Public Transport in Puglia Guide – the Puglia Guys pugliaguys.com

Most travel guides will tell you that you need to hire a car to explore Puglia — that public transport is too limited. And while there’s no denying that having your own wheels gives you maximum flexibility (especially for beaches, countryside stays and smaller villages), it’s not the only way.

If you’re comfortable driving, Puglia is easier to navigate than many expect — but hiring a car isn’t essential. With a little planning and some local know-how, it’s absolutely possible to get around using trains and buses.

The main Trenitalia line from Bari to Lecce (via Polignano a Mare, Monopoli, Fasano, Ostuni and Brindisi) is modern, efficient and inexpensive. Think of it as your backbone. From there, a web of regional trains and interurban buses opens up much of the rest of the region — especially if you’re happy to travel at a slower pace.

The challenge is that public transport in Puglia isn’t fully integrated. Multiple operators run separate train and bus networks, and they don’t always coordinate with each other. That can make planning a journey — or even knowing where to start — unnecessarily complicated. You need to know where and how to look.

That’s where this guide comes in. We’ve done the groundwork, bringing together all the key information to help you travel confidently by public transport, whether you’re hopping between major towns or venturing further off the beaten path.