Puglia With Kids (2026): A Family Travel Guide to Italy’s Best-Kept Secret
The abundance of sandy beaches make Puglia a perfect option for children
This summer we took a multi-generational trip to Puglia — grandparents, cousins, the whole extended family — and it exceeded every expectation. Puglia is the heel of Italy’s boot: sun-drenched, unhurried, and still operating at a pace that most of Italy abandoned a decade ago. The towns are beautiful, the food is extraordinary, the beaches are good, and the locals are genuinely warm toward children in a way that makes family travel feel effortless rather than negotiated. It’s one of the best places we’ve been in Europe with kids, full stop.
Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast get all the attention. Puglia is better for families than both.
The kid’s pool at Borgo Egnazia in Puglia
WHERE TO STAY IN PUGLIA
Our home base for our week in Puglia was Borgo Egnazia. It felt like stepping into a movie set where everything was beautifully curated to to look like an authentic Puglian masseria. This resort was pure luxury with several gorgeous pools perfect for sipping Aperol spritzes near. It also had a free kids club and fun nightly activities for kids and families. During the peak summer months they offer several nights of Festa del Borgo. This was a real highlight of our stay, as it felt like being invited to a wealthy Puglian’s dream wedding. Read our full review here. Or read our full article for Best Hotels in Puglia.
Dance the night away, Puglian-style at one of Borgo Egnazia’s Festa del Borgo events throughout the summer
Explore the Surrounding Towns
Exploring the charming harbor of Monopoli
Puglia’s towns are compact and most are within an hour of each other, which makes the region unusually manageable for family travel. You can cover significant ground without anyone spending a full day in a car.
Monopoli — A working port town that managed to feel touristy and authentic at the same time. We watched fishing boats and commercial vessels come in and unload while we wandered the harbor — the kind of unplanned thing that children actually remember. The old town is entirely pedestrian, charming eateries and small plazas appear at every turn, and the crystal-clear water is as good as anything else in Puglia. Small enough to cover in a day, good enough to use as a base if you prefer a town over a resort.
Alberobello — The trulli town. The conical stone rooftops are unlike anything else in Europe and children respond to them immediately — they look like something out of a fairy tale because they essentially are. The streets are steep and narrow and the town is genuinely touristy in peak season, but the architecture is so distinctive that it’s worth half a day regardless.
Get lost in the alleys of Ostuni, the White City
Ostuni
Ostuni — The White City. Labyrinthine streets, whitewashed buildings stacked on a hillside, bougainvillea everywhere. The views over the surrounding olive groves and countryside from the top of the old town are genuinely spectacular. Getting slightly lost here is not a problem — it’s the point. Good olive oil and wine shops make it worth an extra hour for stocking up on things to bring home.
Polignano a Mare
Polignano a Mare — Cliffs dropping directly into turquoise water, car-free streets near the sea, and the kind of setting that makes everything look like a postcard whether you want it to or not. More tourist-heavy than Monopoli but still authentic enough to justify the visit. The evening passeggiata along the seafront is a good family activity — gelato, walking, no plan required.
Cala Masciola seaside dining at Borgo Egnazia
WHERE TO EAT PUGLIA
Find our entire Puglia Restaurant Guide Here.
The food in Puglia is the best argument for the region. Fresh seafood, handmade orecchiette, burrata from the source, and taralli — a soft twisted cracker we discovered on this trip and now consider a non-negotiable snack. We gorged on all of it.
One practical note: Italian restaurants are genuinely comfortable with children at any hour. Don’t worry about showing up with kids at a proper dinner restaurant — it’s expected and welcomed in a way that isn’t always the case elsewhere in Europe.
View of Polignano a Mare from our catamaran charter
Things to Do
Rent a boat — The best activity of the trip. We chartered a catamaran from Almarano and spent a day sailing the Apulian coastline, jumping in the water, and using the paddleboards. The famous cliffs of Polignano a Mare look completely different from the sea — worth seeing from that angle. It was a little choppy the day we went out, but the swimming stops made it worthwhile regardless. Good from about age four upward as long as kids are comfortable on a boat.
Beach clubs — A Puglia institution and one of the better family formats going. Sunbeds, umbrellas, food and drink service, calm Adriatic water, and children who can move freely while parents actually relax. Coccaro Beach Club near Borgo Egnazia is the most convenient if you’re staying there, and genuinely beautiful. Book in advance in July and August.
Festa del Borgo at Borgo Egnazia — If your dates align with one of the summer evenings, go. It’s not just a hotel event — it’s a genuinely extraordinary experience that felt nothing like what we expected from a resort activity.
Cooking class — Many of the masserias in the region offer hands-on pasta classes, usually centered on orecchiette. Worth doing once, particularly with older kids who can actually participate rather than just watch.
Wander Ostuni at sunset — The white buildings turn golden in the evening light and the views from the hilltop over the olive groves are at their best. Gelato from one of the shops in the old town, a slow walk, no agenda. One of the better free hours in Puglia.
When to Visit Puglia With Kids
May, June, and September are the best windows. Warm enough to swim, manageable crowds, and the region at its most beautiful without the July-August peak when Italian families take their summer holidays en masse and everything needs advance booking. If August is your only option, go — just book Borgo Egnazia and restaurants well ahead and accept that the most popular beaches will be crowded.
Practical Notes
Car rental is essential. Public transport between towns is limited and the region’s best beaches, masserias, and smaller villages aren’t reachable without one. Rent a car at Bari or Brindisi airport — both have good connections.
Fly into Bari or Brindisi. Both airports have direct connections from major European cities. Bari is the larger hub and slightly more centrally located for most of Puglia’s highlights.
Italian family travel logistics. Restaurants welcome children at dinner, which runs late by American standards — 8pm is normal, 9pm is fine. Kids adapt quickly. Gelato is always available and always the right call.
Coccaro Beach Club in Puglia
We had an incredible time in Puglia, and we encourage you to get lost in Ostuni's white labyrinth, dive into the turquoise sea at Polignano a Mare, and let Monopoli's coastal charm capture your heart. In Puglia, as in anywhere in Italy, be sure to allow time to embrace the “dolce far niente” or “art of doing nothing.”
Best Time to Visit Puglia With Kids
The best time to visit Puglia is May, June, or September.
These months offer warm weather, beautiful beaches, and fewer crowds than July and August.
July and August are the busiest months when many Italians take their summer holidays.
FAQs About Puglia With Kids
Is Puglia good for families? Yes — one of the best regions in Italy for family travel. The beaches, the towns, the food, and the Italian attitude toward children make it work at every age.
How many days do you need in Puglia with kids? Five to seven days is ideal. Enough to cover three or four towns, spend real time at the beach, and not feel rushed.
Do you need a car in Puglia? Yes. Rent one at the airport — it’s the only way to access the region properly.
Is Borgo Egnazia worth it for families? Yes — it’s our top pick for families in Puglia specifically because of the kids’ club, the Festa del Borgo evenings, and the property’s scale. Read the full review here.
Is Puglia better than Tuscany for families? For most families, yes. The beaches are better, the towns are less crowded, and the pace is more forgiving for children. Tuscany has the edge on wine country and hill towns, but Puglia wins on overall family experience.