For what to do in Bari for a day, build your walk from the city centre into Bari Vecchia, then continue to the Basilica di San Nicola, the cathedral, Castello Svevo and the waterfront.
Bari’s main sights can be visited on foot in a day or two, and BARI 102 is about an 11-minute walk from the city centre. This guide to getting around Bari can help with planning the walk.
- Start: Central Bari and its main streets.
- Walk: Enter Bari Vecchia through Piazza del Ferrarese or Piazza Mercantile.
- Visit: The basilica, cathedral and castle are all in the historic-centre area.
- Finish: Follow the seafront towards Pane e Pomodoro beach if you have time for the longer walk.
Start with central Bari and its main streets
How do you walk into Bari Vecchia?
Visit the Basilica di San Nicola and nearby lanes
The Basilica di San Nicola is a Romanesque church known for its connection to Saint Nicholas and his relics.
Bari sailors brought the saint’s relics from Myra in 1087, and the basilica was built to house them. The church is an example of Apulian Romanesque architecture; its crypt contains the relics. Its address is Largo Abate Elia, 13, Bari.
From the basilica, continue through the nearby lanes towards Strada Palazzo di Città and the Cathedral of San Sabino. That church is also Romanesque and has a crypt, making the cathedral area a natural next part of a walking visit.
If you plan your stop around a service, Mass times vary by season and day. Check the Archdiocese of Bari-Bitonto’s official information before you go.
Continue to Castello Svevo and the cathedral
- Hours
- Tuesday to Saturday, 09:00–18:00, and Sunday, 09:00–12:30, with Monday closure
Castello Svevo di Bari, a 12th-century fortress that now houses a museum, sits near the port and cathedral at the edge of the historic centre.
Visit the Cathedral of San Sabino nearby, then continue to the castle. Inside Castello Svevo, the Gipsoteca holds plaster reproductions of sculptures from major monuments and cathedrals in Puglia.
Pasquale Duretti and Mario Sabatelli made them in 1911 for the Regional Ethnographic Exhibition marking the 50th anniversary of Italian unification. For more museum stops, see the guide to museums in Bari.
Regular opening hours follow a seasonal pattern. From 1 April through 30 September, the castle is open Tuesday to Sunday, 09:00–19:00, and closed Monday. From 1 October through 31 March, it is open Tuesday to Saturday, 09:00–19:00, and on the first Sunday of each month, 09:00–19:00; on other Sundays, hours are 09:00–13:30.
Full-price admission is €10 and reduced admission is €2; advance booking is optional. The ticket office has separate hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 09:00–18:00, and Sunday, 09:00–12:30, with Monday closure. For current opening and ticket details, check the official site before you go.
Finish along the old port and waterfront
The seafront walk from Bari Vecchia to Pane e Pomodoro beach is about 3 km and takes an estimated 45 minutes to 1 hour.
This is the longer finish to your day: follow the waterfront from Bari Vecchia and the port towards the beach. The route is flat, with wide pavements, and is suitable for pushchairs and children. Pane e Pomodoro is a free beach at the end of the walk, while Teatro Margherita is a landmark on Bari’s waterfront.
Bari’s major seafront project had its first plans in 1918. Araldo Di Crollalanza’s period as Bari’s first podestà, beginning in 1926, was a turning point in the waterfront’s development. For a shorter day, end your walk around the old port.
FAQs
Can you see Bari’s main sights on foot in one day?
Yes. Bari’s main sights can be visited on foot in a day or two, so a one-day route can link the centre, Bari Vecchia, the churches, castle and waterfront.
Where can you enter Bari Vecchia?
Piazza del Ferrarese and Piazza Mercantile are two ways into the lanes of the old town.
Is Pane e Pomodoro beach free?
Yes. It is a free beach at the end of the seafront walk from Bari Vecchia.