How to Spend 4 Days in Puglia (Best Itinerary for Foodies)

If you are looking forward to trying great food in Italy, Puglia is the perfect place. I am a foodie, and this 4-day itinerary in Puglia is based on my experiences trying the best restaurants around Puglia, so I have thrown in plenty of gelato and drinks spots.

This Puglia itinerary focuses on the Itria Valley region of Puglia, which has towns with fantastic architecture and some with coastal views. If you want to visit Puglia’s beaches, you will find the best spots in the Salento region of Puglia, but there is not enough time to visit Salento with only 4 days in Puglia.

I spent 3 weeks in Puglia, and we had friends come with us during that period, so I visited several places in Puglia numerous times to show our friends our favourite spots. Therefore, I can pick out the places most worth visiting during a short period to create the perfect Puglia itinerary by car.

I am also an ex-travel agent and a travel planning expert, so I have been creating itineraries for years. So, you can trust that this Puglia road trip itinerary is well-thought-out and planned to perfection.

How to Get to Puglia?

Puglia has two main airports: Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport (BRI) in the north and Brindisi Papola Casale Airport (BDS) in the south. Both airports offer direct flights from major European cities and domestic connections from other Italian airports.

Bari Airport is the larger of the two and serves more international routes, but it is over an hour away from Ostuni. Whereas Brindisi is only a 30-minute drive. Therefore, you should book flights to Brindisi, given that this itinerary is based around Ostuni.

If you want to arrive in Puglia by train, take the train to Bari. However, to get around the rest of Puglia, booking a rental car is strongly recommended.

How to Get Around Puglia?

Pick up a rental car from the airport. You will need one for the whole long weekend in Puglia because it will be quicker and more convenient than any public transport.

When booking your car rental online, reserve a vehicle as small as possible, so you can fit into narrow parking spaces.

Make sure you have offline maps downloaded of the region and have a sim card that works in Italy. When we arrived at Brindisi airport, we could not connect to the Wi-Fi and our mobile data was not working. Therefore, we had huge difficulties navigating to our Airbnb and had to go old-school and use road signs most of the way.

4 Day Puglia Itinerary

This itinerary incorporates all the most important sights to see within 4 days in Puglia. To see more of Puglia, you should read my 10-day Puglia itinerary.

Day 1 – Arrival in Puglia and Ostuni

Drive to Ostuni and check in to your hotel. It is not allowed to drive around the narrow streets of Ostuni’s main old town; however, many hotels offer private parking nearby and a shuttle or porter service to collect your luggage. For example, La Sommita Relais offer this service and will collect you by tuk-tuk.

Alternatively, you can book a hotel just outside the Centro Storico (historic centre) which is a short walk to the main area of Ostuni. Paragon 700 Boutique Hotel is around a 10-minute walk from the Centro Storico and has private parking.

An alternative option is booking a Masseria near Ostuni, such as Masseria Cervarolo or Masseria Moroseta.

Although you will not be within walking distance to Ostuni, Masserie offer a great way to experience the Pugliese culture. Masserie are old farmhouses with a collection of buildings around them for accommodation. They typically have restaurants onsite serving local cuisine with food from their land.

Finally, for one of the most luxurious and unique properties in the region, book Borgo Egnazio for your stay. It is an ultra-private resort where celebrities like to go on holiday.

If your hotel is not within walking distance of Ostuni, you can drive to a public car park and walk into the centre. I parked at this paid Ostuni car park numerous times when visiting Ostuni during the daytime or evening.

It is time to explore Ostuni with its picturesque narrow streets, historic architecture, and breathtaking views from the city walls. If you want further details on where to explore in Ostuni, aim for the Centro Storico on Google Maps and you will find the main streets of La Citta Bianca, as it is known in Italian.

I recommend visiting Cremeria La Scala for delicious gelato as you may get hot while exploring Ostuni. We went numerous times during our visits to Ostuni to try several flavours.

Visit Bar Perso for some pre-dinner drinks. Bar Perso has bean bags laid out along its narrow street, which creates a unique atmosphere. But also, make sure you are dressed appropriately to sit on a bean bag. (There are some stall chairs too). Bar Perso serves delicious cocktails and the view to the horizon with the sunset is hard to beat.

