At the Puglia Guys, all of our guides are free to access, self-guided, and written to help you explore at your own pace.
But not everyone wants to go it alone. Some travellers prefer the security and structure of a guided experience. It allows for connection — with the people, places, and traditions that make Puglia so special.
And sometimes, having someone local by your side can open doors you’d never find alone.
For travellers who don’t want to drive around Puglia but also don’t want the challenge of using public transport to reach harder-to-access corners of the region, guided travel offers the perfect solution. There’s an ease in being collected from your masseria in the morning, spending the day exploring vineyards, hilltowns and olive groves, and being driven safely back to your countryside retreat or city apartment at the end of the day.
We recommend a small number of trusted local guides and experiences we’ve personally tried and believe in, professionals who share our values and offer something genuinely special.
Travel Designer vs Licensed Tour Guide
When planning a trip to Puglia, many travellers quickly discover that “guided travel” can mean very different things. In Italy, two distinct professions support visitors at different stages of their journey: the travel designer (or planner) and the licensed tour guide.
Licensed guides are the professionals you often see leading large groups — sometimes holding an umbrella, speaking through audio equipment, and explaining the history and art of a specific city or monument. Their focus is educational and often town-specific: for example, a guide based in Alberobello or Lecce.
At the planning stage, a travel designer helps you shape the entire experience, from itinerary creation to insider recommendations and logistics. Once you arrive, you may want the expertise of a licensed guide for a deep dive into a city’s history, art, and culture. And in between, there are professionals who accompany you across several destinations, offering hosted travel without providing formal, museum-style tours.
In our podcast episode on Guided Travel in Puglia, we chat with Luca Oliva of Puglia With Locals.
As a travel designer, Luca can curate your entire visit. He will listen to your interests and design a personal itinerary that fits you perfectly. You might already have accommodation booked. If not Luca can make recommendations. He will organise visits, olive oil or wine tastings, lunches, beach days, and walks through historic centres.
Luca will accompany you as your private driver, managing logistics and timing so you don’t have to. You decide the pace, whether you want to pack in as much as possible or take things slowly with plenty of downtime.
The Puglia Podcast
Listen to our conversation with Luca on the Puglia Podcast. The Puglia Podcast is also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and wherever else you get your podcasts from.
Podcast chatter | Pictured below, the tette delle monache (Nun’s Breast pastries), so named because of their shape, have the consistency of a sponge cake and are filled with crema pasticcera, politely rebranded as “Il Sospiro di Bisceglie”.
It was Sant’Agata, the Patron Saint of Gallipoli, whose martyrdom involved having her breasts cut off and presented to her on a plate.
The Cappellone of San Cataldo (in Taranto’s Basilica Cathedral of San Cataldo) houses six major statues by Giuseppe Sanmartino, Naples’ most celebrated sculptor of the 18th century, known for his Veiled Christ in Napoli’s Cappella Sansevero.
In this guide to Guided Travel in Puglia our recommendations are divided between Travel Designers (for curated itinerary planning and travel logistics to get around) and Tour Guides (for in-depth guided tours).
We only ever recommend people and places we’ve experienced first-hand. We never accept payment, sponsorships or incentives in exchange for coverage or recommendations.
Travel Designers
We recommend Luca Oliva of Puglia With Locals.
Meet Luca – Your Private Host in Puglia
Luca is a Puglia travel designer, licensed hiking and nature guide, and certified tour leader. Born and raised here, Luca spent ten years travelling, living in London, Germany and Australia, before returning to the place that still felt most like home.
Puglia is the region he knows like the back of his hand — and loves deeply. Now he shares that passion with travellers from all over the world. His mission: to make you feel at home while showing you the authentic Puglia, far away from the crowded tourist paths.
Luca believes every journey should be unique and tailored to your needs. Whether it’s a tour through ancient villages, a relaxing beach day, or a tasting of local wines, he’s there to make sure you create unforgettable memories — and never have to think about logistics along the way.
A Day Travelling with Luca
We spent a full day with Luca on a small private group tour with four others — and it was one of the most rewarding ways to experience so much in our time together.
He collected us directly from the masseria just outside Fasano where his clients were staying (one he had recommended to them), and the day unfolded beautifully, at a relaxed but steady pace.
