What to do in Alberobello – the Trulli town in Italy

Want to know what to do in Alberobello, the trulli town in the boot of Italy? From the best things to do and where to eat well, this guide covers it all.

Alberobello, made me trulli happy! You may not have heard of this cute hidden fairytale village as it’s one of the lesser-explored areas among tourists making it so unique.

It’s known for its cone-shaped homes called Trullo. You can even stay in these famous little buildings in Italy which is an experience like no other! These cone shaped homes even got Alberobello recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

I traveled here solo and rented a car (from Discover Cars) taking it all over the Puglia region to 8 different stops! You can read about the other places I went here on my 8-day road trip through Puglia. It isn’t super hard to drive around and it’s proof as I’m still alive.

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How long to stay in Alberobello

You can easily spend a few hours in Alberobello as it’s a small village. 4 hours should be all you need! However, it is a magical experience if you stay overnight in a trullo! Be sure to get to Alberobello EARLY if you want a quiet free experience as it’s become super busy. Before 9am would be ideal.

How to get to Alberobello

(note: Last time I visited Alberobello these hats were no longer hanging on the street)

The closest airport is Bari Airport. From there, you will likely need to drive. Otherwise, you will need to get to Bari Centrale and take the train or bus into Alberobello. Major towns in Puglia like Alberobello have public transport but it’s limited. It is not impossible without a car, but will be more convenient for you especially if you’re visiting other small towns or staying in a masseria farm stay in the countryside.

I use Discover Cars to rent a car and it provides the cheapest rates by comparing different rental agencies. You can also read my full blog post here on renting a car in Puglia!

Read more: How to get to Alberobello

Where to stay in Alberobello

Hotels around Puglia

I’ve visited Alberobello at least 3 times now. The first time I visited, I stayed in Locorotondo which was a good central base to explore many of Pugia’s towns. From Locorotondo, it only takes 15 minutes to get to Alberobello. There are many parking lots right before you enter the town. I parked here. It was 6 euros for the day.

I had the most incredible stay in Locorotondo at a family farm that has been around for generations. It was called Agriturismo Masseria Aprile. I stayed in a unique trullo, a cone-shaped building made of stone. Stefania and Anna will make you feel like you’re part of the family. They were the kindest people ever and made my stay so great.

🏨 Read my full guide on the best places to stay in the Puglia region!

Hotels in Alberobello

I’ve also had the chance to stay in Alberobello and it was really magical. I stayed at the most instagrammable place in the town, Romantic Trulli (pictured above!). No joke, every time I left my cute trullo home, people were standing outside trying to take a photo here.

There’s a rope out front to prevent tourists from coming in saying the place is private property. So if you can stay here, I’d highly recommend it. There’s a little rooftop access too where you can see views of all the trullo homes dotted around town. They also bring breakfast to you so you can enjoy it in the outdoor area each morning.

Here are some additional hotel options in Alberobello itself:

• Grandi Trulli Bed & Breakfast: Prices start at around £85 which is pretty affordable for Italy. It’s conveniently located right next to the Trullo Church of St. Anthony.
• Astra: If you have a bigger budget you can stay in this beautiful Trullo for £130/night.

What to do in Alberobello

I would say just wander as you don’t really need a big itinerary. It’s magical just to see the cute Trulli everywhere.

However, I’ve prepared some things to do in Alberobello to get you started.

1. Explore the two districts

There are two main areas to explore. One is a bit more touristy than the other and that is the Rione Monti Quarter. This is where you will find the main stretch of trulli (you can find over 1,000!) and lots of shops you can pop into for souvenirs.

However, if you’re like me, you will enjoy the less touristic scene more. If you head over to Rione Aia Piccola, you will find very quiet streets which is more residential. I really loved wandering around and seeing all the cute cone-shaped homes here!

Rione Monti Quarter

Rione Aia Piccola

In this neighborhood, you’ll likely stumble across “The Ancient Trullo” which is a trullo home you can visit inside with a small donation (first photo above).

