Bari is the largest city in Puglia, and for many people it’s their first taste of Italy’s heel, simply because this is where the plane lands. If you’re wondering where to stay in Bari, the city has an Old Town on a peninsula with whitewashed alleys and pasta-making women, a long seafront promenade and a shopping district with wide streets. Trains run from Bari Centrale out to both the coast and Matera.
Where in the city you stay makes a big difference. Some neighbourhoods are charming but cramped and noisy, while others are practical but dull in the evening. Here are my six picks of areas in and around Bari, with three hotels in each.
Contents
Where to Stay in Bari: The Best Areas
- Bari Vecchia (Old Town) - best area for first-time visitors
- Murat - best area for shopping, restaurants and a central base
- Lungomare & Madonnella - best area for couples and sea views
- Around Bari Centrale - best area for day trips by train
- Torre a Mare - best area for peace by the sea and a road trip
- Santo Spirito - best area close to the airport
Below, I go through the areas one by one with a map, transport, price level and three hotels in each. The prices come from a search for a weekend in May for two people, so expect them to rise in July and August and around the Feast of San Nicola in early May.
1. Bari Vecchia (Old Town) - best area for first-time visitors ⛪
- 📍 Distance to the centre: You’re staying in the historic centre. From the Basilica di San Nicola it’s a 5-minute walk to Castello Svevo and 15 minutes to Bari Centrale.
- 🚶 Transport: The alleys are too narrow for cars, so you walk everywhere. Taxis and buses stop on Corso Vittorio Emanuele and along the harbour at the edge of the Old Town.
- ✈️ Time from Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport: Around 20 to 25 minutes by taxi at a fixed fare of about 25 euros (around £21), or around 20 minutes by train to Bari Centrale and a 15-minute walk from there.
- 💰 Price level: € to €€€. The three places below cost around £70 to £220 per night when I searched for a weekend in May.
- 👮 Safety: Safe and lively until late. Keep an eye on your bag in the busiest alleys, and use your phone torch if you walk home through the darkest lanes after midnight.
Bari Vecchia is the old town on the peninsula between the old harbour and the new harbour, and this is where Bari feels most like Bari. The alleys wind between whitewashed houses, small churches and squares where washing hangs out to dry above your head. At its heart is the Basilica di San Nicola, where the relics of St Nicholas have rested since sailors from Bari brought them here in 1087. The church is open every day from 6.30am to 8.30pm, and until 10pm on Sundays, and the crypt beneath the choir is a place of pilgrimage for Catholics and Orthodox Christians from all over the world.
A few minutes away are San Sabino Cathedral and Castello Svevo, the castle Frederick II had rebuilt between 1233 and 1240. Today it’s a museum, and it’s closed on Tuesdays. At Arco Basso, women sit outside their houses shaping orecchiette by hand, and if you’d like to eat your way through focaccia, panzerotti and sgagliozze with a local, you can join a street food tour of the Old Town for about 42 to 49 euros (around £35 to £41).
See hotels in Bari Vecchia here.
I’d stay here if it’s your first trip to Bari, or if you only have a couple of nights. You wake up right in the thick of the atmosphere and can stroll out for an aperitivo on Piazza Mercantile without thinking about transport. The harbour is right next door, and if you’re taking the ferry on to Durrës, I’ve also written about where to stay in Albania.
The downside is that there are almost only small B&Bs and flats in old houses. There’s rarely a lift, many rooms are up flights of stairs, and taxis can’t drive right up to the door, so pack light. The squares are also noisy in the evenings at weekends and during the summer holidays.
Hotels in Bari Vecchia
Palazzina Gentile - small adults-only design hotel by Castello Svevo
Palazzina Gentile is on Piazza Federico II di Svevia, right opposite the castle, so you have the Old Town on one side and Murat on the other. It’s a small adults-only guesthouse with beautifully finished double rooms, room service and a sun terrace, and it was the most expensive of my three picks here. There’s no lift, so bear that in mind if you have heavy luggage.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “The excellent decor and beautiful design were far beyond our expectations.”
See photos and book Palazzina Gentile here.
