Olive branch with leaves in the foreground in front of a historic sandstone gate with an arch and a crowd of people underneath on a blue sky day.
Apulia, Italy 4 – Apr 13, 2026

Apulia April 2026

Nine Days in Apulia in April 2026: Between Bari, Trulli and Sea

In April 2026, we spent nine nights in Apulia – from the 4th to the 13th of April. Three nights in the old town of Bari, three nights in a quiet Airbnb near Castellana Grotte, and finally three nights right in the Centro storico of Monopoli.

We explored the first leg on foot and by train – including a day trip to Polignano a Mare. For the rest of the trip, we picked up a rental car at Bari Airport and toured through the Valle d’Itria, to Alberobello, Locorotondo, Ostuni, Grottaglie, and along the coast.

Itinerary

1
Bari

4 – Apr 7, 2026

2
Castellana Grotte

7 – Apr 10, 2026

3
Monopoli

10 – Apr 13, 2026

This map uses Mapbox. By loading it, you accept their privacy policy.

1

Bari

4 – Apr 7, 2026

Airbnb · Bari Centrale, Bari
Airplane wing above a cloud layer during twilight with an orange strip on the horizon.
A piece of dark cake on a white plate topped with cream, raspberries, red sauce, and a green leaf. In the background, a brown pastry on another white plate on a wooden table.
Olive branch with leaves in the foreground in front of a historic sandstone gate with an arch and a crowd of people underneath on a blue sky day.
View from above of a lively coastal town with whitewashed houses, pathways filled with people, and rocky cliffs leading to the blue sea.
View of the blue sea and clear sky, with dense shrubs in the foreground and people walking on rocky terrain along the coast.

Three Days in Bari

Our first three nights were spent in an Airbnb near Bari Centrale. From there, we explored the old town Bari Vecchia on foot and took a day trip to Polignano a Mare.

Food & Drink in Bari

Koun Sushi Bari

Unser Abendessen am 5. April – moderne Sushi-Küche mitten in Bari.

📝

TODO: Add the name of the bar in Bari where we had a drink on the afternoon of April 6.

Day Trip to Polignano a Mare

On April 6, we took the regional train to Polignano a Mare – just under 45 minutes. Very touristy, but we were impressed by the scenery with the limestone cliffs and the turquoise sea.

Bari Centrale Polignano a Mare

Regionalzug Trenitalia, ca. 45 Minuten einfache Fahrt

People relaxing on a rocky shore overlooking calm blue sea under a clear sky, with a boat on the water.
Polignano a Mare

Altstadt auf den Klippen über dem Meer, bekannt für die Lama Monachile Bucht.

Departure to the Airport

On April 7, we took the train back to Bari Airport (about 30 minutes), where we picked up the rental car – an upgrade to an automatic Nissan SUV.

Bari Centrale Bari Aeroporto

Zug von Bari Centrale zum Flughafen Bari Karol Wojtyła

2

Castellana Grotte

7 – Apr 10, 2026

Airbnb · Castellana Grotte
View from inside a car through a wrought iron garden gate towards a large white house with stairs and a blue sky.
Simple bedroom with a bed covered in a white bedspread, two pillows, and two stacks of folded white towels. The wall is made of wooden panels next to a light stone arch.
A paved street with traditional white houses and conical stone roofs under a clear blue sky, with some people walking at the end of the path.
People walking on a cobblestone street lined with traditional white trullo houses with conical roofs under a clear blue sky.
A cobblestone street lined with traditional stone houses featuring conical roofs under a clear blue sky.

Quiet in the Valle d’Itria

Three nights in a quiet Airbnb near Castellana Grotte – with a bathtub and terrace. We had breakfast outside every morning and cooked pasta on the evening of our arrival.

Bari Aeroporto Castellana Grotte

Vom Flughafen Bari mit dem Mietwagen

Tour through the Valle d’Itria (April 8)

Our big tour day took us through Grottaglie and Locorotondo to Alberobello.

