Where to Go in 2025 - A Luxury Puglia Travel Guide

Looking for where to stay in Puglia Italy next year? Your search ends here.

If you’re thinking seriously about where to visit in Italy this year, Puglia deserves a spot at the very top of your list.

Tucked away in the sun-drenched south, this region isn’t trying to compete with the likes of Amalfi or Lake Como — it’s in a league of its own. Think coastal towns with whitewashed facades, countryside roads lined with olive trees older than most buildings in Rome, and a food culture so rich it rarely leaves the table.

Puglia is where luxury slows down. It’s long lunches under the vines, mornings that begin with fresh figs in the garden, and evenings that end with wine you discovered just hours before in a vineyard nearby. For travelers looking for more meaning in their getaways, more space, more beauty, more intention — this is it.

This Puglia travel guide walks you through everything you need to know: where to stay in Puglia Italy, what to experience, and how to do it all without rushing a thing. And if you're looking for a base that mixes comfort and authenticity, Borgomadre offers two private villas in the heart of the region — designed to make your stay feel as effortless as it is unforgettable.

Why Everyone’s Talking About Puglia

For years, Puglia has quietly been Italy’s best-kept secret — favoured by in-the-know Italians, designers, and a handful of returning guests who’ve learned not to over-share. But in 2025, that low profile is shifting.

What’s changed? More travellers are turning away from crowded destinations in search of places that feel real. They want slow travel, local connection, and beautiful surroundings without the clichés. And Puglia, with its open skies, storied landscapes, and deeply rooted traditions, is offering just that.

Here’s what’s drawing people in.

• Authenticity — There’s a raw, lived-in beauty to this region. From nonnas making orecchiette on Bari’s backstreets to the centuries-old olive groves that stretch from coast to coast, Puglia doesn’t feel like it was made for tourists. It feels like life as it’s always been, just with better lighting.

• A-List Attention — Quiet luxury has its icons. Celebrities like Helen Mirren, Meryl Streep, and Madonna own homes here. Maggie Gyllenhaal chose a Puglian convent for her wedding. But unlike the flash of the Amalfi Coast, Puglia’s fame is understated, its elegance without the spectacle.

• Space to Breathe — With miles of coastline, historic hill towns, and rural roads perfect for exploring, there’s room to stretch out here. If you’re heading inland to the Valle d’Itria or sticking to the coast, you’ll find yourself surrounded by beauty, not crowds.

So, if you’re looking at the top travel destinations in Italy and wondering where to go next, this is your sign: Puglia’s moment is now, and it’s just getting started.

Nature, Beaches & Outdoor Beauty in your Puglia travel guide

Puglia’s landscapes feel like they were made to be explored slowly. One moment you’re tracing a coastline dotted with rocky coves and turquoise shallows, the next you’re standing at the edge of a canyon or surrounded by wild pine forest. This is a region that surprises you — soft in some places, rugged in others, but always dripping in natural beauty.

From its vast olive groves to its island-speckled coastline, Puglia invites a deeper kind of outdoor experience.

Here are a few must-see natural wonders to add to your 2025 Italy itinerary.

• Torre Sant’Andrea – A dramatic stretch of cliffs and sea arches that plunge into the Adriatic. Go early for sunrise light and crystalline swimming conditions.

• Grotta della Poesia – A poetic name for a place that lives up to it. This natural sinkhole near Roca Vecchia is perfect for a swim, or simply for sitting and soaking in the view.

• Gargano National Park – A protected headland of forests, cliffs, and quiet coves. Pair it with a trip to the nearby Tremiti Islands for a boat tour and some of the clearest waters in southern Italy.

• Gravina di Laterza – A deep canyon that cuts through Puglia’s inland landscape. Wild, peaceful, and unlike anything else in the region.

• Castellana Caves – One of the most extensive cave systems in Italy, with otherworldly stalactites and underground galleries stretching for miles.

• Margherita di Savoia Salt Flats – A surreal, pink-hued landscape where flamingos gather and salt crystals glitter under the sun. It’s a photographer’s dream and an unexpected highlight of the region.

• Valle d’Itria – Technically not a single site, but a slow-living countryside where trulli villages, vineyards, and winding roads invite you to wander.

And when the day’s exploring winds down, returning to your villa at Borgomadre is part of the experience. Nestled among two hectares of secular olive trees and citrus gardens, our family-owned retreat allows you to stay connected to nature — even while sipping wine from the comfort of your private terrace.