B&B Murex - popular B&B with a roof terrace and a host guests love
B&B Murex is also on the square by Castello Svevo and has one of the highest scores in the Old Town. Rooms come with or without a balcony, breakfast is available Italian, vegan or gluten-free, and from the roof terrace you look out over the rooftops. There’s no lift, and check-in takes place within set hours, so agree a time in advance if you’re landing late.
From a review: “Antonio is a fantastic host and gave me fantastic suggestions for anything I might need.”
See photos and book B&B Murex here.
Apulia 35 - budget B&B with a lift in the middle of the Old Town
Apulia 35 is on Strada Palazzo dell’Intendenza in the southern part of the Old Town, so you’re close to both Murat and the basilica. There’s a lift, air conditioning, a shared kitchen and self-service breakfast, and the price was far below the other two when I searched. Choose the room with a private bathroom, as the cheapest one has its bathroom outside the room.
One guest highlights: “The hosts were wonderful. They let us leave our bags at the hotel before and after our actual stay.”
See photos and book Apulia 35 here.
2. Murat - best area for shopping, restaurants and a central base 🛍️
- 📍 Distance to the centre: You’re staying in the modern city centre. From Via Sparano it’s a 5 to 10-minute walk to the Old Town and the same to Bari Centrale.
- 🚶 Transport: The district sits between the station and the Old Town, so you can do most things on foot. AMTAB city buses run along the main cross streets.
- ✈️ Time from Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport: About 20 minutes by train to Bari Centrale and then a 5 to 10-minute walk, or 20 minutes by taxi for around 25 euros (around £21).
- 💰 Price level: € to €€€€. The three hotels below cost roughly £80 to £360 per night when I searched for a weekend in May.
- 👮 Safety: Safe and well lit, and Via Sparano is busy with people until late. The streets closest to the station are a bit scruffier at night.
Murat is the new town, laid out from 1813 under Joachim Murat, Napoleon’s brother-in-law and King of Naples at the time. The streets form a neat grid of square blocks running from Corso Vittorio Emanuele by the Old Town down to Piazza Umberto I and the station, which makes the area easy to find your way around. Via Sparano and Via Argiro are pedestrianised streets lined with shops, cafés and gelaterias, and in the evening the whole city takes its passeggiata here.
In the middle of the district stands Teatro Petruzzelli from 1903, one of Italy’s largest theatres, hosting opera, ballet and concerts. In the side streets to the west you’ll find several of the city’s best pizzerias and trattorias, where you’ll eat for quite a bit less than in the Old Town. This is also where most of Bari’s proper hotels are, both five-star and perfectly ordinary ones.
I’d choose Murat if you want a hotel with a lift, a reception and a breakfast buffet, or if you want to see Bari and also take the train out on day trips. You can walk to the Old Town in a few minutes but sleep on wider, quieter streets. It’s also the best choice if there are several of you sharing an apartment.
The downside is that Murat is more of a shopping district than a neighbourhood with charm. The façades are handsome, but the shops are the same chains you’d find at home, and there can be traffic noise on the big cross streets such as Corso Cavour. Stay on a side street or on a higher floor if you’re a light sleeper.
Hotels in Murat
Sparano Palace Luxury Maison - exclusive adults-only hotel on Via Sparano
Sparano Palace sits in the middle of the pedestrianised Via Sparano, five minutes from both the station and the Old Town. It’s a four-star, adults-only hotel with a Turkish bath, massages, a terrace and suites with their own sauna, and it was the most expensive hotel in this entire guide. A few guests mention that housekeeping didn’t always restock everything every day.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “From the very first moment we felt a warmth, an exclusivity and a genuine care that is truly rare.”
See photos and book Sparano Palace here.
BARI 102 - B&B with one of the highest scores in the city
BARI 102 is on Via Andrea da Bari in the heart of Murat and has almost 900 reviews with a score close to perfect. Rooms range from superior to suite, breakfast is included and there’s a terrace. The top floors can only be reached by stairs, so ask for a lower room if that matters to you.
From one review: “Everything about the place was first class, the location and the comfort of the room.”
See photos and book BARI 102 here.
