Trains in Puglia
Travel in Apulia (or Puglia in Italian) by train and take in the beauty of its sea and pristine beaches, delicious food and much more. Thanks to the regional services operated by Trenitalia, you can easily reach not only Bari but also Foggia, Lecce, Ostuni and other cities.
Here’s our complete guide to Puglia’s rail network, including the most popular routes and our top travel tips. Simply click on one of the topics you’re most interested in to jump straight to the relevant section. Plan your journey ahead and book your Puglia train tickets online with us.
High-speed and regional trains in Puglia
Puglia’s railway network is 840 km (521 miles) long and covers the six provinces of the region, including the train connections between Bari airport and the city centre. You can easily reach Puglia by train from anywhere in Italy thanks to the high-speed and regional trains operated by Trenitalia, the main train company in Italy. For example, high-speed Frecciargento trains connect Rome to Lecce in 5h 18m and Milan to Bari in 6h 57m. This summer, Italo will also offer high-speed services in Puglia, with new trains connecting Turin and Rome to Bari, Barletta and Foggia.
Puglia has four regional railways:
- Trenitalia’s regional trains, which operate in Puglia via the Ferrovie del Sud Est (or FSE) railway company, connecting Bari and its south-east province to Brindisi, Lecce and Taranto
- Ferrovie Appulo Lucane, which connect the towns of Bari and Murgia to Basilicata
- Ferrotramviaria, which run between Bari and its main northern province towns, and the Barletta-Andria-Trani province
- Ferrovie del Gargano, which serve the whole province of Foggia.
Puglia train timetable
Are you looking for train times for regional trains in Puglia? Check out our tables below and learn more about trains to Bari and the train connections between the main towns of the region.
Regional trains in Puglia
|
Route |
Travel time |
First train |
Last train |
|
2h 32m |
05:35 |
20:16 | |
|
28m |
04:31 |
22:15 | |
|
35m |
05:00 |
20:16 | |
|
52m |
05:01 |
23:01 | |
|
2h 56m |
04:01 |
21:38 | |
|
24m |
04:31 |
22:15 |
Trains to Bari
|
Route |
Travel time |
First train |
Last train |
|
1h 18m |
04:50 |
21:13 | |
|
1h 5m |
05:00 |
20:16 | |
|
57m |
04:03 |
22:35 | |
|
30m |
05:01 |
23:01 | |
|
53m |
05:01 |
23:01 | |
|
40m |
04:31 |
22:15 |
How to get to Bari Airport by train
Need to get to Bari Airport? You can take the metropolitan railway service FR2 (or FM2) from Bari Centrale station – after making a few stops, you’ll reach your destination in just 15 minutes.
If you prefer to travel by bus, you can also take PugliaAirbus, which connects Bari airport with the main cities in Puglia and with Matera.
Puglia’s train stations
How to book your Puglia train tickets with us
If you’ve already decided where and when to travel by train, it’s time for you to buy your Puglia train tickets. Here’s how to do it online with us:
- Enter your departure and arrival stations of choice into either our App or Journey Planner at the top of the page. If you don't know the station name, you can also search by city
- Enter the date you’d like to depart (and return if you're buying a return ticket), along with any relevant Railcards/Loyalty cards you have and number of passengers
- If you're looking for tickets on our website, hit Search times and prices. If you're on our app, hit Find times and prices to start your search
- Choose a train time and Class option from our search results. Once you’re happy with your choice, continue to choose your seat preference
- On web, enter an email address to send your ticket confirmation to, along with the full name of each passenger you’re booking tickets for (the name must match their IDs)
- Continue to the checkout and book your tickets!
Best places to visit in Puglia
Puglia’s railway network covers the main cities of the region, including Salento, a haven for sea lovers. Get on a Trenitalia or Italo train and visit Bari or get to the famous Trulli of Alberobello with ease and comfort. Find out what you can see if you choose to travel around Puglia by train.
