Car hire in Brindisi
1 office in Brindisi · airport pick-up · Italy
For centuries Brindisi marked the end of the Appian Way — the port from which Rome set sail for the East — and the Roman column that signalled the road's terminus still stands. Today it is a laid-back harbour city with a pleasant seafront promenade, serving above all as the gateway to Salento and southern Puglia.
Here a car is not a convenience but very nearly a necessity: the turquoise-water beaches, baroque cities and whitewashed villages of the area are scattered far and wide, and public transport is thin on the ground, especially outside summer. Picking up your vehicle at Salento Airport, around 10 minutes from the centre, lets you hit the road straight away.
Search cars in BrindisiWhy hire a car in Brindisi
- Salento Airport is barely ~10 min from the city and is the most direct way in to Lecce, Ostuni and the beaches of southern Puglia.
- The best coves in the area, such as Torre Guaceto or those along the Otranto coast, have no bus connection worthy of the name: without a car, you simply can't get there.
- The region is all about small villages and masserie (farm estates) set among olive groves; staying in the countryside and exploring along back roads is the classic way to tour Salento.
Day trips near Brindisi
- Lecce — The Florence of the South, capital of Baroque architecture carved in golden stone, with a dazzling historic centre, around 40 minutes away via the motorway.
- Ostuni — The White City on its hilltop, a maze of whitewashed lanes with sea views, around 35 minutes away.
- Torre Guaceto — A marine nature reserve with dunes and clear-water coves, ideal for snorkelling, around 25 minutes away along the northern coast.
- Otranto — Italy's easternmost point, with a castle, a cathedral famed for its Norman mosaic floor and turquoise waters, around 1 hour 10 minutes away to the south.
Where to pick up your car
- Aeropuerto de Bríndisi
Final prices in euros · book without paying · free cancellation up to 72 h before.
Frequently asked questions
Is it better to hire a car in Brindisi or Bari to visit Salento?
Brindisi is clearly better placed: Lecce, Otranto and Gallipoli are all much closer. Bari only makes sense if your route centres on the Valle d'Itria or Matera, or if the flight is considerably cheaper.
What are the roads like in Salento?
The dual carriageway runs as far as Lecce; beyond that, narrow country roads between dry-stone walls and olive groves take over. Driving is straightforward, but allow generous journey times and avoid parking at unmarked coves at the height of August.
← Back to home · Also in Italy : Alghero · Bari · Bologna · Bergamo · Cagliari · Catania · Florence · Genoa