Visiting Puglia with Kids

Puglia (pronounced “pool-ya”), or Apulia (its lesser common Latin name), is located in Italy’s southern-eastern region, an area known for its abundant countryside and olive trees and a gentler pace of life. An area of two coasts, its eastern shore gazes at the Adriatic Sea, while the west coast fades into the Ionian Sea. With its beautiful coastline, stunning medieval towns and villages, and delicious food, it’s no surprise Puglia is a perfect place to visit with kids.

Best time to visit Puglia with kids

The region is very popular with Italian families, attracted by its beautiful sandy beaches and kid-friendly small towns. The weather in Puglia is quite pleasant all year round and being in southern Italy, it doesn’t usually get too cold. Spring arrives early in Puglia and at this time the weather is generally warm and sunny, with temperatures rising to the early twenties by the end of April rising steadily through May. Another perk of visiting at this time is lack of crowds making it a pleasure to explore cities such as Lecce, Gallipoli, Alberobello or Bari that are much loved by tourists. Summer time in Puglia lasts from the end of May when it is already warm, and the strawberries and peaches ripening, to the end of September. In July and August, Italians on holiday flood into Puglia and though this is the most crowded time, the area is busy with food festivals, concerts, and other spectacular music events. November tends to be the rainiest month and January is typically the coldest.

How to get around Puglia with kids

The best way to get around Puglia with kids is by car. Sure, there are trains and local buses, but using them exclusively to cross this varied region is going to take more time than most travellers have. It also means you’ll likely miss many of the small coves and cute little towns and villages that make Puglia so wonderful. We got a pretty good rate (considering we were there in August) from Locauto Bari Airport of just £55 a day, inclusive of a child seat for Imran. Very smooth collection and drop off with no queue at desk either and we even got upgraded to a more spacious car than we originally booked. They take payments upfront during booking and don’t hold any deposits on your card when you collect the rental. If you do decide to go during the busy months, please book your car ahead of time and not wait until the very last minute.

Best places to visit in Puglia with kids

A beautiful coastal town with winding streets and a picturesque harbour, Monopoli is perfect for a day by the sea. Located on the Adriatic coast, Monopoli is known for its pedestrian-friendly streets, large piazza, charming beaches, and fresh seafood! If you’re looking for a home base to explore the rest of Puglia, Monopoli is an excellent option for kids due to its location and size. With a much more lived-in feel than some of the more popular tourist towns in the area, Monopoli allows you to have a beautiful, quintessentially southern Italian experience whilst still catching glimpses into everyday life; fishermen and their catch retuning to the photogenic harbour in the mid-morning, groups of men–young and old–congregating on the street to discuss everything and nothing, nonnas on balconies watching the world go by, and streets full of locals and not tourists. We stayed in Monopoli for the first four days of our Puglia trip at Regina Minor, a holiday house located in the historic centre of Monopoli.

Halfway up the heel of Italy’s boot sits Lecce, capital of Salento, the southernmost flatlands of Puglia. It is home to attractions like the Roman Amphitheatre and Piazza del Duomo. With monuments around the city carefully created in the architectural style of Baroque, Lecce has been dubbed “The Florence of the South” by many and is a great place to get a taste of the culture of Puglia.

Nicknamed “White City”, Ostuni is a hilltop town showcasing white-washed houses and views of the Adriatic Sea. A maze of alleyways, staircases and arches, of houses built upon houses, of hundreds of years of history laid out before you in a way no map can truly explain or capture makes it a great place to wander around with kids. Do take an ape / tuktuk tour to save the little legs from getting too tired (€60 for 30 minutes) and make a quick stop at the playground which is just outside the old city centre, in Parco Rimembranze.

Located between Bari and Monopoli, Polignano a Mare is another great city to visit with kids in Puglia. Lovingly called the “Pearl of the Adriatic”, Polignano a Mare is ideal for those looking to relax on the beach. Known for its crystal clear waters and postcard perfect cliffs and caves, Polignano a Mare provides a stunning backdrop to a family vacation. The most curious children will wish to stop and read the beautiful poems written on several steps of the village, the most adventurous ones will ask to visit the caves by boat, and the most exuberant will be impatient to reach a beach to swim.

Otranto is perfect for families seeking a mix of vibrant history, scenic ocean views, charming architecture, and white sandy beaches. Located on the Adriatic coast, this lovely seaside town features a formidable castle, a small fishing port, and more for families to explore. Otranto has a long, flat section of concrete right in the centre of town, outside of the city walls, by the water. The water right next to this area is protected by a few rocky barriers. That means that no matter how rough the water is in the harbour, these protected sections should be calm. There are a few taster courses for scuba diving available at Otranto, but, if diving isn’t one for your family, let the kids get involved in the underwater action with some snorkelling around the coast.