Trains to Salento
Discover Salento with Puglia's regional trains
Known as the “heel of Italy’s boot”, Salento has been a favourite destination for tourists and locals alike for decades. Stretching from Ostuni up to Santa Maria di Leuca in the southernmost part of Puglia, this region offers dreamy beaches dotted with sandy coves and jagged cliffs, lush greenery and mouth-watering street food.
The Trulli of Alberobello
The Trulli of Alberobello are cylindrical whitewashed structures, which have conical limestone-tiled roofs and are adorned with painted symbols. In the past, they were probably built as temporary dry-stone accommodation that could be dismantled whenever necessary – this usually happened when the property tax collectors came to town; as soon as the inspectors left, the Trulli would spring up again and the locals would move back in. Today, they’re one of the symbols of Puglia and a must for anyone visiting the area.
Tremiti Islands
The Tremiti islands are an archipelago located 40 km (24 miles) off the coast of the Gargano peninsula, and are made of the islands of San Nicola, San Domino and Capraria. Initially used as a penal colony where people would be exiled, today the archipelago is a blissful escape with its crystal-clear waters, coves and quiet lanes.
Historic cities
Lecce, Bari, Taranto, Ostuni: Puglia is full of historic cities you don’t want to miss if you’re an art or culture lover. Lecce is a Baroque city where it’s definitely worth stopping to admire its lively architecture. Bari is the capital of the region and has a beautiful historic centre – wander around its cobblestone streets and take in Bari Vecchia (or Old Bari). If you go to Taranto, make sure you visit the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Scala with its wonderful fresco of the Virgin Mary with Child. Finally, stop by the “white city” of Ostuni, and visit one of the most beautiful towns in the whole Mediterranean.
The Castellana Caves
The Castellana Caves are a spectacular complex of underground caves located about 40 km (24 miles) from the city of Bari. Thanks to an elevator you can access the largest cave, La Grave, located 60 metres (196 feet) underground. From here, you can explore 1 km (0.6 miles) of caves of different shapes until you reach the most spectacular cave, the White Cave, which is surrounded by pearly white stalactites and stalagmites.
Orecchiette, Burrata, Altamura bread, Primitivo di Manduria
Puglia is known as the “granary of Italy”: 80% of the pasta produced in Europe comes from this beautiful region. The typical pasta of the region is called orecchiette: even today in the old town of Bari you can see women making orecchiette on their doorsteps. Puglia is also famous for its delicious olives (from Cerignola), almonds, turnip greens and sun-dried tomatoes. Local wines such as Primitivo di Manduria and Negroamaro are also well-known – they’re perfect for a dinner based on burrata, and Altamura bread.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which trains run in Puglia?
Trenitalia’s high-speed and regional trains mainly operate in Puglia and between Puglia and the other Italian regions. Other services include Ferrovie Appulo Lucane, Ferrotramviaria, and Ferrovie del Gargano, which only serve the region. This summer, Italo will introduce new high-speed services in Puglia, with new trains connecting Turin and Rome to Bari, Barletta and Foggia.
What happens if there's a train strike?
In case there’s a strike on the regional line operating in Puglia, essential services will be guaranteed from 06:00 to 09:00 and from 18:00 to 21:00 on weekdays. Some long-distance trains or airport transfers are usually guaranteed on weekdays and public holidays.
Do children travel for free on trains in Puglia?
Only children under the age of 4 can travel for free on trains in Puglia. Children aged between 4 and 12 get a 50% discount.
How far in advance can I buy train tickets to Puglia?
Trenitalia and Italo tickets can be bought up to six months in advance. This gives you plenty of time to decide where and when you want to travel, as well as get your tickets at their cheapest.
Learn more about train travel in Puglia and Italy
So, you've reached the end of our guide to travelling in and around Puglia by train. We've covered the types of train you can travel on, and who operates them. We've shown you must-visit destinations, popular routes and how to book your train tickets online with us.
If you feel ready to book, why not start a search in our Journey Planner at the top of the page? If not, we've got plenty more travel guides to inspire your travel in Italy and beyond.