Puglia, Matera & Salento Road Trip
A self-drive loop starting and ending in Bari, linking the Matera Sassi, trulli houses, the White City, Lecce Baroque, and the Adriatic coast.
Depart from Bari to visit Castel del Monte and Matera, then drive through the Itria Valley to Lecce and Otranto, returning north along the coast via Polignano a Mare. Staying at five different locations, daily drives are mostly under two hours, with the first day and the drive north from Otranto being the longest. Ideal for first-time visitors who want to experience both historic towns and the coast, bypassing Leuca and Gallipoli at the southern tip.
July and August bring heavy crowds and traffic to the coast; book accommodation early. Old towns are mostly ZTLs (restricted traffic zones), so park outside.
Day by day
Day 1 · Trani & Castel del Monte to Matera
Bari & Valle d'Itria（Trani Cathedral & Swabian Castle） → Matera（Castel del Monte、Belvedere Luigi Guerricchio）
Pick up your rental car at the airport and drive to Matera via Trani and Castel del Monte. Total driving time is about 2 hours and 50 minutes.
If arriving after 10:30 AM, you can skip Trani. Castel del Monte tickets must be booked in advance.
Stay: Sasso Barisano
Day 2 · Full Day in the Matera Sassi
Matera（Sasso Caveoso、Santa Maria de Idris、Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario、Palombaro Lungo、Belvedere Murgia Timone）
Spend the day exploring the Sassi district on foot. In the evening, drive to the viewpoint on the opposite side of the canyon (about 15 minutes).
The Sassi area has many stone steps; wear non-slip shoes. Park outside the ZTL and bring only a small bag to your hotel.
Stay: Sasso Barisano
Day 3 · Alberobello Trulli Houses
Bari & Valle d'Itria（Trulli of Alberobello、Locorotondo）
Drive from Matera to Alberobello in about 1 hour and 15 minutes, then continue for 15 minutes to Locorotondo.
Stay: Locorotondo
Day 4 · Itria Valley White City to Lecce
Bari & Valle d'Itria（Cisternino、Ostuni）
Drive via Cisternino to Ostuni (about 40 minutes), then continue to Lecce (about 1 hour).
Lecce's historic center is a ZTL. Park in an outer parking lot and walk in.
Stay: Lecce Old Town
Day 5 · Lecce Baroque Old Town
Lecce & Salento（Lecce Old Town、Basilica of Santa Croce、Lecce Cathedral & Piazza del Duomo、Roman Amphitheatre & Piazza Sant'Oronzo、Museo Faggiano）
Explore the historic center on foot all day without a car. The walk from the parking lots to the old town takes 10 to 20 minutes.
Stay: Lecce Old Town
Day 6 · Adriatic Coast to Otranto
Lecce & Salento（Grotta della Poesia、Faraglioni di Torre Sant'Andrea、Otranto、Otranto Cathedral）
Drive from Lecce to the Cave of Poetry (about 40 minutes), then follow the coast to Otranto (total drive about 1 hour and 20 minutes).
Parking spaces at coastal spots are extremely tight in summer; start your day early.
Stay: Otranto
Day 7 · North to Monopoli & Polignano a Mare
Bari & Valle d'Itria（Monopoli Old Port、Polignano a Mare）
Drive from Otranto to Monopoli in about 1 hour and 40 minutes, then continue for 15 minutes to Polignano a Mare.
Stay: Polignano a Mare
Day 8 · Bari Old Town & Departure
Bari & Valle d'Itria（Bari Vecchia & Basilica of Saint Nicholas、Bari Cathedral (San Sabino)）
Drive from Polignano to Bari in about 40 minutes. Return your car or park, explore the Old Town on foot, and head to the airport.
Do not drive into Bari's Old Town; park outside the ZTL.