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Puglia Gay Travel

The ultimate Puglia gay travel guide to where to stay, gay beaches, nightlife, cruising, & things to do.

This guide was created for wolfyy by The Big Gay Podcast from Puglia

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The Gay Travel Experience: Puglia, Italy

Puglia is a classic favorite gay Italian destination. The region of Puglia makes up the heel of Italy’s boot. It has the longest coast of Italy’s mainland regions, spanning over 500 miles. Puglia sits between two seas, the Adriatic and Ionian, offering incredible beaches and views.

gay puglia

Year over year, Puglia’s reputation as a gay summer hotspot grows. The beautiful and the “gifted” (or “dotato” the word Italians use to describe being “hung”) can be found swimming all over the coast. And we’ll tell you exactly where to find them in this guide! 

Salento, the southern part of Puglia, remains the most popular Puglia gay travel spot. Here, most visitors gravitate towards the towns of Gallipoli and Baia Verde.

puglia gay travel

Italian men are incredibly style-conscious and obsessed with waxing. Chest, abs, arms, legs…even sculpted eyebrows. Speedo-style men’s swim briefs are the rule rather than the exception.

It’s also not uncommon to see male friends walking arm in arm. Even men who identify as straight aren’t beyond a same sex experience, especially in Puglia’s salty summer heat.

gay puglia
puglia gay travel

Keep in mind, however, that while many Italians embrace a non-traditional “masculine” style and take pride in couture and personal grooming, not all Italian men with plucked eyebrows are looking for male company.

Puglia gay pride

Puglia is especially known for its tolerance and inclusivity. The region hosts three annual gay pride parades. We owe this to Puglia’s rich and diverse history, which has always been a land of passage, a gateway to other cultures.

Puglia gay pride
Salento Pride Italy

Long before the invasion of social media, Puglia was conquered by Greeks, Romans, Ostrogoths, Byzantines, Normans, Aragonese, and French. Many of these influences can still be seen today.

Salento Pride Italy

Regions of Puglia

For the purposes of this guide, think of Puglia in three parts. At the northern end near the “spur” of Italy’s boot is Gargano. The southern peninsula forming its heel is Salento. Sitting in the middle is the glorious Valle d’Itria, with lush rolling olive groves stretching as far as the eye can see.

Bari Puglia

Puglia’s best-known destinations include Bari, Lecce, Polignano a Mare, Monopoli, Alberobello, Ostuni, Gallipoli, and Otranto, although most visitors experience Puglia somewhere between Bari and Lecce. But in this guide, we’ll focus on the best destinations for gay travelers.

Gay Puglia Podcast
Gay Puglia Podcast
Bari Puglia

Gallipoli is the best-known gay destination. Locally it’s referred to as “Gaylipoli.” But gay-friendly bars, clubs, and beaches can be found across our region.

Puglia doesn’t necessarily have any specific gay villages or areas. Gallipoli comes closest. But as with most of Italy, the LGBT community tends to keep a lower profile.

Puglia Gay Hotels, BNB’s & Vacation Rentals

While hotels are always an option, Puglia is better known for its masserie and trulli

A masseria is a fortified farmhouse. Many of these have been converted to privately owned boutique bed and breakfast accommodations.

Puglia gay hotels

Trulli (one trullo, two trulli) are the limestone “hobbit” homes with conical grey stone roofs that are unique to Puglia.

Puglia gay hotels
trulli in puglia
trulli in puglia

Whichever accommodations you choose, be sure they come with air conditioning. Daytime temperatures can exceed 104 degrees Fahrenheit in the peak of summer.

Gallipoli

If you’re mainly interested in sunny seaside beaches and don’t have time to visit the rest of the region, stay in Baia Verde, located in south Gallipoli. Renting a fairly generic apartment will suit you well if you aren’t too hung up on staying in a place with character.

Gallipoli old town beach

Demand for places to stay in Baia Verde peaks in July and August, and accommodations here are some of the most expensive in Puglia. August 15th is Ferragosto, Italy’s main summer holiday around which most Italians take their two to four-week vacation.

