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Nine Viator excursions rated 4.7 and up let you explore from Bari to Alberobello, Monopoli, Polignano a Mare and Matera. Four leave from Bari, the others from Monopoli, Alberobello, Matera or your accommodation. Matera is in Basilicata, not in Puglia.
Checked on on the Viator API.
Bari is the gateway to a good part of southern Italy. By train, Monopoli is 20 to 40 minutes away, Polignano a Mare half an hour, and Alberobello about an hour and a half. Once there, the question is no longer where to go but which excursion to book, at what price and on which date. We selected nine Viator excursions, all rated at least 4.7 with more than a hundred reviews, then checked their prices and availability for November 21, 2026 to January 19, 2027.
The most complete outing remains the guided day that links Alberobello, Monopoli and Polignano a Mare: book the day from Bari. Its details, including the meeting point, are also in listing no. 1 below.
One clarification before we start. Matera is not in Puglia. The city is in Basilicata, a neighboring region, and the two Matera tours we selected leave from Matera, not from Bari. The journey is by train with a change at Altamura, from 1h36 to 2h19 depending on the timetables checked. Each listing states where the excursion starts, so you know in advance where to be.
The second point to keep in mind is the season. Between November and January, boat trips and several visits open on only a few days. In the window checked, a sea excursion opens just nineteen days out of sixty, and only in January. Each listing therefore states the number of available days, and the comparison table brings them together.
Why start from Bari for Puglia and Basilicata
Bari is a city in the province of Bari, in the region of Puglia, and most of the excursions in this selection leave from there. Its old town, Bari Vecchia, is where the street food tour takes place, and the pasta class is held at the Ceralacca restaurant, close by. The selection therefore makes room for food: these are the two outings that best explain the city to someone who has never been there.
Polignano a Mare is about 30 minutes by train from Bari, for around €2.50. Monopoli is reached by direct train, with no change, in 20 to 40 minutes. The grottoes of Polignano a Mare are best seen from the sea, which is the angle of the boat trip departing from Monopoli.
Alberobello is a town of trulli: houses topped with conical roofs. The site is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as the local tourist office explains on its UNESCO page.
Matera is a different story, and a different region. The Sassi are troglodyte quarters of Matera. The city is in Basilicata, 1h36 to 2h19 by train from Bari (about 1h05 by bus). It deserves a full day on its own, which is why the two Matera tours in this selection are treated separately, each with its own starting point.
Our method was simple. We went through the Viator products of four destinations (Bari, Puglia, Matera and Alberobello), then kept those rated at least 4.7 with more than a hundred reviews. About fifty-four products passed this filter. We then checked prices and availability over the window from 14 to 74 days ahead, that is 60 days, for two adults. Of the thirteen candidates checked, nine are kept, one is held in reserve, and three are ruled out: a sea trip from Polignano a Mare (0 days open out of 60 in the window), an orecchiette class in Polignano a Mare (0 days out of 60), and an e-bike ride between Alberobello and Locorotondo, whose price could not be checked.
The window checked runs from November 21, 2026 to January 19, 2027. Outside this window, no prices or dates were checked. The useful question is therefore: which excursion can be booked for your dates, from your real starting point? The table below answers the first part of the question, and the listings answer the second.
The 9 excursions compared
| Experience | Duration | Price per adult (base 2) | Rating (reviews) | Free cancellation | Days available |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Alberobello, Monopoli and Polignano a Mare from Bari | 7h30 | €185 | 4.95 (122) | Yes | 20 of 60 |
| 2. Boat from Monopoli to the Polignano a Mare grottoes, with aperitif | 2h30 | €55 | 4.86 (204) | Yes | 19 of 60 |
| 3. Alberobello by segway or mini-golf cart | 1h | €50 | 4.97 (259) | Yes | 44 of 60 |
| 4. Sassi of Matera, troglodyte house and rock church (Basilicata) | 2h | €15 to €20 | 4.74 (1,570) | Yes | 60 of 60 |
| 5. Matera, the ancient city, English-language tour (Basilicata) | 2 to 3h | €30 | 4.91 (1,970) | Yes | 47 of 60 |
| 6. Bari street food tour in a small group | 3h | €75 | 4.96 (1,546) | Yes | 56 of 60 |
| 7. Fresh pasta and tiramisu class with wine, in Bari | 3h | €55.20 | 4.83 (339) | Yes | 60 of 60 |
| 8. Rickshaw tour of Bari | 1h30 | €52 | 4.85 (279) | Yes | 60 of 60 |
| 9. Customizable private tour of Puglia, up to four people | 16 to 18h | Not applicable: €550 per vehicle | 4.98 (121) | Yes | 58 of 60 |
Prices and availability checked on the Viator partner API on November 7, 2026 for the period from November 21, 2026 to January 19, 2027; they may change. The private tour rate is per vehicle.
