The 7 Best Things to Do in Alberobello
You’re planning to visit Alberobello during your next trip to Puglia and you’re looking for the best places to visit?
You’re at the right place!
Located in the Itria Valley, famous for its vast expanses of olive groves and its villages ranked among the most beautiful in Italy, Alberobello is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site and is world famous for its “Trulli”.
In order to help you plan your stay, I have written this guide of the best things to do in Alberobello, with all must-see attractions and points of interest.
At the end of the article, you will also find the 3 best places to visit near Alberobello as well as my suggestions of the best accommodations depending on your budget.
So, what are the best places to visit in Alberobello? Where to stay?
Let’s find out!
Sommaire
- The 7 Best Things to Do in Alberobello
Alberobello: A Must-Visit in Puglia
History and Culture: What are Trulli?
The very uniqueness of Alberobello, and its authentic charm, lies in its famous trulli.
But if you’re like me and hadn’t necessarily heard the word “trulli” before planning your trip to Puglia, let me tell you more about them.
Trulli (plural) or “trullo” (singular) are small circular-based houses made from unjoined stones covered with lime and topped with a conical roof, often decorated with a primitive, magical, or religious symbol. They’re believed to protect the family and bring abundance and prosperity for many generations.
These traditional homes of the Itria Valley, dating back to prehistoric times, appeared in Puglia in the early 15th century. And it’s not at all by chance!
The Counts of Conversano, ruling over the territory, were subject to an edict from the government of Naples which stipulated that any construction of a new village was subject to authorization and therefore to the payment of a tax.
To circumvent this, they forced peasants to construct and live solely in trulli, which, during inspections, could be quickly dismantled and could not be considered as “stable dwellings.”
It wasn’t until the 18th century that Alberobello was recognized as a village in its own right. It’s hard to imagine that in our time, they would still be standing and visited by thousands of tourists every year!
Neighborhoods to Visit in Alberobello
Today, Alberobello boasts over 1,600 trulli spread across 2 neighborhoods to visit:
- The Monti district: This is the main tourist district of Alberobello. Everyone flocks here to admire the trulli. In the district, most of them have been converted into souvenir shops or local craft stores, restaurants, and of course, hotels or guest houses to live the unique experience of sleeping in a trullo.
- The Aia Piccola district: A much more authentic part of Alberobello where some of the trulli are still inhabited. Much less commercial, yet spared from mass tourism, it offers a more realistic vision of the past.
About 1/3 of the trulli in Alberobello are inhabited today, 1/3 has been converted for “tourist use,” and the last third is unfortunately abandoned.
All the Best Things to Do and See in Alberobello
Visiting Alberobello is pretty straightforward, as you will just have to wander through the steep streets to admire the trulli.
You can take the opportunity to shop for souvenirs, taste local cuisine, or even spend the night in a trulli, the most unusual accommodations in the Itria Valley and Puglia!
However, there are 3 other points of interest you shouldn’t miss in Alberobello:
- Trullo Sovrano or “Sovereign trullo”: named this way because it’s the largest trulli in Alberobello. Standing at 14 meters tall, it’s the only one with a second floor and a staircase. Inside, you can admire furniture and various period objects, perfect for discovering the former local life. A unique example of trulli to see in Alberobello. For access information and schedules, visit the official website.
- The Museum of Territory: the museum is set within a complex of 15 interconnected trullli. It recounts life in the trulli with numerous objects, tools, and accounts of the popular traditions of the Itria Valley.
- San Antonio Church also known as the church of trulli. Built in 1926, its architecture represents a giant trullo, which is quite surprising. That’s a really unique church to see in the Itria Valley!
To learn more about Alberobello and its famous trulli, you should book this 2-hour guided tour.
Your guide will tell you interesting anecdotes about the village and you will learn everything aobut its unique architecture.
You need to book your Alberobello guided tour by clicking on the following button:
The 5 Best Days trip to Alberobello
If you haven’t rented a car for your trip to Puglia, you can visit Alberobello with an organized tour with transport included.