Bellavista Club Hotel
Gallipoli old town beach

We stayed in this Airbnb rental twice. We chose it because it was close enough to the action, but away from the built-up area. Plus it’s surrounded by a beautiful small grove.

Bellavista Club Hotel

For more character, Gallipoli’s old town (centro storico) has some reasonably priced apartments. But if you need the comforts of a hotel and your budget allows, I recommend Bellavista Club Hotel.

It’s located right next to the historic center. Bellavista is a gay-friendly hotel in Gallipoli with panoramic views over the fishing port, the old town, and the Ionian Sea.

Places to Stay Around Gallipoli

Twelve miles to the north, Nardò feels like a gay village in summer. This area has less expensive vacation apartment rentals. It’s a pretty town with its own nature reserve with a gay nudist beach, located at Torre Uluzzo at Porto Selvaggio. 

From there, Spiaggia d’Ayala is 30 miles northwest, about a 50-minute drive.

Baia di Torre Uluzzo
Baia di Torre Uluzzo
Porto Selvaggio Nardo water puglia

La Restuccia Urban Masseria is a gay run masseria about halfway between Nardò and Lecce. They have queer events in the summer, including Masseria Wave, a program of curated DJ music festivals, artisan craft and food fairs, as well as gay brunches.

It has less of a boutique feel, with around 180 bungalow apartments within the masseria grounds.

Porto Selvaggio Nardo water puglia

Lecce Gay B&Bs

We have visited two different gay-run B&Bs on opposite sides of Lecce’s old town. B&B Last Minute is a modern apartment with contemporary rooms and functional rooms, just a few minutes from Porta Rudiae.

On the other side of the old town, try Villa della Lupa, a Lecce gay B&B with a neoclassical style. They’re located by the Giardini Pubblici Giuseppe Garibaldi.

Ostuni

We usually rent an apartment or house in Ostuni. Try to get one with a roof terrace, which is quite common. We recommend staying just outside the Ostuni centro storico, around Parco Rimembranze, Piazza della Libertà or somewhere in between.

ostuni puglia

Q40 Ostuni is a new and highly rated gay-owned and operated apartment rental in Ostuni. It’s centrally located, full of light, and has an incredible terrace to see the sunset.

ostuni puglia
hotels in ostuni puglia

While we haven’t stayed there ourselves yet, Anima Bed & Wellness is an LGBT-friendly, gay-owned and run, adults-only bed and breakfast that was highly recommended to us. It is set in a beautiful olive grove between Ostuni and Ceglie Messapica.

For more inspiration, check out Booking.com’s top 10 hotels in Ostuni.

hotels in ostuni puglia

Staying Near Spiaggia d’Ayala

Lune Saracene Gay and Nudist B&B is located just over half a mile from the hugely popular beach, Spiaggia d’Ayala. We had a fun time staying there, finding the other guests and hosts sprawled naked on the porch when we came back after dinner in nearby Maruggio.

Puglia Gay Beaches

Puglia has a bunch of gay beaches to explore. The region’s coastline is made up of sandy beaches, rocky outcrops, and secluded private coves which are extremely popular with the gay community, as well as those who are a bit curious.

GayPugliaPodcast gay beach
Gallipoli gay beach
GayPugliaPodcast gay beach

Our personal favorites were also the top choices of locals and visitors surveyed in our Big Gay Podcast from Puglia Best of Gay Puglia 2020 survey.

Gallipoli Gay Beaches

The gay and nudist beaches are found in between Punta della Suina and Spiaggia degli Innamorati. Comprising a stretch of rocky shelves and coves, you’ll need proper footwear, so bring some durable water shoes. It’s not the most comfortable of spots, but the water is amazing.

Arrive at the gay beach in style with some sexy swimsuits from these popular gay swimwear brands.

Gallipoli gay beach

If OnlyFans had a section for beach porn, this video below is why you would subscribe:

On the Big Gay Puglia Podcast, we were surprised this beach area topped our poll with 34% of the vote. But we suspect the proximity to Gallipoli helps its popularity. The town does have some of Europe’s best gay beaches!

