A Trulli Fun Day Trip to Alberobello: How to Get Here, What You Need to See, & More

After seeing pictures of this town’s weird houses for so many years, I finally decided it was time to take a day trip to Alberobello. While exploring Italy’s Puglia region in May of 2023, I made sure to add on a 1-day visit to Alberobello to see the famous trulli and learn what all the fuss was about.

It’s clear why Alberobello makes such a good day trip: it’s super easy to get to (and parking is not a problem); and there are plenty of beautiful things to see, but not so many that you’ll feel like you’re missing out by not staying longer. All-in-all, the perfect Italian day trip.

When you’re ready to take a day trip to Alberobello, I trulli hope you’ll bookmark this guide that includes how to get here from the most popular cities and all the best stuff to see and do here. Enjoy!

What the heck are trulli?

Those strange gray and white houses with the cone-shaped rooftops you’ve seen in all the photos of in Alberobello are called Trulli. Besides being an Instagrammer’s dream of a backdrop, they also have a fascinating history and usage.

Trulli are huts that have been roughly dry-constructed out of limestone and rubble (meaning no cement was used), with cone-shaped or domed roofs comprised of limestone slabs. They were originally intended to serve as temporary structures such as field shelters or storehouses, but could be built as permanent dwellings too.

The reason they were constructed without the use of mortar or cement was so they could be disassembled in a flash. The trulli here date back to about the 14^th century, when the Kingdom of Naples imposed high taxes on new buildings. So, when the area’s settlers got word the king was on his way, they’d quickly take apart their trulli, since unfinished structures weren’t taxed yet. (Not just a fedora rack, my friends!)

Even though the highest concentration of trulli (by far) is found in Alberobello, you’ll actually see them scattered all throughout Puglia, especially in the more rural farming areas. The markings you see drawn on many of them have either mythological or religious origins. Regardless of the owners’ motivations here, the purpose is the same: to ward off evil spirits. (Which, methinks, probably meant the greedy greedy king.)  

Is Alberobello worth visiting?

If you’re wondering whether or not a day trip to Alberobello is worth it just to see some funny houses, well the answer to that is yes!… but also no. You know how it goes.

Whether or not you’ll find Alberobello worth visiting depends on what exactly you want to get out of your day trip. Definitely take a day trip to Alberobello if:

• You want to see some trulli unique architecture you can’t find anywhere else. (Yes, I’m going to keep doing that.)
• You want to visit the place you’ve seen so many pictures of in real life. (That whole, don’t be the one hearing about it; be the one talking about it thing.)
• You want a pretty easy Puglia day trip that doesn’t cost a lot and doesn’t require a whole lot of commitment.

But, if you’re looking for a day trip that’s jam-packed with exciting things to see and do, you might want to find a different destination. Alberobello is definitely worth seeing (in my opinion), but I wouldn’t dare call it “exciting.” Lovely or neat, sure; it’s definitely these things.

Is 1 day enough in Alberobello?

No matter how long you’ve been waiting to see the trulli houses here, yes, one day in Alberobello is enough. However, it would be worth staying overnight to get the full Alberobello experience by staying in an awesome trullo yourself. You’ll get to see an empty Alberobello at night and early in the morning before the tourists arrive.

Otherwise, a simple day trip to Alberobello is enough to get the gist of the town and really feel like you’ve seen it all.

Alberobello day trip map

The map below includes all the base cities and sites of interest here I’ve mentioned in this post. To save this map: Click on the star ⭑ next to the map’s title to save in your Google Maps. To use this map: Open Google Maps on your phone, click “Saved” at the bottom, then click “Maps.”

How to take a day trip to Alberobello

In this section I’ll explain how you can take a day trip to Alberobello from a handful of the most popular base cities in Puglia via a few different methods.

The best cities in Puglia for an Alberobello day trip

A day trip to Alberobello is going to be the easiest and make the most sense from the following cities in Puglia:

• Bari
• Polignano a Mare
• Matera
• Ostuni
• Monopoli

What about Naples?

While you can technically take a day trip to Alberobello from Naples (via private tours like this one), I really wouldn’t recommend it. The drive each way is about 3.5 hours and I imagine that’s only on a good day.

That being said, with tours like the one I just mentioned, it is possible to do if you really want it. May the traffic odds be ever in your favor, that’s all I’m saying.

How to get to Alberobello

Far and away the easiest way to take a day trip to Alberobello is going to be with your own rental car. This part of Italy, while it does have a decent public transportation network, isn’t as hooked-up as the more touristed areas closer to Rome, Florence, and Venice. Driving here is easy and parking in Alberobello is pretty simple too. If you already have a rental car of your own, definitely just drive here.

Additionally, given this city’s popularity as a day trip, there are plenty of organized day tours to Alberobello you can join. Without your own car, this is going to be the easiest and least-stressful way method.

Regardless, I’m going to address how to get to Alberobello from each of the major cities via all methods available. Read on.

How to get to Alberobello without a car

If you don’t have a car with you in Puglia but you’d still like to try for a day trip to Alberobello, you’re in luck (but just a little bit). From just about any of the major cities in Puglia, you can take either a bus or train that will (eventually) get you to Alberobello.