We began with an olive oil tasting — learning about Puglia’s ancient olive groves and underground oil mills — before heading into Fasano’s historic centre for a stroll and a little local shopping.
Lunch was a highlight: a traditional meal at a working masseria, cooked in the home kitchen of two sisters (Luca calls them his Aunts – le zie) who were born there and have lived there ever since. Everything — the bread, pasta, cheese, vegetables — came from their land. They cooked with genuine joy, chatting and laughing with us as they prepared each course. It was the kind of intimate, authentic experience that simply wouldn’t be available without Luca’s connections.
In the afternoon we visited Martina Franca, wandering through its elegant centro storico, before ending the day with a wine tasting in Locorotondo, just as the sun began to set over the Valle d’Itria. A perfect ending.
The group included a return guest who had travelled with Luca the previous year — this time bringing her husband and family friends back to share the experience.
When you explore a town together, Luca will take you to its most beautiful corners and introduce you to local life. What he won’t do is give a formal guided tour of the monuments or museums — that’s a different profession requiring a separate licence.
Think of him instead as your local host, fixer, driver, and friend on the ground — someone who’s there to make sure everything runs smoothly, and that you experience the Puglia locals know and love.
Why We Recommend Puglia With Locals
Luca specialises in small-group and private experiences, keeping things personal and flexible. His calm, organised approach, deep local knowledge and friendly energy make him exactly the kind of guide we love to work with — someone who enhances your experience without ever taking it over. But, above all, he is friendly, personable — and professional.
He’s available for single-day excursions or full multi-day itineraries, offering 24-hour local support from planning through to your last day in Puglia.
For anyone who wants to explore the region deeply but without the stress of driving or logistics, Puglia With Locals is an ideal solution.
How It Works with Luca
Planning a trip with Luca is straightforward and personal. It begins with a short video call — a chance to meet, talk through ideas, and outline the kind of experience you’re looking for.
From there, Luca puts together a clear proposal with what’s included: private transport, food and wine experiences, and other activities tailored to your interests. Once you’re happy, a small deposit secures your dates.
In the lead-up to your visit, he fine-tunes the details with you — adjusting plans as needed so everything feels just right. When you arrive in Puglia, he’s there from start to finish: driving, coordinating, and introducing you to the local people and places that make his trips special.
It’s organised but relaxed — travel made easy, with a trusted local by your side.
Find out more at pugliawithlocals.com
Follow Luca on Instagram @pugliawithlocals
We never accept payment, sponsorships or incentives in exchange for coverage or recommendations. We won’t receive any payment if you click through, and we won’t receive any payment or commission if you decide to travel around Puglia with Luca.
Tour Guides
Free Walking Tour Bari
We have been on the Free Walking Tour Bari twice. The first time with friends, on their original old town Bari Vecchia tour (called “the First”). Our second tour was their “Bite Bari Tasting Tour Lite”.
They are one of the most established and reliable licensed walking tour providers in the city. Their tours operate on a pay-what-you-wish basis, making them accessible while still offering a professional and well-structured introduction to Bari Vecchia. Led by licensed guides, the tours principally focus on the historic centre: the Basilica di San Nicola, the Cathedral of San Sabino, medieval lanes, and the daily life of the old town, including the famous orecchiette-making streets. They do offer “Jungle” and “Bohemian” tours for an alternative point of reference.
These tours are friendly, informative and well paced. They offer exactly what a good city-specific walking tour should: context, storytelling and a clear passion for local heritage. They’re an excellent choice for first-time visitors, cruise passengers, or anyone wanting to understand Bari beyond its surface. Private tours are also available for travellers wanting a more tailored visit.
Matera City Tour
Matera City Tour specialises in guided tours of the Sassi, Matera’s extraordinary cave districts and UNESCO World Heritage site. They offer both guided walking tours and a sightseeing bus tour, making them a flexible option whether you prefer to explore on foot or would rather take in the city with less physical effort.
Their walking tours are led by licensed guides and focus on the history, architecture and lived experience of the Sassi. These itineraries typically include Sasso Barisano, Sasso Caveoso, panoramic viewpoints, rock-hewn churches and reconstructed cave dwellings, providing the context that so often eludes visitors who explore Matera independently.
