Travelers, for some reason, believe that Brindisi is not a holiday destination but just a port. It is so NOT true. Brindisi is a lovely, big town by the sea in Puglia, and yes, it is a port town, but it offers so much to its visitors.
Once upon a time, it was the capital of Italy. And for anyone who has read or heard about the Orient Express and its route, Brindisi was one of the main stops at the time.
Having Brindisi as a base, you can rent a car and explore most of Puglia. Reaching Lecce is just a matter of a 30-minute drive. Reaching Otranto is just a 1-hour drive. Reaching Alberobello takes less than 1 hour. Ostuni is just a 30-minute drive away. Visiting Taranto is a 1-hour drive. Going to Bari is just a 74-minute drive, and so on. We would just say that within an hour’s drive or so, you can reach one of the beautiful towns of Puglia, famous worldwide.
But even if you just want to spend your days in the town, there is quite a lot to do. You can visit the archaeological area of San Pietro Degli Schiavoni, the Basilica Cattedrale della Visitazione e San Giovanni Battista, and the Provincial Archaeological Museum “Francesco Ribezzo”. You can wander in lungo mare. You can enjoy a morning visit to the market, where you can find all the fresh vegetables and seafood. You can explore the port and the monument to the Italian Marines.
And for sea, sun, and beach time fun, Brindisi has you covered as well. As for the evenings, a passeggiata at Lungomare Regina Margherita is highly recommended. For wine lovers, a visit to Tenute Rubino is definitely worth it. And lastly, we need to say that Brindisi’s pizzerie, trattorie, and restaurants will offer you the chance to experience the excellence of the local cuisine.