The issue here though is going to be time. I’ll address each method in the sections below for each city, but the one thing you need to know upfront is: Without a car, getting to Alberobello and back is going to take twice or even three times as long. Please, do yourself a favor and consider booking either a rental car for your Italy trip or one of the organized day tours.

Day trip to Alberobello from Bari

Bari is the largest city in Italy’s Puglia region and, as such, is the most popular base for a day trip to Alberobello. This is going to be the easiest city from which to start your day trip, in case you haven’t nailed down a base yet. Here’s what you need to know…

Bari to Alberobello by car

The drive from Bari to Alberobello is about 45 minutes and pretty much a straight shot on the SS172. Check out rental car options here if you haven’t yet.

Bari to Alberobello by train

Given the popularity of this day trip from Bari, this is going to be the easiest city to get to by train. Trains between the two towns run several times throughout the day on the Ferrovie del Sud Est train line. The trip takes about 2 hours each way (which includes one transfer). Check out Bari to Alberobello train times and rates here.

Bari to Alberobello by bus

You can take the bus from Bari to Alberobello in just about one hour and for less than the cost of an Aperol spritz. Buses between the two run multiple times per hour in the morning and afternoon, with several options in the evening as well. Some routes require a transfer, some include a mix of train and bus travel, but many of them are direct.

Buses to Alberobello leave from several stations including: Bari Centrale, Viale Unità d’Italia, Largo Ignazio Ciaia, and Largo Sorrentino. They arrive at Alberobello, Viale Margherita (Stazione FSE). Check out the bus options from Bari to Alberobello here.

Bari to Alberobello day tours

If you don’t have your own car and/or don’t want to deal with all the driving and parking involved, joining one of the available day tours is going to be the easiest way to get there. Here are some of the most popular Bari-to-Alberobello guided tours:

• Alberobello Half-Day Trip with Guided Tour
• Alberobello & Polignano a Mare Half-Day Trip from Bari
• Alberobello & Matera Day Tour from Bari
• Private (5-star) Alberobello & Matera full-day tour with a local guide

There are actually a lot of different options. Check out all the Bari to Alberobello day tours here on Viator and Get Your Guide.

Day trip to Alberobello from Matera

Matera is another one of my favorite Italy day trip destinations and is just a short drive away from Alberobello. If you’ve decided to base yourself in Matera, here’s how you can take a day trip to Alberobello from there:

Matera to Alberobello by car

Again, driving your own car is going to be the fastest and easiest method here. The drive to Alberobello from Matera is just about an hour and the rural scenery along the way is beautiful.

Matera to Alberobello by train

Despite the relatively short distance between the two cities, there is unfortunately no train worth taking to get here. You certainly can get to Alberobello from Matera via train, but the trip is going to take around 4.5 hours and you’ll have to connect in multiple different cities. With these two cities being just an hour apart, this is insanity. It’s time to give up your train dreams.

Matera to Alberobello by bus

Getting to Alberobello from Matera via public bus is similar to taking the train. The trip involves multiple bus changes and will end up taking more than 4 hours. No thank you.

There is however the option of booking a spot on the shared Matera-Alberobello shuttle. It’s not exactly the cheapest form of travel, but it’s definitely an option where there really aren’t any better ones. I don’t have any personal experience with this company, but there it is. You can see the schedules and rates here.

You also have (more affordable) private transfer options like this roundtrip Matera to Alberobello private transfer. This isn’t a tour, just the transportation back and forth.

Matera to Alberobello day tours

Because Matera isn’t the most popular base for Alberobello day trips, there aren’t a whole lot of day tour options from here, but there are a couple. (Matera and Alberobello are usually combined on a day tour from somewhere else. See the Bari section above for some examples.)

• Full day tour to Alberobello, Polignano, and Bari from Matera
• Full-day private tour of Matera and Alberobello with a local guide

Day trip to Alberobello from Polignano a Mare

When I took my latest day trip to Alberobello, I was based in Polignano. I also had my own car so the trip was about as quick and painless as you can get. (Even by Italy standards!) Here are all the different ways you can take a day trip to Alberobello from Polignano a Mare.

Polignano to Alberobello by car

At just half an hour apart, it should be no surprise that driving between these two cities is going to be the fastest and easiest method. Seriously, rent a car and your time in Puglia will be so much less stressful.

Polignano to Alberobello by train

Though the trains from Polignano to Alberobello are seriously cheap, there’s no direct connection. Instead, you would have to train it up to Bari and then back down to Alberobello. That 30-min drive is now over two hours by train (with two connections) each way. You can see the routes and rates here.

Polignano to Alberobello by bus

The public bus from Polignano to Alberobello is only slightly better. If you catch the right bus, this trip will take you about 1.5 hours and involve just one connection, though there are a variety of options. Check the timetables here.

