How to Spend 2 Days in Bari

As Puglia’s capital city and the largest port, Bari is the perfect base for exploring the region. Take a day to get to know the city’s old town and then set off to discover Puglia’s unforgettable hilltop and seaside towns. Here are your options for two culture-filled days in Bari.
Day 1: Bari’s Old Town (Bari Vecchia)
**Morning:**Push past Bari’s modern apartment blocks and chaotic port to the old town at the city’s heart. Explore Bari Vecchia, a warren of tiny lanes dotted with historic churches and a medieval fortress, via a self-guided audio tour or with a guided walking, Segway, bike, or rickshaw tour.
**Afternoon:**Food is fundamental in Bari, and many guided tours have a culinary slant, weaving together the architecture and cuisine of Bari Vecchia. The highlight is often a stop on one of Bari’s “pasta streets,” quiet back alleys where local women set up tables to hand-shape traditional orecchiette pasta.
**Night:**Once you’ve gotten to know Bari’s heart (and stomach), set out for a short excursion. Options include the Castel del Monte fortress, seaside village of Polignano a Mare, medieval town of Conversano, or ruins of the ancient city at Gnatia. For gourmands, a cooking class in Bari instead provides both dinner and a cultural experience.
Day 2: Puglia and Beyond
**Morning:**Bari is a well-connected ferry and cruise-ship hub. Take advantage of its location to see highlights along the coast or in the countryside. Early risers can opt for a day at sea with a local skipper to fish off Polignano a Mare and dine on the day’s catch.
**Afternoon:**Head to the neighboring region of Basilicata to tour one of Italy’s most unique towns, the Sassi of Matera. This hilltop clutch of ancient cave dwellings has been named a European Capital of Culture, and tours often combine visits with tastings of regional culinary specialities.
**Night:**Dive into Puglia’s history and culture by opting for a trip to see the unique trulli, or fairytale-like stone cottages, in the town of Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Pair your visit with a wine tour at a nearby estate to taste wines produced in Puglia’s countryside.
10 Tours and Activities

Bari: Traditional Italian pasta Hands-on cooking class

Bari Walking Tour with Pasta Experience

Bari Bike Tour with Pasta Experience

Bari Segway Tour

Private Bari Street Food Tour by Rickshaw

Private Tour: Castel del Monte 2-Hour Guided Tour

Wonderful Bari Self-Guided Audio Tour

Private guide to Ruins of Gnatia (Puglia) and archaeological Museum, superbly laid out and interpreted historic site by the sea

Private tour guide Conversano, the history of ancient Norba a few steps from the sea