Access the Gallipoli gay beach area from the Punta della Suina car park. Walk through the pinewood toward the sea and follow the coast back up towards Baia Verde and Gallipoli.

Go for about 10 minutes to find the nude and gay section. You will definitely know when you get there.

gay beach in puglia

It costs about 5 Euro for parking in the Punta della Suina car park as of 2020. And, yes, Punta della Suina does literally translate as Sow’s (as in female pig) Point.

gay beach in puglia
punta della suina beach

We recommend ignoring the flashy white and gold of G-Beach Club. Historically this was one of the most popular gay-friendly beach clubs in Puglia. You might still find gay guides recommending it.

But following a change of management a few years back, they decided that while LGBT individuals were welcome to spend money there, this welcome ended if they wanted to display any public affection.

punta della suina beach

Same-sex couples were asked to leave on at least two separate occasions for kissing at G-Beach Club. We were also contacted by their PR who asked us to remove tags to them on our social media because they did not want to be identified as a “gay” beach club.

Bring plenty to drink in an insulated water bottle. There are no beach facilities apart from those of the lido beach clubs toward the north and south ends of the shoreline.

Find an epic local hotel with suggestions from Booking.com’s top 10 hotels in Gallipoli.

Spiaggia d’Ayala, Campomarino

Spiaggia d’Ayala is our favorite gay and nudist beach in Puglia. It is by far the easiest to get to, sitting on a long stretch of golden sand. Convenient pinewood trees behind the beach offer some necessary shade, too.

GayPugliaPodcast spiaggia d'Ayala
GayPugliaPodcast spiaggia d'Ayala
GayPugliaPodcast gay beach

Sometimes there is a concession stand or bar further down the beach closer to Campomarino. Otherwise, there are no facilities. The nearest ones are in the town of Campomarino, which is a little over a mile away via the main road. The walk there along the beach though is shorter.

GayPugliaPodcast gay beach

Torre Guaceto, Brindisi

Torre Guaceto on the Adriatic coast is especially popular with locals. But it’s difficult to reach since Torre Guaceto is in a protected nature reserve where vehicles are restricted. Once you park your car nearby, the gay section of the nude beach is still at least a 30-minute walk away.

GayPugliaPodcast Torre Guaceto

Get there from the south side of the Torre Guaceto watchtower. Don’t pay attention to guides that take you from the north. This is even more cumbersome.

Torre Guaceto GayPugliaPodcast
GayPugliaPodcast Torre Guaceto
Torre Guaceto GayPugliaPodcast

The Big Gay Podcast from Puglia’s Torre Guaceto guide explains exactly how to get there from the main highway, with photographs of the road signs, routes, and what to look out for along the way.

Pôr do Sol Lido Beach Club

Our Best of Gay Puglia survey also asked visitors and locals to tell us where their overall favorite beach was. 39% of visitors and 30% of locals said Pôr do Sol was their number one choice.

GayPugliaPodcast por do sol club

Gay-owned and operated, Pôr do Sol is our favorite summer hangout. If you want a cool beach vibe, an LGBT-friendly crowd, a fine sandy beach, and beautiful crystalline water, you have to visit. Dont forget to wear a sexy swimsuit!

GayPugliaPodcast por do sol club
GayPugliaPodcast beach club

Pôr do Sol draws a mixed crowd in every respect. You’ll find Italians (locals and vacationers), international visitors, friends and couples, gay and straight individuals, and a diversity of ages among them.

GayPugliaPodcast beach club

The facilities include beach loungers and umbrellas, food, drinks, showers, and toilets. A DJ set starts from mid-afternoon through sunset (which is amazing, by the way).

For more information, read all about our working trip to Pôr do Sol. Hard work indeed!

More Gay Beaches in Puglia

There are spots up and down Puglia’s coast where nude bathing coincides with predominantly, but not exclusively, gay and gay-friendly locals.

Pietra Egea is a popular beach area, located between Cozze and Polignano a Mare. So is Torre Incina, located between Polignano and Monopoli.

The Big Gay Puglia site has detailed directions and visitor tips for Puglia’s gay beaches, including what to expect once you get there.

