The Puglia & Matera Private Driver Tour by Italvacanze is an 8-day / 7-night itinerary through southern Italy’s most authentic region, available year-round with flexible departure dates for a minimum of 2 guests. A dedicated private driver is with you every day — no rental cars, no navigation stress, no parking headaches. The tour covers the full length of Puglia: Bari’s medieval old town, Polignano a Mare’s sea caves, the UNESCO trulli of Alberobello, the Baroque city of Lecce, the Salento coastline (Otranto, Leuca, Gallipoli), the ancient port city of Taranto, and a night inside the cave city of Matera — one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements on earth and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Unique experiences included: a private cooking class at a traditional masseria, a wine tasting at a local Primitivo winery, and a visit to the enigmatic octagonal fortress of Castel del Monte. Price starts at € 7,500 per couple (approx. $8,200 USD), including 7 nights in 4-star hotels, all guided tours, and a boutique stay in the Sassi of Matera.
Puglia & Matera Private Driver Tour
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Validity: Year-round · Flexible departure dates · Minimum 2 guests
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Duration: 8 days / 7 nights
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Route: Bari · Polignano a Mare · Monopoli · Alberobello · Valle d’Itria · Ostuni · Lecce · Otranto · Leuca · Gallipoli · Taranto · Matera · Castel del Monte
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Private driver throughout the entire trip
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4-star hotels + boutique hotel inside the Sassi of Matera
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Wine tasting at a local winery
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Hands-on cooking class
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Expert local guides
Why Puglia?
Known as the heel of Italy’s boot, Puglia stretches along 500 miles of Adriatic and Ionian coastline and enjoys more sunny days per year than almost anywhere else in the country. It’s a region of whitewashed hilltop towns, ancient olive groves, and a food culture that punches well above its weight. Combine it with a night in the cave city of Matera — one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements on earth — and you have one of southern Italy’s most rewarding road trips, handled without the hassle of renting a car.
Starting from € 7,500 per couple
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1 — Arrival in Bari
Morning: Arrival at Bari Airport and private transfer to your hotel.
Afternoon: Guided walking tour of Bari’s Old Town. Your guide will take you through the maze of narrow alleys in the città vecchia, past the Basilica of San Nicola — one of southern Italy’s most important Norman churches — the Romanesque Cathedral, and the Swabian Castle. You’ll also get a feel for daily life in the old quarter, with its hidden courtyards, lesser-known churches, and street stories.
Overnight: Bari, 4-star hotel in the city center
Day 2 — Adriatic Coast: Polignano a Mare & Monopoli
Morning: Drive to Polignano a Mare for a 90-minute boat excursion along the dramatic limestone cliffs and sea caves. Afterward, free time to explore the town’s clifftop old center — one of the most photographed spots in Puglia. Continue to Monopoli to see its seafront castle and harbor. Lunch on your own.
Afternoon: Return to Bari.
Overnight: Bari, 4-star hotel in the city center
Day 3 — Valle d’Itria & the White City of Ostuni
Morning: Guided tour of Alberobello, the UNESCO-listed town famous for its trulli — whitewashed stone huts with conical roofs found nowhere else in the world. Your local guide will walk you through the Rione Monti district and the two-story Trullo Sovrano. From there, a scenic drive through the Valle d’Itria with stops in Locorotondo, a hilltop village of white-painted streets, and Martina Franca, a Baroque town with a lively historic center. Free time for lunch at one of the local trattorias.
Afternoon: Visit to Ostuni, Puglia’s “White City,” perched on a hill with sweeping views over the olive groves and the coast. The old town’s bougainvillea-draped alleys and the views from the cathedral terrace make it one of the region’s most memorable stops.
Overnight: Lecce, 4-star hotel in the city center
Day 4 — Lecce & Wine Tasting
Morning: Guided walking tour of Lecce’s Baroque old town, often called the “Florence of the South.” The city’s local limestone — pietra leccese — allowed craftsmen to carve extraordinarily ornate facades. Your guide will cover the highlights including the Cathedral complex and the Basilica of Santa Croce. After the tour, your private driver takes you to a nearby winery for a food and wine tasting session featuring local Primitivo and Negroamaro wines paired with regional products.
Afternoon: Free time in Lecce to explore at your own pace.
Overnight: Lecce, 4-star hotel in the city center
Day 5 — The Salento Coast: Otranto, Leuca & Gallipoli
Full day: A guided road trip along the Salento coastline — the thin peninsula at the very tip of Italy’s heel — with three distinct stops.
Otranto — the easternmost city in Italy and a natural gateway between East and West. Visit the Cathedral with its extraordinary 12th-century mosaic floor (one of the largest in the world), the Aragonese Castle overlooking the sea, and the old town walls.
Santa Maria di Leuca — the southernmost point of Puglia, where the Adriatic and Ionian seas meet. The clifftop sanctuary and the coastal views are worth the drive.
Gallipoli — a walled island city connected to the mainland by a bridge, with a lively old town, a well-preserved Angevin castle, and some of the cleanest beaches in the region. Time for a swim or a drink by the water before the return to Lecce.
