Ostuni, the 'Città Bianca' (White City), rises on a hill 80 km southeast of Bari, reached in about 1h 10 by Trenitalia train (€8) or an hour by car. Its old town is a dazzling maze of lime-washed houses, arches and stairways crowned by the 15th-century late-Gothic Cattedrale di Ostuni, whose rose window is among the finest in Puglia. The train station sits in the lower town about 2.5 km from the centre, with a local bus or short taxi covering the steep climb up to the historic core. A morning is spent winding through the white alleys to the cathedral and the panoramic walls and terraces that look out over a vast plain of ancient olive groves running down to the Adriatic. Lunch features Puglian fare — orecchiette, burrata and local olive oil — in a trattoria tucked into the old town. The afternoon suits browsing artisan workshops, or, with a car, driving the scenic Valle d'Itria route via Locorotondo and Alberobello back toward Bari. The surrounding countryside is famous for its monumental olive trees, some over a thousand years old, and the frantoi that press prized extra-virgin oil; spring brings wildflowers across the plain and autumn the olive harvest. The white houses, traditionally limewashed for hygiene and to reflect the sun, glow at midday and turn golden at sunset. The town is steep and stepped throughout, so comfortable shoes are essential, but the climb is rewarded with some of the most striking views and atmospheric streets in the region, making Ostuni a memorable train-friendly day trip from Bari.
How to get there
- Trenitalia from Bari to Ostuni: 1h 10 min, €8
- Car: Bari → Alberobello → Locorotondo → Ostuni (100 km, 2h scenic route via SP17)
Location
Piazza della Libertà, 72017 Ostuni BR
40.7272, 17.5804 View on map
Highlights
- Climb Ostuni's lime-washed old-town maze to the late-Gothic Cattedrale di Ostuni
- Look out from the town walls over a sea of ancient olive groves to the Adriatic
- Browse artisan shops and trattorias along the white alleys and arches
- Drive the scenic Valle d'Itria route linking Ostuni with Locorotondo and Alberobello
Tips for visiting
- Take the Trenitalia train from Bari (1h 10, €8), then a local bus or taxi up from the station to the hilltop old town.
- Wear comfortable shoes — the Città Bianca is steep and stepped throughout.
- Visit near sunset to see the white houses glow, or in spring for wildflowers and autumn for the olive harvest.
- With a car, combine Ostuni with Locorotondo and Alberobello on the scenic SP17 route.
When to visit
Spring for wildflowers and autumn for the olive harvest are loveliest; the white town dazzles at midday and glows at sunset. Summer middays are hot on the reflective lanes, so explore in the cooler morning or evening.
Accessibility
Ostuni's hilltop old town is steep with many stairs and cobbled lanes, making wheelchair access very difficult; the lower modern town and the cathedral square are reachable, but the climb up is challenging.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Ostuni called the White City?
Ostuni's old town is traditionally painted with white lime, originally for hygiene and to reflect the sun. The result is a striking hilltop maze of dazzling whitewashed houses, arches and stairways.
How do I get from the Ostuni train station to the old town?
The station lies in the lower town about 2.5 km away. A local bus or a short taxi ride connects it to the historic centre, as the uphill walk is long and steep.
What is the best time to visit Ostuni?
Ostuni is appealing year-round. Spring brings wildflowers across the olive plain, autumn the olive harvest, and summer evenings are lively, though midday heat on the white streets can be intense.