Is Ostuni worth visiting? 10 Reasons why visit Ostuni Puglia Italy

Yes. Ostuni is worth visit for many reasons. In fact, it was the highlight of our entire Puglia road trip itinerary. The food in Ostuni is exquisite, with fresh and locally sourced produce, seafood, artisanal meat, cheese, olive oil, and wine.

This makes Ostuni the perfect example of why Puglia is known as one of the best parts of Italy to explore.

Is Ostuni worth visiting? Quick Guide!

There are so many reasons why visit Ostuni; from its romantic atmosphere to the cute narrow streets, the white town on the hilltop is a must-see in Puglia.

Being able to explore Puglia’s best cities, we put together this ultimate guide with all the reasons why you should visit Ostuni during your next trip to Puglia. 

Ostuni is a charming town not far from the beach and offers incredible cultural sights to explore. So plan your awesome itinerary in Puglia and enjoy the best of Ostuni town.

FAQ | Is Ostuni worth visiting?

10 Reasons why visit Ostuni

Is Ostuni worth visiting? Top 10 reasons why visit Ostuni

Ostuni is a walkable town

Ostuni Old town is fascinating, having a walkable path through narrow cobblestone streets and cute staircases and passages. Overall all the white villages in Puglia we visited have a traffic-free old town with pedestrian-only paths.

The narrow streets and the passage is only for traditional ape cars, which makes the atmosphere like in the movies. Overall the three-wheels are the mode of transport, as Ostuni is uphill, so it is challenging if you are carrying your luggage.

As you arrive at the ancient town entry, just in front of the Church of San Francesco D’Assisi, you will begin an uphill trek. Even with heavy backpacks, it was challenging to move around.

You may swiftly move up and down the streets or drive a vintage ape car to the most remote areas, such as the Porta San Demetrio, the Aragonese Age entrance point.

Mouthwatering Local Cuisine

One of the best reasons to visit Ostuni is for the tasty, traditional and local sourced food. We are entirely in love with Apulian food, and you must try everything while in the region.

If you’re looking for a unique experience, you can stay in a Masseria and try their local products. Usually, Masseria or Agriturismo have the best local food ever. You can eat everything you like, drink a few glasses of wine and have the best time.

Of course, you can have lunch there without staying in the Masseria, but we suggest booking your table in advance as they tend to be busy, especially on Sundays. 

Postcard Worthy Architecture

While roaming around Ostuni’s old town, you will see many fascinating architectural buildings that decorate the city. From the beautiful Ostuni Cathedral with its fascinating Byzantine, Gothic and Romanesque styles to the stunning Piazzetta Cattedrale, the old part of town, Ostuni architecture is just unique. The views from the top of the town’s medieval walls are magnificent as well.

Among all the places in Puglia, Ostuni is one of the best to visit! First, make sure you visit Arco di Scoppa, a design inspired by the Bridge of Sighs in Venice, which initially was a wooden bridge connecting the Bishop and Seminary palace. Still, later, it was replaced with a stone structure to provide a safer connection.

Remarkable cute narrow streets

Ostuni city centre is just the cutest. Considered the white village of Puglia for a reason, Ostuni offers incredible photography opportunities. Roam around the incredible city centre and admire the beauty of this Apulian town.

From Piazza della Liberta’ walk around the cute street, grab a bite in one of the cute restaurants on the street and enjoy your time exploring Ostuni’s old town.

Ostuni is very romantic – Perfect for honeymoon and couples

Considered one of the most romantic cities in Italy, Ostuni is the ideal getaway to organise with your partner. If you visit Puglia at Christmas, Ostuni is even more magical.

All the decorations and atmosphere will make this town even more romantic. So plan your day trip to Ostuni, start your morning with a delicious breakfast in the local bar and make sure you stick in Ostuni till sunset. It’s one of the most amazing times of the day, and you can spot one of the best sunsets in Puglia. If visiting Ostuni in summer, meander through lantern-lit streets at night after the daytrippers have left. It’s pure magic!

