Top Lecce Car Tours: Exploring Puglia at Your Own Pace

Lecce, also called the “Florence of the South,” has always been known for its baroque architecture and captivating history. The best way to see all the city, along with the pretty Puglia area, has got to be with a car. It gives you the freedom to explore hidden gems, charming villages, and that pretty coastline at your own speed. We’re covering our picks for the five best Lecce car tours so that you can plan your adventure with everything you need.

From driving along the stunning Adriatic coastline to heading inland to old olive groves and family-owned wineries, there’s an experience for any person. We’ll look at some detailed reviews and provide helpful suggestions to point you down the right path for a road trip that’s a perfect fit. So, if you’re eager to hit the road and explore the beauty around Lecce, then keep reading to discover the perfect self-guided adventure.

1. The Coastal Charm Tour: A Drive Along the Adriatic

Imagine driving on twisting roads that hug the Adriatic coastline. Well, that’s the experience you might get on this driving tour, stopping off at places such as Otranto, with that impressive Aragonese Castle, or Porto Cesareo, that is known for its lovely beaches and clean, clear waters. Very picturesque.

What really sells it is how you can totally customize the day. Maybe spend a morning swimming in crystal-clear waters before driving down the coast for a delicious seafood lunch at some seaside restaurant. We’re talking a vacation that’s truly unforgettable. We would really, very much, advise starting early to beat that traffic and be sure to take those off the beaten path, for sure.

Key Highlights:

Otranto: Visit Otranto and check out the Aragonese Castle, which features amazing views of the sea. So there’s that.
Porto Cesareo: A stop at Porto Cesareo is a good idea for a plunge in the ocean and the opportunity to try that fresh seafood. Sounds amazing.
Scenic Drives: That coastal road offers stunning scenery and fantastic photo opportunities. Great stuff all around.

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Read our full review: Coastal Charm Tour Full Review and Details

2. Lecce to Gallipoli: History, Beaches, and Seafood Delights

Traveling from Lecce down to Gallipoli lets you experience both the Baroque elegance of Lecce as well as the pretty charm of Gallipoli, too it’s almost two places in a single go. Starting in Lecce, explore its churches and piazzas before driving down to Gallipoli. And there, you might enjoy old town, which has got a castle as well as tons of seaside restaurants.

Very often, people spend the whole day visiting historic spots, going swimming in the Ionian Sea, and then tasting traditional Pugliese meals. Like fresh seafood pasta or local wine at sunset, very pretty. And of course, you would probably have an easier time in the shoulder season since fewer people are travelling at that point, but really anytime is perfect. Also, make sure you leave plenty of time to visit Gallipoli’s old town because those thin streets and shops will need it.

Key Highlights:

Lecce’s Baroque Architecture: See Lecce’s famous buildings, featuring the Basilica di Santa Croce. Yeah, that place!
Gallipoli’s Old Town: Walk about in Gallipoli’s ancient roads, and shop at shops filled with handicrafts and neighborhood products. Cool stuff.
Ionian Sea: Experience great seashores and clean water around Gallipoli. Absolutely.

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Read our full review: Lecce to Gallipoli Full Review and Details

3. Wine and Olive Grove Tour: Exploring Puglia’s Culinary Heart

Driving in Puglia isn’t just a view for the eyes. It’s also about exploring those amazing tastes from the area. With that wine and olive grove tour, you can check out some local wineries and olive oil makers, seeing precisely how things are produced in the area and obviously tasting some really top wines, as well as some olive oil.

Expect to see the entire production of olive oil or that local wine by visiting local “masseria”. Pretty much the equivalent of farmhouses! Then get lunch at farm to table local resturants. What could possibly be better than enjoying a relaxing afternoon tasting the fruits and tastes of Puglia? It does tend to be best to make those reservations well ahead of time for those tours because they tend to get fully booked very fast, so, keep that in mind when organizing.

Key Highlights:

Wine Tastings: Take tours of well-known wineries and try neighborhood wines such as Primitivo as well as Negroamaro. You’ve gotta love that wine.
Olive Oil Production: See olive groves and learn precisely how high-quality olive oil is created. An awesome trip.
Local Masserie: Taste standard Pugliese meals made from regional ingredients in farmhouses.

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Read our full review: Wine and Olive Grove Tour Full Review and Details

4. The Salento Baroque Discovery Tour: Unveiling Architectural Wonders

For that lover of art history, this is certainly the tour for you. Salento Baroque is totally worth taking since you can dive directly into the complex detail as well as that beauty found in the regional architectural design. On this tour, you get the opportunity to check out Martina Franca, also Nardo, not to mention Galatina with its attractive churches, palaces, each presenting off their kind of exclusive baroque decorations.

Set aside adequate time in order to walk about these places and explore the art that each has. Every nook offers an Instagram shot and with the churches on every corner, you’ll feel submerged by what they did. So, you know, you need some nice footwear, considering the cobblestone avenues of all these places tend to be rather old and slippery!

Key Highlights:

Martina Franca: Admire Baroque design in Martina Franca, very widely known for its sophisticated architecture and attractive community center. Not much more to it than that!
Nardo: Visit Nardo to learn of it’s rich history and check out stunning church buildings, plus lovely piazzas. Good old Nardo.
Galatina: Enjoy the Basilica di Santa Caterina d’Alessandria in Galatina. Be wary of crowds!

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Read our full review: Salento Baroque Discovery Tour Full Review and Details

5. Hidden Gems of the Itria Valley: Alberobello and Locorotondo

Are you ready to discover those little charming communities of the Itria Valley? Okay, because with this scenic tour you will get an opportunity to visit spots just like Alberobello, which is so very well-known for its unusual Trulli homes that look like something out of a fairytale, and the extremely scenic community of Locorotondo that comes with panoramic sights.

Consider an entire day simply drifting across that country and stopping to sample local merchandise, and see the outstanding architecture! So what we typically see here tends to be folks taking their time just meandering around these neighborhoods and sampling lots of those food options which really helps, particularly when taking pictures on a hot and bright day.

Key Highlights:

Alberobello’s Trulli: Explore that unique Trulli properties throughout Alberobello, where there are UNESCO-listed websites that have unusual properties. A unique locale for sure.
Locorotondo: Roam through that old community of Locorotondo, recognized as that “balcony of that Itria Valley”, providing lovely views. Nice community feel for certain.
Countryside Drive: Enjoy that scenic journey throughout Itria Valley. Consider it a really nice and gorgeous experience.

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Read our full review: Hidden Gems of the Itria Valley Full Review and Details

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