Bari tours

Things to do in Bari

Bari, perched on the Adriatic, meets you with its sunlit piazzas and the chatter of its animated streets. This lively port city has a distinct blend of ancient history and contemporary charm. With your local guide, Bari tours become an exploration beyond the typical tourist path. Traverse the narrow lanes of Bari Vecchia on a walking tour, where the aroma of fresh focaccia mingles with the sea air. Immerse yourself in the local culture with a food and wine tour, enjoying traditional orecchiette pasta and robust wines from Puglia. Your guide will help you bypass the queues to discover hidden treasures, from age-old churches to busy fish markets, making your Bari experience as layered and satisfying as the city itself. If you’re looking for more inspiration, take a look at our curated list of things to do in Bari. Explore Bari your way At ToursByLocals, we believe that how you explore is just as important as where you go. That’s why every Bari tour is private, flexible, and built around you: Move at your own pace, skip the crowds, make connections and follow your curiosity. Find local guides offering private tours in Bari for every interest, including: History tours: Wander Bari Vecchia with your guide to the Basilica di San Nicola and the Cattedrale di San Sabino before stepping into the Swabian Castle’s courtyards. Add the 19th‑century Murat grid and the Petruzzelli Theatre exterior to round out your tour. Layover tours: Your guide can pick you up at the cruise terminal or the airport train platform, lead a focused walk through Bari Vecchia’s lanes, and time a quick stop on the lungomare for photos. You’ll be back at your gate or gangway on schedule. Food and Drink tours: Learn to shape orecchiette with the pasta makers on Arco Basso, then sample focaccia barese fresh from the oven at Panificio Fiore. Finish at the Molo San Nicola fish market for a taste of local seafood and compare Puglian wines like Primitivo and Negroamaro during your tour. The old town and the Murat district are very walkable, and trains link the airport to Bari Centrale with frequent service. For day trips or longer hops to places like Polignano a Mare or Alberobello, you can book a chauffeured tour or ask your local guide to include private transportation. This isn’t a one-size-fits-all itinerary, you can tailor your private tour to match your interests, pace and personality with a local who knows Bari inside and out. Walking tours & neighbourhoods Consider taking a private walking tour to explore Bari and include some of its popular neighborhoods in your itinerary. With a local guide, you'll get to know the city like a true insider. - Bari Vecchia: This old city area is a must-visit for cultural tourists. Its narrow streets are filled with history, from ancient churches to bustling piazzas, perfect for families and solo explorers alike. - Murattiano: Known for its elegant architecture and vibrant shopping streets, this neighborhood is ideal for those interested in fashion and local cuisine. It’s a great spot for multi-generational groups. - Madonnella: A lively area with a youthful vibe, Madonnella offers trendy cafes and art spaces, making it perfect for those seeking meaningful connections and cultural experiences. Day trip ideas from Bari From Bari, it’s easy to slip into nearby towns and coastlines that show a fresh side of Puglia; these day trips fit well with your tour if you’re into architecture, food, or long sea views. - Alberobello: Wander lanes lined with trulli, the cone-roof stone houses that make this UNESCO town stand out, a simple way to mix design, history, and easy photo stops if you like unusual buildings and local craft shops. - Matera: Cross into Basilicata for the Sassi cave districts and rock churches, where carved homes and viewpoints teach you a lot in one walk, great if you want deeper history with time for a rustic lunch in a cave-style trattoria. - Polignano a Mare and Monopoli: Two coastal towns about 35 kilometres from Bari with cliff views, small beaches, and tight historic centres, ideal if you want a relaxed day that blends swimming spots in season, fresh seafood, and time to stroll narrow streets. - Ostuni and Locorotondo: Hill towns known for whitewashed lanes, slow piazzas, and views over olive groves, good if you like clean lines for photography, quick tastings of olive oil and cheese, and a calm pace away from the port. - Castel del Monte: An octagonal 13th‑century castle set in open countryside, perfect if geometry, mystery, and wide panoramas appeal to you, with a route that can pair well with wine country stops on the way back to Bari. A private tour with a local guide is the best way to really get to know a place. Skip the crowds, follow your interests, and see a side of Bari most travellers miss.