A perfect 24 hours in Bari Itinerary

Bari is not an Italian city that tourists tend to plan a trip to. Instead they flock to Florence, Milan, Venice or Rome. Yet Bari is the gateway to Puglia’s whitewashed towns, beautiful beaches and unspoiled countryside. And this charming, if sometimes gritty, city is definitely worth a visit. The atmospheric old town (Bari Vecchia) is filled with medieval buildings and churches, and gives a glimpse of both traditional and modern Italian life.

This captivating city has character, charm and personality in spades. Corso Vittorio Emanuele II separates the old and new areas of Bari. Most of the sights are in old Bari but the transport hubs and shopping precincts are in the new city. There’s also a glorious promenade – one of the longest in Europe – which is a wonderful place to partake in the Italian tradition of passeggiata – a leisurely evening stroll to socialise and to be seen.

Vittorio Emanuele II? Where have I heard that before? If you’ve visited any city or town in Italy, you’ll have come across a street, a square or a monument named after the first king of a united Italy.

Our Bari Story

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We arrived in Bari a little earlier than planned, thanks to a rescheduling of our Bari Walking Street Food Tour. A 5 pm start would have given us ample time to arrive at our hotel for the 4pm check-in, to freshen up and to stroll 10 minutes across town to the tour meeting point at Strada Vallisa. But instead, the start time was moved to 3pm. This leads to me leaving frantic messages with our B&B about dropping our bags off earlier, and Mr Fletche worrying if we would be penalised for dropping off our rental car 5 hours earlier than initially booked. However the stars aligned; the B&B agreed to check us in at 2:30, Thrifty were happy to accept the car early, and even a taxi magically appeared straight away to whisk us from the airport to the city.

Where we stayed

We stayed at B&B Murex, just 5 minutes from the heart of the Bari Vecchia and directly opposite Castelo Normanno-Svevo. There are just 4 rooms, with exposed brickwork and beams, a perfect mixture of old and new decor. Our host Antonio was welcoming and friendly, with a wealth of information to share on things to do in Bari. For those travelling with large luggage, be warned that the stairs are wickedly steep and narrow.

Apart from the excellent location and warm greeting, the breakfast on the beautiful rooftop terrace is the top aspect that makes this a perfect place to stay. We choose from an extensive continental menu, with lots of delicious local produce and sit back whilst Antonio makes recommendations of the best food combinations. Definitely try the caciocavello cheese with honey and thank me later. Our room was off the communal reception/kitchen/self-service bar area but we weren’t interrupted by any noise. We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect accommodation for our final night in Puglia.

📍 B&B Murex Location (Google Maps)

A perfect 24 hours in Bari Itinerary

Our 24 hours in Bari begins with the aforementioned walking street food tour. Despite our anxiety, we do actually make it on time. The tour gives us an excellent overview of the Bari history, culture and lifestyle, as well as giving us the opportunity to sample a little of Bari’s incredible food and drink scene. We immerse ourselves in the city’s culinary – and musical – culture thanks to our expert guide Emanuela.

Our tour gives us the opportunity to visit two of Bari’s main religious buildings. The 11th century Basilica di San Nicola is a key pilgrim site, where the remains of St Nicholas can be found. Yes, Santa Claus. The façade is understated, yet still impressive. Inside, sculptures and mosaics mingle with a spectacular gold ceiling. The basilica is shared by both Orthodox and Catholic faiths; we head to the vaulted crypt where a mass is taking place. There’s even a St Nicholas statue outside; I whispered to him as I passed that I’d been a very good girl this year.   

Bari Cathedral (San Sabino) on the other hand is a little more understated inside. The exterior is shining white and simple; a large rose window is decorated with animals. This is where crowds gather at the summer solstice, when sunbeams pass through the rose window projecting a perfect pool of light. In the crypt below, the relics of Saint Sabino are kept in a beautiful altar. The cathedral’s 230 foot bell tower can be seen from all over the city. Good to look out for when you’re lost!

Both the Basilica and Cathedral are free to enter. There’s also an excavation site and archaeological museum next to the Cathedral (3€), with traces of ancient church foundations and the remains of a Roman Road.

Bari by night

Bellies full from our food tour, we take the opportunity to relax for a little while at our B&B. We take full advantage of the free beers in the communal fridge. All the walking over the past 48 hours has taken it’s toll. We had visited Matera the day before and my blisters now have blisters, despite sensible shoes. Still, it’s our final night in Bari (or so we think) so we head out.

Our first stop is the Lungomare, to join in that tradition of an evening stroll. The promenade is gently lit by traditional black lamposts. We are drawn towards the flashing neon lights of the Bari “Ferris Wheel”, the Ruota Panoramica. We decide not to take flight; instead we watch the outdoor yoga class taking place underneath it. It almost makes we want to join in and strike a downward dog. Although we all know child’s pose is the best yoga position, right?

We weave our way back to the Old Town, looking forward to exploring it more in the daytime. Piazza Mercantile, one of the city’s main squares, is loud and vibrant. Crowds gather around a dance and drums troupe, who may be protesting or celebrating (I’m not entirely sure which). We stop for a cocktail at the seemingly peaceful American Bar Città Vecchia. They decide to drown out the exuberance of the square with their own ear-splitting tunes. It turns out we’re sitting right next to the speaker.

