Where to Stay in Puglia Without a Car: 3 Best Cities & Tips
Puglia is one of Italy’s most stunning regions but figuring out the best place to stay in Puglia without a car can be tricky. With smaller villages tucked into the countryside and public transport that’s… let’s just say unpredictable, choosing the right base can make or break your trip.
After spending time exploring Puglia and getting a feel for how connected (or not) different towns are, we quickly learned which places are actually easy to navigate without a car—and which ones make you want to drink an extra glass of rosé when the bus doesn’t show up…yet again.
To save you from that struggle, this guide breaks down the three best cities to stay in Puglia without a car: Bar, Monopoli, and Lecce. By the end of this post, you’ll know exactly where to stay based on your budget, travel style, and must-see spots—without worrying about getting stuck on the side of the road waiting for a bus that may never come.
1. Bari: to be the most central
The Vibe: A gritty but charming port city with lots of life, and a strong local culture centered around fresh seafood, handmade orecchiette, and bustling markets.
Getting there: You will likely fly into the airport. You can take the R95.16 to Stazione Centrale (Bari central station) and it’s about 20-30 minutes. Bari is also connected to some large Italian cities such as Rome.
Hotel Recommendations: in our usual “middle of the road” travel style, we stayed at BariVera rooms and loved it! It is about 20-25 minutes walk from the old town (BariVecchia) but that saved us a bunch of money and gave us more wiggle room to eat ALL THE PASTA.
It’s close to central station, ultra clean, spacious and the host was super hospitable and quick to respond!
>>Click here to see photos, read reviews, and check prices and availability at hotels around Bari <<
Bari is Puglia’s big city with a local soul—a place where Vespas weave through lively markets, the smell of fresh seafood fills the air, and nonnas hand-roll orecchiette in the streets. Except they’re totally fake and for tourists, so we 10/10 recommend you skip the pasta grannies!
It is the main hub of transport in Puglia. With trains and buses running like clockwork (well, Italy’s version of it), you can easily reach Monopoli, Polignano a Mare, and even Alberobello.
Bari Vecchia, the city’s medieval old town, is super charming (especially at night!) and we saw some of the most INCREDIBLE sunsets sitting on the big rock down the stairs from the lookout area on the Lungomare.
PRO TIP: if you go to Bari Central, know that it has two main sections:
1. Trenitalia trains (main hall).
2. FSE trains (separate entrance on the right side of the building).
If you’re taking an FSE train to Alberobello, Locorotondo, or Martina Franca, make sure you’re at the FSE side—not Trenitalia!
2. Monopoli: for beaches
The Vibe: A postcard-perfect coastal town with whitewashed buildings, an adorable harbor, and a relaxed, beachy vibe that makes it feel like an escape.
Getting there: you’ll want to go from Bari Centrale and take a 20-30 minute train or a 40-minute bus.
Hotel Recommendations: we actually did not like where we stayed – it was stuffy and small. Had we booked a little more in advance and had more options, we would have stayed at Dimora Pietrabianca.
I mean, CHECK OUT THAT VIEW from the rooftop balcony! The location also looks perfect!
>>Click here to see photos, read reviews, and check prices and availability at hotels around Monopoli <<
Monopoli is definitely a tourist hot spot – but we warned you about that if you choose not to rent a car! However, this once-fishing village now has a super cute port, sandy beaches and a good vibe! The nightlife feels more “upscale” and adult instead of for the “party crowd.”
If you’re looking for a more “beachy” vacation, then Monolpoli is the place to pick on this list. It has some of the best beaches in Puglia to hang out, but it’s still relatively well connected so you can also get out and explore the region.
3. Lecce: for History and Architecture
The Vibe: Known as the “Florence of the South” with GORGEOUS Baroque buildings. It has a slower pace, great nightlife/cocktail bars, and a deep love for food and wine.
Getting there: the best option is to take a 1 hour and a half train from Bari Centrale.
Hotel Recommendations: We stayed at BnB Fico and could not have been happier! The host was SO responsive and friendly and the location was INCREDIBLE – just around the corner from the old town gate.
The room was beautiful and spacious and the shared outdoor patio was such a nice place to relax!
>>Click here to see photos, read reviews, and check prices and availability at hotels around Lecce <<
Lecce is similar to Florence but with fewer crowds and way better pasticciotti (the must-try local sweet!) The city is a stunner, with ornate golden limestone buildings, grand piazzas, and hidden wine bars tucked into centuries-old courtyards.
It’s also one of the best car-free bases in Puglia, with easy train access to Brindisi, Bari, and coastal gems like Otranto and Gallipoli. While Lecce isn’t on the coast, you’re just a short bus ride from some of Salento’s best beaches, making it the perfect mix of history, food, and sunny day trips.
What to Consider When Choosing Where to Stay without a Car
Your budget
If you are on a strict budget, you will likely want to stay in Bari as this has the most options for budget-friendly hotels and the easiest access to public transportation.
How many days you have
You also have to consider how many days you are spending in Puglia when deciding where to use as a base. If you only have a few days, we would not recommend you stay anywhere outside of Bari. This will allow you the best connections so you don’t waste too much time on public transportation.
What you want to see
You also need to consider what you want to see. For example, if you are a couple who likes to see historical sites, you may want to stay in Lecce. If you want to hang out at the beach, stay in Monopoli.
What kind of holiday you want to have
Similarly to what you want to see, when you’re deciding where to stay in Puglia without a car, you have to consider what kind of holiday you want to have. If you’re looking to move slowly and see less because you really just want to relax, you might be okay staying somewhere a little further out with not as good public transport options.
