Last Updated on: 20th November 2024, 02:25 am
Bari Vecchia, Bari’s historic centre, sits on the beautiful Adriatic coast in southern Italy. It’s a lovely old town with its labyrinth of narrow, winding streets, impressive churches, and incredibly delicious street food.
Whether you’re planning a short city break, using the city as a base to explore the other enchanting towns of Puglia, or embarking on a two-week, car-free adventure like I was, Bari promises an unforgettable experience.
The city is a common entry point to the Italian region of Puglia (Apulia) with train, flight, and ferry connections to the rest of the country and beyond.
I spent two nights in Bari, which gave me one full day to explore. I wish I had allowed myself more time.
Here are my suggestions on how to spend the perfect day in Bari.
Take A Street Food Walking Tour
As I arrived late in the afternoon in Bari, I decided to do this street food walking tour. It was such a great way to learn a little about the city’s history and discover some of Bari’s amazing food. I have never eaten so much food on a food tour. It was fabulous. I highly recommend it, but I can’t believe I woke up starving the next morning.
Explore The Old Town
However, my top recommendation for things to do in Bari is to simply lose yourself in the streets of Bari Vecchia, the charming old town on a peninsula extending into the sea.
The maze of narrow alleys starkly contrasts with the broad, orderly grid of streets in the newer part of the city. You could easily just spend the entire day wandering around the old town and indulging in the local cuisine.
The Fish Market
Every morning, behind the Teatro Margherita, in the bend of the old port, there is the fish market (“nderr alla lanze”), where you can watch the local fishermen bring in the catch of the day, observe the traditional beating of the octopus to make it tender, and buy excellent fresh fish.
Even though I felt awful watching the beating, I have to confess: I’ve never eaten such delicious octopus in my life.
Watch Pasta Being Made On The Streets Of Bari
If you want to buy fresh pasta, head to Strada Arco Bassa. Here, the local ladies sit out in the open making brightly coloured orecchiette.
Nicknamed the Strada delle Orecchiette after the “little ears” pasta they make, the pasta street is a fascinating place to visit.
Please be respectful when taking photos of the pasta makers and buy something from the stalls. The fresh pasta is dried and lasts up to a month without refrigeration (the orecchiette costs €2.50 for half a kilo). Why not take some home? It makes a great souvenir. You can also buy some sun-dried tomatoes and taralli (a crunchy wheat-based local snack).
Visit Basilica di San Nicola
You can’t come to Italy without visiting at least one church. Bari’s most famous church is the Basilica di San Nicola.
This 12th-century church basilica is an important pilgrimage site for Christians, particularly for Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians. It houses the relics of Saint Nicholas, a 4th-century saint widely revered in Western and Eastern Christian traditions. The relics were stolen in the 11th century from Myra in present-day Turkey.
Saint Nicholas is also the historical figure behind the modern-day Santa Claus.
The Basilica di San Nicola is free to enter and is open daily from 6:30 am to 8:30 pm.
Walk on Bari’s Old Walls
Just around the corner from the Basilica di San Nicola, there are stairs leading up to the old city walls. This is a lovely place for a walk with great sea views and offers a different perspective of the city.
San Sabino Cathedral
If the basilica isn’t enough for you, San Sabino Cathedral, also known as Bari Cathedral, is worth a visit.
The Cathedral is built in Puglian Romanesque style. It has a magnificent rose window and a 230-foot bell tower.
Open daily from 08:30 am to 7 pm, except on Sundays, when its open 8-10 am and 11-7 pm.
Take a Stroll Along the Lungomare
In the late afternoon, join the locals at the seaside promenade, Lungomare Nazario Sauro.
Enjoy a leisurely walk along the waterfront, taking in views of the Adriatic Sea and the colourful fishing boats and luxury yachts in the harbour.
See Bari Castle
If you have time, there’s also a castle in the town built in the early 12th century.
There’s a small museum inside with changing exhibitions, but I ran out of time, and my stomach was rumbling. Also, the Trip Advisor reviews were very mixed.
Shopping
If you would rather do some shopping during your one day in Bari, head to Via Sparano. It’s a bustling street that connects the modern city to Bari’s old town (Bari Vecchia.) Via Sparano is lined with shops, boutiques, coffee shops, and restaurants. It is a popular destination for shopping and leisurely strolls among locals and tourists.
Easy Day Trips from Bari
Bari can be a great base from which to explore Puglia, especially if you don’t want to hire a car.
Here are some of the best day trips from Bari:
Polignano a Mare – A picturesque small town perched on cliffs overlooking the Adriatic Sea, just south of Bari. It takes 15 to 45 minutes by train to get there.
Monopoli – Another pretty seaside town just five minutes further by train from Polignano, so you could easily visit both places in one day.
Matera – This city of caves in neighbouring Basilicata is an absolute must-see. It’s a one-hour bus drive or a one hour 45-minute train trip from Bari, so you could easily visit as a day trip or join a tour. But if you have time, it’s really worth spending a night or two here in Matera.
Trani is an elegant seaside town 30 minutes north on the train. I had planned to visit it, but I was having such a lovely time in Bari that I have left it for another time. If you’ve been there, please do tell me what it’s like.
Alberobello-Famous for its trulli houses. It’s an easy day trip, but it gets super crowded with tourists, so consider staying overnight and enjoying the ambience once the day trippers have left or getting there early in the morning. I visited Alberobello from the lovely town of Locorontondo, just ten minutes away by bus.
How To Get To Bari
By Plane
The closest airport to Bari is Bari Karol Wojtyla Airport, roughly eight kilometres northwest of the city. Several airlines, including ITA, Ryanair, Lufthansa, British Airways and Turkish Airlines, offer flights to Bari from major cities.
By Train
Bari Centrale Station is well connected to other major cities in Italy, such as Rome, Milan, Bologna and Venice. You can check train times and buy tickets on Trenitalia’s official website. If you find the Trenitalia website a bit confusing, try Trainline, which is a lot easier to use.
How To Get To Bari From Bari Airport
By Train
There’s a train that links Bari Airport to Bari Central Station. There are frequent departures, and you can pay using contactless or buy tickets from the machine or even from a real person. Tickets cost just over five euros.
From Bari Central station, it’s a pleasant 15-20 minute flat walk along Via Sparano to Bari Vecchia.
By Bus
The Terravision airport bus is not running at the moment, but local bus number 16 will drop you off slightly closer to the old town than the train station.
By Car
The queues at Bari Airport for renting a car were very long. But if you are only coming for a short break, you don’t need a car. And it’s quite manageable to travel around Puglia without a vehicle.
Where To Stay In Bari
I usually find accommodation with Booking.com. In Bari, I stayed at the Alla Corte degli Alberolungo, a lovely apartment just a four-minute walk from the Cathedral, so it was right in the heart of the old city.
If you are looking for somewhere a little more luxurious- try Les Suites Bari or Tresca Charme.
I really enjoyed my time in Bari and would happily recommend it to anyone wishing to explore Puglia. Don’t miss the opportunity to discover this delightful gem of southern Italy!
Love Italy?
Check out these posts for other amazing places to visit around Italy.
Visiting Alberobello, Puglia’s Trulli Town
One Perfect Day In Locorotondo
One Day in Polignano a Mare, Puglia
How To Spend Two Wonderful Days In Matera
Best Things To Do In Sestri Levante
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