Apulia: Alberobello to Lecce

Discover the heel of Italy by bike

Do you want to experience the full program of Italy in one trip? Then we have found the perfect region for you; Apulia, or as the Italians call it, Puglia. The southernmost region of Italy represents the heel of the famous boot on the map. You cycle along impressive coastal strips, and cypresses and through beautiful olive groves between the Adriatic and the Ionian Sea from Alberobello to Lecce.

All details about the bike tour in Apulia

Apulia is the southeastern part of Italy. Our bike tour starts in Alberobello and runs from Ostuni, Avetrana, Gallipoli, and S. Maria di Leuca via Otranto to Lecce. There you can enjoy Bella Italia to the fullest and soak up the Italian attitude to life. In addition to the delicious cuisine, the friendliness of the local population and the impressive architecture, one cultural highlight follows the other in quick succession in this region.

The highlights of the cycling tour in southern Italy

  • The Trulli of Apulia: A UNESCO World Heritage Site awaits you as soon as you arrive in Alberobello: the well-known Trulli. The simple white farmhouses protrude from the olive groves like little pointed caps and thus inspire all tourists

  • Ostuni: It is also known as the "white city" because all the houses are whitewashed, except the church. Ostuni is easy to see from afar because it is on a hill and is built up. The small streets, stacked houses and numerous staircases give the city an oriental touch

  • Grotta Zinzulusa: The cave north of the town of Castro is the only coastal cave open to the public. Because the sea reaches up to the entrance of the cave, you can observe a beautiful play of colours in the water there

  • Lecce: Thanks to its impressive baroque style, the city of Lecce is also called the "Florence of the South". There you will find numerous churches, palaces, a beautiful city centre and an amphitheatre. The baroque architecture and the Italian flair make this place something very special

Worth knowing about the cycling tour in Apulia

Although Puglia has hilly areas with ancient farmland, it is still the flattest region in Italy. Therefore, you can expect a slight rise and fall in some parts of the route, but otherwise, the route is flat. A pleasant bike ride in which enjoyment and nature are certainly in the foreground. A versatile and culinary journey through authentic Italy!

This tour has been graded as Medium. Find out more about our cycling holiday difficulty levels.

 

Tour information
Medium
  • 8 Days / 7 Nights
  • Self-Guided
  • Luggage transfers included
  • Total cycling distance: approx. 315 km
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Itinerary

Alberobello is particularly famous for its Trulli, limestone cone buildings – 2 of the city's neighbourhoods are made up of Trulli only; Rione Monti and Aia Piccola. Alberobello is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Bike ride through the Valle d'Itria area, one of the most beautiful cultural landscapes in the south. Stopover in the famous wine town of Locorotondo (tasting the local white wine yourself). Continue via Cisternino to the final destination of this stage, Ostuni, or "white city" with a beautiful view of the sea.

ca. 35-45 km

From Ostuni, the tour goes through olive groves, wine-growing areas and orchards to Avetrana, a small town steeped in history on the ancient Via Appia. This ancient Roman road once ran from Rome via Taranto and Oria to Brindisi. Today only parts of the old cobbled path are preserved as Via Appia Antica.

ca. 60 km

You leave Avetrana to reach the sea in no time. Via a detour to "Torre Colimena", follow the coastal road with its many defensive towers to Porto Cesareo. We continue along the Ionian coast to Gallipoli. This originally Greek city "Kalepolis" (beautiful city) is the real urban surprise on the Ionian Sea. Like a rocky peninsula, Alt-Gallipoli sits on the tip of a promontory that extends far out to sea - recognizable from a distance from north and south. You are in the middle of the city's maze of alleyways, where several churches and a quaint museum await your visit. Also, see the many real fishermen who still portray an authentic image of the city.

ca. 60 km

Today we reach the southernmost point of the heel of the boot, the Salento region is also the watershed to the Ionian Sea at Santa Maria di Leuca. The place is best known for its pilgrimage church, a popular place of pilgrimage. At the beginning of the century, many beautiful villas were created, which are an absolute architectural highlights because of their imaginative to absurd shapes. Eccentric lovers of the end of the world settled here to enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the sea.

