Puglia is a region in Italy located on the southeastern side of the mainland. It is a coastal region overlooking the Mediterranean Sea with over 800 km of coastline. You can find historical sites, baroque architecture, and even beaches in the Puglia region.
There are several ways to get to Puglia and traveling by air is one of them. Puglia has 3 airports – Bari Karol Wojtyla Airport, Brindisi Airport, and Foggia Gino Lisa Airport. Two of these serve both domestic and international flights while one airport only serves domestic flights.
If you are traveling to Italy soon and want to visit Puglia, this article will talk about these three airports in detail. We will also talk about other ways to get to Puglia.
Puglia Region: Overview
Apulia, also known as Puglia, is an Italian region on the southeastern side of Italy. If you look at a map, Puglia forms the ‘heel of the boot’ of Italy. This coastal region has over 800 km of coastline providing its residents and tourists a view of the Mediterranean Sea. Puglia borders the Adriatic Sea to the east and the Ionian Sea to the west and it is the region with the longest coastline in mainland Italy [1].
There are three airports serving Puglia; two airports have domestic and international flights while one is only serving domestic flights.
Puglia Airport Guide
Bari Karol Wojtyla Airport (IATA: BRI, ICAO: LIBD)
Bari Karol Wojtyla Airport is the airport serving Bari and is close to several coastal towns such as Monopoli and Polignano a Mare. It is also close to other cities such as Castellana Grotte, Alberobello, and Matera. If you want to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Valle d’Itria, flying to Bari is the best option.
Bari Airport is the largest airport in Puglia and major European cities and Italian cities have direct flights to Bari. Being a big airport, there are more flight options for tourists going in and out of the region. Some of the cities in mainland Italy that have direct flights to Bari are Milan, Rome, Florence, Bergamo, and Bologna. There are also direct flights from the islands of Sardinia and Sicily from the towns of Cagliari, Olbia, Catania, and Palermo.
No international flights are flying in from outside of Europe. So, if you are coming from the U.S. or other parts of the world, you will have to fly to Italy or other European countries such as France, Switzerland, or Austria.
How To Get To Bari City From Bari Airport
Bari City is accessible from the airport by bus, train, car rental, or taxi. The airport is about 12 km away from Bari city centre and it takes about 25 minutes of travel time by car or taxi. For a cheaper alternative, you can also take the bus or ride the train and the travel time will take about 30 minutes. There are also buses that can take you to different destinations in Puglia aside from Bari’s city center.
Brindisi-Salento Airport (IATA: BDS, ICAO: LIBR)
Brindisi Airport is a smaller airport so there are not a lot of flights in this international airport. Brindisi Airport mainly serves domestic flights but it still serves international flights, most of them being seasonal.
While Brindisi Airport is a smaller airport, it is still a major airport and tourists still fly into Brindisi because it is the closest international airport to Puglia’s coastlines. Flying into Brindisi will take you closer to the best beaches in Puglia and other areas such as Lecce and Otranto.
Unlike Bari Airport, there are fewer cities in Europe that have direct flights to Brindisi. Here are the countries, aside from Italy, that have direct flights to Brindisi:
- Switzerland
- France
- England
- Netherlands
- Germany
- Spain
Prior to your booking, make sure to check which cities in these countries have direct flights to Brindisi. If you are already in Italy, here are some of the cities that you can depart from:
- Milan
- Venice
- Verona
- Bologna
- Rome
You can also take a direct flight from Cagliari and Palermo to Brindisi.
How To Get To Brindisi City From Brindisi Airport
The best way to get to Brindisi City from the airport is by car, taxi, train, or bus. Brindisi Airport is just 5 km away from the city center and the travel time is just about 10 to 15 minutes by taxi and car. The bus and train station are very accessible from the airport and the travel time will take about 10 to 15 minutes as well. Like in Bari, you can also reach different cities near Brindisi via bus or train from the airport.