Castellana Grotte Grottaglie Locorotondo Alberobello Castellana Grotte

Rundtour Grottaglie → Locorotondo → Alberobello

A bright interior space with a vaulted rough natural stone ceiling, decorated with colorful modern ceramic vases and sculptures placed on cabinets and pedestals.
Keramikwerkstätten Grottaglie

Das Quartiere delle Ceramiche mit seinen traditionellen Keramikwerkstätten.

Narrow, bright alley with white houses, black railing on a staircase, potted plants, and colorful decorative elements on the wall and staircase.
Locorotondo

Weißes Rundstädtchen mit hübschen Gassen. Schön, aber im Vergleich zu den Nachbarorten verzichtbar.

A paved street with traditional white houses and conical stone roofs under a clear blue sky, with some people walking at the end of the path.
Alberobello – Trulli

Die weltberühmten Trulli mit ihren kegelförmigen Dächern. Touristisch, aber einzigartig. Wir kauften hier Postkarten.

Agriturismo Sangerrabetta (April 9)

On April 9, we wrote our postcards during the day on the terrace. In the evening, we went to Agriturismo Sangerrabetta.

Several shiny stainless steel tanks on a wooden table in a room with whitewashed walls and wooden ceiling, with stacked white cartons in front.
Agriturismo Sangerrabetta

Sehr familiär, wir trafen andere Gäste aus Deutschland und führten nette Gespräche. Haben vor Ort Olivenöl gekauft.

3

Monopoli

10 – Apr 13, 2026

Accommodation · Centro storico, Monopoli
Green meadow with a view of the blue sea under a clear sky during the day.
A lone person stands on rocky shore in front of the clear blue sea on a sunny day with blue sky.
View of a rural area with fields, scattered buildings, and a church under a clear blue sky.
Landscape view of a rural area with fields, a small historic building with a dome, and a distant view of the sea under a clear blue sky.
Narrow stairway street between white buildings with several potted plants and a figure in the left corner holding a sign.

Three Nights in Monopoli

An apartment in the Centro storico of Monopoli. Base for the last part of the trip – with day trips to Ostuni and again to Grottaglie, as well as a beach day.

Castellana Grotte Strand bei Savelletri Monopoli

Vom Checkout in Castellana Grotte über einen Strandstopp nach Monopoli

📝

TODO: Add the name of the beach near Savelletri/Fasano.

Finding parking in Monopoli was a bit tricky, the accommodation was okay. The city beach was closed due to construction, but the old town left a very good impression – especially during the evening stroll.

Stone facade of a historic building with a wooden door, flanked by several terracotta potted plants and an illuminated street lamp bracket in the evening.
Il Punto Cardinale – Trattoria al Borgo

Abendessen am 10. April mitten in der Altstadt.

Day Trip to Ostuni & Coast (April 11)

Ostuni – the white city on the hill – offered a beautiful view of the sea. Afterwards, a break on the coast during the Italian midday rest, then a second visit to Grottaglie. In the evening, we cooked in the accommodation.

Monopoli Ostuni Küste Carovigno Grottaglie Monopoli

Tagesrundfahrt Ostuni → Küste → Grottaglie → Monopoli

View of a rural area with fields, scattered buildings, and a church under a clear blue sky.
Ostuni – La Città Bianca

Weiße Altstadt auf dem Hügel mit grandiosem Blick aufs Meer.

Beach Day & Return Flight

On April 12, a quiet beach day. On April 13, early in the morning, we took the rental car to Bari Airport for our return flight.

Monopoli Bari Aeroporto

Frühmorgens zum Flughafen

  • Bari IT
  • Polignano a Mare IT
  • Castellana Grotte IT
  • Grottaglie IT
  • Locorotondo IT
  • Alberobello IT
  • Ostuni IT
  • Monopoli IT