Puglia, Italy: 10 Things to Know About Italy’s Best-Kept Secret

For years, Puglia lingered quietly in the shadow of Italy’s more celebrated regions. Yet this southern beauty has always had plenty to offer: ancient olive groves, sun-drenched coastlines, whitewashed towns, and a pace of life that invites you to slow down.

This is a place where stone houses hold centuries of history, where meals are as much about tradition as flavour: orecchiette pasta shaped by hand, bread baked in wood-fired ovens, seafood caught that very morning. Days begin with strong coffee in a bustling piazza, afternoons pause for the gentle rhythm of the pennica, and evenings unfurl into long, unhurried dinners.

What makes Puglia unforgettable is not spectacle, but authenticity. Visitors often arrive curious and leave enchanted, having discovered a region both intimate and expansive, layered with culture yet unspoilt by haste.

At a Glance:

• Puglia forms the heel of Italy’s boot, with coastlines on both the Adriatic and Ionian seas, offering rugged cliffs, sandy beaches, and turquoise waters.
• The region is famed for its trulli houses, masserie farmhouses, and baroque cities such as Lecce, alongside landscapes of olive groves and vineyards.
• Local traditions shape daily life: slow afternoons for the pennichella, long dinners centred on fresh pasta, seafood, and wood-fired bread.
• Travelling here is best done by car, with time to explore at a slower pace — from the Gargano Peninsula in the north to the Salento Peninsula in the south.
• Staying connected is simple with an Italy or Europe eSIM, ensuring affordable mobile data for maps, bookings, and navigation across borders.

What is Puglia Famous For?

Every Italian region has its calling card. Milan stands for high fashion, Venice for canals, Florence for Renaissance art, Amalfi Coast for romance, and Rome for ancient history. Puglia’s identity is more subtle, and perhaps that’s why it has remained under the radar for so long.

This is the land of trulli houses, the conical stone dwellings found around Alberobello. It’s home to masserie, fortified farmhouses now transformed into stylish country stays. The food is hearty and rustic: orecchiette pasta, wood-fired focaccia, and seafood pulled straight from the coast. The landscapes shift from olive groves to vineyards, chalk-white hill towns to baroque cities like Lecce. And perhaps most striking of all: Puglia stretches along two seas — the Adriatic and the Ionian.

Puglia, Italy on the Map

Look at Italy on a map, and Puglia forms the elegant heel of the boot. It’s not the country’s largest region, but it feels vast thanks to its six diverse provinces: Bari, Barletta-Andria-Trani, Brindisi, Foggia, Lecce, and Taranto.

Its geography is quite remarkable. To the north lies the rugged Gargano Peninsula, with forested mountains and dramatic cliffs. To the south, the Salento Peninsula stretches into turquoise waters and golden beaches. And everywhere in between: olive groves, limestone towns, and fields that glow in the Mediterranean sun.

Few regions can claim coastlines on two different seas. In Puglia, you can literally have lunch overlooking the Ionian and dinner by the Adriatic on the same day.

10 Things You Need to Know Before Visiting Puglia

Take Your Time — Puglia Isn’t a Quick Trip

Puglia may look narrow on the map, but distances are longer than you think. Driving from the Gargano Peninsula to the tip of Salento takes around five hours. Add to that winding roads and towns you’ll inevitably want to linger in, and it’s clear that Puglia isn’t a destination to rush. A week gives you a taste; two weeks lets you really sink into the rhythm.

Rent a Car and Make It a Road Trip

Public transport covers major hubs like Bari and Lecce, but many of Puglia’s most beautiful towns are best reached by car. Renting a vehicle gives you the freedom to explore seaside villages, countryside vineyards, and tucked-away trattorias. Parking near historic centres can be tricky, so be prepared to leave your car just outside and wander in on foot.

Stay in a Masseria or a Trullo for a True Pugliese Experience

The hotels are nice, don’t get us wrong, but to truly capture the soul of Puglia, stay in a masseria or a trullo. Each offers something far more unique and memorable than a standard hotel.

