Europe > Italy > Bari (BRI)

The Car or no Car advice for  Bari can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in Bari ;  is it worth it (based on costs), and ultimately - should you rent one? (a balance of the two).

🚆 🚌⛴️ Do we need to rent a car in Bari ?

These scores are based on the quality of public transport and other travel options. If these are good enough to see the main points of interest, then you don’t need to rent a car.

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💰💶💳 Is it worth hiring a car in Bari?

These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.

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Bari is the lively gateway to Puglia, with a beautiful old town, a busy port, and great food. The centre is compact and fun to explore on foot, and the coastal railway is excellent. However, inland travel becomes much harder because rail links are fragmented and some major attractions simply aren’t reachable by train. So, should you rent a car in Bari? The answer depends on how deeply you want to explore Puglia. While you can do a lot by train along the Adriatic, the inland highlights are spread out and often require a car.

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✨ A Quick Tip Before We Begin

If you’re arriving by air or leaving Bari to the west, try to get a window seat.
You’ll see the extraordinary circular ring road around Bitonto — one of the most striking patterns in southern Italy.

➡ A small bonus for aviation and geography fans.

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🚶 Why You Don’t Need a Car in Bari Itself

Bari Vecchia and the modern centre are ideal for walking.
You can easily reach:

• The waterfront

• Basilica di San Nicola

• Castello Svevo

• Via Sparano

• Bars, shops, and restaurants

The old town’s alleys are too narrow for cars anyway.

➡ In short: no car needed for central Bari.

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🚆 Coastal Trains Are Good — Inland Trains Are Not

Trains along the coast work brilliantly for:

• Polignano a Mare

• Monopoli

• Fasano

• Brindisi

• Lecce

These routes are fast and frequent.

However, inland connections are patchy.
For example:

• Matera and Gravina in Puglia have stations

• But you cannot reach them easily from Bari by train

• Even with connections, timetables often do not line up

• Many visitors give up and book buses or hire cars

➡ Train travel works along the coast, not inland.

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🚌 Buses Help, But They Can Be Slow

Regional buses cover places the trains do not.
They work, but journey times can be long and schedules irregular.
They are fine for a single day trip, but not for exploring widely.

➡ Buses are backup rather than the main option.

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🚗 When Renting a Car Helps (And It Often Does)

A car becomes extremely helpful for reaching places like:

• Matera

• Gravina in Puglia

• Alberobello + Valle d’Itria villages

• Rural masserias

• Scenic inland roads

• Remote beaches

• Gargano Peninsula

Puglia is beautiful, but its attractions scatter across a wide area.

Car rental in Italy is still good value, especially from Bari Airport.

➡ A car gives you flexibility and access to the inland gems.

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🚕 Taxis and Transfers Work for Short Specific Trips

Airport transfers are simple.
You can also book private drivers to reach:

• Matera

• Polignano

• Alberobello

Useful, but expensive if you want to roam.

➡ Good for one-off journeys, not for touring.

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🧭 Quick Decision Table

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🎯 Conclusion: Should You Rent a Car in Bari?

• ❌ Skip the car if you plan to stay in Bari and focus on easy rail-linked coastal towns.

• ❔ Consider renting a car if you want to explore inland Puglia, because trains don’t reliably reach Matera, Gravina, and many rural highlights.

In the end…

Bari works very well without a car along the Adriatic coast, but a rental car is the key to unlocking the inland wonders of Puglia.

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🚗 ✅ ❌ Summary Table

This summary score brings how much you really need a car, whether it’s worth it, driver options, local driving rules, and an overall recommendation.  This site is planned for full launch on 1st March 2026. Full terms, advice, FAQs, disclaimer etc to follow.