to feeding farm animals. Many also have playgrounds and extensive grounds to explore.
As well as big drawcards like the Castellana Grotte Caves and the trulli of Alberobello, Puglia boasts many kid-friendly attractions. These range from the Parco dei Dinosauri at Castellana Grotte to the ever-popular Zoosafari at Fasano. For more animal fun, head to Taranto, where, if you’re lucky, you’ll get to see dolphins on cruises run by the Jonian Dolphin Conservation group. Also in Taranto, kids can get creative at one of the regular interactive workshops held at the MArTA Lab.
Families after some classic bucket-and-spade fun are spoilt for choice in Puglia. The region has some superb family-friendly spiagge with lovely soft sand and placid shallow waters. On the sheltered Ionian coast you’ll find fabulous beaches at Castellaneta Marina, San Pietro in Bevagna, Porto Cesareo and Marina di Pescoluse. Over on the Adriatic side, there are excellent sandy beaches at Vieste (Gargano), Torre Canne and Capitolo, south of Monopoli, and the Baia dei Turchi just north of Otranto.
With so much gelato, focaccia and pizza to feast on, it’s not hard to keep your children well fed. Kids are welcome in all but the smartest restaurants and although few places offer special kids menus you can always order a mezza porzione (half-portion) of a regular dish. Pasta and pizza are reliable kid-friendly dishes that you’ll find served everywhere.
Admission to state museums is free for under-18s from EU countries. For non-EU citizens, it’s half-price for five- to 18-year olds and generally gratis (free) for under-5s.
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