GayPugliaPodcast Torre dell'Orso

For a little variety, other favorite beach clubs of ours are located at Torre dell’Orso (the Bear Tower). While they’re not specifically gay beaches, we love this location. And in any event, there are plenty of straight guys for gay eyes.

GayPugliaPodcast Torre dell'Orso
GayPugliaPodcast puglia gay beach

Not far from here, some other stunning bathing spots include Grotta della Poesia (Cave of Poetry) to the north and Torre Sant’Andrea to the south.

GayPugliaPodcast puglia gay beach

Want even more Puglia gay beach recommendations? Discover more local spots, from Gargano to the Salento Maldives, as well as how to get to them, in the Big Gay Podcast from Puglia’s curated Puglia beach guide.

Puglia Gay Bars, Restaurants & Cruising

Puglia’s best restaurants, gay bars, clubs, and cruising locations below are all segmented by town.

Gallipoli

Bars and Restaurants

After a day on the beach at Baia Verde, the evening action shifts to Gallipoli’s old town located a little over 2 miles along the coast.

gallipoli gay bars

Start your evening at either Caffè Bellini Gallipoli, Corso Roma 9 or Gogó Food & Drink, via Roma 13/G (their seating areas are adjacent to each other).

gallipoli gay bars
picador village Gallipoli

Picador Village is Salento’s mega-club with drag queens and go-go boys. They’re located approximately 6 miles south of Gallipoli (about a 12-minute drive, with around 1,500 parking spaces). Picador Village is hugely popular with the gay crowd but draws a mixed clientele most evenings.

picador village Gallipoli

Surrounded by olive and palm trees, it’s a fun location, though relatively expensive for Salento. But then again, welcome to Gallipoli!

Gallipoli Gay Cruising

You can’t beat Gallipoli’s gay and nude beach for cruising at Punta della Suina and Spiaggia degli Innamorati (described in the beaches section above). 

Most of the action takes place in the pinewood that runs behind the beach. To make sure you get noticed in the best way possible, I’d recommend wearing a sexy jockstrap!

gay Gallipoli GayPugliaPodcast
gay Gallipoli GayPugliaPodcast
puglia LGBT travelers

As is the case with most of Puglia’s gay beach locations, cruising is common among those sunbathing, and most hookups on the beach are arranged using apps, rather than by chance encounter. A case of try before you buy!

puglia LGBT travelers

Lecce

Salento’s main city is bursting with piazzas and palazzi built using creamy limestone in Barocco Leccese style. The Basilica di Santa Croce has one of the finest and most intricate Baroque facades in Italy. It took over 200 years to complete and its detail is exquisite.

old town lecce architecture
old town lecce architecture
Lecce centro storico

Remnants of Lecce’s Roman history are still on display in Lecce. A theatre and an amphitheater are testaments to its importance as a flourishing Roman city.

Lecce Restaurants and Bars

The Lecce old town is packed full of amazing restaurants, busy bars, and some of our favorite boutiques. Be sure to visit the trendy and popular Zei Spazio Sociale, an LGBT-friendly bar and social space popular with Lecce’s student population.

outdoor restaurant lecce
outdoor restaurant lecce
gay friendly bar in lecce

Marilyn Lounge and Disco Bar just outside Lecce’s centro storico is perfect for a more traditional venue.

Get more insider tips on where to eat and drink in Lecce in our Lecce city guide.

gay friendly bar in lecce

Lecce Gay Cruising

Hotparty Italy Disco & Cruising takes place at Tacco12 in San Pietro Vernotico, a small town between Lecce and Brindisi. Follow them on Instagram for updates, too.

Away from beach locations, most gay cruising usually involves driving around for car sex. Lecce’s best-known spots are on the city’s outskirts.

The driver’s license test area around the Motorizzazione Civile di Lecce (outside business hours) is usually the best cruising spot.

Otherwise, take a trip around the football stadium (Stadio Via del Mare). When we visited both after a night out (at around 2.30 AM on Saturday morning) the stadium was busier.

Just pull up wherever you find some other cars parked. Asking for a cigarette, or a light, is a good start.

