Where to go in Puglia with 4-year-old?

[tokajlover]

Just returned from a lovely holiday in Sicily which we absolutely loved, and we are looking to book next summer’s holiday sooner rather than later, and thinking of going to Puglia this time but am getting rather lost in research so was wondering what places people would recommend for a family holiday with a 4-year-old?

Our requirements are:

• Must be within 90 mins of Bari or Brindisi airports
• Must have access to a beach
• If you have specific accommodation suggestions, would welcome those too! We tend to rent a villa/apartment with access to pool but would welcome any nice places you stayed at and would recommend!

Many thanks :)

I spent some time living in Puglia, and it really is a beautiful region—full of charm and character—but it’s a bit off the beaten path. In my opinion, it might be a little tricky to fully enjoy it with a four-year-old in tow.

That said, I was 20 at the time (about 15 years ago), so it’s possible I just didn’t explore the most family-friendly spots.

Places like Matera, the Trulli houses in Alberobello, and Lecce are stunning, but they tend to feel more like grown-up day trips.

Gallipoli, on the other hand, was lovely and might be a better fit for you—it’s about an hour from Brindisi and by the sea so could work well with a little one.

I’m trying out the Relais La Masseria near Lecce with my 5yo and 2yo which sounds fun!

I’d say that Monopoli is one of the better resorts for kids. The town has a pretty, car-free, historical centre, many family-friendly restaurants and a few playgrounds. There are small beaches in town but it’s also close to bigger sandy stretches of coast. We did a day trip to Zoosafari Fasanolandia, a boat trip to some sea caves and a couple of afternoons at Egnazia waterpark.