Tours to Alberobello from Polignano

Like Matera, day tours of Alberobello from Polignano are few and far between. But there is one great option if you don’t have a car of your own:

• Alberobello and Matera Full-Day Trip from Polignano a Mare

Day trip to Alberobello from Monopoli or Ostuni

If you’re looking to take a day trip to Alberobello from either Monopoli or Ostuni, all the above info applies here as well. These are also smaller cities so getting here via train or bus is going to be a bit of a challenge. From both of these cities, driving to Alberobello is going to be your best bet.

Where to park in Alberobello

There are several parking areas around Alberobello that are easy to get to and surprisingly cheap. Here’s where I parked:

Parcheggio Viale Indipendenza – 33 Via Indipendenza, €6 for the entire day, self-parking. This lot is super accessible and parking here couldn’t have been easier. (In fact, the day I went, there wasn’t anyone around the entire day to take my money so I ended up with a full day of free parking.) It’s just a short walk from here into the main center.

There are several other parking areas though and you can get all the Alberobello parking info here.

One day in Alberobello: Best things to see & do

Now that you’ve made it to Alberobello, here are some of the best things to see and do here to add to your day trip itinerary.

Explore the trulli in Rione Monti

Really, the best and most popular thing to do here is to just wander the labyrinth of streets and check out all the different trulli. This main center of town (the Rione Monti) is mostly commercial so many of the trulli here are shops, cafés, and other public areas. There are residences mixed in as well so always be cautious about where you’re going.

The Rione Monti contains about a thousand trulli and is the largest and most well-known trulli district. Most of them are considerably well-kept and beautifully decorated (since this is such a major tourist destination now).

Explore the Rione Aia Piccola

The Rione Aia Piccola is another trulli district just a short walk from the main center. This area is strictly residential so please be respectful as you wander the streets here.

Because this area is less flashy, you’ll see significantly fewer tourists here. In fact, you may be alone most of the time here. While maybe not as “Instagrammable” as Rione Monti, this district definitely feels more “authentic” or down-to-earth.

Hit up some of the scenic viewpoints

There are tons of great viewing areas around town for cool views of the trulli. The thing to keep in mind though is that they’re not all free. You’ll see signs outside some of the souvenir shops boasting their panoramic terraces, but know that you’re expected to buy something from them first before you can go up there.

Bar “Villa Belvedere”

There are some free viewing areas around town though. My favorite is the Bar “Villa Belvedere.” Besides providing some cool views of Alberobello’s trulli, there are also some beautiful gardens and walking paths here as well as a café. And because it’s up in the Rione Aia Piccola, it’s much less crowded than other spots.

Belvedere Santa Lucia

What Google Maps labels simply as Vista Panoramica dei Trulli is actually the Belvedere Santa Lucia—a great viewing spot right in the center of town. Just climb a few steps from the main square and you’ll find a small viewing area right next to the Church of Santa Lucia with a couple of trees and great views of Rione Monti.

Visit the amazing churches

There are two beautiful and interesting churches you shouldn’t miss on your day trip to Alberobello:

Church of Saint Anthony of Padua

This church is relatively young, as far as Italian churches go (1927), but is super interesting because it’s built in the trulli style. The artwork inside is just as, umm, unique. Let’s just say this nun and her friend couldn’t stop giggling and taking selfies with it. Many visitors describe this church as “modest,” but Sister Giggles and I beg to differ.

Basilica of Saints Cosmas and Damian

This one is not built in the trulli style but is still beautiful inside and worth popping in for a look. This church is one of the dominant landmarks of the city and one of the most important.

Take a walking tour

There are many unique trulli here and interesting stories to go along with them. To get the most out of your day trip to Alberobello, consider booking a guided walking tour. Check out these popular options:

• 2-Hour Walking Tour Among the Trulli With a Local
• History Walking Tour of Alberobello with Olive Oil Tasting

Enjoy Alberobello’s local cuisine

As with each town and region in Italy, Alberobello has its own signature dishes and pasta shapes. While here, look for things like:

• Orecchiette – pasta shaped like “little ears”)
• Pasqualino sandwiches – tuna, salami, cheese, capers
• Fave e cicoria ­– a thick purée made with fava beans and chicory

But the best way to explore Alberobello’s local cuisine is not by sitting down for a single meal, but by taking one of the many delicious food tours. This way, you’ll be able to get a sampling of many different items and learn some stuff along the way. Check out these options:

• Alberobello Dining Experience at a Local’s Home – The best way to get an authentic local experience
• 2-Hour Alberobello Gastronomic Walking Tour

Pick up a cute souvenir

All over Alberobello you’ll see shops selling miniature trulli buildings. Some of these can get super pricey (I have no idea why), but you can still find much cheaper versions. Besides being told these were made from real limestone (or something), I still only paid a few euros for it.

Resources for your day trip to Alberobello

• Looking to stay overnight? Find great places to stay in Alberobello here on Booking.com (but Expedia and Hotels.com are worth checking too). You can also find a lot of great trulli to stay in on VRBO.
• Rental cars: Check out the best local rental car deals here.
• Travel planning: Pick up an Italy guidebook and this must-have Italy customs and culture guide.
• Tours & activities: Check out the great local options here on Viator and Get Your Guide.

Like this post? Have more questions about taking a day trip to Alberobello? Let me know in the comments below. Have fun in Puglia!

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