However, if you want to go and see it all, then proximity and connectedness to all the public transport options need to be higher on your list.
Which towns in Puglia have a train station?
The best-connected towns to the Puglia train system are Bari, Polignano a Mare, Monopoli, Ostuni, and Lecce. You have smaller train stations for regional trains in villages like Alberobello and Martina Franca.
So, do you NEED a car in Puglia?
The truth is, getting around Puglia WITH a car is going to be a lot easier than without one! It will save you quite a bit of travel time and it will be much easier to see some of the smaller, less connected, adorable villages.
Having said that, doing Puglia without a car is NOT impossible! You just have to manage your expectations. You’ll have to:
- Focus your itinerary on tourist hot spots and miss some of our favorite hidden gems. Understand this in advance so you don’t feel disappointed and like you missed out!
- Spend a lot of time pre-planning how to get around instead of just jumping in your car and going.
- Be okay with days that might be more jam-packed than usual because you will spend time on public transport and have to plan around the transit schedules.
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Options For Getting Around Puglia
If you still decide to forego a car rental and cruise around Puglia car-free, here are a few options for how get around Puglia without a car:
Trains
Pros: Trains are typically your best bet to travel around Puglia without a car. They will be the fastest option.
Cons: The train system in Puglia is MUCH less connected than the rest of Italy! When we were researching for our own trip, I asked some locals if I could just take trains instead of a car and they just laughed at me. 😅
What is similar to the train system in the rest of Italy (at least in our Italy train experience!) is that trains can often be delayed or completely canceled without notice. This could definitely mess up your day, so have a backup plan.
You also may run into train strikes, so make sure to look into this in advance here before touching down in Italy only to realize you have no way to get around and have to drown your sorrows in Puglia Primitivo wine and orecchiette pasta.
….wait….that sounds like a happy accident no?
Keep in mind that train stations are not usually right where you want to be, so be prepared to walk if you’re bopping around Puglia by train!
Things to know:
- While Trenitalia is the biggest train company in Italy, there are multiple companies in Puglia. You may need to use Ferrovie del Sud Est (FSE) for smaller towns and these trains sometimes leave from separate stations. You also can’t buy tickets for them from Trenitalia.
- We ALWAYS book our European trains using the Trainline app. It’s SO easy to use. You can also use the Trenitalia app but it’s much harder to navigate, in our opinion. It also doesn’t always show regional trains in Puglia, especially FSE routes.
- You have to validate your ticket for regional trains, so look for a validation button in your app or validate paper tickets in the little yellow/green machines at the station.
- If you are using a high-speed train, double check you don’t have to book in advance.
- Regional trains run on reduced schedules on Sundays and public holidays so plan ahead!
- Regional trains in Puglia are affordable (usually under €10 per ride), and tickets are valid for 4 hours from purchase. This gives you flexibility if you miss a train—just hop on the next one within that time window.
Buses
Honestly, the bus system in Puglia is kinda chaotic. It’s constantly changing and can be unreliable, but you can use it as a backup to trains!
Things to know:
- Buses in Puglia don’t always follow strict schedules – especially in smaller towns. They can be delayed, leave early, or skip stops if no one is waiting. Always aim to arrive at your stop at least 10-15 minutes early.
- Many bus drivers don’t sell tickets onboard, especially for regional routes. Instead, you’ll need to buy tickets from Tabacchi shops (look for a blue “T” sign), bars or cafes near bus stops, kiosks at main stations, or online apps.
- Even digital tickets need to be validated when boarding. Look for a small validation machine inside the bus.
- Buses in Puglia run on a reduced schedule (or not at all) on Sundays and holidays.
- Most buses in Puglia don’t have digital stop announcements or screens. If you’re unfamiliar with the route, use Google Maps’ live tracking to see where you are or ask the driver to let you know when your stop is coming up.
- Unlike major cities, some Puglia bus stops are just a sign on the side of the road with no shelter, bench, or clear indication of where to stand.
Private Transfers
Are you ready to be drinking amazing Puglia wine with copious amounts of incr-EDIBLE (see what I did there 😆) cheese yet after reading all that info?
If your idea of vacation is not worrying about this stuff, then just book private transfers to get you around. Sure, they’re WAY more expensive but now you have more time to plan cool things to do and eat instead of how to get around.
You can check Viator and Get Your Guide for transfers.
Organized Tours
Personally, Caleb and I are NOT an organized tour couple. We much prefer to plan our entire itinerary ourselves. But, if you don’t want to worry about ANYTHING on your trip, Puglia has TONS of incredible-looking tours that would handle every. Single. Detail for ya!
Putting It All Together In An Itinerary
Puglia is absolutely doable without a car—you just need to be strategic about where you stay. Personally, we think Bari is the best choice to use as a base in Puglia. It may not be the most beautiful or charming city, but it has tons to do and the best connection to all the public transportation!
If you’re planning a car-free Puglia trip, knowing where to base yourself is incredibly important. However, it doesn’t really matter where you base yourself if you don’t plan an itinerary that allows you to experience the AUTHENTIC Puglia! Without the perfect Puglia Itinerary, your vacation won’t be as magical as it could be.
To make sure that doesn’t happen, check out our guide on the most beautiful towns to see in Puglia so you can start figuring out if navigating public transport is worth it to you or if you want to snag a rental car deal!
So, are you going to rent a car or try to navigate public transportation? Let us know any questions you have in the comments!
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