5 days — Highlights
Bari (1) + Alberobello/Itria Valley (2) + Lecce (2). The essential triangle covering coast, trulli, and Baroque. Tight but satisfying.
7 days — Comfortable
Add: Polignano a Mare, Ostuni, Matera (just across the border in Basilicata — a must-see). A week covers the main highlights without rushing.
10 days — Complete
Add: Salento beaches (Porto Cesareo, Gallipoli), Otranto, Gargano coast. Ten days covers Puglia from north to south with beach time included.
14+ days — Deep Puglia
Add: Castel del Monte, Tremiti Islands, Gallipoli nightlife, trullo cooking class, olive oil harvest experience (October-November). Two weeks is when Puglia stops being a trip and starts being a love affair.
Our recommendation: 7-10 days with a car
Don't miss Matera — technically Basilicata but only 1 hour from Bari. The Sassi cave dwellings are UNESCO-listed and one of Italy's most extraordinary sights.