Bari is a sprawling modern port, but at its heart lies the old town, Bari Vecchia. Take a self-guided audio tour or join a walking, bike, rickshaw, or Segway tour though the historic center with a guide to learn about this city’s long history. Tours generally take in highlights like the 12th-century Basilica di San Nicola, home to the remains of Saint Nicholas—better known as Santa Claus; Swabian Castle (Castello Svevo); Cathedral of St. Sabino; and the lively Piazza Mercantile, the social focal point of the old town.  

No city is more proud of its local cuisine than Bari, and the city’s grandmothers (nonnas), often gather on the narrow lanes crisscrossing the old town to hand-roll fresh orecchiette pasta. Experience the deeply rooted culinary traditions of the city firsthand with a food tour and sample beloved street food like panzerotti and sgagliozze, or join a cooking class to create classic dishes on your own. Once you’ve prepared your meal, you’ll sit down to savor the fruits of your labor, washed down with Puglian wine. 

Bari sits on the coast, so end the day by taking a few hours to relax on the beach. Alternatively, a number of quick excursions can be combined with a day in Bari. The towering Castel del Monte fortress is a short drive from the city, as is the charming fishermen’s village of Polignano a Mare and the medieval town of Conversano. Archaeology enthusiasts can head a bit further south to tour the ruins of the ancient city at Gnatia, where many of the artifacts now displayed in Bari’s Santa Scolastica Archaeological Museum were unearthed.