Quick read: for a first day in Bari, the rickshaw tour and the pasta class can be booked on almost every date. For a sea trip, aim for January 2027. For Matera, both tours leave from the city and their price per person stays low: this is where the program saves the most.
The 9 excursions to book from Bari, listing by listing
1. Alberobello, Monopoli and Polignano a Mare from Bari
This is the excursion we recommend first, because it solves the transport question: one day, in a small group and an air-conditioned vehicle, to see Alberobello, Monopoli and Polignano a Mare starting from Bari. The meeting point is at the corner of Corso Cavour and Via Alberto Sordi, where the guide waits holding a sign; the listing asks you to check in fifteen minutes before departure. The day lasts seven and a half hours, which leaves time to walk the streets of the trulli without rushing. Watch the calendar: the window checked opens this excursion on only twenty days out of sixty, spread across late November, December and January. The listed guides speak English, Italian or Spanish, but no French-speaking guide is listed: if French matters to you, ask before you pay. At €185 per person, it is the highest price among the excursions sold per person, and the only one that links three towns in one day from Bari.
- Alberobello, Monopoli and Polignano a Mare in one day
- Air-conditioned vehicle and small group
- Guides in English, Italian or Spanish (no French-speaking guide listed)
2. Boat from Monopoli to the Polignano a Mare grottoes, with aperitif
This boat does not leave from Bari. It embarks at Monopoli, on the square facing the Castello Carlo V, near the arch overlooking the sea, and you should allow twenty to forty minutes by train from Bari. The trip lasts two and a half hours and passes the grottoes of Polignano a Mare, seen from the sea, with an aperitif featuring flavors of Puglia, taralli included. Fuel is included in the price. This is a low-season trip that depends on the dates: the window checked opens it on only nineteen days out of sixty, all of them in January 2027, from the 1st to the 19th. If your stay falls in November or December, this option is not available. The guides are listed in English, Italian and Spanish. At €55 per person, it is the only sea trip in the selection, and we recommend it to travelers who want to see the coast from the water, provided they have checked the date before leaving Bari.
- Departure from Monopoli, by train from Bari
- Polignano a Mare grottoes seen from the sea
- Puglia aperitif and fuel included
3. Alberobello by segway or mini-golf cart
One hour is short, and that is exactly the appeal of this tour: it combines very well with a walk among the trulli. On site, you choose between a segway and a two-seat mini-golf cart, with a professional tour guide. The listing shows four segways and three carts, and a maximum weight of 100 kg per traveler, which may limit the choice for a large group. We recommend it to families with curious children, and to those who want to cover Alberobello without doing everything on foot. One important point: the listing does not state the meeting point, so confirm it with the provider before booking. The tour is open 44 days out of 60, with closures in late November and around Christmas. The guides speak English, Italian, French and Spanish, which makes it one of the few tours in the selection with a French-speaking guide listed. At €50 per person, the price is reasonable for an hour-long guided tour.
- Choice of segway or cart on site
- Professional tour guide included
- French-speaking guide listed
4. Sassi of Matera, troglodyte house and rock church (Basilicata)
This tour leaves from Matera, in Basilicata, not from Puglia. It is the excursion in the selection that requires the most logistics, since you must reach the city by train with a change at Altamura, from 1h36 to 2h19 depending on the timetables checked, or by bus. The meeting point is at the Martulli Viaggi office, and the exact address is in the confirmation. For two hours, a local guide leads you through the Sassi, with entry into a troglodyte house and a rock church, two places that an independent visit does not always let you see from the inside. The listing also offers a 10% coupon at MòVado Food & Drink, for a tasting or a drink. The guide speaks French, German, English, Italian and Spanish, which makes this one of the four French-speaking products in the selection. The price ranges from €15 to €20 per person depending on the rate band, and the tour runs every day of the window. It has the second-highest review count in the selection, with 1,570 reviews.
- Matera, in Basilicata, reached by train or bus
- Entries included: troglodyte house and rock church
- Guide listed in French, open 60 days out of 60
5. Matera, the ancient city, English-language tour (Basilicata)
This is the most reviewed Matera tour in the selection, with 1,970 reviews and a rating of 4.91. It is conducted in English, in the city of Matera, in Basilicata, not in Puglia. The meeting point is Piazza San Pietro Caveoso, where a guide recognizable by his green flag waits fifteen minutes before the tour begins. The ticket includes a visit to a troglodyte house, and the announced duration runs from two to three hours depending on the listing. The guides are listed in English and Italian, with no French-speaking guide, so if your English is comfortable, this is the simplest way to discover the Sassi in a morning. If you come by car, the listing mentions a multi-level car park followed by a walk down; plan for it before you leave. The calendar matters: the tour only starts from December 4 in the window checked, that is 47 days out of 60. The price is €30 per person.
