Bari Car Rental

Regional capital and one of the largest ports on the Adriatic, Bari is a city worth discovering and “savouring”, as it not only offers a rich artistic heritage but also delicious dishes and street-food, such as the fried panzarotto and scagliozze (fried polenta).

A seaside destination and a city of art and flavour, the Apulian capital is the ideal place for groups of friends who want to have fun and for families seeking a relaxing holiday.

A car is the perfect way to visit Bari and the surrounding areas, because it allows you to easily move from one area to another, and to find “hidden” places and pleasant surprises.

Visiting Bari: attractions of the city centre

You can rent a car in Bari by contacting the Maggiore offices, which are located in different areas of the city centre and at the Karol Wojtyla airport. 

With Maggiore, you can travel in complete safety, as the cars are reliable and always perfectly sanitised.

Once you have rented the perfect car, you can set off to discover Bari Vecchia (Bari Old Town), the beating heart of the city. Here you will find some of the city’s most historical monuments such as the Basilica Pontificia di San Nicola, an important pilgrimage destination for both Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians, the Cattedrale di San Sabino, with its magnificent mosaic floor, and the Norman-Swabian Castle, located in a dominating position between the city and the sea.

Just a 3-minute drive from the castle is the Archaeological Museum of Santa Scolastica, where we suggest you visit the uncovered area dedicated to the excavation of tombs. If you feel like walking, then take a stroll along the Seafront Promenade, where you can admire Art Nouveau buildings such as the Kursaal Santa Lucia theatre, the Albergo delle Nazioni and the Palazzo della Provincia.

Bari beaches and surrounding areas

If the Apulian capital fascinates you with its mix of historical attractions, then the surrounding areas will offer just as many surprises.

A 40-minute drive from the city centre will take you to Altamura, where you can explore the beautiful cloisters and taste the local speciality, Altamura bread. Then you can head off to the town of Putignano, famous for its papier-mâché art, and also for its Carnival.

Other towns to visit near Bari include Castellana Grotte, with its speleological complex consisting of attractions such as Grotta Nera (Black Cavern) and Cavernone dei Monumenti (Cave of the Monuments), Acquaviva delle Fonti, famous not only for its natural (Gioacchino Carone WWF Oasis) and historical (Palazzo de Mari and Cattedrale di Sant’Eustachio) beauties, but also for being home to two Slow Food Presidia: the “Acquaviva Onion” and the “Murgia Carsica Black Chickpea”.

If you are in the mood for sea and sun, get back into your car and take the E843 to Polignano a Mare, whose 12 km long coastline offers sandy beaches and pebbly coves where you can enjoy a few hours of relaxation.

Be sure to stop at the Lama Monachile beach, Polignano’s most famous beach, and Cala Paura, located just outside the town.

Among the things to see near the Apulian capital is also San Vito, a hamlet of Polignano, whose beautiful Abbey and beaches will surely captivate you, while Martina Franca is located 400 metres above sea level in the heart of the Itria Valley.

This ancient village in perfect Baroque style will fascinate you with its beautiful monuments such as the Basilica di San Martino, which houses interesting works by local artists, and the Palazzo Ducale, built in the 17th century at the behest of Duke Petracone Caracciolo.

Martina Franca is also an excellent starting point to reach Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and “capital of the trulli”, as it is home to more than 1000 of these unique buildings, distributed along 15 roads.

Take a walk through the centre of Alberobello, admire the charm of the Trullo Sovrano, the Trulli Siamesi and the Casa del Trullo and stop to visit the Museum of the Territory, housed in the Casa Pezzolla complex.

There’s so much more to Bari and its surroundings than meets the eye, as both the city and the surrounding areas hold unique and largely unexplored wonders.
By renting a car in Bari you can plan your holiday in detail, creating the itinerary of your dreams.