Cycling the Coast of Puglia
- Easy-going cycling around Puglia's southern Salento coastline
- Start and finish in Lecce, an architectural Baroque masterpiece
- Relax on the sandy white beach of Torre dell Orso
- Explore the wonderful coastal towns of Gallipoli and Santa Maria di Leuca
- Dine on freshly grilled swordfish and orecchiette pasta, a local delicacy
Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive Lecce and overnightThe Baroque buildings and churches of Lecce are within an hours bus journey of Brindisi Airport or a 90-minute train journey from Bari. Depending on your time of arrival you may wish to visit the amphitheatre and the Roman theatre, both built when Caesar Augustus was in power (a 40-year reign from 31BC to 14AD). Explore cobbled alleys, lively piazzas and in the evening sample fresh seafood and delicious pasta dishes.
A boutique B&B, Palazzo Bignami features a terrace and guestrooms. This bed and breakfast offers a shared lounge, rooftop terrace and easy access to all the sights.
Just outside the historical centre of Lecce, Eos offers design rooms with flat-screen TV and free Wi-Fi.
The Roman Amphitheatre and other historical sites are 15 minutes' walk away.
All air-conditioned rooms at Eos Hotel feature parquet floors and a minibar. Each room has private bathroom complete with luxury amenities. A varied breakfast is served daily until 10:00, including a sweet and savoury buffet, and freshly baked traditional Salento pastries. In the evenings, you can relax with an aperitif or cocktail in the Espera wine bar.
Grand Hotel Di Lecce as its name suggests, it is a grand building with typical Leccese Baroque architecture. The spacious rooms are stylishly decorated with period furniture.
Leaving Lecce, cycle southwards deep into the Salento countryside. Ride quiet country lanes through olive groves towards one of Puglia’s hidden gems, Galatina, a chic little town with beautifully preserved Baroque buildings. Once you have explored Galatina with its impressive walls, numerous churches and aristocratic palaces, pedal onwards to Gallipoli. Upon arrival here enjoy wandering the picturesque old walled town, built on a small island which juts out into the Ionian sea.
A 17th century property located in the historic centre of Gallipoli and only a few minutes’ walk from the beach and cathedral. The hotel also has an excellent restaurant serving fresh local seafood pasta dishes.
B&B Salentus is located in the historic centre of Gallipoli and is only 3 minutes walk from the beach.
After a fortifying breakfast today cycle to Puglia’s most southerly coastal town of Santa Maria di Leuca, where the Ionian and Adriatic seas meet. A day of easy cycling leaves plenty of time to make an short diversion to the beach or explore one of the many of the charming villages and towns you will pass through before arriving in Santa Maria di Leuca. One very interesting place where you may wish to stop and check out is Torre Vado, the town named after its round tower. The fortifications lend a magical backdrop to the beach and boat marina.
Hotel Terminal has a private beach with a direct access reserved only to the hotel guests. The hotel has been refurbished mainly using local raw materials (the stones produced in the city of Alessano, the terracotta of the city of Lucugnano and the reeds of Gallipoli). It has wide terraces, a garden, a library and Wi-Fi service. Rooms equipped with private bathroom, shower, hair-dryer, telephone with programmable alarm-clock, TV with sky decoder, cable radio, air-conditioning, mini fridge, safe box.
Today you can spend a wonderful day in and around Santa Maria di Leuca, a place well-worthy of exploration. This lovely town sits on the most southerly point of the Salento peninsula and has long been mentioned in the annals of history. The Santa Maria part of its name refers to the religious sanctuary that was built on a hill high above the harbour. Visit the sanctuary, the impressive lighthouse, built in 1864, and a waterfall that signifies the end of Puglia's Aqueduct. Discover its dramatic stretches of coastline and enjoy the sandy beaches, bars and restaurants that this attractive little town has to offer.
Hotel Terminal has a private beach with a direct access reserved only to the hotel guests. The hotel has been refurbished mainly using local raw materials (the stones produced in the city of Alessano, the terracotta of the city of Lucugnano and the reeds of Gallipoli). It has wide terraces, a garden, a library and Wi-Fi service. Rooms equipped with private bathroom, shower, hair-dryer, telephone with programmable alarm-clock, TV with sky decoder, cable radio, air-conditioning, mini fridge, safe box.
With a choice of two routes today you can choose between pedalling the rise and fall of the Ionian coastline or an easier, rolling route through a patchwork of olive groves and small villages.