Perfect at Christmas

Puglia at Christmas is amazing! From the cute town of Alberobello to Ostuni, there are so many incredible places worth visiting in Ostuni for Christmas. Once you arrive in Ostuni, you will see all the fantastic Christmas decorations adorning the white village of Puglia. Ostuni is worth visiting at Christmas, and it’s something that everyone should experience.

Amazing day trips opportunities 

Thanks to its location, Ostuni is the perfect place to base yourself and plan day trips. There are so many places you can visit from Ostuni, and all of them are worth visiting.

Furthermore, during the high season, you have multiple public types of transport connecting Ostuni with other towns. Within 1 hour, we reached Ostuni from San Vito Dei Normanni, and the journey was pretty easy. Although, if you rent a car in Puglia, you can freely move around and visit all the places surrounding Ostuni.

Best day trips from Ostuni, Puglia

• San Vito dei Normanni
• Cisternino
• Locorotondo
• Martina Franca

Enjoy the harvest season in Puglia

Of all the incredible reasons to visit Puglia, the most important one is for being the best place for harvest seasons in Puglia. In fact, if you’re visiting Ostuni in October, you must witness local traditions. Picking grapes and participating in memorable harvesting is one of the top things to do in Ostuni.

You canbook this tour and have a wonderful experience together with locals. 

Stay in a Trullo house

One of the most incredible experiences you can do while in Ostuni is to stay in a trullo house. If you need to know what Trullo is, don’t worry; we have you covered. You might have heard of Trulli di Alberobello, a traditional Apulian dry stone hut with a cone-shaped roof. You can book your stay here!

Visit the best beaches in Puglia

Ostuni doesn’t have beaches, but within a 20 minutes ride, you can reach Costa Merlata. It’s the perfect place to escape Ostuni town and dip in the crystal blue water. Usually, the sea is calm, and the beach is not that crowded, which makes it perfect if you wish to relax and sunbathe for a couple of hours. 

If you want to stay longer in Puglia and go beach hopping, read our detailed guide of the best beaches in Puglia.

Best time of the year to visit Ostuni

Ostuni is worth visiting all year round; from winter to summer, you will love every single moment of your trip. Although, we suggest visiting Ostuni in spring or summer. Below there are our suggestions for every season to visit Ostuni:

Winter (November – March) | If you want to beat the crowds, winter in Puglia is the best idea. Despite many cities in Italy being affected by cold weather, the southern part tends to be sunny and dry. If you want to visit Ostuni in winter, you might be interested in spending more time within the region, taking it slow. You might be impressed by the numerous activities in the countryside, and take some time off from your regular life. Remember to consider visiting Ostuni at Christmas. It’s the most amazing time of the year

Spring (April – May) | For us, this is the best time to visit Ostuni. Spring is usually dry and sunny. Plan your trip to Ostuni between April and early May. If you’re looking for more places to visit in Italy in Spring, check out our guide here.

Summer (June – August) | Perhaps there are better times to visit Ostuni due to the high temperature and sweltering days. We visited Ostuni in September and got sunburned due to the hot sun. Although, you can still have a great time while visiting Ostuni in summer. We suggest staying in a place with a swimming pool. Check our suggestion here.

Fall (September – October) | If you plan to visit Ostuni in Autumn, the suggested month is October. Like spring, the town is less crowded in autumn, and you can enjoy the cosy corners. However, despite what you think, even Autumn in Ostuni is buzzing with locals out drinking in the locals’ bars till late at night.

How to get to Ostuni

There are so many ways to reach Ostuni, and by car is the quickest and easiest. During our road trip in Puglia, we explored the region by public transport, and it was pretty good.

Getting to Ostuni

Ostuni lies about 35 miles (55km) inland from Brindisi airport. So Brindisi is the nearest airport to Ostuni. Here are the best transportation options:

Rental Car: Having your wheels makes regional exploring convenient. The SS16 road connects Ostuni with Brindisi and Bari airports in just under an hour.

