Itineraries from Bari: what to see in 1, 3 or 5 days
Short answer
With one day from Bari, the easiest trip is Polignano and Monopoli by train. With three days, add Matera and the Itria Valley (Alberobello, Locorotondo, Cisternino). With five, add Castel del Monte with Trani, and a day in Ostuni or at the beach. Without a car, use the train for the coast and Matera, and a tour for the Itria Valley.
Here is how to plan your days from Bari, depending on how much time you have. Every day starts and ends in Bari.
1 day: the south coast by train
- Morning: Polignano a Mare, 20–35 minutes by train.
- Lunch and afternoon: Monopoli, 5 minutes by train.
- Evening: back to Bari for dinner in Bari Vecchia.
3 days
- Polignano + Monopoli (train).
- Matera: car, FAL train or tour. Stay the night if you can.
- Itria Valley: Alberobello at dawn, Locorotondo, Cisternino for dinner. Car or tour.
5 days
The three days above, plus:
- Castel del Monte + Trani: the castle in the morning, the cathedral by the sea in the afternoon.
- Ostuni at sunset, or a beach day south of Bari.
With or without a car
Without a car, days 1, 2 and 4 work well (Trani is on the train line). The Itria Valley and Castel del Monte need a car or a tour. Full details in Getting around without a car.
FAQ
Stay in Bari the whole time or change base?
Without a car, stay in Bari: every line starts there. With a car, one or two nights in the Itria Valley or in Matera make the trip much better.
Which day trip from Bari should I not miss?
Matera, if you make just one trip outside Puglia. In Puglia, Polignano and Monopoli for the sea, and Alberobello for the trulli.
Sources
Facts checked on 28 October 2026. How I check facts.
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