The rocky Ionian coastline reveals the most spectacular panoramic photo opportunities. Just over halfway you can visit one of the most impressive karstic cave networks, the ‘Grotto Zinzulusa’ (a 4km detour). Alternatively the gentle rolling route weaves its way through farmland and peaceful countryside to the historic and white-washed city of Otranto.
Currently there is a diversion in place on the coastal route while the Ponte del Cielo bridge undergoes repairs, so you will cycle slightly inland for around 4 km to avoid this.
Coastal route: 56 kms/35 mi, Ascent/Descent: 526m/511m
Inland and Coastal route (avoids the harder ascents/descents on the coastal route): 51 km/32 mi, Ascent/Descent: 326m/309m
Set between the beach and the ancient gateway into Otranto, the Hotel Albania has fresh, bright rooms and a rooftop terrace (on a clear day you can see across the water to Albania).
Set in Otranto, 200 yards from Castello di Otranto, La Terrazza Sul Mare features air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi throughout the property. Each room has a flat-screen TV. A terrace or balcony are featured in certain rooms. Rooms have a private bathroom. For your comfort, you will find free toiletries and a hairdryer.
Set in Otranto, the Vittoria Hotel & Spa features elegantly furnished rooms with WiFi and TV. There is also an onsite spa which is the perfect place to unwind after your adventure! There is a restaurant and the resident chef will take you on a journey through the flavours of Apulian local cuisine.
The last day of cycling continues north towards the dunes, forests and flora of the Cesine Coastal Nature Reserve, pretty landscape of wetlands. From here, pedal inland through the Greek communities of Salento as you ride to Lecce, the ‘Florence of the South’. Enjoy a dinner al fresco surrounded by the grandeur of Lecce’s Baroque architecture.
A boutique B&B, Palazzo Bignami features a terrace and guestrooms. This bed and breakfast offers a shared lounge, rooftop terrace and easy access to all the sights.
Just outside the historical centre of Lecce, Eos offers design rooms with flat-screen TV and free Wi-Fi.
The Roman Amphitheatre and other historical sites are 15 minutes' walk away.
All air-conditioned rooms at Eos Hotel feature parquet floors and a minibar. Each room has private bathroom complete with luxury amenities. A varied breakfast is served daily until 10:00, including a sweet and savoury buffet, and freshly baked traditional Salento pastries. In the evenings, you can relax with an aperitif or cocktail in the Espera wine bar.
Grand Hotel Di Lecce as its name suggests, it is a grand building with typical Leccese Baroque architecture. The spacious rooms are stylishly decorated with period furniture.
From Lecce onward travel to Bari or Brindisi is approximately 1H30 by train. Depending on your travel arrangements, you can always further extend your stay to explore Lecce.
This trip has a carbon score of 6kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our greenest trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 6kg is equivalent to 4.5 ham and cheese sandwiches from the store. Here at Macs, we pride ourselves on being a responsible travel company and continue to adopt, develop and innovate ways to positively impact the environment. Find out more information on how we've carbon counted our trips.
Other Information
Is it for me?Graded easy to moderate, this tour follows the Salento coastline and is suited to cyclists that like the idea of a riding between ancient towns. Because the terrain is not too undulating and the rides predominantly easy-going, there will be time to discover the impressive history, culture and architecture of this region, as well as the local pasta and seafood dishes unique to Puglia. Spending each night in comfortable, centrally located and characterful hotels and B&B's means you are only ever a few minutes walk from the sights or panoramic sea views.
Slower Adventures | Where walking and cycling meet easy-going exploring, our Slower Adventures are the perfect combination. Most days are filled with picturesque journeys with some free time to dive into the destination and experience the people, local food and culture as you go.
Leisure Cycling | Leisure Cycling
Solo Travellers
The minimum age for this tour is: 11 Years
This cycling tour is graded easy to moderate overall and follows a combination of quiet country and coastal roads which take you through little resort towns and national parks with saltmarshes and wetlands. The elevation gains and losses are minimal and daily distances not too challenging. We also offer an easier inland option on one of the rides which you may take if you prefer. We also offer the rental of E-bikes if you wish to take this more easy-going option. If you are using a regular bike it's a good idea to regularly get out on your bike for a couple of consecutive days in the lead up to your tour. Be prepared for busier routes when approaching and departing towns.
During this trip you will stay in 4* and 3* hotels and B&B's. Should any of the properties we regularly use not be available on the dates you wish to go, we will accommodate you in a hotel of equal standard. Each stay at the listed accommodation is based on a standard room.