Benedetto Cairoli Guest House - simple guesthouse with a shared kitchen and terrace
Benedetto Cairoli Guest House is on Via Benedetto Cairoli, about 700 metres from Bari Centrale and under a kilometre from the Old Town. There’s a shared kitchen and a shared terrace, and the lift goes up to the second floor, while you take the stairs to the third. It was the cheapest of the three, but several guests say the bathrooms are in need of renovation.
One guest highlights: “The location was perfect, right in the centre with easy access to the sights.”
See photos and book Benedetto Cairoli Guest House here.
3. Lungomare & Madonnella - best area for couples and sea views 🌊
- 📍 Distance to the centre: About 1 kilometre east of Murat. Along the seafront promenade, it’s a 20 to 25-minute walk to the Old Town.
- 🚌 Transport: You can do most things on foot along the water. City buses run along the Lungomare and through Murat, and a taxi to the station takes just a few minutes.
- ✈️ Time from Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport: About 25 minutes by taxi for around 25 euros (around £20), or take the train to Bari Centrale and walk for 15 to 20 minutes.
- 💰 Price level: €€ to €€€€. The three places below cost roughly £85 to £260 per night when I searched for a weekend in May.
- 👮 Safety: Safe, and the promenade is full of joggers and families until late. The far end towards Pane e Pomodoro is darker at night.
The Lungomare is Bari’s long seafront promenade, running from the Old Town past Teatro Margherita and the small marina, then on south-east along Lungomare Nazario Sauro. This is where you’ll find the city’s grand 1930s buildings, with the Palazzo della Provincia and its tower as a landmark. On the fourth floor is the Pinacoteca Metropolitana, with paintings from the Middle Ages to the present day, and it’s open Tuesday to Saturday from 9am to 7pm and on Sunday until 1pm.
Behind the promenade lies Madonnella, an old residential neighbourhood of narrow streets, bakeries and seafood restaurants where people actually live. Carry on south-east and you’ll reach Pane e Pomodoro, the city beach, with sand, bathing piers and lidos where you can take a dip after a day in town. The promenade is at its best at sunset, when half of Bari strolls here with an ice cream, and at weekends the fishermen sit with their rods on the piers. It’s also from here that you get the loveliest view back towards the domes and towers of the Old Town.
See hotels on the Lungomare and in Madonnella here.
I’d stay here if you’re a couple who want sea views and morning runs along the water, or if you’d like an apartment with a kitchen for a longer holiday. You’re close to the city beach but still within walking distance of Murat, and in the evening Madonnella’s seafood restaurants are a good alternative to the busy squares of the Old Town.
The downside is the distance to the Old Town, which is further than it looks on the map, especially in the midday heat. The choice of classic hotels is also small, so most options are apartments and small guesthouses. Check that the room type actually says sea view, as many addresses are in the streets behind the promenade.
Hotels on the Lungomare & in Madonnella
JR Hotels Bari Grande Albergo delle Nazioni - five-star hotel with a pool and views over the Adriatic
Grande Albergo delle Nazioni sits right on Lungomare Nazario Sauro and is Bari’s classic five-star hotel by the water. There’s a heated outdoor pool with a view, a sauna, a gym, a restaurant and rooms with sea views. Valet parking costs 30 euros (around £25) a day, and some guests find the service in the restaurant patchy.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “The hotel is very beautiful and modern, with all the facilities you’d expect from a five-star hotel.”
See photos and book Grande Albergo delle Nazioni here.
Palazzo Zippitelli - apartments with a kitchen just behind the promenade
Palazzo Zippitelli is on Piazza Carabellese in Madonnella, a minute from the water. You stay in one or two-bedroom apartments, some with sea views, and there’s a lift and soundproofing. A few guests would have liked more cups and glasses in the kitchen for when they have visitors.
From one review: “The apartment was clean and nicely furnished. An excellent host who was always easy to reach and gave really good food recommendations.”
See photos and book Palazzo Zippitelli here.
RosAmar - budget guesthouse close to the city beach
RosAmar is on Via Ottavio Serena at the eastern end of Madonnella, a couple of minutes from the water and on the way to Pane e Pomodoro. You can choose between budget rooms and deluxe rooms with sea views, and breakfast is served in the ground-floor cafeteria. Parking is outside the hotel for a fee, and several guests found the rules for it unclear.