The sightseeing bus tour is a convenient and comfortable way to take in the Sassi. We took the tour in 2025. At €20 for a 90-minute circuit (which includes a visit to Le Case Cisterna, a restored cave dwelling), we found it excellent value. The bus is relatively small and there are only a few departures each day, so we recommend booking ahead. While it stops at Piazza San Pietro Caveoso for a short break, it is not a hop-on hop-off service.
The tours offer a clear, engaging introduction to Matera’s history and landscape. For travellers visiting Matera for the first time, or anyone who wants a structured, well-explained overview, Matera City Tour is a sound choice.
Main photo © Puglia With Locals | Luca from his Happy Moments with Guests.
Ciao from Vancouver, Canada!
Like so many travellers, we find your website to be absolutely superb. Thank you for creating such a rich information resource on Puglia. We are big fans!
My spouse and I are planning a 21 day trip to Puglia in mid-May to early June 2027 to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary. We are in our mid-sixties, are fairly active and love exploring. We like to fully immerse ourselves into the communities we visit (we prefer authentic local experiences instead of magnetic tourist attractions), and also value a quiet place to reside in at the end of the day to contemplate on our experiences.
With your website as our primary resource, we created the following driving journey and would welcome your critique and insights on our itinerary. BTW – we really appreciate your hotel recommendation(s) in Gallipoli, and wonder if you might have similar accommodation insights for quieter destinations like Grottaglie, and Ceglie de Messapica?
BRINDISI AIRPORT – Arrive (rent car, drive to Lecce)
LECCE – 3 nights
– Grotta della Poesia
– Hike – Torre dell’Orso to Sant’Andrea
OTRANTO – 3 nights
– Scenic drive SP358
– Refreshments at Farmacia Balboa in Tricase
– Swim at Ponte Ciolo
– Visit beach at Pescoluse
GALLIPOLI – 3 nights
– Stay at either Palazzo Flora, Palazzo Presta, or Palazzo Colombo (is there a wiser choice of the three for late May?). Such a stunning recommendation, btw.
– Visit Nardo
GROTTAGLIE -1 night – Creative and inspiring hotel recommendation close to ceramics area? Or should we simply stay two nights in Ceglie de Messapica?
CEGLIE DE MESSAPICA – 1 night – Where to stay – walking distance from a thoroughly local + inspired restaurant(s). No driving after dinner!
OSTUNI – 4 nights
MATERA – 2 nights – Stay at Sextantio Le Grotto della Civita
POLIGNANO A MARE – 3 nights
– Drive to Bari Airport from Polignano a Mare on last morning
BARI AIRPORT – Return home
Everything is flexible. Of note, we have one or two spare travel days/nights that we have not committed to yet. Open to suggestions.
Thank you, and keep on with your marvellous endeavour!
Ciao,
We’re so glad to know the website has been helpful. That’s exactly its purpose, so it’s always a pleasure to hear that it’s helping real people plan a real holiday!
The first thing we see is that coastal destinations play a leading role in your itinerary. That’s perhaps no surprise when you live on the coast yourselves. I know Vancouver a little, and with some friends I once drove from there to Banff, spent some time in Whistler, and absolutely loved the cycle path along the Vancouver waterfront.
Our coastline is very different, of course.
Your itinerary is a proper deep dive into Puglia. For a trip of this length, moving around and changing bases makes perfect sense. What we generally encourage people to avoid is spending one night here, then one night somewhere else just a short distance away. But that’s not what you’re doing. Yours is a longer, slower journey, allowing you to settle into each place before moving on, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with travelling slowly in the way you’ve planned.
You haven’t really allowed time for Brindisi, Taranto or Bari. That’s absolutely fine, but it’s perhaps worth briefly repeating what we say in our guides.
Brindisi’s history is undeniable, particularly if Roman history interests you. It also has a very distinctive lungomare unlike any other you’ll encounter in Puglia. Coming from Vancouver, you might even see the vaguest of similarities with False Creek – albeit on a far smaller scale and in a much less built-up setting! If you haven’t already, have a look on Google Maps at Brindisi’s harbour, particularly around the Monument to the Italian Sailor. I think you’ll see what I mean. If it appealed, you could easily squeeze in a night there by borrowing one from either Lecce or Otranto. We like the Grande Albergo Internazionale.