Foggia Gino Lisa Airport (IATA FOG, ICAO: LIBF)
Another airport you can fly into to get to Puglia is Foggia Gino Lisa Airport. This is another small airport in Puglia and it only serves domestic flights. You can catch a flight to Foggia Airport from Milan, Verona, Turin, and Catania.
Tourists mostly fly into either Bari Airport or Brindisi Airport because they serve both domestic and international flights. If you are already in Italy and would like to visit Foggia and nearby towns such as Vieste and Gargano, flying into Foggia is your best option.
How To Get To Foggia City From Foggia Airport
Foggia Airport to Foggia city center is just about 4 km away and the travel time by car or taxi only takes about 11 minutes. There are no train services from the airport to Foggia but there are direct buses from the center that can take you to the city center in 10 to 15 minutes.
Which Airlines Fly Directly To Puglia?
Puglia has two main international airports and one domestic airport, and several airlines fly into Puglia. Some of the airlines that have direct flights to and from Puglia’s international airports are:
- AirBerlin
- AlbaStar
- Alitalia
- Air France
- Austrian Airlines
- British Airways
- Eurowings
- Lufthansa
- Ryanair
- Swiss
- Turkish Airlines
- Volotea
Tips for Traveling to Puglia by Air
Before booking your plane ticket, here are some tips to make your pre-travel to Puglia smooth and efficient.
- Check which part of Puglia you want to visit. If you are coming from outside of Italy, there are two international airports you can fly into. Make sure to also check which airlines have direct flights to Puglia. Brindisi Airport has fewer flights. If you have a preferred airline that does not have a flight to Brindisi, you either have to fly into Bari or choose another airline.
- Book tickets in advance. Plane tickets tend to be cheaper if you book them months in advance. Airlines also often offer promos giving you cheaper flights if you travel on a certain date. Prices also tend to spike if you book plane tickets days before your trip so it is best to plan ahead, especially when booking tickets.
- If you are looking for cheap flights to Puglia, consider booking from a budget airline. These airlines typically have lower rates than full-service airlines. If you are coming from outside of Europe, you can book a full-service flight to Europe and transfer to a low-cost carrier to Puglia to save on plane tickets.
- If you plan on renting a car, book ahead and coordinate your time of arrival on hours that car rental companies are open. You can also check for rental companies that have 24/7 service if you will be arriving in Puglia at odd hours.
Other Ways To Get Into Puglia
Aside from traveling by air, there are other ways to get to Puglia.
There are regional and high-speed trains in mainland Italy that are operated by Trenitalia that can take you to Puglia. Taking the train will definitely take a slower pace but there are scenic routes that you can enjoy while traveling by train. Aside from trains, there are several bus companies that have routes from major cities in Italy going to Puglia.
If you are feeling a little adventurous about driving on Italian roads, you can definitely drive to Puglia. If you will be driving, make sure that you know all the rules and regulations when driving in Italy to avoid being fined. Make sure to also be knowledgeable of Italian road signs. This will keep you and others safe while on the road.
The most important thing before driving in Italy is to make sure that you have a valid driver’s license. You will need to get an international driving permit to be able to rent a car and legally drive in Italy.
Which Airport Is Better: Bari Or Brindisi?
Both Bari and Brindisi Airports are the two main airports for international flights. Bari is the biggest airport of the two and it serves more daily flights than Brindisi. If you just want to explore the capital city of Puglia, flying into Bari Airport is the best option. Bari is also only about 1 hour and 30 minutes away from Brindisi and you can definitely take the train to travel between these two cities. But, if you want to explore Puglia’s best beaches, Brindisi Airport is your best option.
Wrap Up
The best Puglia airports will depend on your destination and travel preference. If you are coming from outside of Italy, you can choose between Bari Airport and Brindisi Airport. You can also fly into Foggia airport but it only serves domestic flights.
In this article, we talked about the three Italian airports in Puglia. We also talked about which airlines fly into Puglia and there are also tips on how to make your pre-travel experience smoother. If you have any other questions, let us know via the comment section on our website. Happy travels!