One guest highlights: “Fantastic location close to the beach, cafés, a supermarket and restaurants.”
See photos and book RosAmar here.
4. The Area around Bari Centrale - best area for day trips by train 🚆
- 📍 Distance to the centre: About 1 kilometre south of the Old Town. From Piazza Aldo Moro, it’s a 15-minute walk up Via Sparano to the Basilica di San Nicola.
- 🚆 Transport: Trenitalia regional and long-distance trains, the airport train, Ferrovie Appulo Lucane to Matera and Ferrovie del Sud Est towards Alberobello all run from Bari Centrale.
- ✈️ Time from Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport: About 20 minutes on the direct train to Bari Centrale, where a ticket costs around 5 euros (roughly £4).
- 💰 Price level: € to €€€. The three places below cost around £65 to £190 per night when I searched for a weekend in May.
- 👮 Safety: Busy and safe during the day. At night, the square in front of the station and the streets south of the tracks are less pleasant, so choose a hotel on the north side towards Murat.
Bari Centrale sits on Piazza Aldo Moro, and the square in front of the station is Bari’s transport hub, with trains, the airport train and buses. The north side of the square is really the southern end of Murat, and from Piazza Umberto I, with its park and the university, you can walk straight up Via Sparano towards the Old Town. South of the tracks, a more ordinary residential area begins, with offices and some of the city’s oldest hotels.
The station is the reason to stay here. The regional trains along the coast get you to Polignano a Mare and Monopoli in no time, and Ferrovie Appulo Lucane takes you to Matera, where the Sassi districts and rock churches are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The train takes about an hour and a half, and on Sundays and public holidays replacement buses often run instead. If you’d rather have everything arranged for you, you can take a day trip to Alberobello and Matera from Bari for around 33 to 59 euros (roughly £30 to £50).
See hotels near Bari Centrale here.
I’d stay here if Bari is mainly your base for day trips around Puglia without a car, or if you arrive late or leave early by plane or train. You can see how to buy tickets and read the timetables in my guide to trains in Italy, and if you’d rather spend a few nights out in the small towns, I’ve written about where to stay in Puglia.
The downside is the atmosphere. The area around the station is practical but not cosy, and in the evening you’ll need to walk for a quarter of an hour to find the good restaurants. Hotels close to the tracks can also get traffic noise from Piazza Aldo Moro.
Hotels near Bari Centrale
Hotel Excelsior Bari - modern four-star hotel three minutes from the train
Hotel Excelsior is on Via Giulio Petroni on the south side of the station, a three-minute walk from the platforms. It’s a four-star hotel with a restaurant, bar, gym, garden and underground car park, and the breakfast buffet has both sweet and savoury options. Some guests complain about traffic noise, so ask for a room away from the street.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Lovely, clean and modern hotel very close to the main station and a nice walk from the Old Town.”
See photos and book Hotel Excelsior Bari here.
Hotel Adria - classic city hotel with a roof terrace 200 metres from the station
Hotel Adria is on Via Zuppetta on the north side of the station, just 200 metres from Bari Centrale and with Murat right around the corner. The hotel has a 24-hour reception, a small gym, a breakfast buffet and a terrace on the top floor. Breakfast is Italian and mostly sweet, so don’t expect eggs and bacon.
From one review: “Perfect location in the centre of Bari close to the train station. Very friendly staff.”
See photos and book Hotel Adria here.
Al Settimo Piano - budget B&B on the seventh floor with a terrace
Al Settimo Piano is on Via Lattanzio, about a nine-minute walk east of the station on the way towards Madonnella. It’s a small B&B with a lift, a terrace and daily cleaning, and it was the cheapest place in this entire guide when I searched. Breakfast is very limited, so plan on getting it at a nearby bar.
One guest highlights: “Very nice and clean with everything we needed, very comfortable and a good location too.”
See photos and book Al Settimo Piano here.
5. Torre a Mare - best area for peace by the sea and road trips ⛵
- 📍 Distance to the centre: About 12 kilometres south-east of Bari Centrale. It’s a small coastal town that falls under the municipality of Bari.
