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Highlights
Bike from Polignano a Mare to Lecce in the beautiful Puglia region
Cycle along sandy beaches, beside the deep blue sea, and through hidden coves and caves along the way.
Stop to swim in the Adriatic and explore UNESCO sites and unique towns along the way.
Delight your senses with traditional Puglian cuisine and get to know the friendly locals.
Ride through ancient olive groves, rolling vineyards, and pine forests as you journey up the coast.
This wonderful cycling tour in Puglia takes you from Monopoli to Lecce. Cycle along the unbelievable coastline of Puglia, the heel of Italy. You’ll cross breathtaking landscapes, stop to swim in the welcoming ocean, and immerse yourself in the culture of this special region at every stop.
The Puglia Cycling tour begins in the stunning seaside town of Polignano a Mare. You’ll ride through the mazes of whitewashed houses and past bustling squares, making your way to the enchanting caves lining the coast at Castellana. Sleep in a traditional Trulli home, which makes you feel like you’re in another world. Cycle through olive groves and brilliant vineyards, stop in medieval towns for ice cream, and marvel at gothic cathedrals.
The Puglia Cycling tour takes you to the magnificent Torre del Pizzo beach, where you’ll sunbathe under a row of colorful mansions. Let the sea breeze guide you to past the Alimini Lakes, and arrive in the Baroque city of Lecce.
Regional wine and a fine dinner will send you off back home, but you won’t want this Italian cycling tour in Puglia to end!
This wonderful cycling tour in Puglia takes you from Monopoli to Lecce. Cycle along the unbelievable coastline of Puglia, the heel of Italy. You’ll cross breathtaking landscapes, stop to swim in the welcoming ocean, and immerse yourself in the culture of this special region at every stop.
The Puglia Cycling tour begins in the stunning seaside town of Polignano a Mare. You’ll ride through the mazes of whitewashed houses and past bustling squares, making your way to the enchanting caves lining the coast at Castellana. Sleep in a traditional Trulli home, which makes you feel like you’re in another world. Cycle through olive groves and brilliant vineyards, stop in medieval towns for ice cream, and marvel at gothic cathedrals.
The Puglia Cycling tour takes you to the magnificent Torre del Pizzo beach, where you’ll sunbathe under a row of colorful mansions. Let the sea breeze guide you to past the Alimini Lakes, and arrive in the Baroque city of Lecce.
Regional wine and a fine dinner will send you off back home, but you won’t want this Italian cycling tour in Puglia to end!
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Puglia Cycling Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Monopoli
You’ll start your cycling tour of Puglia in the lovely town of Monopoli. Whitewashed houses stand out against the deep blue sea here, and the unique churches and squares make for great scenery.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Monopoli
Distance: None
Meals: None
Day 2 Ride through Olive Groves to Alberobello
Today’s ride is a gradual climb from the Adriatic sea to the gently undulating valley of Itria. through the typical Murgia landscape with olive groves and fields surrounded by low stone walls. Stop at Castellana Grotte for a rest and to visit an immense underground cave system, one of the largest in Europe. Continue on to Alberobello, the Trulli capital of the world and a UNESCO Heritage town. Alberobello is unique for having over 1000 trulli, or white-washed stone houses with conical roofs.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Alberobello
Distance: 3 hours, 46.5 km, 500m elevation gain
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 Bike to Osunti
Today, you’ll cycle through the historically rich area of Murgia, where olive groves and vineyards dominate. Fly by the local farmhouses to Cisternino, a medieval town with fabulous local wine. Don’t have too many glasses, because you’ll ride on to Ostuni, a great seaside town with an impressive 15th-century gothic cathedral. It’s a sight to behold!
Overnight Location: Hotel in Ostuni
Distance: 3 hours, 40 km, 300m elevation gain
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4 Ride to Gallipoli
Today, you’ll ride to the train station to travel to Lecce, where your ride will gently trail through the countryside. You’ll pass through little historic towns like Nardo and Copertino, where you’re free to take a coffee break and enjoy the day a bit. Then, one last push past the olive trees gets you to Gallipoli for the evening. Take an evening dip in the Ionian Sea and find a tasty spot for dinner and wine.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Gallipoli
Distance: 4.5 hours, 52 km, 240m elevation gain
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5 Swim in the Adriatic & Bike to Santa Maria di Leuca
The ride this morning follows the coastline to the southernmost point of Puglia, which divides the Ionian and Adriatic. You’ll pass by paradise at Torre del Pizzo beach, so don’t pass up the chance for a divine swim! Let the sun and the soft white sand treat you before you ride along to Santa Maria di Leuca. This village is quirky, filled with wildly colourful mansions and pristine beaches.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Santa Maria di Leuca
Distance: 4.5 hours, 51 km, 200m elevation gain
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6 Bike to Otranto
The next leg of your cycling tour through Puglia follows a high coastal route with a refreshing sea breeze. Let the wind cool you as you wind your way along the road, which has National Geographic-worthy views! Then, you’ll take a pit stop at the Grotta Zinzulusa, a fascinating cave. Then, ride to Otranto, a port town with Greek and Roman influencers where you’ll be spending the night.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Otranto
Distance: 4.5 hours, 53 km, 520m elevation gain
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7 Bike to Lecce
Start the final full day of your cycling adventure through Italy with a visit to the Alimini Lakes, shallow and perfectly blue lakes that run parallel to the sea. You’ll ride through Salento, where traces of Greek influence can still be found in the dialect, food, and architecture. Stop for a gelato and appreciate the bright white buildings against the blue sky. Then, you’ll ride through to Lecce, the vibrant Baroque town that you can spend the night wandering. Grab a glass of wine and some bread with olive oil and enjoy!
