ALBEROBELLO, ITALY: A TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE STORYBOOK TOWN IN PUGLIA
It might be the most iconic destination in Puglia. Alberobello looks like something out of a fairytale. Crowned a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996, the Centro Storico is made up of thousands of trulli, bright white cottage-like buildings with stone conical rooftops. It’s the ultimate storybook setting, and the dreamiest destination to explore on foot. Below is my complete travel guide to Alberobello including the best viewpoints, sights, places to stay, restaurants, gelato shops, travel tips and more.
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The best viewpoint in Alberobello is from the balcony of the Church of Saint Lucia.
ALBEROBELLO TRAVEL TIPS
- CURRENCY – The official currency of Italy is the euro. Most places in Alberobello accept credit card, but it’s always useful to have cash handy for small purchases.
- CROWDS – Thanks to Puglia’s growth in popularity, Alberobello attracts way too many tourists. For a bit of serenity, it’s best to visit in the early morning or early evening to avoid the crowds of day trippers.
- TRULLI – The unique white conical huts in Alberobello are called trulli (singular is trullo).
The trulli-lined streets create the ultimate storybook setting.
WHEN TO VISIT ALBEROBELLO
- APRIL, MAY, SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER (shoulder season) – Shoulder season offers the best mix of comfortable weather, manageable crowds and reasonable hotel prices.
- JUNE-AUGUST (high season) – The highest probability of sunshine is this time of the year, but you’re also dealing with scorching temperatures, peak hotel prices and summer crowds. Alberobello can get unbearably hot during the July and August heat waves.
- NOVEMBER-MARCH (low season) – Avoid the winter months when the weather is cold with the possibility of rain.
These white buildings with conical rooftops are called trulli.
HOW MANY DAYS IN ALBEROBELLO
ONE DAY OR ONE WEEK. If you’re looking for a home base to explore northern Puglia, Alberobello is a central location to settle down for a week. The Centro Storico is walkable with sights, restaurants, gelato and boutiques all a short stroll away. And an overnight stay ensures more time to experience the Centro Storico without crowds of tourists.
There are plenty of day trip options if Alberobello is your home base including Cisternino, Locorotondo, Monopoli, Ostuni, Polignano a Mare and even Matera. That said, if you’ve already made plans to stay in another destination in Puglia, a full day’s visit to Alberobello is plenty of time to explore the Centro Storico and see the sights.
The trulli rooftops make for the prettiest skyline.
PLACES TO VISIT IN ALBEROBELLO
CHURCH OF SAINT LUCIA
Visit the balcony at the Church of Saint Lucia for a panorama of trulli rooftops – the best viewpoint in Alberobello. This is a popular stop on group tours, but worth the wait for a photo.
RIONE AIA PICCOLA
A charming neighborhood of winding lanes, home to 400 picturesque trulli. It’s half the trulli of the Rione Monti district, but just as charming with less tourists.
RIONE MONTI
The neighborhood’s dense cluster of white-washed structures has all the feels of a storybook stroll. Home to more than 1,000 trulli, Rione Monti is best experienced in the early morning or early evening to avoid the crowds of day trippers.
TRULLO SIAMESE
The only double trulli in Alberobello that is now home to a little shop. The set of steps in front of Trullo Siamese serves as a lovely location for photos.
VIA MONTE SAN MICHELLE
There are loads of picturesque streets in Alberobello, but Via Monte San Michelle is one of my favorite. The pedestrian lane is lined with trulli that have been converted into tourist boutiques and artisan workshops. It’s one of the main streets in the Centro Storico – expect shoulder to shoulder crowds by late morning.
VILLA COMUNALE BELVEDERE PARCO
Villa Comunale Belvedere Parco is a small gated garden that sits in the heart of Alberobello. It’s free to access and serves up a lovely view of the surrounding trulli.
Most of the trulli now house boutiques, restaurants and Airbnb lodging.
WHERE TO STAY IN ALBEROBELLO
Amazing luxury trulli option located in the heart of Alberobello. The property is completely spacious, occupying three-cone trulli that house three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a living space, kitchen and dining area that open up to an enclosed patio and small garden. The Hermanas Relais location is ideal, everything in Alberobello is walkable.
This is one of the most popular trulli stays in Alberobello (if it’s available, book it). Romantic Trulli sits in white-washed trulli with authentic stone walls and conical rooftops. The property is clean, charming and completely picturesque. It’s also well-located, walking distance to everything in Alberobello.
Lovely trullo located juts outside the pedestrian zone within walking distance to everything in Alberobello. The space is Apulian in character – vaulted ceilings, stone alcoves and wood beams. Suite21 includes a parking spot – a rarity in Alberobello.
Best to visit Alberobello early to have a little time to yourself before tourists decend on the town by late morning.
EAT IN ALBEROBELLO
LA BOTTEGA DEL GELATO
This delicious gelato shop sits in the center of the Centro Storico. Flavor offerings are typical, but delicious and include pistachio, coffee, Oreo, mint, lemon, strawberry, mango, carrot cake and more.
LA LIRA FOCACCERIA
La Lira Focacceria is a great stop for a quick bite if you’re in the mood for traditional focaccia, puccia or pizza. There might be a bit of a wait during high season.
TRATTORIA “CASA AMATULLI” DI GIANVITO AMATULLI
This traditional little trattoria serves a selection of fresh pastas with homemade sauces, as well as a handful of local meat dishes. The restaurant is located just outside of the main tourist zone, so it attracts more locals than tourists.
The Rione Monti neighborhood is home to more than 1,000 white-washed trullis.
GET AROUND ALBEROBELLO
Within the Centro Storico, everything is accessible on foot. It’s best to arrive early to nab a parking spot as close to the centre as possible (lots of paid parking options), and then spend the rest of the day exploring the pedestrian zone on foot.
Searching for pixies along the picturesque streets.
GET TO ALBEROBELLO
- PLANE – There are two airport options for Puglia – the Bari International Airport and Brindisi Airport. Both connect Puglia to a handful of cities across Europe, as well as domestic destinations. Most major car rental brands have locations at both airports. From Bari both Barindisi, it’s a one-hour drive to Alberobello.
- TRAIN – The train station in Alberobello is located in the middle of town. From there, it is a five-minute walk to reach the Centro Storico.
- CAR – If you arrive by car, there is paid meter parking along the streets that surround the Centro Storico. There are also paid lots around town.
Alberobello can easily by visited as a day trip, but it’s a fun experience to actually stay overnight amongst the trulli.
