Figuring out your 2025 travel plans? If you’re seeking a destination with stunning landscapes, a rich culture, delicious eats, unique shopping opportunities, and fabulous luxury accommodations, you’ll want to put Puglia (also known as Apulia) at the top of your list.
Situated in the southeast of Italy, this sun-drenched coastal region is abundant with charm and beauty. You’ll be able to spend your days soaking in the sun on one of Puglia’s beautiful beaches, admiring ancient architecture, and enjoying some of the country’s best food and wine – everything you need to live la dolce vita.
If you need more convincing, we’re explaining why Puglia is 2025’s ultimate luxury travel destination below.
Breathtaking Scenery
If Italy is a boot, Puglia forms its heel. The region sits between the Adriatic and Ionian seas, leaving no shortage of gorgeous coastline to admire. Apulia’s landscape is wonderfully diverse, featuring almost tropical white sand beaches, rolling olive groves, rugged limestone cliffs, and dramatic canyons. Nature lovers will be enamoured by the azure waters and lush greenery.
Whether you’re the type of traveller who prefers a relaxed beach holiday or you’re an adventurer that loves exploring mountainous trails and other natural wonders, you’ll be able to get your fill of the great outdoors in Puglia.
To be in Apulia is to be surrounded by natural beauty, but the region has a few special spots you won’t want to miss:
Gargano National Park and Tremiti islands
Margherita di Savoia salt flats
Castellana caves
Torre Sant’Andrea
Grotta Della Poesia
Gravina di Laterza canyon
Unique Architecture
Puglia boasts a distinctive style of architecture that can’t be found elsewhere in Italy. With Greek, Roman, Norman, Byzantine, French, and Spanish influence, it’s a visual treat for architecture buffs.
The region’s creamy buildings and skylines make a stark contrast against the typically bright blue sky and sparkling sea. It feels vibrant all year round, even during rare bouts of cold weather.
One defining style of Puglian architecture is the trullo (or trulli in plural form), a circular stone building with a conical roof and a decorative pinnacle. These hut-like buildings were originally built as temporary shelters in the 14th century, but have since become an architectural staple in the region. Some Italians still live in them today!
Whether you want to see authentic trulli up close, admire centuries-old church frescoes, or explore ancient Greek and Roman ruins, Puglia is filled with incredible architecture for you to enjoy.
Delectable Cuisine
It’s not hard to find great food in Italy, but Puglia makes it especially easy. This southern region is the home of orecchiette pasta, panzerotti, focaccia, burrata, and mozzarella. Those with a sweet tooth can satisfy it with regional desserts and pastries like pasticciotti, cartellate, and sporcamuss.
You may have already tried some of these delicacies in Italian restaurants, but believe us when we say nothing comes close to the authentic Apulian version.
Puglia is often referred to as Italy’s breadbasket thanks to its acres of wheatfields. It’s also known for its olive oil farms and ultra fresh seafood, which you’ll be able to enjoy straight from the source.
You can savour the very best of Apulian cuisine in one of the region’s numerous Michelin starred restaurants:
Primo Restaurant, Lecce
Angelo Sabatelli, Putignano
Due Camini, Savelletri
Bros’, Lecce
Casamatta, Manduria
Porta di Basso, Peschici
Quintessenza, Trani
Casa Sgarra, Trani
Dissapore di Andrea Catalano, Carovigno
Pasha, Conversano
There’s no chance of going hungry or being left unsatisfied in Puglia!
Artisanal & High End Shopping
Puglia is a favourite of the fashion elite. It’s a known holiday destination of A-list celebrities and fashion icons like Giorgio Armani, Riccardo Tisci, Raf Simons, Sienna Miller, Helen Mirren, and Anna Dello Russo. You can head to the big city of Bari to find big designers like Dolce & Gabbana, Louis Vuitton, and Gucci on the famous shopping street Via Sparano, or visit smaller towns to shop high quality, one-of-a-kind pieces from local artisans.
Grottaglie is a must-visit for decor enthusiasts. The small town is well-known for its ceramic artists, many of which come from family-run businesses that have been passing their skillset down from generation to generation for centuries.
Private Tours
If you want to beat the crowds and experience the beauty of Apulia all for yourself, there are plenty of private tour opportunities you can take in the region. From wine tastings, cooking classes, and private meals to castle tours and yacht expeditions, you’ll be able to explore every inch of Puglia in an unforgettable way.
To set up a private tour, you can reach out to a luxury travel agency, or coordinate with your accommodation host. At Borgomadre, we are happy to help our visitors set up private experiences that will enhance their stay.
Luxury Accommodation
Of course, it’s your base that truly sets you up for a luxury experience when you travel. Puglia has plenty of options when it comes to five star accommodations, from boutique hotels to sprawling resorts. But to really get that intimate, exclusive luxury feeling, we recommend booking a private villa.
Apulian luxury villas, like Borgomadre, are tailor-made to ensure you have the best of the best while you’re away from home. They offer complete privacy with their secluded settings, so you can enjoy your holiday on your terms. You won’t need to work your holiday schedule around a hotel’s hours – in fact, you won’t need to make a schedule at all if you don’t want to!
Private luxury villas in Puglia offer you the ultimate luxury: freedom of choice. You’ll be able to choose which room you want to sleep in, when you’d like to have your meals, and when you’d like to take a dip in your private pool.
And you won’t have to worry about missing out on any conveniences if you stay at a Borgomadre villa. The team will make sure you’re equipped with everything you need for a comfortable stay without getting in your way.
If you’re ready to enjoy the ultimate Apulian luxury getaway, book your stay with Borgomadre today.