Free walking tours in Bari and what to see

Must-sees

Bari is the capital of Puglia and its great port on the Adriatic. Its heart is Bari Vecchia, the old town, a maze of white alleys enclosed between the sea and the modern centre. Here stands the Romanesque Basilica of St Nicholas, which keeps the saint's relics in its crypt and draws Catholic and Orthodox pilgrims. A few steps away rises the cathedral of San Sabino, also Romanesque, and the Norman-Swabian castle, guarding the entrance to the quarter.

In the alleys near the Arco Basso you will still see local women making orecchiette by hand outside their front doors. Beyond the walls begins the Murattiano district, with its grid of streets, shops and the Petruzzelli theatre. The long seafront promenade, with its street lamps and early 20th-century buildings, invites a walk until sunset.

Free tours and guided visits

Bari does have free walking tours of the old town, a good way to get your bearings on the first day, as well as paid guided tours. As a base for exploring Puglia, there are independent trips to Alberobello and Matera, to Lecce, and another combining Alberobello, Monopoli and Polignano a Mare. For something different, there are sailing trips along the coast with an aperitivo.

How long to spend

A full day is enough for Bari Vecchia, the two churches, the castle and the seafront. Most people stay longer and use Bari as a base. With three or four days you can go to Polignano a Mare and Monopoli by train, visit the trulli of Alberobello and spend another day in Matera, over the border in Basilicata.

Where to stay

For a first visit it is best to stay in Bari Vecchia or the Murattiano district, between the old town and the central station. From there you can do everything on foot and have the trains for day trips close by. There are city hotels, guesthouses and lots of apartments. The seafront and the Madonnella are another option for those who want to see the sea.