Ostuni

Bars and Restaurants

While not officially a gay or gay-friendly bar, you will notice that Franco Passion Cocktail Bar has a certain “something” about it. More fun than sophisticated.

puglia gay cruising area

Ostuni Gay Cruising

You’ll find Ostuni’s local gay cruising scene near the beaches of Lamaforca and Torre Pozzelle, which are in close proximity to one other. They’re about 8 km from Ostuni itself, just off the main coastal highway. By the way, these are both popular family beaches, with dedicated tourist villages nearby.

lamaforca woods area
puglia gay cruising area
lamaforca woods area

You will see guys waiting in their cars, or standing by the paths that lead into the woods. Once in the woods, which only stretch back a short distance, just follow the paths and the men.

lamaforca ostuni gay cruising

Both cruising areas are popular with men who identify as straight (Torre Pozzelle more so). Most people are likely to say hello and ask you what you are looking for before inviting you to follow them.

Beware though! We have seen police cars drive up and down the stretch of road that leads to Lamaforca from time to time, pulling drivers over to check their documentation.

lamaforca parking
lamaforca ostuni gay cruising
lamaforca parking

If you do continue onto Lamaforca’s beach you will notice a gay presence close to the carpark-side of the beach.

Check out the Big Gay Podcast from Puglia Ostuni gay guide for detailed instructions on how to find the gay spots at both, plus more information on what to expect.

bari old town center

Bari

Bari Vecchia, a knot of narrow streets and alleyways, was the highlight of a trip to our regional capital. Extensive urban revival has transformed the area into a vibrant hub for bars and restaurants centered around the piazzas Mercantile and Ferrarese. It’s a great destination for visitors.

Bari vecchia old town
Bari vecchia old town
bari old town center

Bari Gay-Friendly Bars and Restaurants

Check out Reverso Unconventional Bistrot on your way into the old town. They’re a small gay-friendly wine and cocktail bar.

La Ciclatera restaurant

La Ciclatera Sotto Il Mare is a popular gay-friendly café with a wonderful terrace overlooking the Porto Vecchio and beyond. It’s the perfect place to enjoy something light to eat or a pre-dinner aperitif. They have a sister bar called La Ciclatera.

La Ciclatera restaurant
puglia gay bar
On-Off Stutalacapa is a gay-friendly bar in nearby Torre a Mare, serving up international (i.e. burgers) and Puglian cuisine.
puglia gay bar

Big Gay Puglia Podcast’s Bari City Guide has even more recommendations including where to find some of the best street food in town.

Bari Gay Clubs

Makumba Tribe Village at the Palaghiaccio Acquapark is the most well-known gay club in Bari, with plenty of go-go boys and drag queens.

bari gay club
makumba tribe village Bari
bari gay club

Pazzeska is Bari’s newest gay and gay-friendly night, drawing a young and happy crowd. Their nights feature house drag artists, plus male and female dancers. They rotate around different venues in different towns.

makumba tribe village Bari

Bari Bathhouses & Cruising

Millennium Bath is Bari’s only traditional gay bathhouse. They’re located in Marconi on the northwestern side of the modern port. You’ll find clean facilities, showers, lockers, private rooms, and a blue-lit jacuzzi at Millennium Bath.

Bari gay bathhouse

Popular central Bari gay cruising spots are along the lungomare Nazario Sauro (the sidewalk that runs along the seafront) and near the University of Bari’s Literature and Language Department building.

Bari gay bathhouse
bari gay cruising area
bari gay cruising area

You will need a car to get to the main cruising spot by the Stadio San Nicola soccer stadium. Just drive around the car park, but not when there’s a game. Main cruising times here tend to be around 1 PM, just before 4 PM, and after sunset.

Barletta & Bisceglie

Pacha Mama is a gay disco club taking place on Saturday nights during summer at one of the lido clubs in Barletta, roughly 60 km north of Bari along the coast. Their last few seasons have been postponed due to “technical” issues.

puglia gay party pacha mama

The winter season venue is usually at Glam’House Club and Restaurant in Bisceglie. Check out the Pacha Mama Facebook page for updates or possible changes in location.