As you may be tired from travelling, head to Bellavista Pizzeria for a chilled evening meal. There are no reservations at Bellavista Pizzeria, so you may want to show up when it opens at 6:30 PM and go for drinks after.

Day 2: Monopoli and Polignano a Mare

This morning you will be visiting Monopoli, a lovely port town that you can spend a few hours wandering. There is a free car park a 15-minute walk from the centre of Monopoli, and there is also some free street parking in the same area.

Monopoli has a charming historic centre and a beautiful coastline. You can walk along the lungomare, a coastal promenade, to see some of the highlights of Monopoli.

Plus, dedicate some time to the weaving the streets filled with shops, bars and restaurants. We also loved the street filled with hats hung by string, which according to the location from the photos I took is on Via Santa Catarina (see approximate hat street location here).

There are numerous churches and historical buildings amongst the streets too.

Stop for lunch at Ristorante Piazza Palmieri in Monopoli – an upscale restaurant in a quaint piazza. It has excellent seafood, and I loved the chocolate lava cake for dessert.

Otherwise, my recommendation is to continue to Polignano a Mare, a stunning cliffside town known for its breathtaking views and vibrant atmosphere. In Polignano a Mare, you can try one of the famous sandwiches at Olio Su Pane or Pescaria (but the queue is typically long at the latter option). I had a meatball sandwich at Olio Su Pane, and it was delicious.

If you had lunch in Monopoli it is time to head to Polignano a Mare for the afternoon. Walk around the town and walk towards the coastline for a spectacular view.

Also, head to the iconic viewpoints to see the most famous views of Lama Monachile and walk along the pebbly beach.   You can get a sneak peek of Grotta Palazzese, the famous restaurant built into the cliff, from a viewpoint around the corner.

Eating at Grotta Palazzese is on many people’s bucket lists because the scenery is breathtaking. However, it is likely to be one of the most expensive meals you have while in Southern Italy and the quality may not necessarily back up the price. The minimum price is EUR 195 per person, even if you only order 1 dish.

Grab some gelato from Fiordilatte in Polignano a Mare as a post-lunch dessert.

Return to Ostuni for dinner at Osteria del Tempo Perso. This was one of my favourite restaurants from our time in Puglia. The location and decoration within a cave is extraordinary, and the food was divine.  

If you have time, go for pre- or post-dinner drinks at Hanky Panky. You can order from a wide list of cocktails.

Day 3: Alberobello, Martina Franca and Locorotondo

Wake up early and drive to Alberobello, one of the most famous towns in the Itria Valley. The drive will take around 45 minutes, but you should try to arrive before 9:00 AM to avoid the crowds. Tour groups arrive in Alberobello by busloads from 9:00 – 10:00 AM onwards.

There are numerous paid car parks around Alberobello – bring cash or you may find one that accepts card payments.

Alberobello is a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for its streets filled with unique trulli, which are white dome-shaped buildings. You can find boutiques, houses, and restaurants inside these remarkable buildings.

It is an extremely touristy location, but still worth a visit because it is unlike any other town. You may see a trullo in several parts of Puglia, but there is no town with as many trulli in one place as Alberobello.

There are two sides to Alberobello, so make sure you explore both. There is the Rione Aia Piccola, which is a quieter more residential area, but still popular with tourists. It also has many viewpoints and photo opportunities without as many people walking about.

Then there is the Zona Rione Monti, the famous trulli zone – the most popular area for visitors, that has many shops and trulli you can visit. Again, there are plenty of places to take photos and enjoy the scenery.

If you did not eat before you left, or you are looking for a snack, grab a pasticiotto from NeWynd. There is a hidden terrace out the back of the café if you want to dine in or take it to eat while exploring Alberobello.

After a visit to Alberobello, drive to Martina Franca, which is around 20 minutes from Alberobello. There are numerous car parks around the outskirts of Martina Franca, and you can walk into the main town centre.

Martina Franca is full of charming streets with striking architecture. You will find several spectacular churches, including the Basilica San Martina on Piazza Plebiscito, which is worth wandering towards. It is also close to Piazza Maria Immacolata a beautiful square.

