Itineraries for Your Trip to Puglia
3 Days in Puglia for Families
Puglia makes for a refreshingly slow-paced holiday destination for families who don’t want to be too tied up in a “checklist” itinerary. Its endless stretches of sandy beach lapped by crystalline waves, tiny hilltowns for little ones to explore, and colorful street life punctuated by local festivals and roving buskers along its promenades are ideal for a relaxed, family-focused getaway.
This southern region has long been one of our family’s favorite summer destinations, where long, lazy days at the beach flowed into relaxed al fresco dinners and waterfront strolls long past bedtime. Unwind over three days in Puglia with your tots and teens with this tried-and-true itinerary.
It's too hot in the midday summer hours to sightsee; save culture for early morning.
If you only have time for one thing, make it a boat and swim tour of the sea grottoes along Polignano a Mare’s coastline.
You’ll spend most of your time on the coast, so begin along the protected shores of Gargano National Park. Explore the Gargano Promontory and pretty seaside towns of Peschici and Vieste, head inland to the lush Umbra Forest to hike, or join a boat tour along the coastline to marvel at the coastal cliffs and caves up close—and take a dip.
Once the sun begins to set, try Puglia’s traditional trabucco fishing technique at a platform kitted out with nets, ropes, and winches. Learn the tricks of the trade from a mastro trabuccolante and see how locals have fished these waters for centuries.
Turn your sights inland today to visit Alberobello, one of Italy’s most captivating towns and home to fairytale-like trulli dwellings. These round stone houses topped with conical roofs may look like cartoon homes, but they are an authentic style of architecture found only in Puglia’s Itria Valley.
After a morning in Alberobello’s old town of Rione Monti, take a beach break. Head to the Adriatic coast to bask and bath or take a boat tour to the coastal marine grottoes. Then, make a beeline for Polignano a Mare and Monopoli and enjoy a casual al fresco family-friendly fish dinner.
Explore Puglia’s Salento Peninsula today, beginning with Lecce. This baroque city is home to striking architecture dating from the 17th century—look for animals, gargoyles, and carved details on the stone facades. Older kids can create papier-mâché sculptures at a landmark artisan studio.
Take a final escape to the Salento coastline—the strip that forms the “heel” of Italy’s “boot.” The waterfront is some of Italy's best, with long stretches of white sand and turquoise waters. Choose the Adriatic or the Ionian shore; top spots include Otranto to the east, Gallipoli to the west, and Santa Maria Leuca at the southernmost tip.
