Winter in Puglia: Valle d’Itria 2 Night Weekend Itinerary

At a glance

• Trip length: 2 nights

• Best base: Cisternino / Locorotondo / Martina Franca / Monopoli

• Style: slow mornings and golden hour sunsets and one wow experience per day

• Top 3 moments: Trullo Sovrano, Castellana Caves, winter sea and Dune Costiere Park

Friday: Arrival 

Check-in and s

Choose a strategic base like Cisternino, Locorotondo, Martina Franca, or Monopoli.

7:30 pm Easy aperitivo

In winter, aperitivo feels more intimate: a glass of local white wine and still-warm taralli.

8:30 pm Puglia dinner, the proper way

Orecchiette, bombette, Primitivo-braised meat.
In Puglia, winter is basically an official excuse to eat better.

Saturday: Trulli

9:00 am  Breakfast in Monopoli  and Cathedral

Monopoli is the city of churches. If it’s sunny, walk the seafront.
Tip: breakfast at Caffè Napoli to try the famous tette della monaca pastry.

10:30 am Alberobello (go early)

Morning light in Alberobello is unreal and the lanes feel calmer.

11:00 am–12:00 pm  Trullo Sovrano 

One of the most iconic trulli you can visit.
Typical winter schedule: November/March 10:00–12:45 and 15:30–18:00; ticket €2.50.

12:30 pm Aia Piccola walk

Quieter, more photogenic, more real.

1:30 pm Long lunch in Cisternino 

Here lunch is a ritual: you sit, you order slowly, you stop checking the time.
If you want bombette, go for a classic braceria.
Tip: Braceria Zio Pietro.

3:30 pm  Locorotondo  viewpoint at sunset

Locorotondo in winter is pure poetry: white, clean, elegant.
Do the historic center, then aim for golden hour at the belvedere.

6:30 pm |Martina Franca, baroque evening stroll

Piazzas and facades that look like a movie set.
Optional: Palazzo Ducale if it fits your timing.

8:30 pm Dinner

Winter rule: long dinner, slow chats.
Tip: Osteria Origini.

Sunday: Castellana Caves 

9:30 am | Castellana Caves 

Full route: 3 km, about 100 minutes, from €17.
There’s also a shorter option if you want to keep it softer.

12:30 pm  Lunch toward the coast Torre Canne / Savelletri

Seafood, frise, and that clean winter sea air.
Tip: Osteria del Porto in Savelletri.

2:30 pm–4:30 pm Walk in the Dune Costiere Park

The nature chapter: trails, ancient olives, open landscape.
If you want an organized version, the park publishes itineraries/activities.

5:00 pm | Head back  departure

Bari Airport connects with major Italian and European cities.

Plan B for a greyer day (still a win)

• EVO oil tasting in a local frantoio (winter is perfect for this)

• Puglian cooking class

• Masseria spa day

The trick to make it a truly great winter weekend

• Start late-ish (but not too late): 9:30 am is perfect

• Chase the light: villages in the morning, viewpoints at sunset

• One special thing per day: Trullo Sovrano / Caves / winter sea

Want to do it HelloApulia-style?

We’ll help you choose the perfect base in Valle d’Itria (trulli, villas, masserie) so you can enjoy the weekend without overthinking distances and logistics.

Suggested internal links (anchor text slug idea):

• Where to stay in Valle d’Itria: trulli, villas & masserie → /valle-ditria-stays/

• Monopoli travel guide → /monopoli-guide/

• Alberobello guide + trulli tips → /alberobello-trulli-guide/

• Puglia in winter: why it’s underrated → /puglia-in-winter/

FAQ 

Is Puglia warm in winter?

Often mild, especially on sunny days perfect for walking villages and enjoying the coast without crowds.

Is Trullo Sovrano open in winter?

Yes: the official site lists winter hours (Nov/Mar) and a €2.50 ticket.

How long is the Castellana Caves full tour?

About 100 minutes for the full route (3 km), with tickets starting from €17.

Is Dune Costiere Park worth it in winter?

Yes: it’s one of the best easy nature walks between olive groves, dunes, and coastal scenery—plus the park publishes itineraries.