Babylon Puglia
Babylon Puglia
puglia gay party pacha mama

Just outside the town of Molfetta, Babylon hosts gay/gay-friendly club nights on Sundays during summer. Their usual venue is the Nautilus Club, popular with a young and enthusiastic crowd.

Puglia Gay Travel Tips

Hookup Apps

Grindr is usually the default. Many Italian guys will use Tinder though, especially if they are not out as gay. Scruff is typically underused.

gay hookup italy

The Planet Romeo gay dating app is also popular in Italy. Most guys looking for a hookup will have a profile and use it. Some prefer it to Grindr.

gay hookup italy
using Grindr app italy

Learning a bit of slang may come in handy. “Non ospito” (sometimes abbreviated to “nn ospito”) means I don’t host. “Ospiti” means you need to be able to host.

using Grindr app italy

By way of reminder, public beaches are safe spaces open to all. While certain activities occur, these may be tolerated rather than lawful. Engaging in sexual activity in public can result in fines ranging from €500 to €30,000.

Where to Base Yourself

The beginning of this Puglia gay guide mentioned some great places to stay in the region, but here’s a little more information to help you figure out which areas of Puglia may be best for you.

Polignano a Mare
accommodations in puglia
Polignano a Mare

Although Gallipoli is the hub of Puglia’s gay summer scene, most visitors tour around the popular gay nude beaches as well as historic areas such as Lecce, the iconic Polignano a Mare and Alberobello, Ostuni, and Monopoli.

accommodations in puglia

Puglia’s gastronomy hubs include Ceglie Messapica, as well as the region of Cisternino, known for delicious meat packages “bombette pugliese.” Though truthfully, good food is easy to find no matter where you are in Puglia.

Overall, staying in more than one location during your trip strikes a good balance. One for the surf, the other for the turf!

Valle d’Itria

If you are traveling around our region then any of the Valle d’Itria’s main towns will make a perfect, picturesque base, especially Ostuni, Cisternino, and Locorotondo. One exception is the overly touristic town of Alberobello.

Porto Tricase beach
Marina Sierra beach
Porto Tricase beach

Nearby Monopoli on the Adriatic coast is fantastic too. It’s only a short distance away from its more popular and slightly more expensive neighbor Polignano a Mare.

Marina Sierra beach

Salento

If you choose to stay in Salento, (where you find Gallipoli, Lecce, and Otranto), be sure to head south to visit lesser-known spots. Santa Cesarea Terme, Castro (the original), and one of our favorite destinations in Puglia, Santa Maria di Leuca, are here.

puglia LGBT traveler
puglia LGBT traveler
driving to Leuca

The 22-mile coastal drive from Santa Cesarea Terme to Leuca is an absolute highlight, with stunning coastal views. We always take friends, stopping off variously at Porto Tricase, Marina Serra, and Caletta del Ciolo before reaching Leuca which sits at the very tip of Italy’s heel.

driving to Leuca

Because stopping and taking diversions en route is recommended, here are some inspiring suggestions – Bitesize Puglia #1, including a visit to the rather splendid and stylish cocktail bar co-owned by British actor Dame Helen Mirren who has a summer home nearby.

gay local at gargano vieste

Gargano

While Gargano has plenty to do and see, it does feel out of the way if you are looking for a base to explore the rest of Puglia from. But in common with Salento it does have some of the finest beaches our region has to offer, including its own gay beaches.

gay local at gargano vieste
gargano vieste beach puglia

Vieste and Peschici have beautiful historic old towns and fine town beaches. Eating at Al Trabucco di Mimì is still one of the best experiences we have had in Puglia for the location. A road trip from Bari to Vieste or Peschici will take you along some stunning coasts.

gargano vieste beach puglia

How to Get to Puglia

Puglia has two international airports, Bari Airport and Brindisi’s Salento Airport. Main car hire companies operate from both.

how to get to puglia
how to get to puglia
street directions in puglia

Trenitalia express trains run along the national network connecting Bari, Brindisi, and Lecce (and Foggia) with pretty much every Italian city (as do national bus services). Bari and Brindisi both have major ferry ports. Ferry connections include destinations in Croatia and Greece.

street directions in puglia

Getting Around Puglia

Renting a car is undoubtedly the best way to get around our region. Train connections away from the main travel hubs of Bari, Lecce, and Foggia can be erratic and cumbersome.

