The capital of Apulia (Ita: Puglia), Bari is the most important city in the region. Standing on the Adriatic Coast, it’s one of the gateways into the country, as well as an important exit point.

Served by a port, an airport, a train station, and a bus station, Bari is an excellent base to explore Puglia.

The city itself has a lot to offer to the visitor and is certainly worth several days to explore. However, a lot of outstanding places are located nearby and can be either visited as a day trip or during a tour.

That’s why, in this article, I’m sharing the top Bari tours, excursions, and experiences to add to your bucket list (in 2024), no matter your budget. Also, free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance applies to all the suggestions below.

Day Trip – Bari, Polignano a Mare and Alberobello

This 7–8-hour tour is also available year-round, and costs from US$497.77 per group (of up to 4 persons) and varies for more. You’ll visit Bari, both the old town and downtown, explore Alberobello’s Trulli dwellings, and visit Polignano a Mare.

The package includes private transportation, wi-fi and AC in the vehicle, and tea/coffee. You need to consider additional costs, such as getting to Bari, as well as the food and drinks you’ll purchase during the day trip.

Visit of the marine caves of Vieste

Make your way to Vieste, on the Gargano coast, and join this 3-hour boat tour to experience the splendor of this area. You’ll navigate from Vieste to Baia delle Zagare, about 12 miles along the coast, passing by wonderful bays and hidden coves.

Prices start at $28.03 per person.

We’ve done a similar tour on the same boat (Desirèe) some years back. Our guide was Italian and we’ve even seen dolphins on the way back.

UNESCO’s Alberobello and Matera from Bari

These might just be two of the most beautiful and intriguing places to visit when you are in Bari. Stop by Mater and check it out, including the Sassi area, a complex of cave dwellings carved into the mountainside. Then, head over to Alberobello to see the trulli. The tour leaves from Bari’s cruise port and the price starts at $175.88 per person.

Bari Walking Tour with Pasta Experience

Do you like pasta? Then you should learn how to make orecchiette, the traditional pasta in Puglia. Take a walking tour in Bari and combine it with a home cooking experience. Make your way around the enticing Old Town lanes, discovering landmarks such as the Basilica of St. Nicholas and hearing the city’s history, the city’s French neighborhood, and the fish market. Then, you’ll visit the home of a local to make fresh pasta pomodoro and try the local primitivo red wine. You’ll enjoy all this (and more) for prices starting at $47.65 per person.

>>Click here to discover other tours, excursions, and experiences in & around Bari

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The prices have been updated as of Nov 2023, are correct at the time of publishing and may change without notice.