Car hire in Bari
1 office in Bari · airport pick-up · Italy
Bari is the gateway to Puglia, the region in the heel of Italy's boot. Its old town, Bari Vecchia, is a maze of alleyways where local women still make orecchiette by hand on their doorsteps, and the Basilica of St Nicholas has drawn pilgrims for nine centuries. But the best of this corner of Italy begins the moment you leave the city.
Puglia is car country: the trulli of Alberobello, the beaches of Salento and the baroque towns of the interior are scattered along secondary roads that the regional train covers poorly and slowly. Collecting your vehicle at Bari airport, around 20 minutes from the centre, is the most practical way to start your route straight off the plane.
Search cars in BariWhy hire a car in Bari
- Karol Wojtyla Airport handles the budget flights from Spain and lies ~20 min from the centre; collecting there avoids transfers and lets you head straight for the Valle d'Itria.
- Puglia's most famous villages (Alberobello, Locorotondo, Ostuni) are poorly connected to one another by public transport: without a car you lose half a day on every leg.
- The coves of the Adriatic coast, such as those at Polignano and Monopoli, follow one another every few kilometres; with a car you can switch beach according to the wind and the crowds.
Day trips near Bari
- Polignano a Mare — A village perched on cliffs above the famous Lama Monachile cove between white houses, around 35 minutes away along the Adriatic coast.
- Alberobello — The town of the trulli, cone-roofed stone houses that form a World Heritage Site, around 55 minutes away inland.
- Matera — The sassi, cave dwellings carved into the rock in neighbouring Basilicata and a favourite film location, around 1 hour away via the motorway.
- Ostuni — The White City perched on a hilltop amid ancient olive groves, glorious at sunset, around 50 minutes away to the southeast.
Where to pick up your car
- Aeropuerto de Bari
Final prices in euros · book without paying · free cancellation up to 72 h before.
Frequently asked questions
Is it worth driving into Bari Vecchia?
No: the old town is pedestrian in all but name, and the centre has restricted traffic zones (ZTL) monitored by cameras. The sensible option is to park near the port or the seafront promenade and explore on foot.
Can I reach Salento with a car hired in Bari?
Yes, it is the classic route: Lecce is ~1 hr 45 min away by dual carriageway, and from there you can explore Otranto and Gallipoli. Allow several days to make it down to the tip of the heel without rushing.
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