Puglia by train from Bari: day trips without a car
Casa Iolanda is a few minutes’ walk from the platforms of all four railway companies that leave from Bari Centrale. Without a car you can see the sea at Polignano, the trulli of Alberobello and the Sassi of Matera, and sleep in the same bed every night. Here is where each train leaves from and how long the trip takes.
Tips from Francesco and Rita, the hosts of Casa Iolanda. Updated September 2026.
Where the trains leave from
Trenitalia – main platforms
5 min walk, Via Capruzzi exit
The coast heading south (Polignano a Mare, Monopoli, Ostuni, Lecce) and north (Giovinazzo, Molfetta, Trani, Barletta).
Ferrovie Sud Est (FSE)
8 min walk, FSE platforms at Bari Centrale
The inland area of trulli and caves: Castellana Grotte, Putignano, Alberobello, Locorotondo, Martina Franca.
Ferrovie Appulo Lucane (FAL)
9 min walk, Piazza Aldo Moro side
Altamura, Gravina in Puglia and Matera.
Ferrotramviaria
9 min walk, Piazza Aldo Moro side
The airport and the north-west inland area: Bitonto, Ruvo di Puglia and Andria, the gateway to Castel del Monte.
The best day trips
Polignano a Mare
Trenitalia, 30–45 min
The old town perched on the cliffs and the Lama Monachile beach. Trains roughly every hour; the old town is a 10-minute walk from the station.
Monopoli
Trenitalia, 35–50 min
The old harbour with its blue boats, the sea walls and plenty of coves south of town.
Alberobello
FSE, about 1 h 30
The UNESCO-listed trulli. Trains are infrequent and some runs are operated by bus: check the FSE timetable the evening before. The same line continues to Locorotondo and Martina Franca.
Castellana Grotte
FSE, about 1 h
Italy’s most famous karst caves, visited on guided tours you book in advance. The station is in town, about 2 km from the caves: the last stretch is by taxi or on foot.
Matera
FAL, 1 h 25 – 1 h 45
The UNESCO-listed Sassi. Trains leave from the Piazza Aldo Moro side; from Matera Centrale station to the Sassi is about a 15-minute walk. On Sundays and public holidays FAL trains do not run and replacement buses are provided.
Ostuni
Trenitalia, 1 h – 1 h 20
The white town on the hill. The station is outside the centre: the last stretch is by local bus or taxi.
Lecce
Trenitalia, 1 h 25 – 2 h
The Baroque capital of Salento. Fast regional trains and Frecce take under an hour and a half; it is worth leaving early in the morning.
Trani, Molfetta and Giovinazzo
Trenitalia, 15–45 min
Heading north: fishing towns and Trani’s cathedral by the sea. Molfetta and Giovinazzo are under 20 minutes away.
Practical tips
One ticket per company
A Trenitalia ticket is not valid on FSE or FAL trains, and vice versa. Buy it before boarding, in the app or at the ticket office; paper regional tickets must be validated.
Sundays and public holidays
FSE and FAL run a reduced service, often with replacement buses: for Alberobello and Matera, weekdays are best. Trenitalia runs along the coast every day.
The last train back
Before you leave, check the time of the last train back, especially on FSE and FAL. Once at Bari Centrale you are home in a few minutes on foot, even late in the evening.
Frequently asked questions
Can you visit Alberobello from Bari without a car?
Yes: Ferrovie Sud Est trains leave from their platforms at Bari Centrale, a 8-minute walk from Casa Iolanda, and reach Alberobello in about an hour and a half. There are few services and some are by bus, so check the FSE timetable the day before.
How do you get from Bari to Matera by train?
With Ferrovie Appulo Lucane, which leave from the Piazza Aldo Moro side of Bari Centrale, about a 9-minute walk from Casa Iolanda. The journey takes 1 h 25 to 1 h 45; on Sundays and public holidays replacement buses run instead of trains.
How long is the train from Bari to Polignano a Mare?
30 to 45 minutes on Trenitalia regional trains, which leave roughly every hour from Bari Centrale, a 5-minute walk from Casa Iolanda. From Polignano station to the old town is a 10-minute walk.
Times and prices change: always check the official websites before you travel.