This area is where you will find a lovely restaurant with friendly staff called Garibaldi Bistrot. I highly recommend stopping for a leisurely lunch at Garibaldi Bistrot. Our group of 6 ordered a range of dishes, and all of them were excellent.

If you still have time to explore before returning to Ostuni, you could visit Locorotondo as it is a 15-minute detour from Martina Franca. The view of Locorotondo from the approaching roads is spectacular. In my opinion, the view of Locorotondo from afar is better than the view from within Locorotondo to the surrounding region.

You can spend around an hour at Locorotondo walking around the quaint, quiet streets before returning to Ostuni. It is a small town, so you do not need a whole afternoon.

It is also possible to go straight back to Ostuni and enjoy a chilled afternoon at the hotel before going out for dinner.

One of the most popular places in Ostuni for a sunset drink is Borgo Antico Bistrot. It is set across several levels and the view is hard to beat. However, given its popularity, you often must wait a while for a table at peak times.

In my opinion, Borgo Antico Bistrot is a great place for drinks. The food was not as good as at other restaurants we tried in the area – unless you are getting charcuterie, cheese and other antipasti offerings.

There are 3 restaurants on the Michelin guide in Ostuni that you could consider for dinner this evening: Cielo, Restaurant 700, and Osteria Piazzetta Cattedrale.

Day 4: Grottaglie, Ceglie Messapica and Departure

On your last day in Puglia, you can buy unique souvenirs from your trip to Italy. Drive 30 minutes to Grottaglie, the small town known for its ceramics. Locate the Quartiere delle Ceramiche (the ceramic quarter), where there are numerous workshops and shopfronts.

If you want more ideas for souvenirs in Puglia, consider buying local olive oil and wine. 

Most ceramic shops open from 9:00 AM, but they close mid-afternoon, so check the shops’ opening hours before visiting. One of my favourites was Bottega Vestita.

In the shops, you will find a great display of products, such as mugs, bowls, plates and ornaments. It is also possible to ship your goods internationally. I bought some beautiful pasta bowls, and the shop wrapped them up so I could take them in my backpack on the plane home.

You can also wander around Grottaglie’s centro storico and visit the Ceramics Museum.

Try Osteria La Capasa in Grottalie for lunch.

Alternatively, drive to Ceglie Messapica for lunch and eat at Osteria da Giuseppe. Ceglie Messapica is another charming town, and it is on the way back to Ostuni. Osteria da Giuseppe is a tiny restaurant that serves traditional Pugliese food by a local family-run team.

After eating pasta every day for 3 weeks, it was refreshing to try some meat and potatoes at Osteria da Giuseppe.

You may leave Puglia this evening or return to Ostuni for your final night before flying out of Brindisi or Bari.

This completes the 4-day itinerary for Puglia. 

How Many Days Do You Need in Puglia?

Seeing the whole of Puglia in 4 days is impossible, but you will have enough time to see many of the highlights of the Puglia region. Four days is the minimum time I would recommend dedicating to Puglia.

If you are more flexible with your time, I suggest spending 10 days in Puglia. With more days, you can visit places such as Lecce, Matera, and include beaches and coastal towns.

Where to Eat in Puglia for 4 Days?

Here is a list of some of the best restaurants and food establishments mentioned in this article. You find information in more depth about each restaurant and bar in my article on where to eat in Puglia.

• Cremeria La Scala (gelato shop in Ostuni)
• Bar Perso (beanbag bar in Ostuni)
• Bellavista Pizzeria (pizza restaurant in Ostuni)
• Osteria del Tempo Person (cave restaurant in Ostuni)
• Hanky Panky (cocktail bar in Ostuni)
• Ristorante Piazza Palmieri (upscale restaurant in Monopoli)
• Olio Su Pane (sandwich shop in Polignano a Mare)
• Pescaria (sandwich shop in Polignano a Mare)
• Grotta Palazzese (famous cliff-side restaurant in Polignano a Mare)
• Fiordilatte (gelato shop in Polignano a Mare)
• NeWynd (café in Alberobello)
• Garibaldi Bistrot (restaurant in piazza in Martina Franca)
• Osteria da Giuseppe (traditional Pugliese restaurant in Ceglie Messapica)