Cidade Turismo
Italy

Before you go

Your trip to Bari.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Bari – Apúlia Destination Apúlia and Matera Capital

How to get there

  • Aeroporto di Bari Karol Wojtyła (BRI) 11 km
  • Bari Centrale 1 km

Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.

Check before you buy. Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport (BRI) receives flights from Rome and Milan and is about 11 km from the center, connected to Bari Centrale station by train. From Rome, high-speed trains take about 4 hours to Bari Centrale. From the station, the old town is roughly a 15-minute walk.

How many days

One day is enough to see Bari Vecchia, the two basilicas, the castle and the lungomare. Two days allow you to include the Pinacoteca and the Quartiere Murat at a relaxed pace. Bari also works as a base for day trips to Polignano a Mare, Alberobello and Matera.

When to go

May, June, September and October usually have good weather for walking. From June to August it gets very hot. In May, the Festa di San Nicola, which commemorates the arrival of the relics, fills the old town. In winter, from December to February, the weather is mild and the city has fewer tourists.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

Do you need a car?

No. Bari Vecchia, the Murat and the lungomare are walked on foot, and the station has trains to Polignano, Lecce, Alberobello and Matera. The old town is closed to outside cars: those arriving by car should leave it in parking outside the ZTL, the limited traffic zone.

Suggested itinerary

An order that works

Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.

One day in Bari
  1. Morning
    Basilica di San Nicola and the old town

    Start in Bari Vecchia at the Basilica di San Nicola, descending to the crypt where the saint's tomb is. Then follow the narrow streets to the Piazza Mercantile and the Piazza del Ferrarese.

  2. Afternoon
    Cathedral and castle

    Have lunch in a trattoria in the old town, with orecchiette, around 1:00 PM. Visit the Cattedrale di San Sabino and then the Castello Normanno-Svevo, passing along Strada Arco Basso.

  3. Late afternoon
    Muraglia and lungomare

    Climb up to the Muraglia, the wall over the sea, and walk to the Teatro Margherita. Continue along the Lungomare Nazario Sauro at the time when locals go out for a stroll.

  4. Evening
    Via Sparano and dinner

    Return via Corso Vittorio Emanuele and Via Sparano, in the Quartiere Murat. Dinner starts around 8:00 PM; the squares of Bari Vecchia come alive in the evening.

2 days in Bari

Day 1

  1. Morning
    Basilica di San Nicola and Piazza Mercantile

    Start the day at the Basilica di San Nicola and the crypt. Walk through the alleys to Piazza Mercantile, with the Colonna Infame, and Piazza del Ferrarese.

  2. Afternoon
    Cathedral and castle

    After lunch, visit the Cattedrale di San Sabino and the Exultet museum. Continue to the Castello Normanno-Svevo and the gipsoteca.

  3. Late afternoon
    Muraglia and Fortino

    Climb the ramp to the Fortino di Sant'Antonio Abate and walk along the Muraglia over the sea, with views of the port and the waterfront.

  4. Evening
    Night in the old town

    Dine in Bari Vecchia, with focaccia barese, panzerotti or fish. The squares usually stay busy until late in summer.

Day 2

  1. Morning
    Pinacoteca Metropolitana

    Walk along the Lungomare Nazario Sauro to the Palazzo della Provincia and visit the Pinacoteca Corrado Giaquinto, which houses Byzantine icons and Venetian painting.

  2. Afternoon
    Quartiere Murat

    Have lunch in the Murat and stroll along Via Sparano, passing the Palazzo Mincuzzi, to Corso Cavour and the façade of the Teatro Petruzzelli.

  3. Late afternoon
    Stroll along the waterfront

    Return to the sea for the late-afternoon on the lungomare. In summer, those who want sand can go to the city beaches to the south, such as Pane e Pomodoro.

  4. Evening
    Show or dinner

    Check the programme at the Teatro Petruzzelli or dine near the old port, where there are fish and seafood options.

Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

How to get from Bari airport to the center?

Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport is about 11 km from the center and has a train to Bari Centrale station, as well as buses and taxis. Check schedules on arrival.

How many days to stay in Bari?

One day is enough for the old town, the basilicas and the castle. Two days allow you to include the Pinacoteca and the Murat. Many travellers use Bari as a base and make day trips to Polignano a Mare, Alberobello and Matera.

How to get from Bari to Polignano a Mare and Alberobello?

For Polignano a Mare, regional trains depart from Bari Centrale and take about 30 to 40 minutes. For Alberobello, FS Sud Est trains and buses depart from Bari Centrale and take about 1.5 to 2 hours, with fewer services on Sundays.

Is Bari a good place to visit by train from Rome?

Yes. High-speed trains connect Roma Termini to Bari Centrale in about 4 hours. For those coming from Milan, the domestic flight is usually faster.

Do you have to pay a tourist tax in Bari?

Yes, Bari charges a tourist tax per person per night, paid at the accommodation.

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