PUGLIA SELF-DRIVE TOUR

9 days self-drive and self-guided walking tour

 

Discover charming Mediterranean small villages, from the unique Trulli houses of Alberobello, the Sassi cave houses in Matera, to the "white city" of Ostuni. This independent self-drive and self-guided walking tour of Puglia allows you to enjoy at your own relaxed pace, the beauty of this part of Southern Italy and its food and wine culture.

Itineraries designed by our local travel experts
We are born and we live in Puglia, so we use our local knowledge to design tours where you can experience this Italian region away from the mass tourism. 

Our travel suggestions will let you easily drive through the unspoiled Apulian countryside and coastline, visiting typical small villages and enjoying a selection of food and wine activities.


The Arrivederci Puglia Travel APP will guide you during your trip
Booking our self-drive tour package, you will receive the detailed itinerary and a personalized code to use the Arrivederci Puglia Travel App.

In the App you will find the day by day itinerary, roads information, recommended points of interest to visit, suggestions about traditional food and wine to taste and local restaurant where to eat the authentic Apulian cuisine, away from touristic places.


Tailor-made self-drive and self-guided walking tours in Puglia
You can choose to follow our pre-arranged and recommended itinerary driving through Puglia's most beautiful places or to modify and personalized the tour according to your wishes, dates and budget.

We can customize your tour including personalized services: 
 - Car hire
 - Hotels booking
 - Food and wine activities 
 - Private guided walking tours with expert local guide
 - Cooking classes
 - Boat tours
 - Bike tours  

This 9 days and 8 nights tour is a travel idea that we suggest you to experience Puglia region by yourself.

You can choose to book this specific tour or to customize it.
Please, let us know your plans and we will create for you a personalized tailor-made tour according to your wishes, dates and budget.
 

Day 1   Arrival – Puglia central area
Once you have landed at Bari airport, you can get your rental car and start you self-drive tour of Puglia. 
We suggest staying for the first 5 nights in one of the charming villages in Bari area. 
In the APP you will find more details and suggestions about Hotels and their location. 
Upon request we will book Hotels for you. 


Day 2  Ostuini – Polignano a Mare
Today you will visit Ostuni, best known as “the white city”, for its historical downtown houses completely white painted. During your trip you will admire thousands of centuries old olive trees, because this part of Puglia is famous for extra virgin olive oil produced with olives from very old trees.
Continue your trip going to Polignano a Mare, a characteristic Mediterranean fishing village that stands on a rocky cliff. Polignano is famous for hand-made gelato, so we recommend stopping in a local gelateria for a delicious gelato tasting! Please, see the APP to find details about local restaurants, gelaterie and places to explore. 


Day 3  Alberobello Unesco site and the Itria Valley – lunch in Trullo restaurant
This morning you will drive through the beautiful Itria Valley, located between the Adriatic Sea and the Ionian Sea. It is characterized by charming villages located on the top of different hills, wooded slopes, vineyards, mile after mile of olive groves and the fascinating Trulli houses.
Enjoy the visit of Alberobello “the capital of Trulli houses”, a UNESCO Site. Trulli are ancient stone houses unique in the world with a round shape and a conical roof.
Upon request we can arrange for you a private guided visit and tasting in a local farm specialized in organic mozzarella and Apulian cheeses.
In Alberobello we will arrange your lunch in a charming Trullo restaurant. You will experience a traditional Apulian-style meal from antipasti (appetizer) to dessert, based on authentic local dishes. Wine is included. 
Continue your trip driving through the hills of the Itria Valley, explore the other most famous villages of this area and taste some of the food specialties that you can’t miss!

Meal included: 3 courses lunch with wine


Day 4  Caste del Monte Unesco site – Trani – Bari
Explore the North part of Puglia until to reach the superb and mysterious Castel del Monte a UNESCO World Heritage Site, built in the 13th century by the great emperor Frederick II. Its particular octagonal shape is the reason that's make it mysterious and unique in the world.
Continue your trip with the visit of Trani and its lovely picturesque fishing seaport. Visiting this Mediterranean city you can enjoy the beautiful harbor, take a walk along the seafront until to the stunning white cathedral. See the App to find restaurants where to taste lovely seafood!
Then continue your trip going to Bari, Puglia's capital city. Walking through the old city you can see local old ladies that continue the tradition in making handmade pasta just outside their houses. Don’t forget to stop in one of our suggested local focacceria (bakery) to taste the original and delicious focaccia barese, the most loved street food in Puglia!


Day 5  Matera Unesco site                    
Today you'll be visiting Matera city. You will drive through the central part of Puglia until to arrive in Basilicata region. Matera is a UNESCO site best known for the Sassi di Matera, an ancient city with houses that have been excavated into the rocks and inhabited since the Stone Age. 
Following our itinerary and enjoy a fascinating walking tour through the unique and ancient Sassi di Matera. You will be fascinated by the beauty of Matera old city that looks like a living nativity.
Food is also a great experience in this city, let us inspire you with our recommendations about cave restaurants and food specialties.