In search of something a little more relaxing we look for the small square that we had visited on our food tour. Largo Albicocca – the “square of lovers” – is a magical place to visit in the evening when it’s lit up with twinkling lights. This is also something of a street food hub. Good-natured crowds gather to buy beer and pizza by the slice from Pizzeria Di Cosimo. Naturally, we decide to join them. It’s a thankfully short stroll back to our B&B from here.

Bari by day

After an incredible breakfast overlooking the rooftops of Bari, it’s time to checkout. We decide to leave our luggage in storage close to Bari Centrale station. We pre-booked a large locker with Stow Your Bags. This gives us the opportunity to check out how to get to the station, and how long it takes us to walk. It’s about 15 minutes from the Old Town, heading through centro storico on the pedestrianised Via Sparano. Or longer if you’re hot, limping and dragging a suitcase. Free of our baggage (physical, not emotional), we head back to explore the Bari Vecchia by daylight.

The old city centre has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s a medieval maze of winding narrow streets. Wrought-iron flower-filled balconies and colourful shutters adorn buildings, and laundry flutters across alleyways like bunting. There is also actual bunting. Bursts of sing-song conversation swell from open windows. No trip to Bari Vecchia is complete without visiting the pasta-rolling nonne of Strada delle Orecchiette (aka Strada Arco Basso). Deft fingers roll and cut the ear-shaped shapes; we couldn’t avoid passing by as this was right on the doorstep of our B&B!

We return to Piazza Mercantile, Bari’s bustling heart. It’s the place to eat, drink and people-watch, by day and by night. It’s here you can find the “Colonna della Giustizia”. This ominously named Column of Justice was where punishment and humiliation was carried out for various misdemeanours. The sun is past the yardarm so it’s time for an Aperol Spritz at MercantileNove. The sharing platters coming from the kitchen look epic but we’re holding out for a late lunch after that breakfast.

We spend the afternoon weaving our way around Bari Vecchia. We explore Piazza del Ferrarese, another perfect people-watching site, and walk Via Venezia, the walls of Bari’s old town. You can find free public toilets here! All roads seem to lead back to Piazza Mercantile though. The skies are turning grey, and this gives the buildings a gorgeous glow. At times there’s a sprinkle of rain, and winds lift the parasols covering restaurant terraces. We get a behind the scenes view as we lunch at L’Osteria del Borgo Antico, staff scurrying around securing furniture and clearing tables of anything that might be caught up in the impending storm.

With the weather changing quickly, we decide to make our way back to Bari Centrale and collect our bags. Our taxi luck is definitely changing since our initial arrival at the airport, and we’re at Karol Wojtyla Airport in 25 minutes. Time to say ciao to Bari. Except we might just return a little sooner than we imagine…

Is 24 hours in Bari enough?

We had just over 24 hours in Bari, and made the most of our time in the city. One day gave us ample time to explore the city, sample some incredible local delicacies and relax with a stroll along the lively promenade. Another day or two would be perfect if you intend to use the train network to visit local towns within an hour and a half of Bari, to visit the theatre or the museums, or to take a guided tour.

Getting to and around Bari

Bari is well connected to most major Italian cities by bus, train and air. Bari’s Karol Wojtyla Airport is just 5 miles northwest of the city centre. If you are relying on public transport to get around Puglia then Bari makes a good base as there are regular regional trains to many of the smaller towns in the region. The city is also a major ferry port, connecting Italy to Croatia, Montenegro and Greece.

We did have transport issues – well documented if you follow me on social media – particularly when it came to travelling to and from the airport. There’s an underground train (FM2, yellow) which connects Bari Airport to Bari Centrale in 20 minutes. You can purchase tickets from the ticket machines at the airport and station. The Airport Shuttle Bus costs 4€ per person and takes just under half an hour to reach the city. The #16 Bus (AMTAB) is the cheapest option at just €1,50, but does take a little longer. You can purchase tickets from the driver (cash only). AMTAB buses leave from the bus stop right outside the arrivals hall, and from right outside Bari Centrale.

The cost of a taxi from Bari Airport to Bari Centrale/Bari Vecchia is a set fare of €25. Make sure you bring cash as many taxi drivers don’t accept card payments. We found taxis to be very scarce when we arrived in Bari late at night so you might want to consider taking public transport instead if it’s available. Because we chose to spend our first night at a B&B in Bari Palaese (ironically because of its proximity to the airport) we had no choice but to wait for over an hour for a taxi.

24 hours in Bari: Final Thoughts

Is Bari worth visiting? Absolutely! It’s a city full of culture and history, not yet spoiled by overtourism. Exploring the old town on a walking street food tour was a highlight, and I would highly recommend to anyone making a similar trip. If you’re planning a Puglia road trip, and you’re flying in or out of Bari’s Karol Wojtyla Airport, consider spending a day – or more – exploring the city. The old town is extremely photogenic by day, but the evening is when Bari Vecchia really comes alive, with entire families dragging chairs outside to gather.

Putting aside our travel woes, Bari charmed us and it’s definitely worth adding this captivating city to your Puglia road trip itinerary.

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