Bari, Italy: travel guide

An Adriatic port with a walled old town and handmade orecchiette

Apulia's lively Adriatic capital is known for the Basilica di San Nicola, old-town nonne rolling handmade orecchiette on doorsteps, a vibrant seafront promenade, and the gateway to whitewashed trulli towns and the turquoise Adriatic.

About Bari

Bari is the main city of Puglia, a port on the Adriatic with a tightly packed old town and a long seafront promenade. In the old quarter, the Basilica di San Nicola and the Norman-Swabian castle sit among alleys where residents still dry pasta in the open air.

Things to do in Bari include walking Strada delle Orecchiette to watch the pasta being shaped by hand, trying focaccia barese and stopping for seafood by the harbour. It is also a convenient base for Alberobello and its trulli houses, the coastal town of Polignano a Mare, and Matera.

Bari suits travellers exploring Puglia who want a real city on the way. Late spring and early autumn offer warm weather without the peak of summer.

Country
Italy
Currency
EUR
Time zone
Europe/Rome
Nearest airport
BRI

Last updated

Plan a Bari trip

Top places to visit in Bari

  • Basilica di San Nicola

    Pilgrimage Basilica · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

    Built in 1087 to house the relics of St Nicholas (Santa Claus's historical prototype), the Basilica di San Nicola is one of the finest examples of Apulian Romanesque architecture and one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Italy and…

  • Bari Old Town (Bari Vecchia)

    Historic Quarter · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

    The whitewashed labyrinth of Bari Vecchia occupies a peninsula jutting into the Adriatic, its medieval streets still navigated by nonne (grandmothers) hand-rolling orecchiette pasta in doorways — a living tradition that has persisted for…

  • Bari Alberobello Trulli Walk

    trulli-town · 4.7 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate

    The UNESCO Trulli town of Alberobello — with over 1500 trulli (traditional whitewashed stone roof houses) clustered together in the Rione Monti and Aia Piccola districts, the most spectacular vernacular architecture in Italy.

  • Bari Castle (Castello Normanno-Svevo)

    Castle · 4.5 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

    The imposing Norman-Swabian castle (12th century, rebuilt by Frederick II in 1233) stands at the edge of the old town, surrounded by a still-intact moat. Hosts temporary exhibitions and houses a collection of architectural plaster casts…

  • Bari Polignano a Mare Day Trip

    clifftop-town · 4.8 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate

    A day trip to Polignano a Mare — the spectacular cliff-top town with the famous Lama Monachile beach (the picture-perfect cove between limestone cliffs), the birthplace of singer Domenico Modugno, and the most photographed Puglian seaside.

  • Bari Polignano a Mare

    cliff-town · 4.9 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate

    A day trip from Bari to Polignano a Mare — the spectacular cliff-top town perched on Adriatic limestone cliffs, with the famous Lama Monachile beach, the iconic Bridge view, and the birthplace of Domenico Modugno.

  • Bari Matera Sassi Day

    sassi-caves · 4.9 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate

    A day trip from Bari to Matera — the spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Sassi cave dwellings, one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited settlements, with the famous rock churches and the iconic Italian heritage.

  • Matera Day Trip

    UNESCO cave city · 4.9 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate

    Matera (UNESCO 1993), the ancient cave city known as the "Sassi", is 65 km from Bari by direct train; the rupestrian city carved from tufa rock is one of Italy's most extraordinary sights.

  • Bari Lecce Day Trip Baroque

    baroque-city · 4.8 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate

    A day trip from Bari to Lecce — the spectacular Baroque capital of Puglia known as the Florence of the South, with the elaborate 17th-century churches, the Roman Amphitheatre, and the magnificent Piazza del Duomo.

  • Castel del Monte

    frederick-castle · 4.7 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate

    A day trip from Bari to Castel del Monte — the spectacular octagonal castle built by Frederick II in the 13th century, UNESCO World Heritage Site, with the unique geometric design that has fascinated architects for 700 years.

  • Bari Ostuni White Town

    white-town · 4.7 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate

    A day trip to Ostuni — the famous White Town (la Città Bianca) perched on a hilltop, with the medieval old town painted entirely in white limewash, the 15th-century cathedral, and the spectacular views over the olive groves.

  • Bari Castellana Caves Underground

    limestone-cave · 4.8 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate

    The Castellana Caves — Italy's most spectacular limestone cave system, with 3km of guided tours through the underground formations, the famous Grotta Bianca (White Cave), and the dramatic Grave (vertical shaft).

Things to do

  • Bari Old Town & Orecchiette Making with Local Nonna Cultural · 3 h · from EUR 33 per person

Day trips and tours

  • Alberobello Trulli & Locorotondo Day Trip from Bari 8 h · from EUR 49
  • Bari Old Town & Orecchiette Making Experience 3.5 h · from EUR 29

Where to stay in Bari

  • Bari Vecchia about EUR 100 per night

    Atmospheric old town; labyrinthine alleys with orecchiette-making nonnas and excellent seafood

Hotels

  • Bed and Breakfast Bari Vecchia 3-star · EUR 60 to EUR 130 per night
  • Mercure Bari Centro 4-star · EUR 95 to EUR 220 per night

Where to eat

  • Forno Santa Rita - Bari Vecchia Street Food Italian, Apulian, Street Food · about EUR 8 per person
  • Ristorante Biancofiore Italian, Apulian, Seafood · about EUR 65 per person
  • Braceria Apulia Italian, Apulian · about EUR 32 per person

Getting to Bari

Airport: Bari (BRI)

Getting around

  • Bus
  • Walking

Safety and scams to avoid

  • Motorbike Snatch Theft

    Bari Vecchia narrow lanes and seafront

    Moped riders snatch cameras or handbags

    How to avoid it: Keep valuables inside clothes; do not dangle cameras on long straps

More in Italy

Frequently asked questions about Bari

What are the top-rated places to visit in Bari?
The highest-rated places in our Bari guide are Bari Polignano a Mare, Bari Matera Sassi Day, Matera Day Trip, Bari Polignano a Mare Day Trip, Bari Lecce Day Trip Baroque.
Where should I stay in Bari?
Our guide covers these areas to stay in Bari: Bari Vecchia.
How do I get around Bari?
Ways to get around Bari covered in our guide: City bus, Walking.
What scams should I watch out for in Bari?
Scams reported to us for Bari include Motorbike Snatch Theft. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.
Which airport is nearest to Bari?
The nearest airport to Bari has the code BRI.
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