Day 6   Lecce “the Florence of the Southern Italy”    
From this day your tour will be focalized on Puglia South area, so we suggest staying in Lecce city for your last 3 nights. Please, find Hotels suggestions and road information on the App.
Drive to the South part following the Adriatic Coast, until to reach Lecce. This beautiful city is known as the capital of the Baroque art in the South of Italy and for this reason is called “the Florence of the Southern Italy”. 
Follow our itinerary and enjoy a relaxing walking tour where you will admire ancient churches and noble houses that represent beautiful examples of Italian Baroque art. 
Lecce has a lot to offer for foodies! One of the local specialties that you can’t miss is the typical Pasticciotto Leccese (a sweet pastry filled with delicious cream and cooked in the oven). On our App you can discover more about Lecce typical food and places to taste it. 


Day 7   Otranto and the Adriatic East Coast – Apulian wine experience in local winery    
This morning we suggest visiting the city of Otranto, the highest point in eastern Italy.  It is full of interesting sights to visit while wandering through the town’s maze of narrow streets and passages. Otranto is a typical small town with a nice historical downtown built on the Adriatic Coast. 
After your city tour continue your trip driving along the Adriatic East Coast. Following our itinerary you'll be charmed by a wonderful emerald green lake set amidst the coral-colored hills of the bauxite quarry. Then take your time to stop at the panoramic view of Otranto lighthouse. It is the eastern tip of Italy where if the sky is completely clear it's possible to see the other side of Adriatic Sea with Albania and the North of Greece.
Leaving the coastline you will continue driving by the flourishing vineyards and olive groves of the unique Apulian countryside. 
We will arrange for you the visit of a local winery. Your wine expert guide will show you the vineyards and the cellar where you will learn about grape varieties and wine production in this region. Finally enjoy your tasting of different Apulian wines: white, rosè and red!

Food experience included: wine tasting in local winery


Day 8  Gallipoli and the Ionian West Coast
Today you will travel to the West Coast of Puglia and visit Gallipoli, a nice fishing village on the Ionian Sea. This part of the region is a trendy destination loved for its beautiful sandy beaches. 
The old town, perched on a limestone island, is connected to the new part of the town, on the mainland, by an arched bridge built in the 1900s. 
Follow our itinerary and take a relaxing walking tour through the old city until to visit the local fish market where you can also taste the daily fresh fish cooked directly from fishermen. 


Day 9   Departure 
Today you leave from Lecce city. Drop off your car at the airport before your departure flight. 
Please, remember that if your flight departs from Brindisi airport, you need approximately 45 minutes drive distance from Lecce city. 
Otherwise if your flight departs from Bari airport, you need approximately 2 hours drive distance from Lecce city.

The price for this 9 days self-drive tour is Euro 390 per person.


WHAT IS INCLUDED

Arrivederci Puglia Travel App
Booking this self-drive tour, you will receive our App where you will find all details about the tour: 
- drive directions 
- our selection of suggested Hotels 
- detailed itinerary day by day with places to visit, cultural and historical information
- suggestions about typical food and wine to taste and places where to taste them
- names and details about local restaurants where to eat the authentic local cuisine
- extra activities to add to your tour upon request
- the App includes also an instant chat service, so it is very easy to communicate with us for free.

Lunch in charming Trullo restaurant in Alberobello. 3 courses menu based on Apulian traditional dishes with wine included.

English guided tour of a local winery with different Apulian wines tasting.

Local support available 24/7

Vat tax included



EXTRA SERVICES TO ADD UPON REQUEST

Car Rental
We can book your hire car for the duration of your trip and you can choose which type of vehicle you prefer, from economy to luxury type.

Accommodation Booking
Accommodation is part of your experience in Puglia. You can choose to stay in a charming Trullo house, in a relaxing farmhouse or in a cave hotel!
We will suggest you a carefully selection of Hotels where you can appreciate the Italian and Mediterranean lifestyle. Boutique B&B in the city center, 4 star Hotels, farmhouses in the countryside, 5 star and luxury Hotels.
We can book for you the accommodation you prefer and you can choose haw many Hotels you want to change during your vacation.

Personalized experiences:
 - Guided walking tours with expert local guide
 - Visit of local farm with organic Mozzarella and Apulian cheeses tasting
 - Visit of local oil mill with Extra Virgin Olive Oil tasting
 - Visit of local wineries with Apulian wines tasting
 - Apulian cooking class
 - Boat tours
 - Bike tours
 - Lunches and dinners in selected restaurants

Customized tours
Upon request we can design your personalized self-drive tour in Puglia according to your wishes, dates and budget.

Tour
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Tour highlights

  • Self-drive tour experience created by a local expert
  • Detailed itinerary and driving direction easily to follow on our travel APP 
  • Complete Apulian lunch with wine included per two persons in a charming Trullo restaurant
  • Apulian wine experience in local winery
  • Selection of local restaurants where to taste the authentic Apulian cuisine, away from touristic places: from the typical trattorie where to taste the “cucina della nonna” to gourmet and exclusive restaurants
  • Extra activities and services to personalized your holiday

Puglia self-drive tours


Our Puglia self-drive tour is designed for travelers who want to experience Puglia region with freedom and flexibility, following a detailed itinerary created by a local expert.