Taranto is unlike anywhere else you’ll visit in Puglia. Its appeal lies almost entirely in the old town. It’s a little grittier and rawer, exactly how many people imagine a southern Italian city to be, but it’s also packed with history and character. I wouldn’t necessarily change your itinerary to stay there, but it’s an easy stop on the way to Grottaglie. A late morning, lunch (Ristorante Al Canale for a more refined lunch, or Trattoria del Pescatore for a wonderfully local experience – we regularly visit both; the former attracts business lunches, the latter is full of locals), followed by a wander through the old town before continuing to Grottaglie, works very well.
We mention Bari largely because of Bari Vecchia. Again, you could easily stop there if time allows before your flight home. Every old town has its own atmosphere, and Bari Vecchia certainly has one of the liveliest. We often combine a visit with lunch or dinner, but the reality is that you’ll eat exceptionally well throughout your trip, so I wouldn’t consider it essential – simply something to bear in mind if your timings work out.
Ignoring those possible additions, based on the itinerary you’ve outlined…
Late May and early June is a fantastic time to visit. Visitor numbers are still relatively modest, temperatures are comfortable, and everything is open for the season, which effectively begins around Easter.
You’ll arrive in Brindisi, head straight to Lecce, then continue to Otranto, giving yourselves six nights to explore what is probably our favourite stretch of the Adriatic coast. That’s plenty of time. You won’t feel rushed.
One place you might want to include is Galatina. It’s an easy excursion from Lecce (or even Gallipoli), but given your plans for hiking later in the trip, I’d probably suggest visiting from Lecce. The Basilica of Santa Caterina d’Alessandria, with its extraordinary medieval frescoes, really is one of Puglia’s hidden masterpieces. Just be aware that opening hours can be limited, so it’s worth planning around them.
Definitely continue all the way to Santa Maria di Leuca as you drive around the coast. Pescoluse has beautiful white sandy beaches and, provided you avoid weekends, should still feel relatively peaceful. The town itself, however, is more of a traditional seaside resort than some of the places you’ve chosen elsewhere.
When you get to Gallipoli, Flora is our favourite, then Presta. Colombo only has rooms, no outside space. If you really enjoy hiking, then on your visit to Nardò, you might want to think about Porto Selvaggio.
I do think Grottaglie is worth staying in for a night. We don’t have a hotel recommendation there, but we very much enjoyed our stay at Le Maioliche B&B, which we mention in our Grottaglie guide. It’s right on the edge of the ceramics quarter and only about 50 metres from a free public car park. Grottaglie also has some excellent restaurants that still feel very local. Our current favourite is Osteria nel Borgo. It’s quite meat-focused, although there are still plenty of excellent vegetable dishes. While more and more people are visiting Grottaglie for the ceramics, relatively few actually stay overnight, which makes the evenings feel particularly authentic. In fact, we’re spending two nights there ourselves this August for the orecchiette festival. So yes – I would definitely stay there rather than simply passing through.
As for Ceglie, yes indeed, it’s one of Puglia’s gastronomic capitals. However, as you’ll see from our guide, the restaurant we recommend for the most authentic experience isn’t Cibus. Other restaurants have caught up considerably over the past five years and, apart from the Cibus desserts, our favourite meal by quite some distance was actually at L’Antico Arco Osteria. Compare the reviews, photos and menus in our guide and, whichever you choose, just check opening days in advance. Many restaurants close one day each week and some don’t serve lunch on certain days.
Now, Ostuni. We’re based here ourselves, and it makes an excellent base for exploring the Valle d’Itria and central Puglia. However, because you’ve already spent a significant amount of time further south, you might consider basing yourselves slightly further north instead. Locorotondo or Martina Franca would both work well. Locorotondo has much of Ostuni’s charm but on a smaller, more intimate scale. Martina Franca has a grand elegance that, in some ways, echoes Lecce. For that reason, I suspect Locorotondo might give you something a little different. From either town you can comfortably explore the entire Valle d’Itria, including Ostuni itself.