- 🚆 Transport: Regional trains run from Bari Torre a Mare station to Bari Centrale in about 15 minutes, and in the other direction towards Polignano a Mare and Monopoli. By car, you’re on the SS16 main road within a few minutes.
- ✈️ Time from Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport: About 30 to 35 minutes by car or taxi, or about an hour on the airport train to Bari Centrale and then the regional train onwards.
- 💰 Price level: €€. The three places below were around £100 to £120 per night when I searched for a weekend in May.
- 👮 Safety: Very quiet and safe. In winter and late in the evening the streets are quiet, and many restaurants close in the afternoon.
Torre a Mare is an old fishing village south of Bari, built around a watchtower by the sea. The tower is called Torre Pelosa, and today it stands by the little harbour with its fishing boats, fishmongers and a row of restaurants. There’s no proper sandy beach, but there are rocks and swimming spots along the coast, where people from Bari come out to swim in summer.
This is where you get the sea and some peace without letting go of Bari. In the evening you sit by the harbour with fresh fish and a bottle of white wine from Puglia, and in the morning there’s no one about but the fishermen and the runners along the water. By car, you can drive south along the coast to Polignano a Mare in a quarter of an hour and carry on to Monopoli and the Itria Valley with the trulli in Alberobello, so Torre a Mare makes a good base for a road trip. You can pick up a hire car at the airport and compare prices on car hire at Booking.com.
See hotels in Torre a Mare here.
I’d stay here if you’re travelling by car and want a quiet base between Bari and the coastal towns, or if you’re a couple who want to fall asleep to the sound of the sea. The choice is small guesthouses and apartments, many with a hot tub, and there’s little difference in price between them.
The downside is that you need the train or a car every time you want to go into Bari, and the trains are few and far between in the evening. Out of season it’s very quiet, and if you want nightlife and lots of restaurants to choose from, Torre a Mare is the wrong choice.
Hotels in Torre a Mare
18zero2 luxury rooms - suites with hot tubs a few minutes from the tower
18zero2 is on Via dei Pescatori, a six-minute walk from the tower and the harbour. You stay in suites with hot tubs, some with their own terrace and sea views, and check-in is contactless. The place only has around 60 reviews, so it’s less tried and tested than the hotels in the city.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Excellent location, easy parking, and there was everything we needed.”
See photos and book 18zero2 luxury rooms here.
Ventidue Venti - guesthouse right by the water with breakfast in your room
Ventidue Venti is on Via Fontana Nuova, right down by the water at the eastern end of town. Rooms come with hot tubs or as family studios, there’s a garden and terrace, and breakfast can be served in your room. It’s a small guesthouse, so there’s no restaurant, and you’ll have to walk a couple of hundred metres to the harbour and the places to eat.
From one review: “We were very happy with our stay. First and foremost, the room was beautiful and clean.”
See photos and book Ventidue Venti here.
La Marina Rooms HOWME - simple rooms a minute from the tower
La Marina Rooms is on Via Valle e Giglioli, a minute’s walk from Torre Pelosa and the harbour. There are rooms with and without sea views, a suite with a hot tub and space for three in the largest rooms, and the price was the lowest of the three. The rating is lower than at the other two, and some guests mention doors that don’t close properly.
One guest highlights: “Really good value for money. Recommended.”
See photos and book La Marina Rooms here.
6. Santo Spirito - best area near the airport ✈️
- 📍 Distance to the centre: About 12 kilometres north-west of Bari Centrale. Santo Spirito is a small coastal town that belongs to the municipality of Bari.
- 🚆 Transport: Regional trains from Bari Santo Spirito station to Bari Centrale take about 15 to 20 minutes and run frequently during the day. The station is unstaffed, so buy your ticket from the machine or online.
- ✈️ Time from Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport: About 10 minutes by taxi or car, as the airport is only around 5 kilometres away.
- 💰 Price level: € to €€. The three places below cost roughly £70 to £120 per night when I searched for a weekend in May.
- 👮 Safety: Quiet and safe. In summer the promenade is packed in the evenings, while it’s very quiet the rest of the year.
