How We Spent A Week In Puglia
We spent the past week on a family trip touring Puglia and if there’s one thing we’d recommend, it’s to hire a car or minibus. There’s so much to explore in Puglia, and having your own car is truly the best way to experience this part of Italy!
Here’s a round up of everything we did over the past week, along with some must-see places if you’re planning a trip to Puglia.
For the first part of our trip, we chose to stay in a villa. Puglia has a wide variety of villas, with options to suit every budget and style. Later, we moved further up the coast to a hotel with direct beach access and this worked perfectly!
One great thing about hiring a villa is the opportunity to cook with fresh, local produce. A favourite of ours was a grilled peach, burrata and tomato salad.
If you hire a car, make sure to stop at an Italian petrol station! The coffee is delicious, and they even serve aperol spritz, for the non-drivers of course! We noticed this was a regular spot for the locals!
GESTIVA BEACH
We spent a day at Gestiva beach, a charming cove located near Ostuni. It’s a great spot to relax for the day, filled with locals and off the tourist radar. We arrived mid-morning and reserved sunbeds for the day.
The beach features a perfect shaded bar where you can enjoy cold drinks when the sun gets too hot - just bare in mind that these drinks aren’t allowed on the beach.
It’s worth noting that the beaches on this coast of Puglia are a bit rocky, but don’t let this put you off!
LIDO STELLA BEACH RESTAURANT
Just a 5-minute walk from Gestiva beach is Lido Stella, where you’'ll want to park if you’re driving - €5 for the day. The fresh seafood here is delicious, but the standout dish has to be the ham served with burrata. After lunch (and four bottles of wine), we headed back to Gestiva to soak up the late afternoon sun and enjoyed a dip!
CALA MAKA
Spending a day at a beach club is a must. We chose Cala Maka, but we’ve also heard great things about Lido Bambu and Le Palme. We reserved sunbeds which came in at €120 per bed and made a lunch reservation at their Asian-style restaurant. The white fish carpaccio with raspberry pureé and crumbled pistachio was *chef’s kiss*
You can also order food and drinks directly to your sunbeds, which adds a nice touch! While the beach is a bit rocky, it’s still perfect for a refreshing dip!
Oh, and if you’re into weight training they have a gym on the beach!
CASA MASICOLA AT BORGO EGNAZIA
For a more chic beach club, we headed to Cala Masciola by Borgo Egnazia and it was full of Italian charm! There was nothing out of place here and the whole beach looked like a movie set - dreamy!
We had a reservation at their club restaurant, where we enjoyed a series of fish courses, topped off with a strawberry sorbet and finished with a classic Italian espresso - the only way to end every meal in Italy!
The impeccable service and surroundings has completely convinced us to stay a few nights at Borgo Egnazia on our next trip to Puglia!
OSTUNI
Ostuni, known as The White City, was the nearest town to where we were staying. This hilltop town is a maze of whitewashed buildings, narrow streets and panoramic views of the sea.
We dined at a hidden gem called Al Solito Posto which is off the beaten track but is a must-visit if you’re in Ostuni! A lovely setting serving high quality food at a very reasonable price.
Since we were a party of nine, we were given a round table. Round tables are always best when you’re with a bigger crowd and it’s nice for restaurants to recognise this!
MARTINA FRANCA
Martina Franca was one of our favorite towns — so authentic, with not a tourist in sight, except for us! We headed to the piazza for an aperitif, where there happened to be a wedding. Could there be any better people-watching? We admired the guests' dresses over an Aperol.
Of course, no visit to Italy is complete without gelato, so we indulged in a pre-dinner treat. Martina Franca may be small, but it’s not to be missed!
POLIGNANO A MARE
We headed to Polignano a Mare for dinner after hearing great things. While it's more of a tourist spot, it’s still worth a visit. We opted for an Italian tuna tartare with buratta, pesto and grilled courgette - trust us, this was delicious! Followed by our first pizza of the trip!
The next morning, we returned to the iconic Lama Monachile beach to see its beauty in daylight. The crystal-clear waters surrounded by high cliffs were stunning. Keep in mind, it’s a pebble beach, so most people wore sea shoes before getting in the water! These were even being sold on the beach!
MONOPOLI
Another town we explored was Monopoli, renowned for its charming harbor, historic old town, and lively atmosphere. We enjoyed an aperitif before enjoying a delicious salt-baked sea bream, with roasted new potatoes and olives, in the heart of Monopoli. We visited at sunset, but we’d definitely return during the day.
CEGILE MESSAPICA
One evening, we strolled through the narrow, winding streets of Ceglie Messapica. Renowned for its excellent restaurants, charming ambience, and authentic Italian feel, the town truly lived up to its reputation. It’s a little gem that’s definitely worth exploring!
Puglia has so much to offer, and we only scratched the surface. We’d also love to visit Matera, which, though not strictly in Puglia, is nearby (and featured in the opening scene of
No Time to Die), as well as Alberobello and the southern coast for its beautiful beaches!
For all of our holiday fashion head over to our Instagram! @wornthatalready