Traveling by bus is possible, but requires planning and patience. It will also limit your choice of destinations and where you can stay.

GayPugliaPodcast spiaggia gay
GayPugliaPodcast spiaggia gay
puglia gay travel

Most of the gay and nudist beaches around Puglia are in secluded locations. Even the main ones will be difficult if not impossible to reach via public transport.

puglia gay travel

For detailed information on arriving in Puglia and getting around by public transport (including links to train and bus services and timetables) see the Big Gay Podcast from Puglia Guide to Getting Here and Getting Around.

For insider tips on driving in Puglia, check out the Driving in Puglia Guide.

Puglia's Siesta: “La Pausa”

We have a very long midday “siesta” in Puglia referred to as la pausa, from around 12:30 PM/1:00 PM to 4:30 PM/5:00 PM when most places are closed.

Restaurants will generally stop serving lunch around 2:30 PM. We suggest that you get there before 2 PM to be sure you’re able to get service.

man eating at Italian restaurant
octopus dish
man eating at Italian restaurant

Tips for Ordering Coffee in Italy

Italy doesn’t have coffee shops. For a coffee, you go to a “bar”. If you order a coffee (un caffè) you’ll be given a shorter, blacker, and stronger than usual espresso. Offered with some water, still or sparkling, which you should drink before your coffee.

ordering coffee in italy

If you are recognized as a foreigner you might be asked if you want an americano or espresso, just to save you the surprise of a potentially unexpected short espresso.

ordering coffee in italy
italian city building piazza

Most of us drink our coffee while standing at the bar. It’s a social occasion. If you sit down you might pay 10% more, but considering a coffee is usually 90 cents, it’s nothing to get worked up about.

italian city building piazza

Mosquitoes

We have pesky mosquitoes from around May to September. Buy some bug repellent before you arrive. Likewise, bring some soothing anti-itch cream for bites. We recommend you choose accommodations that have insect screens fitted over the windows.

Puglia Travel Safety

We wouldn’t consider Puglia to be an unsafe destination for tourists. Be cautious as you would in any other tourist destination. Though rare, pick-pocketing and robberies can happen in crowded spots.

travel safety tips GayPugliaPodcast

But this type of crime is common in so many places around the world. Practice smart travel safety precautions and be remember to keep your valuables secure on the beach if you go swimming.

puglia safety
puglia safety
travel safety tips GayPugliaPodcast

We have no personal negative experiences. We have left our cell phones on display on cafe bar and restaurant tables outside, in a parked car, and in an unguarded backpack on a beach while we swim, along with our wallets, without incident.

Nevertheless, that does not mean you should do so, and our advice as above stands.

Street crime

The mafia (Sacra Corona Unita) exists in Puglia but isn’t something that should be a concern to travelers. Organized crime in Puglia is rarely in the public eye, except in Foggia. There are no public shootings or any obvious form of organized crime on the streets.

street safety puglia

Privacy

Stick to privately rented accommodation shutters. These are quite common to keep the sun out. Many villas are fitted with alarms and benefit from private security.

privacy traveling italy
privacy traveling italy
street safety puglia

Car Security

Travel forums regularly advise against renting cars in Puglia, but you should completely ignore this. These sources state that apparently, rental cars will be stolen and shipped abroad. This is not something we recognize.

And in fact, any cars that we have rented have no markings that would even identify them as such. We know of no one who has experienced any such incident. So don’t worry about it and enjoy your amazing holiday in Puglia!

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This guide was created for wolfyy by The Big Gay Podcast from Puglia.

Explore more of Italy with wolfyy’s gay guides to the fashion capital of Milan, the authentic yet gritty city of Naples, or the famous Torre del Lago in the Tuscany region.

For more inspiration, explore wolfyy’s full collection of gay travel guides.


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