Towards the end of the trip, I’d probably swap Matera and Polignano a Mare. Geographically, Polignano before Matera avoids doubling back. On the other hand, if you’re driving directly from Matera to Bari Airport on your final morning, that works perfectly well too, as Bari is easily reached from both. If you decide to stay in Ostuni, I’d probably swap the order. If you instead choose Martina Franca or Locorotondo, you’ll already be a little closer to Matera anyway.
So… Locorotondo (or Martina Franca) instead of Ostuni? And perhaps Monopoli instead of Polignano?
Monopoli probably offers slightly more variety for a three-night stay, whereas we personally prefer Polignano as a departure point for boat tours. They’re so close together, though, that this really comes down to personal taste. Neither is a wrong choice.
Hopefully that gives you plenty of food for thought… quite literally!
Buon viaggio,
LuigiM.
Dear LuigiM,
Wow! This is the critique extraordinaire! We are so impressed by the level of insight and thoughtfulness you have provided herein. We are taking everything you stated to heart and will amend our itinerary accordingly. Thank you!
You Puglia Guys are absolutely amazing. Grazie mille!
Hi from the Uk – my mum and I are looking at a short 4 /5 night break to Puglia in September maybe and possibly looking to stay in Gallipolli. We would like to visit Lecce, Alberobella and Otranto maybe – 3 x places that will give us a good feeling of the history and beauty of Puglia – open to suggestions but mindful of it being a short break and us needing time to relax at the beach and explore Gallipoli also.
We wouldn’t want ages in each place and presume this would have to be done over 2 x days. Ideally – a guide showing us around would be nice and we would need collecting and returning as no car – so a car and guide – happy to share.
Thoughts?
Ciao Caroline.
As travel writers, we don’t provide travel agency, itinerary planning or tour guide services ourselves. We have no affiliation with the businesses or experiences we feature, and we don’t act as intermediaries or as contact providers on behalf of readers. But you can use the contact details in this guide to reach out to them directly.
Our Puglia itinerary guide is comprehensive and should help with your planning.
Buone vacanze, LuigiM.
Hi Puglia guys! Thank you so much for all the information you provide! We are going to Puglia in June. I was wondering if you have a boat tour recommendation for a day trip in the Grotta della Poesia/Otranto/San’Andrea area.
Thanks!
Ciao, we cover boat tours for Gargano and Leuca in our itinerary guide, Polignano and Monopoli in those respective guides, and Castro in the Castro guide, but we haven’t done any in Otranto. Sorry!
looking to visit from August 24-29 – wedding days Monday and Tuesday – would love recommendations for exceptional hotel with a focus on wheelchair accessible
Ciao – we sent you an email, which was based on researches for an earlier enquiry. Here is the information from that. We refer to Regan, this is a podcast episode we did about accessible travel in Puglia. We were unable to obtain the additional information referenced (and we had no response to the email we sent to the specific enquirer under response). We plan to create an accessible travel in Puglia guide, as soon as we can.
Our Lecce guide has a specific recommendation.
“As travel writers (not tour operators, guides or travel planners), we have no practical experience of planning accessible travel, just observational anecdotal thoughts. The detailed nature of your enquiry means we don’t have the information you need, nor the resources to find solutions. The Puglia Guys is a just for fun project we do between our real life jobs.
But we can give general, thoughts by way of guidance, based on observation rather than practical experience:
A. The main issue is not distance but surface and gradient. Many historic centres in Puglia were built on elevations with defensive layouts. That means sloped streets, continuous stone paving, and frequent changes in level. For a small folding scooter with hard tyres, uneven limestone and descents are likely to be more limiting than narrowness.
B. Matera’s Sassi districts are structurally difficult. They are built into a ravine, with long sloping lanes, irregular stone surfaces and unavoidable steps in many sections. Even where there are sloped alternatives, gradients can be significant. Independent navigation with a small scooter is likely to be challenging and in some areas not realistic. The upper, modern part of Matera is considerably easier, with flatter streets and several panoramic terraces accessible by car or short level walks. There seem to be private operators who offer accessible tours in adapted vans, but as far as we know, there is no widely available standard service using open-air vehicles that can transport both a passenger and a folded scooter through the Sassi. We think Ape vehicles are generally too small for that purpose. Have you contacted the larger tour bus operator recommended in our guides to see what they can offer by way of accessibiliy?