Overnight: Lecce, 4-star hotel in the city center
Day 6 — Taranto, Matera & the Sassi
Morning: Early departure with your private driver. First stop: Taranto, built on a narrow island between two bodies of water — the open Ionian Sea and the sheltered Mar Piccolo lagoon. A local guide leads you through the historic center, including the Aragonese Castle, the Romanesque Cathedral, and the elegant late 19th-century Umbertino district.
Afternoon: Drive to Matera. Hotel check-in, then lunch included at a traditional restaurant in the Sassi. After lunch, a guided tour of the Sassi di Matera — the UNESCO World Heritage cave city that dates back at least 9,000 years. Your guide will put the stones, churches, and cave dwellings into their historical and cultural context.
Overnight: Matera, characteristic B&B inside the Sassi
Day 7 — Cooking Class & Castel del Monte
Morning: Drive to a traditional masseria (farm estate) in the Murgia countryside for a private hands-on cooking class. You’ll prepare classic Pugliese dishes from scratch — pasta, antipasti, and more — and sit down to eat what you’ve made. A genuine taste of the region beyond the restaurant table.
Afternoon: Visit to Castel del Monte, Federico II’s 13th-century octagonal fortress and one of the most architecturally unusual castles in Europe. The geometry is deliberately precise — eight sides, eight towers, eight rooms on each floor — and nobody is entirely sure why. UNESCO listed, visually striking, and genuinely mysterious. Return to Bari.
Overnight: Bari, 4-star hotel in the city center
Day 8 — Departure
Breakfast at the hotel. Private transfer to Bari Airport.
FAQ
What does the Puglia & Matera Private Driver Tour include? The tour includes 6 nights accommodation with breakfast in 4-star hotels (plus one night in a boutique B&B inside the Sassi of Matera), a dedicated private driver for all transfers throughout the trip, expert local guides in Bari, Lecce, Taranto, Matera, and Castel del Monte, a full-day guided tour of Alberobello and the Valle d’Itria, a full-day guided tour of the Salento coast, a shared boat excursion at Polignano a Mare, a wine and food tasting at a local winery near Lecce, lunch in Matera, a private cooking class at a traditional masseria in the Murgia countryside, and travel, medical, and baggage insurance.
How much does the Puglia & Matera Private Driver Tour cost? The price starts at €7,500 per couple (approximately $8,200 USD), which includes all accommodation, the private driver, guided tours, the cooking class, wine tasting, and lunch in Matera. Museum entrance fees, city tourist taxes, gratuities, and personal expenses are not included. Rates for different room types, larger groups, or extended itineraries are available on request.
When is the best time to visit Puglia and Matera? The tour runs year-round with flexible departure dates. Spring (April–June) and fall (September–October) offer the most comfortable temperatures and fewer crowds — ideal for exploring on foot. July and August are hot and busy, but the Salento coast is at its most beautiful. Winter is mild by northern European and American standards and perfect for an uncrowded cultural trip.
Do I need to rent a car to explore Puglia? No. This tour is specifically designed to eliminate the need for a rental car. Your private driver handles all transfers between towns, hotels, and attractions throughout all 8 days. This is one of the main advantages of the tour — you can enjoy the scenery, the wine, and the experience without worrying about driving on unfamiliar roads.
Is Matera worth visiting? What makes it special? Matera is one of the most extraordinary cities in Europe and one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements on earth — people have lived in its cave dwellings for at least 9,000 years. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993 and European Capital of Culture in 2019, the Sassi (the ancient cave district) is unlike anywhere else in Italy. The tour includes a guided visit and an overnight stay inside the Sassi itself.
How far is Puglia from Rome or other major Italian cities? Bari, the starting point of the tour, is approximately 4.5 hours by train from Rome (Frecciargento high-speed service) or about 1 hour by direct flight. It is also well connected to other Italian cities. Italvacanze can arrange transfers from Rome, Naples, or other airports on request.
Can the itinerary be customized? Yes. The 8-day itinerary is a standard package, but Italvacanze can adapt it to your preferences — extending the stay, adding extra experiences, adjusting the pace, or combining it with other southern Italian destinations such as the Amalfi Coast or Sicily. Contact us for a custom quote.
PRICING
| Price per couple | from € 7,500 |
Longer itineraries available on request.
Rates for different room categories, group sizes, or additional nights quoted individually.
What’s Included
Price includes:
- 7 nights accommodation with breakfast (B&B in Matera)
- Private driver for all transfers throughout the trip
- Local guided tours (1–2.5 hrs each) in Bari, Lecce, Taranto, Matera, and Castel del Monte
- Full-day guided tours: Day 3 (Alberobello & Valle d’Itria) and Day 5 (Salento Coast)
- Shared boat excursion at Polignano a Mare
- Wine and food tasting at a Lecce-area winery
- Lunch in Matera (Day 6)
- Private cooking class in the Murgia countryside
- Travel assistance, medical, and baggage insurance
Price does not include:
- Museum and site entrance fees
- City tourist tax (where applicable)
- Gratuities and personal extras
- Anything not listed above
Cancellation Policy:
| Notice period | Fee |
|---|---|
| More than 60 days before departure | €100 per person |
| 30–60 days before departure | 10% of total price |
| 15–30 days before departure | 50% of total price |
| 8–15 days before departure | 75% of total price |
| 7 days or less | 100% of total price |