You can strart your day trip to Alberobello from several cities. Simply click on the orange links below to check the details, prices, and to book your tour:
- From Bari: Alberobello and Polignano Tour
- From Lecce: Alberobello, Ostuni, and Polignano Visit
- From Lecce: Alberobello, Locorotondo, and Ostuni Tour
- From Brindisi: Guided Tour of Alberobello + Ostuni + Locorotondo
- From Polignano: Full-Day Tour to Alberobello and Matera
How Much Time to Visit Alberobello?
To visit Alberobello, you should plan approximately 2 hours or a maximum of half a day if you also want to have a meal there.
Since the Trulli are all clustered together, you can wander around at random without following a specific path. The museums are quite small and don’t take much time to visit.
However, if you want to avoid the crowds, go early in the morning (before 10 AM and the influx of tour buses that pour into the small town) or late in the afternoon.
Moreover, it will be easier to find parking, as the pay car parks at the entrance to the town fill up quickly.
My Impressions of Alberobello
I really enjoyed strolling around Alberobello. We visited in March, early in the morning, and there were few people around, so we could truly appreciate the place. But even at that time, when we left, the parking area was starting to fill up.
Given the narrowness of the streets and the size of the trulli, I understand people who say that Alberobello is much less pleasant to see in peak season!
I was pleasantly surprised by the size of the village; I was expecting to see a dozen trulli, but there are quite many.
However, I must admit that seeing a dozen or more trulli converted into more or less similar souvenir shops is not really my thing. Still, it’s important to remember that it is precisely tourism that allows this beautiful village to be so well preserved.
Even if you’re not a fan of ultra-touristy spots, Alberobello is definitely worth a visit for its unique architecture. You will really feel like you’re visiting a variant of the hobbits’ village from “The Lord of the Rings”!
The 3 Best Things to Do Around Alberobello
Since a visit to the trulli won’t take up your whole day, you should visit 3 other sites around Alberobello.
Castellana Grotte
The Castellana Caves are located less than 20 minutes by car from Alberobello.
Every day, guided tours are organized to discover the caves which are among the largest and most interesting to visit in Italy. You can admire stalactites and stalagmites, as well as various caverns and chambers during tours ranging from 50 minutes (short path) to 2 hours for the complete route.
Tours are offered in Italian and English.
If you wish to visit the Castellana Caves, you should check the official website for schedules and prices.
It’s one of the best places to visit around Alberobello!
Locorotondo / Cisternino
You should also visit these 2 villages near Alberobello:
- Just 10 minutes towards Ostuni, take a stroll through the beautiful village of Locorontodo. Ranked among the most beautiful villages in Italy, it has a charming historic center with stunning views of the Itria Valley below.
- Cisternino is another village ranked among the most beautiful towns in Puglia. Located 30 minutes from Alberobello and just past Locorotondo, you can also stop there to visit its old town, with its white facade houses and numerous alleyways.
Ostuni
Near Alberobello, about a 45-minute drive away, is another tourist village in the Itria Valley, Ostuni.
Visible from afar on its hill, the “Citta Bianca” or “White City,” as it is nicknamed due to the whitewashed facades of its houses, is a delightful place to visit.
Here are the places you should visit in Ostuni, close to Alberobello:
- the historic center
- Piazza della Liberta
- the Cathedral
- the museum of pre-classical civilizations
And you’ll find even more things to do in Ostuni in our dedicated article: Visiting Ostuni in the Itria Valley.
Where to Stay in Alberobello?
Are you looking to stay overnight in Alberobello during your trip to Puglia? Here are the best accommodations for every budget!
- Masseria Catucci Agriturismo: Located in the countryside near Alberobello. Simple but comfortable double rooms from 80€ per night, 7€ for breakfast. Strong points: the hospitality, the setting, the tranquility.
- B&B Trulli San Leonardo: Located 1 km from Alberobello. Double room situated in a “trulli” from 95€, breakfast included. Strong points: the quiet location, sleeping in a unique setting, the swimming pool.
