Last Updated on March 31, 2024 by Ingrid & Alex

It was a hot summer when I visited Puglia for the first time and fell in love with its natural beauty and authenticity. That’s why, years later, we spent one month in southern Italy’s sun when our baby was just over one year old.

Visiting Puglia with kids is an excellent idea for many reasons, but it might not be for everyone. In this article, I will tell you everything about our experience so that you can decide if Puglia is the region you want to go to on your next vacation.

We loved exploring Italy’s heel, even though we visited during spring when many restaurants and hotels were still closed. Let me tell you all about it!

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Reasons why you should visit Puglia with kids

Beautiful sandy beaches

This was one of the main reasons we visited Puglia with our toddler. Until then, we only spent time in Greece exploring rocky beaches; she was not used to sand.

As soon as she saw how incredible the sand was on these beaches in Puglia, she was delighted, and we could relax and admire the turquoise hues of the sea.

Look at Porto Cesareo, Punta Prosciutto Beach, Torre Lapillo Beach, or the other side of the peninsula. All these places have crystal-clear water and stretches of sandy beaches.

If you don’t want to travel so far south, I suggest you check out the beaches around Parco Nazionale del Gargano close to Foggia.

Great accommodation options

When we started looking for accommodation for our month in Puglia, we knew we wanted a garden and lots of space for Iris to run around.

The good news is that there are plenty of such places throughout the region. Whether you want a house with a big garden or a home on the beach, anything is possible.

Of course, you might not get to stay in the city center, but even the smallest villages have everything you need: a supermarket, a cafe with fresh pastries, a pharmacy, and a park.

For our vacation in Puglia, we stayed in Arnesano, in a remote location, only 15 minutes by car from Lecce’s city center.

Iris had a massive garden where she could run free between the olive trees with Billy, the owner’s dog.

Additionally, you can use the villa’s jacuzzi if you visit during summer, late spring, or early fall.

See more about the accommodation here!

If there is no availability, you should not worry because there are many other similar accommodation options, such as Villa di Noi or Petra Country House.

However, if you would rather stay by the beach, Arneo Terra del Sole or Tabù Hotel are both by the sea.

Pedestrian-only streets

Most Italian cities, even the small ones, have a main historical city center. This area is usually pedestrian-only, with a few exceptions (people living inside the city center and suppliers for restaurants and shops can enter by car the Zona Traffico Limitato).

This is another reason to consider visiting Puglia with kids. No matter how small, they can easily wander around and explore the narrow streets in the city’s old center.

Moreover, you can push the stroller around while the baby sleeps or wants to rest.

We visited places like Lecce, Otranto, Nardo’, Gallipoli, and Porto Cesareo with our stroller without any issues.

However, it is worth knowing that in larger cities, such as Lecce, outside of the historical old town, sidewalks are not particularly stroller-friendly.

Friendly people

People everywhere in Italy are friendly and would stop us on the street to talk to us or Iris (primarily to her, of course). However, we found that the south is warmer when it comes to the weather outside and its people.

Even though they might not have much, people always offered Iris something to eat. They would also stop and ask us things about her and try to have a conversation, complimenting her.

Whenever we stopped to eat or have a coffee, we never felt unwelcome, and people were always friendly.

Delicious food

As a fellow travel blogger put it, we are foodies and will travel to places with some of the best food. And if you are just like us, Puglia will not disappoint in this chapter either.

As we headed towards Italy, Iris went on a short “hunger strike” and refused to eat almost anything. But as soon as we crossed the border and stopped to grab a bite, she asked for more focaccia and mortadella.

And if you think Italian food, in general, is delicious, then you should try Pugliese cuisine.

Their regional traditional dishes are not necessarily complex, but you will find something mouth-watering whether you are a fish, meat, bread, or cheese lover.

Don’t leave without trying the Leccese or Barese focaccia, the pasticiotto with cream, or the orecchiette (a specific type of pasta).

The region is also famous for its wine and olive oil, so you should not skip going on a food tour or an oil farm tour in the countryside.

Another good thing about Italian food is that most babies and kids love it. I mean, who doesn’t love crispy bread filled with all kinds of hearty ingredients?

Moreover, pasta or pizza is easy to grab and eat without making too much of a mess.

Lastly, you can take advantage of the lower prices (as compared to other places in Italy) when you go off the beaten path. We paid even as little as 5 EUR for two coffees in a local cafe.

Easy to drive around

Driving in Puglia could be intimidating for some, but once you get used to the roads and the way people drive in these parts, it will all be worth it.

Unfortunately, getting around Puglia is difficult, if not impossible, without a car, so driving is mandatory.

That being said, all the main places worth seeing in the region are linked by relatively well-maintained roads and are served by public parking.

When traveling with kids, remember you need a special car seat for your baby.

If you choose your base camp wisely, you won’t have to spend more than 30-45 minutes in the car one-way.

Child-friendly activities

I often hear different places worldwide are not child-friendly because they do not offer many activity options. We might not be the type of person to decide that; after all, we spent one month on the Amalfi Coast with a toddler.

However, we can safely say Puglia is a child-friendly region with plenty of activities for the little ones.

Almost every town has an archeological or history museum where they can learn many exciting things about the past. Also, with so many kilometers of coastline, it is no wonder you can choose from the countless seaside resorts.

If you and your kids are into waterparks, there are no less than nine fun Water Parks around the region.

Nature lovers can choose to visit Parco Nazionale del Gargano, Riserva naturale Il Monte (where you can see flamingoes), Parco Naturale Regionale Isola di Sant’Andrea, or the Parco Naturale Regionale Terra delle Gravine.

If that is not enough, you can always head to the Grotte di Castellana, Il Parco dei Dinosauri, or book a cooking class.

Nice weather

While we would not recommend visiting Puglia during summer, spring, and fall, have the perfect weather for exploration and sitting under the sun.

Aim for the beginning and end of the tourist season because temperatures start rising (or dropping) without having scourging days.

We spent one month from mid-March until mid-April, and we found the period to be perfect for exploring with a small baby.

Puglia with kids – an itinerary option

If you decide to visit Puglia with kids, here is an itinerary option that will allow you to see some of the best places around the region.

Choose Lecce as your base camp, rent a car, and plan for day trips to the north or south of the city.

From here, you can quickly get to Alberobello, Monopoli, or Ostuni to the north.

You can visit Porto Cesareo, Gallipoli, Brindisi, and Otranto around Lecce or to its south.

No matter how many days you decide to spend in the region, you or your kid will not get bored.