 

ca. 50 km

Today it goes along the southernmost point of the coast of the Adriatic Sea to the Messapian town of Otranto. It is considered a jewel of art history in the middle of a charming landscape. The old town is surrounded by a mighty city wall and impresses with the impressive Habsburg castle. On the way to Otranto you have the opportunity to visit the famous Grotta Zinzulusa cave system - the only coastal cave open to the public. Santa Cesarea Terme, known for its hydrotherapeutic treatments and radioactive peat therapies, also deserves a stopover.

ca. 50 km

You first continue on the Adriatic coast, then through countless olive groves to Lecce. If you want to take a break along the way, it is best to do so at the bay of Torre dell Orso, delimited by high limestone cliffs. Lecce, the capital of Salento, is a city of great charm, which impresses above all for the undisputed beauty of its buildings and churches. Besides Naples, Lecce is the baroque metropolis in the south. About 30 churches and numerous palaces await you here. Don't forget to visit the amphitheatre and the Roman theatre, both probably built under Emperor Augustus.

ca. 50 km

After breakfast, this fantastic cycling trip through Apulia ends.

Route information

Apart from some slight elevation changes in some areas, the route mainly takes you along flat, paved side streets. Because Puglia is not a "transit region" and you drive outside the high season, the roads are almost car-free.

Prices and dates

Prices are per person in GBP and exclude flights

Price calculation and check availability: ​​​​​​​Apulia: Alberobello to Lecce

Make an enquiry about 2024 arrival dates and prices for this tour

Place of arrival: Alberobello
  Season 1
01.04.2023 |
Saturday, Sunday
Season 2
02.04.2023 - 26.05.2023
05.09.2023 - 15.10.2023

Saturday, Sunday
Season 3
27.05.2023 - 18.06.2023
19.08.2023 - 04.09.2023

Saturday, Sunday
Apulia, Alberobello to Lecce, IT-APRAL-08X
Base price
699.00
819.00
919.00
Single room surcharge 199.00 199.00 199.00
  • You will stay in 3*** and 4**** hotels and Agriturismo
Season 1
Apr 1, 2023 |
Saturday, Sunday
Season 2
Apr 2, 2023 - May 26, 2023
Sep 5, 2023 - Oct 15, 2023
Saturday, Sunday
Season 3
May 27, 2023 - Jun 18, 2023
Aug 19, 2023 - Sep 4, 2023
Saturday, Sunday
Apulia, Alberobello to Lecce, IT-APRAL-08X
Base price
Single room surcharge
699.00
199.00
819.00
199.00
919.00
199.00
  • You will stay in 3*** and 4**** hotels and Agriturismo
Season 1
Apr 1, 2023 - Apr 1, 2023
Season 2
Apr 2, 2023 - May 26, 2023
Sep 5, 2023 - Oct 15, 2023
Season 3
May 27, 2023 - Jun 18, 2023
Aug 19, 2023 - Sep 4, 2023
Alberobello
Double room p.p.
Single room surcharge
Lecce
Double room p.p.
Single room surcharge
89.00
29.00
84.00
29.00
89.00
29.00
84.00
29.00
89.00
29.00
84.00
29.00
Additional nights
Place of arrival: Alberobello
  Season 1
Apr 1, 2023 |
Saturday, Sunday
Season 2
Apr 2, 2023 - May 26, 2023
Sep 5, 2023 - Oct 15, 2023

Saturday, Sunday
Season 3
May 27, 2023 - Jun 18, 2023
Aug 19, 2023 - Sep 4, 2023

Saturday, Sunday
Alberobello
Double room p.p. 89.00 89.00 89.00
Single room surcharge 29.00 29.00 29.00
Lecce
Double room p.p. 84.00 84.00 84.00
Single room surcharge 29.00 29.00 29.00
Price
21-Speed Unisex Bike
Unisex E-Bike
27-Speed Bike PLUS
99.00
229.00
159.00
Prices per person in GBP

Services / Information

Services

Included

  • 7 nights accommodation as described, including breakfast
  • Luggage transfer(s) max. 1 piece of luggage 20 kg per person
  • Travel folder 1x per room (German, English with route and overview maps, detailed route description, points of interest, important telephone numbers, suitcase labels)
  • GPS data available on request
  • Service Hotline

Not included

  • Tourist tax, if applicable, to be paid locally
  • Return flight to Bari or Brindisi
  • Transfers by minibus (optional), daily, minimum participants: 2 persons, prior reservation required, to be paid in advance when booking:
    Monopoli train station-Alberobello € 30 pp
    Airport/Train station Bari/Brindisi-Alberobello € 50 pp
    Lecce-Bari Airport € 125 pp
    Lecce-Brindisi Airport € 40 pp
    Lecce-Alberobello € 40 pp, surcharge bicycle € 29
Arrival information
  • Plane: Bari or Brindisi airport
  • Train: Monopoli, Brindisi or Bari stations
  • Parking: At the starting hotel for a fee, reservation in advance is not possible

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