Overnight Location: Hotel in Lecce
Distance: 4.5 hours, 52 km, 120m elevation gain
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8 Farewell, Puglia!
Savour your last breakfast before packing up to leave Lecce, unless you have extra nights booked. Arrivederci!
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
Departure on April 12th – April 24th, 2024:
- Single room: EUR1264
- Sharing a double/twin room: EUR938
- Sharing a triple room: EUR848
Departure on April 25th – May 25th, 2024:
- Single room): EUR1304
- Sharing a double/twin room: EUR965
- Sharing a triple room: EUR868
Departure on May 26th – June 10th, 2024:
- Single room: EUR1394
- Sharing a double/twin room: EUR1018
- Sharing a triple room: EUR909
Departure on June 11th – June 17th, 2024:
- Single room: EUR1413
- Sharing a double/twin room: EUR1033
- Sharing a triple room: EUR921
Departure on June 18th – June 25th, 2024:
- Single room: EUR1439
- Sharing a double/twin room: EUR1055
- Sharing a triple room: EUR936
Departure on June 26th – July 7th, 2024:
- Single room: EUR1510
- Sharing a double/twin room: EUR1075
- Sharing a triple room: EUR941
Departure on July 8th – July 19th, 2024:
- Single room: EUR1588
- Sharing a double/twin room: EUR1126
- Sharing a triple room: EUR981
Departure on September 6th – September 14th, 2024:
- Single room: EUR1439
- Sharing a double/twin room: EUR1055
- Sharing a triple room: EUR936
Departure on September 15th – September 21st, 2024:
- Single room: EUR1413
- Sharing a double/twin room: EUR1033
- Sharing a triple room: EUR921
Departure on September 22nd – September 30th, 2024:
- Single room: EUR1394
- Sharing a double/twin room: EUR1018
- Sharing a triple room: EUR909
Departure on October 1st – October 11th, 2024:
- Single room: EUR1304
- Sharing a double/twin room: EUR965
- Sharing a triple room: EUR868
Accommodation on the Puglia Cycling Tour
This tour is based in 3 and 4-star hotels and B&Bs. The hotels offer pleasant rooms with ensuite bathrooms and great locations. In some cases, accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other, comparable accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travelers
Solo travelers must pay a supplement that varies based on the season and the size of the group (please check Dates and Prices for more info).
What’s Included in the Puglia Cycling Tour?
Meals
7 breakfasts are included.
Accommodations
Accommodation for 7 nights is included.
Transportation during the Tour
This tour includes rental bike delivery and pick up, as well as luggage transfers during the biking days, however, you are responsible for any personal transfers.
Also Included
- Route guides and notes
- Maps and detailed information packs
- 24/7 telephone guidance and support
- Bike theft insurance
Not included
- Bike rental
- Travel insurance
- Trains, boats, or busses wherever required
- Lunches and dinners or drinks and snacks not previously mentioned
- Tourist taxes
- Personal equipment
Optional Extras
- Additional nights before or after the tour (only available in Monopoli and Lecce)
- Airport transfers
- Bike and biking equipment rental
- Additional fee for starting the tour on other days than Friday
- How hard is the Puglia Coastal Walking Tour?
- Do I need a visa to travel to Italy?
- I’ve never been on a self-guided trip! How does it work?
- Are meals included on the Puglia Cycling Tour?
- Do I need insurance?
- How do I get to Monopoli to start this tour?
- Is the Puglia Cycling tour guided?
- Where does the Puglia Cycling tour end?
- Are bike rentals included?
- Do I need special vaccines to travel to Italy?
- Are there any travel restrictions for Italy?
We rate this tour as a 2 / 5. You will cycle moderate distances, but routes are generally easy to follow and you can use an e-bike to make the route easier. The majority of the route is without shade and with short uphill stretches, with the day 6 being the most challenging.
Check with your local country about visa requirements. You could also try this website, though you should verify with your government.
Self-guided travelling is not difficult! For many, it is a preferred type of travel as you are in charge of your own time and pace. You are provided all the information on which direction you need to go daily. You don’t need to carry lots of things with you and can only carry your daypack, as your luggage will be picked up from your hotel daily in the morning and delivered to your destination hotel.
7 breakfasts are included.
Yes, it is mandatory to have Health and Medical insurance to join this trip. Get your Travel Insurance.
You can fly into Bari (BRI) or Brindisi (BDS).
No, you will be provided with maps, route guides, notes, and 24/7 telephone support to complete your self-guided tour.
The tour ends in Lecce, where you can take the train to Brindisi or Bari and then the bus to the airport.
Bike rentals are not included, but they are available as an optional extra. You can rent a hybrid, mountain, or electric bike
Check with your family doctor.
Please check with your local government about travel restrictions before you book your tour. This map from the US Department of State provides an overview of the current status in countries around the globe. The UK‘s Foreign Office and Government of Canada also provide advice on foreign travel. Note that the travel advice may change depending on your nationality.
Customer Ratings
S-Cape Travel is a boutique tour operator focused on sharing the best walking, cycling, cultural and food & wine tours in Europe. Book one of their self-guided tours to live La Dolce Vita for a week or two, as you walk or cycle around Europe, enjoying incredible views and amazing food and wine.
