Brindisi to Valle d'Itria to Lecce. Short drives, white villages, turquoise beaches and slow food culture — the real south of Italy.
A 7-day Puglia road trip is one of the most rewarding family itineraries in southern Italy — short driving distances, safe walkable towns, shallow Adriatic waters, and a food culture that children take to immediately. This itinerary runs from Brindisi to Ostuni, through the Valle d'Itria and its trulli, along the Adriatic coast to Monopoli and Polignano a Mare, then south to Lecce and the Salento peninsula.
Puglia is the Italy most visitors never reach — which is exactly what makes it right. The whitewashed villages, the ancient olive groves, the evening passeggiata through Ostuni or Lecce — this is the version of Italy that stays with you. This itinerary is built to let you experience it without wasting a day on logistics.
The best time to visit Puglia for a family road trip is June or September. June offers warm Adriatic water, long evenings, and the region before the August influx. September is equally good — the sea stays warm, the villages quieten, and the harvest season adds a layer of local atmosphere that summer doesn't have. May and October also work well for couples or adults-only groups looking for fewer crowds and lower prices. Avoid August if possible: Alberobello and Polignano a Mare in particular become very crowded, and accommodation prices peak significantly.
For a 7-day Puglia road trip, three bases work better than moving every night. Ostuni for the first two nights — a masseria in the olive grove countryside gives you the authentic Puglia experience from day one. Monopoli for nights three and four — well-positioned for the Adriatic coast and Polignano day trips. Lecce for the final two nights — the most beautiful city in Puglia deserves time, and staying in the historic centre means the baroque streets are yours in the evening when the day visitors leave.
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