Photo: Berthold Werner · CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Bari
An old town of handmade pasta and Saint Nicholas.
Puglia's lively port capital: a maze-like old town where women make orecchiette in their doorways, the great basilica of Saint Nicholas, a Norman castle and a long seafront. The jumping-off point for Matera, Alberobello and Greek ferries.
Places to see
Bari CathedralChurch · A pale Romanesque cathedral with a carved rose window; under the floor, glass panels show…Free- Basilica of Saint NicholasChurch · A great white Romanesque church with a gilded ceiling; in the crypt, the tomb of Saint…Free
Norman-Swabian CastleMuseum · A squat fortress with a moat on the edge of the old town, with a courtyard and a hall of…≈ A$18
San Marco dei Veneziani
When to go
- Jan13° / 5°Often wetQuiet
- Feb14° / 5°Often wetQuiet
- Mar16° / 7°Some rainQuiet
- Apr19° / 10°Some rainBusy
- May24° / 14°Some rainVery busy
- Jun28° / 18°Mostly dryBusy
- Jul31° / 21°Mostly dryBusy
- Aug31° / 21°Mostly dryBusy
- Sep
Staying and getting around
Good areas to stay
Bari Vecchia. The old town: alleys of pasta-makers, the basilica and the castle; lively at night.
Murat. The 19th-century grid between the old town and the station: shops, theatres and good-value rooms.
Flying in
Bari (BRI): Train to Bari Centrale, about 20 min, ≈ A$9.
Flewaway's estimate for the usual budget way into Bari; check times and fares before you fly.
Getting around
You can walk everywhere. A single ticket is ≈ A$3. The old town and the Murat grid are walkable. Buses cost about €1.50 (check); ferries to Croatia, Albania and Greece leave from the port.
Tourist tax
Bari's city tax: usually about €1–2 a person a night in hostels and B&Bs, more in hotels, for the first nights; under-14s don't pay. Paid at check-in (check).
Day trips
Matera, about 1 h 30 min by fal train. Cave districts carved into a ravine.
