Two bases on the Adriatic rail line cover a seven-day route: Bari Centrale to Lecce takes 112 or 113 minutes on two example trains, and Polignano a Mare, Monopoli and Ostuni lie less than an hour from Bari. In the sample plan below, the airport train, both day trips, the transfer and the airport bus add up to €43.20 at single-fare bands (€43.30 if the Brindisi bus costs €1.10).
On this page
This page builds the route from the railway timetable, the fare sheet and the opening hours of two sights, all read on 9 November 2026. It describes no trip that anyone took, and it does not rank the bases.
Train Time Between Stops
| From | Polignano a Mare | Monopoli | Ostuni | Brindisi | Lecce |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bari Centrale | 29 minutes | 35 minutes | 57 or 58 minutes | 79 or 81 minutes | 112 or 113 minutes |
| Polignano a Mare | 6 minutes | 28 or 29 minutes | 50 or 52 minutes | 83 or 84 minutes | |
| Monopoli | 22 or 23 minutes | 44 or 46 minutes | 77 or 78 minutes | ||
| Ostuni | 22 or 23 minutes | 54 or 56 minutes | |||
| Brindisi | 31 or 34 minutes |
The table uses two example trains that leave Bari Centrale at 5:02 am (05:02) and 5:20 am (05:20). Between the intermediate stops it is the gap between arrival times, so a departure can be a minute or two later. Only the direction from Bari toward Lecce was read, and the timetable does not say on which days these trains run. Trains later in the day may take longer.
Both railway timetables behind this page end on 12 December 2026, so the times apply only to travel before that date.
A Sample Plan: Bari, Then Lecce
| Day | Sleep in | Move | Train or bus time | Single fare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bari | Airport train to Bari Centrale | 18 to 20 minutes (timed toward the airport) | €5.30 |
| 2 | Bari | Old town and the Basilica of San Nicola | none | none |
| 3 | Bari | Day trip to Polignano a Mare and back | 29 minutes from Bari to Polignano | €3.10 each way |
| 4 | Bari | Day trip to Ostuni and back | 57 or 58 minutes from Bari to Ostuni | €7.00 each way |
| 5 | Lecce | Bari to Lecce | 112 or 113 minutes | €13.20 |
| 6 | Lecce | Lecce on foot, with the Roman amphitheatre | none | none |
| 7 | none, fly out | Lecce to Brindisi, then the airport bus | 31 or 34 minutes by train (timed from Brindisi toward Lecce), 9 to 10 minutes by bus (timed from the airport) | €3.50 and €1.00 (€1.10 on the line’s Italian page) |
Fares are the regional single fare bands for second class, matched to the timetable distances. They are not quoted prices from station to station. The total counts each day trip as two single fares: €5.30 + €6.20 + €14.00 + €13.20 + €3.50 + €1.00 = €43.20. A return ticket may be priced differently, and this page did not read that tariff.
Flying in to Bari and out of Brindisi uses the two airports described in the guide on reaching your first base. The return times from Polignano a Mare and Ostuni to Bari were not read.
Day Trips From Lecce by Ferrovie del Sud Est
Ferrovie del Sud Est publishes its Lecce timetables as PDFs valid from 14 September to 12 December 2026. The PDFs separate weekday (feriale) and Sunday-and-holiday (festivo) service without defining the days.
Gallipoli is on one line. On weekdays, eight trains leave Lecce between 5:59 am (05:59) and 9:00 pm (21:00), and each takes 97 to 111 minutes. On Sundays and holidays, two trains leave at 12:02 pm (12:02) and 4:40 pm (16:40), taking 89 and 78 minutes. The return direction was not read.
Otranto needs a change at Maglie. On weekdays, Lecce to Maglie takes 53 to 59 minutes, and Maglie to Otranto takes 28 minutes. Two examples with a nine-minute change are Lecce at 6:54 am (06:54) to Otranto at 8:28 am (08:28), and Lecce at 10:40 am (10:40) to Otranto at 12:13 pm (12:13). That is 94 and 93 minutes in total. The PDF does not say whether the Maglie to Otranto service runs by rail or by road, and it does not promise the change.
Alberobello, on the Bari to Martina Franca line, is not covered. The same publisher lists a rail replacement bus on that line from 19 October to 12 December, and its columns could not be matched to trains with confidence.
Opening Days That Shape the Plan
The Basilica of San Nicola in Bari opens Monday to Saturday from 6:30 am to 8:30 pm and on Sunday from 6:30 am to 10:00 pm, according to the basilica’s own page. That page carries no date. Travel sites give other opening times, and the basilica’s page is the one this page follows.
The Roman amphitheatre in Lecce is closed on Monday and open from Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 am to 3:30 pm, according to the Ministry of Culture page, last updated on 28 October 2026. A full ticket costs €5 and a reduced ticket €2, and booking is optional. The page shows a second block of 9:00 am to 3:00 pm under tickets, which this page reads as the ticket office. A newspaper article from October 2025 gave different, seasonal hours, so check the ministry page before you plan around the last hour.
Because of the Monday closure, place day 6 on any other day of the week.
What Is Not Confirmed Yet
- Trains later in the day, and the days on which the two example trains run.
- The direction from Lecce back toward Bari, and the return fare.
- Alberobello, Locorotondo and Matera, and the fares of Ferrovie del Sud Est for Gallipoli and Otranto.
- The return direction from Gallipoli and Otranto to Lecce.
- The price and hours of the paid entry to the churches in Lecce.
- Hotel and apartment prices in either base.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Is the Train From Bari to Lecce?
On two example trains of the 2026 timetable, the ride takes 112 or 113 minutes, and the regional fare band for 150 km is €13.20. Both trains leave Bari Centrale early in the morning, so a later train may take longer.
Can I Visit Ostuni on a Day Trip From Bari?
It is possible on paper. Ostuni lies 75 km from Bari Centrale, and the two example trains take 57 or 58 minutes from Bari. The fare band is €7.00 each way. This page did not read the return times, so check them before you plan the day.
How Long Is the Train From Lecce to Gallipoli?
On weekdays, eight trains leave Lecce between 5:59 am (05:59) and 9:00 pm (21:00), and the ride takes 97 to 111 minutes. On Sundays and holidays, two trains take 89 and 78 minutes. This page did not read the return times or the fare.
Is the Basilica of San Nicola Open on Sunday?
Yes. According to the basilica’s own page, it opens on Sunday from 6:30 am to 10:00 pm. On Monday to Saturday it closes at 8:30 pm (20:30).
Is the Roman Amphitheatre in Lecce Open on Monday?
No. The Ministry of Culture page lists Monday as closed and Tuesday to Sunday as open from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm.
How Much Do the Trains and Buses Cost in the Sample Plan?
At single-fare bands, the plan adds up to €43.20 (€43.30 if the Brindisi bus costs €1.10), counting each day trip as two single fares. The figure includes the airport train in Bari and the airport bus in Brindisi.
Times, fares and opening hours on this page were read on 9 November 2026 from Trenitalia, Ferrotramviaria, STP Brindisi, Ferrovie del Sud Est, the Basilica of San Nicola and the Italian Ministry of Culture. How the checks work is explained on the page about how this guide verifies facts.