Travel Guide Apulia
Puglia, named after the ancient Roman Apulia, is this region of the "heel of the Italian boot", with an area of nearly 20,000 km2, in the extreme southeast of the territory. Its 800 km of coastline with splendid coves and beaches - Adriatic Sea in the east and Ionian Sea in the south - as well as its mild climate make it a tourist destination of prime importance both nationally and internationally, so that in the summer the area is quickly saturated. The tourist guide of Puglia proposes to explore its six provinces - Bari, Foggia, Lecce, Brindisi, Taranto and Barletta-Andria-Trani - highlighting its various (and countless!) assets, starting with the natural parks of Gargano and Alta Murgia, but also the caves of Castellana and the marine reserves of the Tremiti and Torre Guaceto islands. It is impossible to visit Puglia without passing through its capital, Bari, a dynamic port city and student city with a breathtaking architectural heritage, a mosaic of Orthodox churches, basilicas and cathedrals, but also through Lecce, the "Florence of the South" with its impressive Baroque architecture. The trulli of Alberobello or Locorotondo, these stone houses with conical roofs inspired by Byzantine, Norman and Aragonese traditions so typical of the region, are also worth seeing. Popular traditions, simple and robust cuisine, a warm welcome and sumptuous landscapes enamelled with the eternal olive and oleander trees are all particularities of Puglia that will seduce the traveller. Benvenuto in Puglia!
What to visit Apulia?
Suggested addresses Apulia
When to go to Apulia?
When to go to Puglia? If the most pleasant season to visit Italy is certainly summer, it also corresponds to the high tourist season, so that from June to early September, the beaches and roads are crowded, especially in July and August! It therefore seems much more sensible to avoid the hordes of tourists who invade the Peninsula in July and August, as Italians also take their holidays in August, especially around 15 August (Ferragosto). The best times to go to Puglia are suddenly spring and autumn, when the temperatures remain very pleasant and the tourist traffic is milder. In winter, the average temperatures in Bari remain quite suitable for visiting it. When to go to Puglia? From April to June and preferably in September-October.
Weather at the moment
The weather in Puglia is very pleasant all year round, even if in the middle of summer the heat is strong and the sunshine is important on the coasts. Winters are quite mild, the temperature in Puglia rarely drops below 10°C even in January. The most pleasant seasons are spring and autumn, when you can enjoy the good weather and the sites without feeling the heat or the rain.
Since the changeover to the euro, prices have risen significantly in Puglia, and the situation is obviously worse in the big cities and near the famous tourist sites. However, the cost of living is generally lower than in France. It is important to know that prices fluctuate, and are higher in high season, but also depend on the occupancy rate of the hotels at a given time. If you eat light and sleep in simple hotels, you can get by in Puglia.
Citizens of the European Union and Swiss citizens. For a stay of less than three months, no visa is required to travel to Puglia: an identity card or passport that has expired less than five years ago is sufficient. After three months, the Questura (prefecture) must issue the permesso di soggiorno (residence permit), which will be valid for a period of five years.
Canadian citizens. For a stay of less than three months in Puglia and Italy: a valid passport will be required. No visa. Beyond three months, apply for a visa at the nearest Italian embassy or consulate or be issued locally by the Questura a three-month extension (rarely issued).
There is little risk - any more than in France - of special contamination (the water is drinkable in Puglia) or of lack of emergency aid. Emergency services are very well organized in the region, and cell phones work well everywhere, which allows a quick alert in case of trouble. Frequent problems are sunstroke and eye infections caused by not using sunglasses. Before leaving, you can already take the necessary equipment to avoid all these eventualities. Although no vaccinations are necessary to travel to Puglia, make sure that your vaccinations (DT Polio, etc.) are up to date.
Practical information
- When to travel?
- Weather forecast
- Budget
- Formalities
- Health
- How to travel by yourself?
- How to get organized?
- Getting around
Media
How to go to Apulia? Our advice & tips
Italy and Puglia are destinations that attract more and more visitors every year, both Italians and Europeans but also from the rest of the world. The agencies specialized in the organization of travel in this region of the Peninsula are consequently also very numerous. It's up to you to see which of these offers suits you best, both in terms of duration and region visited. Note that the packages combining transportation and accommodation are often financially interesting.
Discover our selection of travel agencies for this destinationTo get to Puglia by your own means, there are several options, depending on the time you have available and your point of departure. If the plane remains the fastest way (and not necessarily the most expensive if you plan well in advance), with a landing in Bari, you can also opt for a trip by car (the roads are very beautiful up to the south of Italy), or the train. As far as accommodation is concerned, booking in advance is never a bad idea.
To get around, renting a car makes it easier to move from one village to another, but you should be careful when booking: be sure to ask about the amount of the deposit that will be taken/blocked and the terms of the contract. If you take public transport, it is very cheap and diversified, with well explained websites that allow you to plan your route in advance. For punctuality on the other hand, be patient, it's the vacations!