- The most reviewed Matera tour in the selection
- Troglodyte house included
- Guide in English and Italian
6. Bari street food tour in a small group
A street food tour is the fastest way to understand Bari, and this one does it on foot, through the old town, in a small group. The meeting point is near the palm trees, beside the entrance of the San Sabino basilica. For three hours, the meal is on the move: you stop, taste, and move on. The listing includes water and at least one alcoholic drink for adults over eighteen. The guide speaks English and Italian, with no French-speaking guide listed. With 1,546 reviews and a rating of 4.96, it is the most commented Bari tour in the selection. We recommend it for the first or second day, because it gives you landmarks in the city and addresses for the days that follow. It is open 56 days out of 60, with some closures around Christmas and New Year, and the price is €75 per person.
- Meal on the move in Bari’s old town
- Small group
- Guide in English and Italian
7. Fresh pasta and tiramisu class with wine, in Bari
This class takes place at the Ceralacca restaurant, near Bari Vecchia. For three hours you make fresh pasta and a tiramisu, with all dishes and wines included. We recommend it to those who want to come home with a recipe, not just a photo. The guide is listed in English only, which makes it the only product in the selection with that limit: if you have dietary restrictions, check them with the provider before booking. The class runs every day of the window, 60 days out of 60, which makes it one of the safest options for late December or for a rainy day. The rating is 4.83, from 339 reviews. The price is €55.20 per person, for a three-hour class with all dishes and wines included.
- Fresh pasta and tiramisu made on site
- All dishes and wines included
- Open 60 days out of 60
8. Rickshaw tour of Bari
The rickshaw is a pleasant way to cross Bari without walking: an hour and a half seated, with a multilingual local guide. Departure is a few steps from Piazza Mercantile, in the heart of the old town. The tour includes a tasting of ice cream or focaccia, so you can taste without searching for an address. It is the easiest tour to fit in on your arrival day, since it lasts an hour and a half and runs every day of the window. The guides are listed in German, English, Italian, French and Spanish. We recommend it to those with little time, or who want a first look at Bari before the street food or the cooking class. The rating is 4.85, from 279 reviews, and the price is €52 per person.
- Seated rickshaw tour, 1h30
- Multilingual local guide, French listed
- Ice cream or focaccia tasted during the tour
9. Customizable private tour of Puglia, up to four people
This is the only tour in the selection that starts where you sleep. Pickup is at your accommodation, B&B, the airport or the port, anywhere in Puglia and not only in Bari. A private vehicle takes up to four people, with driver and guide, to three places chosen within a 50 km radius. The day is long, 16 to 18 hours depending on the listing, and the €550 rate applies to the vehicle, not to the person: the check was run for two travelers. Shared among four people, the cost comes to about €137 per person, compared with €275 for two. Booking is not instant, since it goes through a manual validation. The guides are listed in English, Italian and French. This format suits a family or a small group that wants to build its day around its own wishes rather than follow a fixed program. The tour is open 58 days out of 60 in the window checked.
- Pickup at your accommodation, B&B, airport or port
- Private vehicle for up to four people
- Rate per vehicle, manual confirmation
Planning the trip
There is no direct train: allow one change at Altamura, from 1h36 to 2h19 depending on the timetables checked. According to the timetables published by Ferrovie Appulo Lucane, the rail link does not run on Sundays and public holidays; a bus replaces it, in about 1h05 according to Rome2rio. Check the timetable on the day.
Between November and January, sea trips open on few days. The Monopoli boat only opens from January 1 to 19, 2027 in the window checked, and the Alberobello segway tour is closed for several days in late November and late December. Check the date before locking in your travel.
For two adults, the guided day from Bari, the pasta class, the rickshaw tour and the street food tour come to €734.40 in total, excluding trains and accommodation, according to the November 7, 2026 check. The private tour, for its part, costs €550 per vehicle, which places it in a different budget category.
Practical tips on site
A possible three-day plan starts from Bari. On the first day, the rickshaw tour and the street food tour can take place on the same day or over two days; time slots should be checked when booking. On the second day, take the train to Alberobello (about an hour and a half according to the sources consulted) for the segway tour, which lasts one hour. The third day is reserved for the guided day, or for the boat trip if your date is open in January. This plan is only a suggestion: opening days decide the order in practice.
For Matera, plan a full day, since the round trip by train takes from 3h12 to 4h38. Both city tours leave from Matera, not from Bari. If reduced mobility is a factor, ask the provider before booking whether an accessible route exists. On Sundays and public holidays, the rail link is replaced by a bus: check the timetable before you leave.