- Tipico Resort: Located in the center of Alberobello. The hotel offers the opportunity to sleep in “trulli,” the traditional dwelling of Puglia. Elegant double rooms with exposed stone from 120€ per night, breakfast is 6€. Strong points: central location, the charm of the accommodations, quality breakfast. This is my top pick for its excellent value for money.
- Hotel Silva: Located in Alberobello. Comfortable and well-decorated double rooms from 130€, breakfast included. Strong points: the friendliness of the staff, the good breakfast, easy parking.
- Le Alcove Luxury Hotel: Situated in the heart of Alberobello. The hotel consists of renovated trulli combining traditional charm with modern comfort. Well-equipped and comfortable double rooms from 150€ per night, including breakfast. Strong points: the location for visiting Alberobello, the decor, attentive staff. This is my recommendation for a luxury stay in Alberobello.
How to Get to Alberobello?
From Bari: It takes about 1 hour by car.
From Brindisi: Reach Alberobello by car in 1 hour as well.
From Lecce: It’s a 1 hour and 25-minute drive from Lecce to Alberobello.
From Taranto: A short 50-minute journey to get to Alberobello.
And don’t forget that you also have the option to book one of the organized tours I mentioned earlier!
What about you? Are you planning to visit Alberobello during your stay in Puglia?
🚗 Rent a car
🗽 Book entrance tickets and guided visits
🏄 Book your sports activities
🚤 Book your rental boat
🌍 Take a travel insurance
🙎 Book a tour
🚅 Book your train tickets
✈️ Book your flight
Italy travel Guides
- Buy the Lonely Planet Italy guide on Amazon.com or on Amazon.co.uk
- Buy the Rick Steves Italy guide on Amazon.com or on Amazon.co.uk
You’re traveling in Italy? These articles will help you!
Discover all my articles about Italy: All my articles to help you plan your trip to Italy are listed there.
Puglia
- The 20 Best Things to Do in Puglia – All the best places to visit
- Itinerary: 2, 3, 4 or 5 days in Puglia – The perfect short-stay itineraries
- Itinerary: A week in Puglia – The ultimate itinerary for visiting Puglia in 7-8 days
- Itinerary: 10 days in Puglia – How to visit Puglia in 10 days and not miss a thing!
- Alberobello: Visit the trulli village with my definitive guide!
- Bari: Top 12 things to do and see
- Gargano: The 10 best places to visit
- Lecce: The 12 must-sees attractions
- Matera: The definitive guide of Matera!
- Ostuni: Top 10 things to do and see
Rest of Italy
- The 20 Best Things to do in Italy – All the must-see places!
- Cinque Terre: The definitive guide to plan your visit
- Florence: The 27 best things to do and must-see attractions
- Milan: The Top 15 things to do in the city and around
- Pisa: Top 21 must-see attractions + Tips
- Rome: The 25 best things to do and see
- Siena: Top 20 best places to visit
- Turin: The 20 must-see attractions
- Venice: The 31 best things to do (+ Tips)
- 2 Days in Rome – How to visit Rome in 48h
- 3 Days in Rome – The best itinerary to visit Rome in 72h
- 4 Days in Rome – The best places to visit in 4 days
- 5 Days in Rome – How to spend 5 days in Rome
- 6 Days in Rome – The ultimate Itinerary + Where to stay
- One week in Rome – The perfect 7-day itinerary
- 2 Days in Venice – An Epic 48h itinerary
- 3 Days in Venice – The perfect 72h itinerary
- 4 Days in Venice – Itinerary + Best Things to do + Tips
- Where to stay in Milan? My guide to the best areas and hotels for a perfect stay
- Where to stay in Rome? – The definitive guide of the best areas!
- Where to stay in Venice? My selection of the best hotels and districts for an epic stay
- Colosseum: The 7 best skip the line tickets
- Trevi Fountain: History, Secrets and Facts
- Rome’s Hidden Gems: The Definitive Guide with 17 secret spots!
- The 20 Best museums in Rome – With all my best tips!
- Rome in May: The definitive guide to plan your visit: weather, things to do, itineraries and more!
- Rome in June: Guide + All my best tips
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