Design & Architecture with Soul

Puglia doesn’t shout. It SPEAKS through texture, stone, sunlight, and centuries of lived-in luxury. The architecture here is unlike anywhere else in Italy — shaped by an abundance of cultures over thousands of years, yet bound by a single philosophy: simplicity.

Whitewashed facades, vaulted ceilings, and sun-bleached courtyards give the region a signature look, pared-back, functional, but always full of character. Across Puglia, buildings are designed to breathe with the land. Spaces feel intentional, timeless, and connected to their environment.

What gives Puglia its unique architectural soul?

• Trulli – These cone-roofed limestone homes, found mainly in Alberobello and the Valle d’Itria, date back to the 14th century. They were originally built without mortar to evade taxes, but today they’re considered symbols of the region’s ingenuity and charm.

• Masserie – Traditional fortified farmhouses often surrounded by olive groves and fields. Many have been transformed into refined boutique stays and elegant private homes, balancing rustic roots with quiet luxury.

• Baroque Beauty – The city of Lecce, sometimes called “The Florence of the South,” is a must-visit for lovers of ornate stonework and dramatic facades. Don’t miss the intricately carved churches and golden Lecce stone glowing at sunset.

• Greek, Roman & Byzantine Influence – Puglia’s layered history means you’ll find remnants of ancient temples, Roman amphitheatres, and Byzantine mosaics all across the region.

The architecture here doesn’t feel decorative — it feels personal. And it’s this relationship between history, land, and design that inspired Borgomadre. Every element of our villas, whether that be the vaulted ceilings or antique furnishings, reflects Puglia’s timeless aesthetic.

At Borgomadre, design is a tribute to the land, to family, and to the beauty of living well.

Style & Slow Shopping in Puglia

One of the quiet pleasures of visiting southern Italy is discovering that the best shopping often happens in places that don’t look like shops at all. A tucked-away atelier. A ceramics studio passed down for generations. A Sunday vintage market that spills into a piazza just as the church bells start ringing.

Puglia may not be the first place that comes to mind for high fashion — but that’s exactly what makes it special. It’s stylish, never over-produced, and always personal.

Yes, you’ll find global luxury brands along Via Sparano in Bari — Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, but the real treasures are much deeper than that. Local artisans across towns like Grottaglie, Martina Franca, and Ostuni are keeping centuries-old techniques alive through small-batch craftsmanship. Hand-painted ceramics, handwoven linens, sculptural homeware, and tailored clothing made right here in Puglia. The kind of things you’ll use — or wear, for life.

This isn’t fast fashion. This is a region that values quality, heritage, and individuality, making it a must-stop on any well-curated Puglia travel guide.

Food You’ll Remember Long After the Holiday Ends

There’s no shortage of places in Italy where you can eat well. But Puglia’s food culture is something different altogether — it’s deeply local and entirely unpretentious.

Yes, it’s the home of orecchiette, panzerotti, fresh burrata, and warm, tomato-drenched focaccia. But it’s also the place where olive oil producers still use stone mills, seafood is caught hours before it’s served, and many restaurants still don’t bother with printed menus. Because the food changes with the day, and that’s the point.

Want to taste something truly special? Book a table at one of Puglia’s Michelin-starred restaurants — Bros’ in Lecce, Pasha in Conversano, or Due Camini in Savelletri are just a few standouts. Or, for something even more memorable, let your villa host arrange a private chef experience right at home.

At Borgomadre, we offer chef services, curated breakfast baskets, and can connect you with the best local wineries for private tastings. It’s all part of how we help our guests experience Puglia through its flavours, not just its views.

Where to Stay in Puglia Italy for a Luxury Retreat

Puglia offers no shortage of beautiful places to stay, cliffside hotels, masserie surrounded by vineyards, boutique boltholes tucked into old towns. But for those craving privacy, intention, and the freedom to truly unwind, nothing compares to a private villa.

Luxury villas in Puglia offer a different kind of indulgence: space to slow down, freedom to move at your own pace, and a setting that feels like it belongs to you alone. No fixed schedules. No shared spaces. Just olive trees, sunshine, and time that stretches out beautifully in front of you.

At Borgomadre, our two villas — Villa Clementina and Villa Cosimina — blend rustic architecture with quiet luxury. Private pools, expansive gardens, thoughtful design, and a hospitality philosophy rooted in family and tradition.

If you're seeking a place to stay in Puglia Italy for a romantic escape, a wellness reset, or an unforgettable family gathering, we’re here to make it grounded and unforgettable.

Explore our villas or get in touch to begin your journey.