Train + Bus: Public transport takes a bit longer but remains affordable: Just 6€ for a one-way ticket from Bari by train and €3 from Brindisi by bus. Trains from Bari or Brindisi take 1-1.5 hours. Buses to Ostuni’s Old Town are available right at the station.

Private Transfer: For maximum comfort, consider booking a private airport transfer, which takes approximately 50 minutes. Sit back and relax while your driver takes you directly to your Ostuni accommodation. Below, you will find further information on this option.

Of course, we were called crazy, but we managed to visit Puglia only by bus and train. However, you can rent a car here and reach Ostuni from Bari or Brindisi airport.

Reach Ostuni by Public Transport

You can reach Ostuni from Brindisi by train, which will take around one hour. So hop on the regular train towards Bari and reach Ostuni with less than €3. Once you arrive at Ostuni train station, right in front of the exit, there is a bus that will take you to the old town. As the train station is located outside the old town, you don’t want to walk 2km to reach the old town. 

From Bari to Ostuni, there is also a train that will take you to the white village of Puglia. From Bari central station, take the train towards Brindisi or Lecce and reach Ostuni. The ticket will cost €4. 

Top Things To Do in Ostuni

Beyond wandering Ostuni’s enchanting white streets, here are a few highlights we recommend:

• Admire Ostuni’s magnificent Cathedral, an architectural mix of Gothic, Byzantine, and Romanesque styles
• Stroll along Via Cattedrale to Piazza Libertà, the heart of Ostuni’s Old Town
• Take in a sweeping coastal panorama from Ostuni’s medieval era city walls
• Try delicacies like orecchiette pasta and earthy olive oil at local restaurants
• Unwind at a beachside cafe overlooking the sea after a day of exploring

How to Spend One Day in Ostuni

With just 24 hours in Ostuni, prioritizing your time is key to creating special memories. Here is an ideal one day itinerary:

• Wander through ancient narrow alleys, admiring whitewashed houses.
• Visit Ostuni’s magnificent Cathedral to see its Gothic stonework and striking exterior.
• Grab an espresso and sweet treat at a local cafe off Piazza Libertà.
• Walk atop medieval-era city walls for panoramic coastal views.
• Indulge in a long, relaxing lunch of Pugliese cuisine at an authentic family-run trattoria.
• Drive to seaside villages for sunset strolls along warm sandy beaches.

Getting to experience Ostuni’s charm in just a single day is completely possible. This itinerary ensures you’ll see the highlights!

Where to stay in Ostuni

Where to eat in Ostuni

Ostuni Travel Insurance 

Don’t travel anywhere without travel insurance, no matter your journey. We have learned that at our expense while travelling from Dubrovnik to Hvar, our ferry was cancelled because of rough sea weather.
Even though Italy is safe, the pandemic taught many people that things might go wrong everywhere in the world, and insurance is frequently the only option to mitigate any problems with the least cost or stress to you.

Hey Mondo | COVID-19 coverage, medical expenses and total travel costs. A fantastic app with 24-hour medical care and no extra charges. You can save 5% on your insurance by booking through our link.

SafetyWing | COVID-19 coverage, comprehensive travel & medical, and insurance can be purchased while travelling for digital nomads.

Is Ostuni safe?

Yes, Ostuni is safe. We felt completely safe while roaming around Ostuni and Puglia in general. Everyone is just so lovely and welcoming that you will feel at home.

We walked around the centro storico with all our equipment, placing the tripod on the street, and we had no issues. Although, always be careful! If you’re hopping on trains and buses, be aware of pickpockets, it doesn’t happen often, but you never know! 

WHERE TO NEXT?

Every time is good to travel and make new experiences. As London based travel bloggers, it’s easy to find cheap flights and explore new places even just at the weekend.

Italy is our home country, and we explored most of it, and here are some of our favourite guides. Travel with us, and get some inspiration through the gorgeous Italian landscape. See more in Italy Travel Guide.