4 Day Puglia Itinerary: Local Tips for a Perfect Trip
Puglia is the kind of place Italians rave about but most tourists forget exists. Which is perfect, because it means fewer crowds for us. I only had 4 days here — not enough to “do it all,” but more than enough to eat my weight in orecchiette, dive off a cliff into turquoise water, and get humiliated in a local fútbol match.
This isn’t one of those bland “Top 10 Things to Do in Puglia” lists. This is the exact 4 Day Puglia Itinerary I followed while staying with my local friend. It’s equal parts beaches, trulli, medieval towns, and food comas — basically the greatest hits of Southern Italy, with an insider spin.
Quick Facts: Your 4 Day Puglia Itinerary at a Glance
- Base: Putignano (stayed at Tenuta Giotta, aka rustic villa life)
- Transport: Train to Bari + car with my friend (chauffeur included, lucky me)
- Highlights: Bari, Alberobello, Polignano a Mare, Conversano, Monopoli
- Trip Style: Local-driven, authentic eats, short & sweet
- Perfect For: People who’d rather eat orecchiette in a back alley than pay €20 for Aperol in Positano
Day 1 — Rome → Bari → Fútbol and Meat Sweats in Putignano
My trip started in Rome. It wasn’t my first time there, in fact it was my third and if you’re looking for an in depth budget guide, I’ve got you covered. After a lazy morning there, I caught a train south to Bari Vecchia, the city’s old town. It’s one of those places where you can’t go 50 feet without stumbling on a church, a centuries-old archway, or a grandmother hand-rolling pasta outside her door.
That’s where my local friend picked me up and whisked me off to his family’s countryside property, Tenuta Giotta. Think olive groves, stone walls, and the kind of silence you forget exists when you live in a city.
But instead of relaxing, I got thrown into a local fútbol match. Italians don’t mess around — the game was basically life or death. I mostly ran around pretending to be useful.
Dinner afterwards was at Santa Maria Fornello Pronto in Putignano, a grill-heavy, no-frills restaurant where the menu is “meat or more meat.” Absolutely perfect after sprinting around a football pitch like a headless chicken.
Day 2 — Alberobello, Polignano a Mare, and Conversano
Day 2 was when Puglia flexed its muscles.
We started in Alberobello, home to the iconic trulli houses. These cone-roofed stone huts look like they belong in a fantasy novel. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so yes, it gets busy, but my friend steered us into quieter streets where the trulli feel less theme-park and more magical village.
From there, we drove to Polignano a Mare, one of the most photographed spots in Italy. Cliffs dropping into electric-blue water, the famous Lama Monachile beach wedged between them, and locals diving off rocks like Olympic athletes. Tourists usually just snap a photo from the bridge. We jumped in.
To finish, we stopped in Conversano, a town most guides don’t even mention. Medieval walls, a castle, locals sipping coffee in piazzas, Conversano was proof that having a friend here makes all the difference. Without him, I’d never have ended up in this underrated gem.
Day 3 — Monopoli and Beach Mode
By Day 3, we dialed it back. Monopoli was our main stop, a charming coastal town with an old harbor that looks like a postcard someone forgot to Photoshop. Whitewashed houses, colorful fishing boats, the whole vibe is “Instagram, but actually lived in.”
We grabbed seafood so fresh it probably winked at us before hitting the grill, and then hit the beach. The beaches around Monopoli are sandy (a rarity in Puglia) and perfect for doing absolutely nothing. Italians are experts at turning “nothing” into an art form. Swim, eat, nap, repeat.
Day 4 — Bari and Goodbye Puglia
On my last day, we circled back to Bari before heading to Rome. Bari isn’t just a gateway city, it’s got its own charm if you give it a few hours. I walked Bari Vecchia one more time, grabbed a slice of focaccia barese (a thicker, fluffier cousin of pizza that deserves its own religion), and people-watched while locals went about their daily lives.
No tour groups, no staged performances, just Bari being Bari. It was the perfect low-key ending before catching my train back north.
FAQ: Planning Your 4 Day Puglia Itinerary
Is 4 days enough in Puglia?
Enough to fall in love, not enough to see it all. With 4 days, you’ll hit the highlights — trulli in Alberobello, cliffs in Polignano, a beach day in Monopoli, and Bari’s old town. But Puglia is big. Lecce, Otranto, and Matera will have to wait for your next trip.
Do you need a car for this 4 Day Puglia Itinerary?
Yes, unless you enjoy juggling buses and losing hours of your life. Public transport exists but is slow. My friend drove, which made everything easier. If you don’t have a friend, rent a car.
Where should you stay in Puglia?
I stayed with my friend’s family at Tenuta Giotta near Putignano — countryside charm with easy access to towns. If you’re not blessed with Italian friends, look for a masseria (farmstay) or trullo Airbnb for a local vibe.
What food should you eat in Puglia?
Short answer: everything. Long answer: orecchiette pasta, focaccia barese, fresh seafood, taralli crackers, and way too much grilled meat. Bonus: prices are lower than most of Italy, so you can eat like a king without crying when the bill comes.
Final Thoughts — My Local-Approved 4 Day Puglia Itinerary
Four days in Puglia was enough to convince me that this region is criminally underrated. It’s got all the beauty of Amalfi or Tuscany, but with fewer crowds, better prices, and food that somehow tastes even fresher.
The secret weapon, of course, was my friend. Playing fútbol with locals, eating at his family’s favorite spots, and wandering towns that most tourists skip made this trip feel less like a checklist and more like a peek into real Italian life.
If you’ve only got a few days, follow this 4 Day Puglia Itinerary and you’ll get the best of Puglia: trulli, towns, beaches, and food — with enough time left over to plan your return trip.
