Bari is the regional capital of Puglia, Italy also known as Apulia. It is often overlooked by travelers in favor of more popular cities like Rome, Napoli or Florence. However, if you’re into freestyle traveling and have a curious spirit Bari is a treasure destination. Here are my best tips for adventurous travelers on top outdoor activities and things to see in Bari Italy!
Top things to see in Bari Italy!
Some facts about Bari Italy:
Bari is a vibrant port city located on the Adriatic Sea in south Italy.
Pulia borders with Calabria.
There are four Italian Mafia-type organizations –
- Sicilian Mafia,
- Calabrian ‘Ndrangheta – considered one of the world’s most dangerous criminal organisations.
- Neapolitan Camorra – the one that Roberto Saviano wrote about in his world-famous book!
- Apulian Organised Crime
But there’s no reason to worry for visitors. Bari is generally considered a safe city for tourists and residents. Small crimes happen, such as pickpocketing, particularly in crowded and touristic areas.
What to know before traveling to Bari Italy?
- Remember Italian people take a riposo (siesta), which means most of the shops and restaurants open early morning for 3-4 hours and then reopen late afternoon around 6 pm.
- I found the Puglia region very catholic – so dress respectively People were staring at me when I was wearing a dress with uncovered legs or a neckline.
- Maintain good manners in public transport – move over if you see an elder person. Elder people are highly respected among local society.
- People don’t speak English at all!!
- Puglia is one of the poorest regions in the whole country.
Bari Old Town.
Start your day by wandering through the narrow, winding streets of Bari Vecchia – the city’s historic old town. This area is a labyrinth of whitewashed buildings and fascinating architecture and it’s one of the top things to see in Bari.
Visit the stunning Basilica of San Nicola (an example of Romanesque architecture).
There’s no need for a sightseeing plan, often the best experiences come from unexpected discoveries, which is very like to happen in Bari.
Citta Vecchia – Bari Old City. Walking the cobblestoned streets is the best way to observe local life. Fresh laundry outstretches just above your head. Ladies sitting on their doorsteps, making traditional Puglian pasta called ‘orecchiette’. You can often buy it straight from the family or try in a local restaurant for only 10$. The houses are bedecked with colorful wooden shutters, lots of flowers and lacy.
Italian food!
Yeah.. we all love ITALIAN FOOD! But there are few more things to see in Bari – indulging local street food, homemade orecchiette pasta from local stalls, freshly baked focaccia.
Walking along the cobblestoned streets you will see family homes with windows and doors widely open, and housewives doing the traditional orecchiette in front of your eyes. ‘Orecchiette’ meaning “small ears” in Italian, is a homemade, ear-shaped pasta. It’s usually served with fresh tomatoes and ricotta cheese or cime di rapa (broccoli rabe) and garlic. Delicious!
Bari-the longest promenade in Italy!
Traditional Bari dishes you need to try while visiting Bari:
- Orecchiette traditional pasta
- Local street food – available along the promenade, such as panzerotti,
- Try local seafood specialties.
Unless you want to learn how to cook orecchiette, with countryside cooking class.
Discover the Castello Normanno-Svevo.
Visit the imposing Castello Normanno-Svevo, a Norman-Swabian castle that dates back to the 12th century.
Adventurous travelers can explore its massive walls, towers and inner courtyards, which is one of the most interesting things to see in Bari.
How to get from Bari airport to city center?
Public transport in Bari is really well organized.
There is a direct bus NO 16 going from the airport to Bari city center (you can check all bus schedules HERE).
You will notice that few bus lines have a slash next to the number, like: No. 12 and 12/. It means the initial and final destination is the same but they have different routes.
No 12 drives through the coastline and No 12/ drives through the city. Both depart from Aldo Moro – the main bus station in Bari.
You can also book a transfer on GetTransfer.com for long-distance travel, cab rides, hourly chauffeured and delivery services anywhere in the world.
Car rental in Bari Italy.
I hired a car every time I traveled to Italy. Renting a car in Bari is easy and straightforward, as long as you choose a decent rental company.
I always find the best deals on Rentalcars.com and the platform has never let me down. I go for full insurance with no excess.
Public transport in Bari Italy.
TRAINS IN PUGLIA are very convenient and modern. Ask for any directions at the ticket information located at the stations.
ALDO MORO is the main bus and train station in Bari city center.
Where to stay in Bari?
I was staying a little outside Bari, to avoid all the traffic and have the possibility to capture local daily life.
My B&B was on a Street della Marina, located between San Giorgio and Torre a Mare, two very small towns 10 minutes drive from Bari.
While I was traveling by a local bus to Bari, I noticed many prostitutes on the main road on a bright day..
Best outdoor activities in Bari.
Adventure doesn’t stop at sightseeing; Bari is surrounded by natural beauty, there are few hiking trails in the nearby Parco Nazionale dell’Alta Murgia, rock climbing opportunities abound in the nearby cliffs and of course visiting world-famous Alberobello town!
Day trip to Arbelobello.
Alberobello is one of the top attractions in Italy, famous for its trulli – traditional dry stone huts with conical roofs.
It’s about an hour’s drive from Bari. The stunning architecture and charming streets are well worth the journey. People from all over the world are coming to see the Trulli original huts. You can also explore Alberobello with one of the top tours
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