Car Rental Bari

The roads in Bari are less busy than in larger Italian cities, so getting around in your car should be pretty straightforward, especially if you acquaint yourself with the basic rules of the road beforehand.

In Italy you drive on the right-hand side, overtaking on the left and there’s a ban on using your mobile phone when driving.

Speed limits on all roads will be clearly signposted and vary from 50km/h in built-up and urban areas to 130km/h on motorways. Italian motorways – autostrada – are toll roads (cash only) and these are indicated by green road signs. Our local team can answer any questions you may have about tolls.

It’s best to avoid driving in the old town, or Centro Storico, as it’s subject to traffic restrictions every day from 12:00 till 24:00 and access is controlled by video cameras.

Outside of the historic old centre, on-street paid parking is available and there are car parks dotted around the city, or look for a parking garage, indicated by a square blue sign with a white ‘P’.

The city’s airport is located 20km north-west of the city centre and accessed via the SS16, the city’s main bypass. This road also takes you up the coast to the lovely seaside town of Trani, which is a 45-minute drive.

The SS16 also runs south from the city, along the Adriatic coast, passing many attractive beach resorts, such as Monopoli. It continues south before heading inland and reaching the beautiful city of Lecce, 150km from Bari.

Bari’s beautiful boulevards and rough-hewn charm are a winning combination. Students keep the nightlife fresh (and affordable), while the cuisine here is unpretentious and delicious. There’s also deep Italian history to delve into, along with wonderful old buildings redolent of the past.

Secret Santa

In the historic old town you’ll find Bari’s claim to fame, the Basilica di San Nicola. One of the first Norman churches in Italy’s south, it was built in the 12^th century to accommodate the relics of St. Nicholas, the man history remembers as Father Christmas.

Close by is the Romanesque cathedral, dedicated to San Sabino, which replaced the Byzantine original. The highlight is the subterranean museum, full of ancient Roman ruins and more.

More cheese, please

Puglia's cuisine is well worth feasting upon. The locals take pride in orecchiette, the hand-formed ear shaped pasta. The classic accompaniment is a sauce of cime di rape, literally ‘turnip tops’, but actually similar to a leafy broccoli.

Don’t miss the sensational local maccheroni al forno, pasta mixed with meatballs, eggs and more, topped with a pie crust and cooked in the oven. You should also try some burrata di Andria, a local cheese that is best eaten when fresh.

Seaside sophistication

Known as the 'Pearl of Puglia', Trani is a sophisticated seaside town with a thriving marina and a pretty old centre. In summer, Italians throng here to dine and promenade.

The town’s historic centre, with its medieval churches, limestone streets and charming squares, is an enchanting area to explore. The most famous sight is the huge 12^th-century limestone cathedral, stunningly white against the azure sea.

Baroque ‘n’ roll excess

Lecce is Puglia’s dazzling jewel, a city of outrageously ornate baroque buildings decorated with gargoyles, elaborate columns and all manner of cherubs. Known as the ‘Florence of the South’, this relaxed university town also boasts upmarket boutiques and many fine restaurants.

Wander the city’s historic centre (centro storico) and take it all in, or board the little tourist train (‘El Trenino’) for a relaxing tour of its intricate wonder. The undoubted star of the show is the Basilica di Santa Croce, whose facade has to be seen to be believed.

This crazy, swirling allegorical feast in stone was created by a team of artists working under the city’s famous architect, Giuseppe Zimbalo. Nearby, on the main Piazza del Duomo, sits the cathedral, a 17^th-century reconstruction of Lecce's original 12th-century edifice and hailed as one of Zimbalo’s great masterpieces.

Trulli amazing

Puglia is famed for its unique beehive-shaped houses, known as trulli. One of the best places to see these amazing buildings is at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Alberobello.

Head for the zona dei trulli, where you’ll see over a thousand of these white, pointy-tipped houses made from local limestone. The charming inhabitants sit outside their homes, selling shawls and other souvenirs.

Car hire in Bari is a great way to truly enjoy the riches of the city and soak up the pleasures of Puglia too.