Destinations — June 2026
Puglia, Beyond the Postcard
Where travelling in Puglia genuinely rewards you, and why May and October make the difference.
7 minutes
In ten years Puglia has moved from a discovery to a destination that reaches its limits in August. In between lie weeks when the region is exactly what it was once recommended for: empty, warm, welcoming and remarkably easy to travel.
The Valle d'Itria as a base
Between Ostuni, Cisternino and Locorotondo lies the Puglia most people are looking for: whitewashed lanes, trulli among the olive groves, morning markets. As a base the valley works better than the coast — the sea is forty minutes away, and you sleep inland.
Lecce, out of season
Lecce's baroque tolerates neither midday sun nor coach groups. In late October the city is a different experience: warm stone, open courtyards, restaurants with a free table.
The coast, in moderation
Polignano a Mare is rightly known and correspondingly full in summer. For the coast, head further south towards Otranto, or use the early hours. The Adriatic stretch north of Monopoli stays quieter even in high season.
When to travel
Mid-May to mid-June, and the second half of October. July and August are hot and busy; travelling then calls for a house with its own land and a different daily rhythm.
Puglia rewards travellers who plan little. Two places in ten days is enough; the rest arrives on the way.