The Instagram famous trullo home (last photo above) can be found in the Rione Aia Piccola district. Before, it used to have a cute bike parked in front and since then it has transformed into a tourist spot sadly. For some reason, there were pumpkins all over it and I was there in August! And there was fruit out where you could have some and leave a donation. Seems like a lot has changed over the years in Alberobello as it’s become so much more crowded and touristy. Nonetheless, if you want to reach this spot, I’ve linked the google maps location here.

2. Go on a walking tour with a local

The best way to learn about Alberobello and it’s unique history is through a walking tour with a local. I’d definitely recommend this one. The tour lasts 2 hours and it will take you to lesser-known places!

3. Head to a panoramic viewpoint of the town

From the souvenir shops

One of my top tips is to head to one of the many shops in the Rione Monti Quarter. You will see a sign saying “casolare panoramica” which means panoramic cottage. This means there is a view above the shop where you can see all the cute trulli dotted across the town.

I am a sucker for views and this is one to not be missed. You only need to buy something small (even a water) from the shop to venture up! I myself couldn’t resist buying a cute little Trullo home souvenir.

Above you’ll see panoramic views of the city like I saw in the photo above.

From Piazza del Popolo

Another great spot to see views of Alberobello is if you take these steps up (pictured above) to Piazza del Popolo you’ll get to the viewpoint here on Google Maps. Sadly the hearts are no longer on the steps 😢

From Villa Comunale Belvedere Parco

Villa Comunale Belvedere Parco is a small park in Alberobello, Italy and it’s not as crowded as the main town area. You will find breath-taking views of the town from here with nice greenery all around. The exact location can be found here on google maps.

4. Visit the Trullo Church

The Church of Sant’Antonio (Chiesa a Trullo) is a church in a trullo! So don’t miss visiting here and even going inside.

5. Check out the largest trullo in Alberobello

Trullo Sovrano is the largest trullo in Alberobello and now it’s a museum. Here you can learn about the history and construction of these unique conical-shaped buildings. You can see how people once lived in these homes.

There are other really unique trullo to see in Alberobello so I’d recommend this 2 hour trulli guided tour.

6. Stay overnight in a trullo & rise early to enjoy a quite experience

To escape the mounds of people that now visit Alberobello, I’d recommend staying the night in Alberobello to experience it in peace. There are so many nice photo opportunities here and most people visit on a day trip so you will find it quite in the evening and early morning.

Some of the best photo spots have been mentioned throughout this post and include:

• Romantic Trulli: a trullo hotel with the pink flowers outside
• Via Monte San Michele: where you’ll find all the trullo shops
• Villa Comunale Belvedere Parco: A garden with a view
• Trullo Siamese: Known for its unique twin conical roofs, the Trullo Siamese has an interesting legend associated with it about two brothers who fell in love with the same woman. It’s distinctive due to its unusual shape and the story behind it.
• The famous Trullo home in the Rione Aia Piccola district

Food to Try in Alberobello

Orecchiette: This pasta is typical in the Puglia region. It got its name due to its ear-like shape.

Pasqualino: This is a traditional sandwich made with rosetta bread. Inside you will find tuna, capers, salami, and cheese.

Bombette di Alberobello: This is a roll made with pork and filled with caciocavallo cheese, salami, salt, pepper, and parsley.

Foccacia Bread: Foccacia bread is amazing in Puglia. This doughy bread is typically served with toppings like tomatoes or vegetables. You can also get it plain.

You can take a street food tour in Alberobello and try many of these Apulian specialties!

Best places to eat in Alberobello

• La Pagnottella: This is where you can try the Pasqualino sandwich (pictured above on the right). It was absolutely delicious and so many locals were in here.
• Casa Nova Il Ristorante: Here you may try the Orecchiette pasta.
• Trattoria Terra Madre: Try the artichoke and the ricotta crumble cake!

I hope you enjoyed this guide on things to do in Alberobello – please let me know of your experience in the comments below!

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