Meals
6 Breakfasts are included. Breakfasts usually consists of fresh pastries, breads, fruits, yogurts, cheeses, meats and granola. Italian breakfasts also include freshly baked cakes. If you have special dietary requirements do let us know at the time of booking. Lunches and dinners are not included but you will find suggestions in your route notes of local places to dine.
Like the rest of Italy, Puglia’s cuisine, is fresh, simple and delicious! Signature dishes of the region include orecchiette pasta (pasta shapes resembling little pigs ears), burrata cheese (a creamy mozzarella) and crunchy, dry Frisella bread.
Single Rooms
If you're travelling with friends or family but prefer your own room, single rooms are subject to availability and a supplementary payment. This trip is also available to solo cyclists but a supplement will be required.
The tried and tested detailed routes notes and maps, along with GPX tracks, make the route easy to follow on our Macs Adventure Smartphone Navigation App.
- 6 Nights in 3-4* hotels and B&B's
- 6 Breakfasts
- Baggage transfer
- Information pack
- Access to maps, GPX tracks and route notes in the Macs Adventure smartphone navigation app
- 24/7 Emergency telephone support from our office
- Travel to / from Lecce
- Bike hire (or upgrade to an E-bike)
- Lunches, dinners, drinks & snacks
- Personal equipment
- Travel insurance (required)
- Additional nights along the route
- Bike hire (standard hybrid)
- Upgrade to an e-bike
- Arrival and departure transfers
This trip is available to start on any day from March to Mid-July and September to November.
Peak Season Availability
We recommend making your booking as soon as possible if you are considering a departure during the peak season of May, June, and September, as the region can be busy, limiting accommodation availability.
Time of Year
The springs months offer warm sunshine, fewer crowds, and pleasant cycling conditions. May is when most wildflowers are coming into bloom. The autumn months are also a favourable time of year, boasting cooler weather and a striking landscape made up of autumnal colours. It's worth noting that the later in the year you choose to travel the higher the likelihood of rain. Also come late October through November some local shops, and restaurants may have reduced opening times or have closed for the winter. July is a good month to go but can be very hot for cycling and therefore isn’t best suited for everyone. You will have to start early to miss the heat of the day and carry a lot of water (additional weight) with you. Although the towns and villages are buzzing at this time of year which is great to see.
By Air: Lecce does not have an airport but is well connected with Bari and Brindisi. Both cities have airports with international services across Europe.
By Rail: From Lecce Central Train Station change at Bari Central for services to the airport (total journey time approx 2H30). Please visit Trenitalia for train times, prices and tickets.
By Bus: A bus service connects Lecce directly with Brindisi airport. Journey time is just under an hour and services run throughout the day. Timetables and prices can be found at Puglia Air Bus.
We can also arrange private transfers from Lecce.
Baggage transfers are included in the price of your trip. We ask you to keep your baggage to a maximum of 1 bag per person (maximum weight 20 kg). If you require excess baggage allowance do contact us prior to travel.
Bike hire is an optional extra for this tour as you are welcome to bring your own bike. If you intend to bring your own bike, please do let us know at the time as extra transfer arrangements may be required for any large bike cases/boxes.
Rental bikes are 21 speed touring bikes equipped with a basic repair kit, pump and helmet (though we recommend using your own). Specific male and female frames are available. If you’d like to hire a bike, we will ask for your height and the frame size you currently ride so we can make sure your rental bike is the best fit. E-bikes are also available (subject to availability) if you would prefer a power-assisted ride.
This trip is graded easy to moderate with daily distances between 30 km—60km. Once you have left the towns and cities much of the cycling is on quiet country or coastal roads. You will encounter some stretches of shallow hills throughout the tour. On day 4, the ride from Leuca to Otranto does have the option to cycle a more challenging coastal ride. We can arrange the rental of Ebikes if you would like a power assisted ride.
Its a good idea to get out on your bike for a couple of consecutive days in the lead up to your trip so you get used to riding back to back days. However, it’s not all cycling. Each day there are plenty opportunities to visit historic sights and sample locally produced food and wine.
We suggest you book as soon as your plans are finalised as this region is extremely popular especially May to June and September.
Of course! We understand the relationship between rider and bike and know many cyclists would never consider riding another steed. If you are unsure, we are happy to discuss bike hire options with you.
March, April and October into November are cooler months and are generally much quieter in the cities and towns. May and September you will find the days are beautifully long and warm. June into July, days are long and hot and therefore you may like to enjoy a long lunch or relax on the beach to avoid cycling in the midday heat.
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