C. Regarding your base choice, terrain is again the deciding factor. Locorotondo is built on a ridge. Streets within the historic centre slope in multiple directions and are paved in stone. It is compact, but not flat. Monopoli sits at sea level. The harbour area and seafront promenade are flat, and although the old town has some cobbled streets, gradients are generally moderate compared with hill towns in the Valle d’Itria. For day-to-day evening mobility from your accommodation to restaurants, Monopoli is likely to be significantly easier.
D. The driving time difference to Matera between Monopoli and Locorotondo is not substantial. If Matera remains on your list, Monopoli is still a workable base. From Monopoli you can take (quicker) highway almost all the way via Bari – usually 1h15m. From Locorotondo, heading cross country may be a more direct route, but the roads are slower – the journey usually also takes around 1h15m!
E. Trying to see Monopoli, Polignano a Mare, Locorotondo, Alberobello, Cisternino, Martina Franca and Matera in three days would be possible without mobility constraints. If you find it impractical, Cisternino and Locorotondo and much of a muchness, but I think Locorotondo has the edge. Martina is great for baroque, but if you are going to Lecce that’s baroque on a bigger scale. So you could miss Martina.
F. Monopoli and Polignano are likely to be more manageable because of sea-level access and defined viewpoints. Alberobello is comparatively easier than other hill towns because PARTS of it are more open and less steep, although still paved. You can drive into a car park nearby the main trulli zone, and get there on mainly level ground, though it may be challenging walking up all the way through the upper trulli areas.
G. Ostuni is correctly flagged as difficult. Its historic centre involves steep inclines and frequent steps. Viewing from outside the walls could be easier. This is where we met Reagan – she told us, surprisingly, access was less challenging than she had imagined. That still surprises me.
H. On closures: Sunday is active in most towns, particularly in May, and especially for restaurants. It’s just public transport that’s harder on Sundays. Monday is quieter, and some restaurants close, especially in smaller inland towns, but you will not find everything shut. In larger bases such as Monopoli and Lecce there will always be options.
I. In Salento, Lecce is one of the more manageable historic centres in southern Puglia. It is relatively flat, streets are wider than in medieval hill towns, and major monuments are concentrated within a compact area. We do not know how accessible all churches are. Many have steps up into the main entrances, and with the exception of Locorotondo’s main cathedral, I can’t personally recall ramp accesses, though there may well be.
J. Otranto’s seafront promenade is flat and accessible. The old town has stone paving and some slopes but is less extreme than towns like Ostuni. If you limit your exploration to flatter sections and the harbour area, it is feasible. Whether it is “worth it” depends on whether a coastal walk and harbour setting align with your priorities; it does not require extensive vertical movement to experience the main setting.
Moving forward:
1. Travel planners might have practical advice and solutions, so you might want to contact one. We recommend Luca of Puglia with Locals.
2. We did a search, and came across this specialist tour operator. It may not be what you require given your plans suggested a self-guided travel itinerary. But they may have more resources or more focussed information.”
From other resources we have been collecting (tried and untested, but to review for our guide):
Best Travel Blogs/Resources for Wheelchair Users
I Wheel Travel (iwheeltravel.com) is by far the most valuable specific resource — a French wheelchair user wrote two detailed, candid trip reports on Puglia covering Terra di Bari/Itria Valley and Lecce/Salento. They’re granular (sill heights, toilet heights, gravel paths).
∙ Terra di Bari & Itria Valley
∙ Lecce & the Salento
Accessible Italian Holiday (accessibleitalianholiday.com) — a specialist operator run by someone called Vincenzo/Enzo who has specific Puglia experience. They offer adapted van transport for wheelchair users with tours covering Alberobello, Lecce, and the Salento. Lots of genuine traveller reviews mentioning Puglia specifically.
TravelMyth (travelmyth.com/Puglia/Hotels/accessible) — filters accessible hotels across all Puglia provinces (Lecce, Bari, Brindisi, Taranto, Foggia, BAT) with standardised accessibility questionnaire data — roll-in showers, handrails, level access etc. More reliable than Booking.com’s self-reported filters.
DisabledHolidays.com — UK-based specialist. They list some personally audited Puglia properties and can arrange adapted transfers and mobility equipment hire delivered to accommodation.
Hope this information is useful.
LuigiM.