Quiet area in Puglia

[marilynmonroe]

We would like to go to Puglia in the summer but from what I've read and heard it can get really busy. The beaches are supposed to be amazing but apparently you can't see the sand for the people! We want to be in an area where we can drive to see interesting things and maybe go to the coast and visit a lovely beach. We really enjoy going to agriturismos. Does such a thing exist in Puglia?!

Lots of agriturismos- go to northern Puglia and stay in an olive farm. Beaches nearby are incredible. Look at the Gargano national park.

just been having a look and i think you are onto something. Looks gorgeous and think we can have a bit of peace and a bit of beach action! Thank you!

Avoid August as that is the busiest time. I personally love the beaches close to Porto Cesareo.

Seriously avoid August when all Italians go on holiday. Especially 15th August weekend

The Gargano is fab but full of German (esp) tourists from Easter onwards. Try the Salento area for better beaches. Decent beaches are all privately owned so they are crowded with lots of families paying for a stake in one plot iyswim, bit like a timeshare. Most accept day payers though.
If you go in early summer it will be less crowded-June etc.
Agriturismos are likely to be out of the way and in the countryside rather than anywhere near a beach- they can be pretty remote and you'll need a car.

We were thinking of august as we have school aged kids and really want to avoid the italians on holiday! will look up the salento area.

we were spoilt as we have been to umbria the past couple of years and it was heaven. really quiet and beautiful but we are looking for something a bit different this year!

Puglia is definitely different to Umbria but in August everyone is on holiday so you get not only the locals flooding to the beaches but also northern Italians, southern Italians who return home and Germans.

It will be quieter towards the end of August but the first 3 weeks the whole country is at the beach.

Inland (agriturismos etc) will definitely be quieter obvs.

Watching as considering this area. Is the whole of Italy just manic from August? Is Sardinia as busy?

More or less, it's just that the ratio of foreigners:locals changes. Everyone gets August off.

Sardinia is a big destination for Italians. Factor in that anywhere with a beach will have lots of Italians coming to their second homes.
Obvs it's not Magaluf tourism (well, in Rimini it is tbh) but it will be busy.

we've booked flights to bari and have decided to do a week near gargano and then a week in a more southern areas - so if anyone know of good accomodation please let me know!

Enjoy your holiday Marlyn
Thank you sudexpress

Ooh lovely, where are you going in the Gargano? It's my favourite bit.

I think we are going to stay near the village of Peschici. have you been and would you recommend?

bookme have you visited the lakes - are they quieter?

Peschici is my absolute favourite bit of the Gargano! Do used to work in hotels there so we have been often. It's much less touristy than the nearby resorts like Vieste and Mattinata but still not dead as a dodo. Love it!

I've been to Garda and Como (prefer the latter just because it's sort of pleasantly old fashioned tourism iyswim? Both beautiful, not as busy as the beaches or arty cities in August but still busy, but it's a quieter sort of tourism somehow.

We did this holiday a few years ago stayed second week in vieste fabulous and reasonable hotel called I melograni
It is long drive from the airport though ( we actually missed our flights back because of terrible traffic)