Depending on your profile, the choices change. A family with children will find its fit in the Alberobello segway or cart tour, then the rickshaw, which is done seated with no long walk. A couple who want to eat and learn will be more at ease with the pasta class and the street food tour. On a small budget, the two Matera tours are the most economical in the selection, with a ticket at €15 or €30 per person. For a first trip to Southern Italy, the guided day covering Alberobello, Monopoli and Polignano a Mare avoids connections, and that is its main strength.
Several mistakes come up often in this kind of program. The first is planning a sea trip in November or December, when the window checked opens none. The second is confusing Matera with Puglia: Matera is in Basilicata, and its trip has to be planned as a separate stop. The third is booking an Alberobello visit without confirming the meeting point, which is not stated on the segway listing. The fourth is counting the private tour per person, when its rate is per vehicle.
To book, use the listings above. All nine products are listed with free cancellation in the November 7, 2026 check, and all are confirmed instantly except the private tour, which requires manual validation. Cancellation terms remain those of the Viator listing at the time of booking, and a date or price may change after the November 7, 2026 check.
Frequently asked questions
Which excursion from Bari is rated best?
The private tour of Puglia has the best rating in the selection, at 4.98 from 121 reviews, but it starts from your accommodation and costs €550 per vehicle. For a day that truly starts from Bari, the guided tour of Alberobello, Monopoli and Polignano a Mare is the most complete, with 4.95 from 122 reviews and a price of €185 per person. See the listing.
Can you get to Matera from Bari without a car?
Yes, by train with a change at Altamura, from 1h36 to 2h19 depending on the timetables checked. Matera is in Basilicata, not in Puglia, and on Sundays and public holidays the rail link is replaced by a bus according to the timetables published by Ferrovie Appulo Lucane. The two Matera tours in the selection leave from the city, so plan a full day, with a round trip by train taking from 3h12 to 4h38. See the Matera tours.
Why do some excursions only open a few days?
In this window, departures drop sharply: 19 days out of 60 for the Monopoli boat, 20 out of 60 for the guided day from Bari. The Monopoli boat opens only nineteen days out of sixty in the window checked, all in January 2027. The Alberobello segway tour opens 44 days out of 60. The number of available days appears in the comparison table, and should be checked when you book, since it may change after the November 7, 2026 check.
Are there guides who speak French?
Four products list a French-speaking guide: the Sassi of Matera tour, the Alberobello segway tour, the Bari rickshaw tour and the private tour of Puglia. The other excursions are announced in English, Italian or Spanish, and the pasta class is in English only. For a French-language excursion, favor these four, and confirm the language with the provider before you pay.
What prices should you expect for two adults?
Prices checked range from €15 to €20 per person for the Sassi of Matera tour, up to €185 for the guided day from Bari. The private tour is €550 per vehicle, not per person. Prices were checked on November 7, 2026 for two adults, for the period from November 21, 2026 to January 19, 2027, and they may change. The comparison table gives the detail for each excursion.
Does the Polignano boat leave from Polignano a Mare?
No. The boat trip selected embarks at Monopoli, on the square facing the Castello Carlo V, not at Polignano a Mare. From Bari, take the train, which takes twenty to forty minutes depending on connections. Once in Monopoli, the trip lasts two and a half hours and passes the grottoes of Polignano a Mare, seen from the sea. See the boat listing.
Can you cancel a booking for free?
All nine products in the selection are listed with free cancellation in the November 7, 2026 check. The exact conditions are those of the Viator listing at the time of booking, and they prevail. The private tour requires manual validation, which matters if your date is close.
Sources
- Ferrovie Appulo Lucane, Bari-Matera line timetables, consulted November 7, 2026
- Rome2rio, Bari to Matera route, consulted November 7, 2026
- Omio, Bari-Matera train times, consulted November 7, 2026
- Trainline, Bari-Monopoli train times, consulted November 7, 2026
- Railclick, direct Bari-Monopoli link, consulted November 7, 2026
- Euro City Guide, day trips from Bari, consulted November 7, 2026
- Winalist, day trips from Bari, consulted November 7, 2026
- Alberobello tourist office, UNESCO page, consulted November 7, 2026
- Wikivoyage, Alberobello, consulted November 7, 2026
- Wikipedia, Matera, consulted November 7, 2026
- Wikipedia, Alberobello, consulted November 7, 2026
- Wikipedia, Polignano a Mare, consulted November 7, 2026
- Wikipedia, Monopoli, consulted November 7, 2026
Prices, ratings and availability come from the Viator partner API, checked on November 7, 2026; each product listing is cited through its Viator link in its card.
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