Santo Spirito sits by the sea north of Bari, close to the airport and the neighbouring town of Giovinazzo. It was once a small village of villas and holiday homes for families from the city, and today it’s a quiet suburb with a pleasant promenade, a small harbour and a few good fish restaurants. The Lido La Rotonda bathing spot and the little rocky coves along the coast fill up with locals in July and August.
The big plus is the location in relation to the airport. If you land late in the evening or have to catch the first flight in the morning, you’ll be at your hotel in a quarter of an hour instead of battling your way through the city. Many of the guesthouses have free parking and a garden, which makes Santo Spirito a good choice if you’re picking up a hire car at the airport and want to start or end your trip here. To the north, the coastal towns of Giovinazzo and Molfetta are just a few minutes away by train.
See hotels in Santo Spirito here.
I’d stay here for the first or last night of a trip around Puglia, or if you’re travelling by car with children and want space and parking at a low price. For a full city break in Bari, on the other hand, I’d choose one of the other areas, as you’ll end up spending a lot of time on the train back and forth.
The downside is that you have to take the train or a taxi every time you want to go into Bari, and there are fewer trains in the evening. Outside the summer season, many of the seafront restaurants are closed on weekdays.
Hotels in Santo Spirito
Villa Pina - B&B in a villa with a garden and airport shuttle
Villa Pina is on Via Napoli at the western end of Santo Spirito, about five kilometres from the airport. It’s a B&B in a villa with a garden, sun terrace, free parking and a breakfast buffet, and there’s an airport shuttle for an extra charge. The car park is on a plot next door, and some guests don’t feel it’s particularly secure.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “A wonderful place! Clean, a beautiful villa and friendly staff!”
See photos and book Villa Pina here.
Thalassa Bari - guesthouse two minutes from the bathing spot
Thalassa is on Via Dalmazia, a two-minute walk from Lido La Rotonda. There are rooms for three and four people, a garden, a shared kitchen and one private parking space for 5 euros (around £4) per night. There are stairs up to the rooms, and several guests mention lugging their suitcases up and down.
From a review: “Good communication with the host, and we received all the information we needed about accessing the property before our stay.”
See photos and book Thalassa Bari here.
Green Home - newly renovated and cheap, with a family room
Green Home is on Via Nicholas Green in the southern part of Santo Spirito, about four kilometres from the airport and a 17-minute walk from the beach. It’s a newly renovated guesthouse with a garden, free street parking and a family room for up to five people, and it was the cheapest of the three. A few guests mention noise from machinery nearby.
One guest highlights: “Beautifully renovated place. Clean and looks brand new, nicely furnished, and the beds were really comfortable.”
See photos and book Green Home here.
Where not to stay in Bari?
I’d avoid the suburbs far from the centre, such as San Paolo and Japigia, where everything is a long way off and there’s not much to see for tourists. Also be careful with the cheapest addresses south of the station and in the western part of Libertà, where the streets are dark and dreary in the evening. Watch out for hotels that call themselves Bari but are actually in Modugno or in the industrial areas near the airport.
In the Old Town, take care when booking the cheapest apartments. Many are in a sottano, a ground-floor unit facing the alley, where your door opens straight onto the street, with no view and very little daylight.
If it’s your first trip to Bari, I’d stay in Bari Vecchia and choose somewhere with a lift if you have heavy luggage. If you want a proper hotel with a reception and breakfast buffet, Murat is the safe choice, and if you’re a couple who want the sea close by, go for Lungomare and Madonnella. If you’ll mainly be using Bari as a base for day trips by train, stay near Bari Centrale, and if you’re driving around, Torre a Mare and Santo Spirito are the quietest options.
Taxis from the airport charge fixed fares set by the municipality, so you know the price before you get in. In the city you can do most things on foot, and AMTAB’s city buses cover the rest. For trains along the coast, you’ll find timetables and tickets at Trenitalia, and if you’re continuing your trip to the other side of Italy, I also have a guide to where to stay in Naples.
Travel ressources & websites I use all the time 👇
• Booking.com has the best offers on hotels and unique places to stay
• GetYourGuide is the best place to book tours & activities with free cancellation
• Welcome Pickups is the best & safest place to pre-book airport transfers
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