For authentic, sprawling luxury: Imagine a masseria—a fortified farmhouse estate turned boutique stay. Here, you'll find stone-vaulted rooms, infinity pools overlooking olive groves that stretch to the horizon, and meals prepared with ingredients grown just metres from where you sleep.

For whimsical, rustic charm: Choose a trullo—a magical, conical-roofed stone hut. These UNESCO-recognised structures offer a uniquely cozy and historic retreat, often nestled in the picturesque Itria Valley. Many are restored with modern comforts, providing an intimate connection to Puglia's ancient past.

Puglia Shines in Every Season

Puglia is perhaps best known as a beach destination because of its long coastline, but it has so much more to offer. July and August bring heat, crowds, and high prices, but also lively energy. Spring and autumn, though, are often the sweet spot: warm seas, gentler weather, and fewer tourists. Even in winter, you’ll find quiet towns and crisp days ideal for exploring without the glare of the sun.

Slow Down for the Pennica (Afternoon Pause)

Life in Puglia follows its own rhythm. In the hottest part of the day, from around midday until late afternoon, shops and businesses often close. This pennica is the Italian cousin of the siesta — a pause to retreat indoors, nap, or simply rest. Visitors sometimes see this as an inconvenience, but it’s really part of what makes the region special: a culture that values slowing down.

Learn a Few Words of Italian

While English is spoken in hotels, restaurants, and other tourist spots, it’s less common in villages or small-town markets. Learning a few phrases — buongiorno (good morning), grazie (thank you), dov’è il bagno? (where’s the bathroom?) — goes a long way. Locals appreciate the effort, and it’s often the key to warmer conversations and smoother experiences.

Keep Some Euros in Your Pocket

In larger cities, cards are widely accepted, but small towns and family-run establishments might still prefer cash. Keep some euros handy for your morning coffee, roadside fruit stalls, or entry fees at local attractions. It makes travel smoother and supports businesses that still operate in the traditional way.

Stay Connected with a Local eSIM or SIM Card

While mobile internet in Italy is largely excellent, you may still encounter patchy coverage once you head into the countryside — especially if you’re relying on international roaming. Roaming itself also comes with hefty costs. The simplest and most affordable fix is to get connected locally, either with an Italy SIM card or, even better, an Italy eSIM.

An Italy eSIM with unlimited data is the most convenient choice: purchase a plan online before you travel, scan a QR code, and you’ll be connected the moment you land. If your phone doesn’t support eSIM, you can order a physical SIM from a provider like SimCorner and have it delivered to your doorstep before you leave.

Staying connected is essential in Puglia, whether you’re navigating winding backroads, translating menus, or securing last-minute accommodation.

Keep the Beachwear on the Beach

Swimwear is best reserved for the beach. Local ordinances in places like Gallipoli now prohibit walking around the historic centre in a bathing suit or bare-chested, except in designated beach areas — violating the rule can result in fines. Socially, it’s often considered impolite to roam through town in beachwear, especially during dinner or in municipal spaces.

This practice is rooted in Italy’s cultural value of la bella figura, which emphasises making a good impression and decent presentation in public. A simple sundress, shirt, or cover-up is usually enough to respect local norms and steer clear of any discomfort — both your own and others’.

Embrace the Carbs

This isn’t the place to go keto. Puglian cuisine is a proud celebration of carbohydrates, rooted in generations of tradition and the region’s exceptional durum wheat. Follow the scent of baking to a focacceria for golden, olive-oil-rich focaccia still warm from the oven. Join the line at a neighbourhood pizzeria for a wood-fired classic, or slip into a family-run trattoria for hand-shaped orecchiette.

This isn’t indulgence — it’s immersion. To tear into Altamura’s DOP-protected bread or taste pasta made that morning is to experience the essence of cucina povera, the humble yet deeply satisfying cooking that defines Puglia.

Why Puglia Deserves a Spot on Your Italy Itinerary

Puglia is still less visited than Italy’s most famous regions, but that’s part of its charm. It offers the beauty of two coastlines, the depth of centuries-old traditions, and the joy of discovering towns where life continues much as it always has. Whether you come for the food, the history, or simply the sunshine, you’ll leave with a sense that you’ve seen Italy at its most authentic.