Puglia's best road trips

31.03.2024 - 11:45 / lonelyplanet.com

The best way to get around Puglia is definitely by renting your own set of wheels, be they four or two. While you can easily navigate major cities with trains and buses, the same is not true when you leave the city.

With your own car, camper van, bike or motorbike you can roam the region to your heart’s content and stop along the road for whatever catches your fancy, from the many breathtaking natural landscapes that Puglia has to offer to its picturesque villages to tiny restaurants where you can sample the delicious local food.

Make sure to check whether or not you need an International Driving Permit to drive in Italy, and follow this guide to five of the best drives in Italy's boot heel.

Best road trip in Salento
Otranto - Santa Maria di Leuca; 47 km (29 miles); a day

All beaches in Puglia are what dreams are made of, but Salento is undoubtedly you'll find the most popular ones. To take in some of the incredible scenery, drive along the road informally known as Litoranea Salentina – actually the Strada Provincial 87, which then turns into the Strada Provinciale 358 – that connects the town of Otranto the village of Santa Maria di Leuca.

The road takes you along the Adriatic Sea, passing through a number of villages and picture-worthy spots: the Punta Palascià lighthouse, blinding white against the sunlight; the Torre Minervino, a road-side ruin of what once was a watchtower; Castro, where you can visit the small 12th century castle and its archeological museum, or take a guided tour of the fascinating Zinzulusa cave.

Stop for a dip in the sea in any village you pass before finally arriving in Santa Maria di Leuca, located at Puglia’s southernmost tip. Once there, stop by the church of Santa Maria de Finibus Terrae, scope out the village's many 18th century holiday villas, and a tour into one of the several caves that dot the shoreline on both sides of the village.

Planning tip: The beaches here are more rocky than sandy – consider bringing a pair of water shoes so you can still enjoy your swimming time.

Best for village-hopping
Taranto - Ceglie Messapica - Ostuni - Locorotondo - Alberobello - Castellana Grotte - Taranto; 167 km (104 miles); two or three days

Starting out from Taranto, take a couple of days to explore the Valle d’Itria that surrounds it, also known as "the valley of the trulli" for the abundance of the extremely picturesque conic houses that are typical of this area of Puglia. While all of these villages can be visited in one day, taking it slow and making a small road trip out of it allows you to really appreciate all the wonderful details of these places.

Start from Taranto and head to Ceglie Messapica, a town that dates all the way back to the 8th century BCE with a historic center