5 Hidden Gem Beaches in Puglia Only Locals Know About

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Puglia is an Italian region located in the Southeast of Italy. Puglia is very known for its white coloured architecture cute towns and the expansive beautiful beaches that are located on both, the Adriatic Sea and the Ionian Sea.

Where to Find Hidden Gems Beaches in Puglia

Recently, Puglia is getting lots of attention and many tourists are flocking to the region’s popular destinations such as Alberobello and Polignano a Mare.

However, if you head further south of Puglia towards Salento’s areas, you will find the most crystal-clear beaches and the secret beaches in South Italy. These beaches range between rocky to soft and white sandy beaches that are locally described as the Caribbean Sea or the Maldives!

Fun Fact: Did you know around 1-hour drive to south of Lecce, there is a small coastal town called Maldive in Puglia!

Pro Tip: Salento is a word used to describe all the towns and cities that are located South of Brindisi city, Brindisi is included, Salento is at the heel of Italy on the map.

How to Get to Salento, Puglia, Italy

Getting to Salento by Air

Puglia has 2 main airports, the first is Bari International Airport and the second one is Brindisi Airport, the later is closer to Salento beaches, therefore flying to Brindisi Airport is easier to access those secret beaches only locals know!

Getting to Salento By Train

Main cities in Puglia, Bari, Brindisi and Lecce are well connected with the Italian regional trains, booking the train tickets directly using Trainline is simple and easy and no need to validate any tickets at the train stations.

Pro Tip: It is best to book your train ticket, at least, 1 month in advance during the summer high season time and to secure cheaper tickets.

Getting Around in Salento, Puglia

To wander and get around Salento and to access those secret beaches that only locals know about, I personally strongly recommend to rent a car, although there is a train system around main cities, the smaller towns and beach towns lacks train/bus networks and reliable schedules.

Pro Tip: I book my cars using Rentalcars, I have been using them probably for nearly over 8 years, I find it easy to use and book any type of cars and it offers free cancellations up to 24 hours before the trip date.

Quite Beaches in Salento, Puglia, Italy

#1: Porto Miggiano the Secret Beach in Puglia!

Porto Miggiano is one of the most hidden gem beaches in Puglia, very well known to locals but not to tourists.

I won’t lie, it can be busy during July and August, but if you arrive early before 9:00 am, it is guaranteed you will find the best beach spot!

Why Porto Miggiano is a Hidden Gem Beach in Puglia

Porto Miggiano is a true secret beach in South Italy! Porto Miggiano is a small shaped lagoon like beach nestled in between 2 cliff sides and the beach is sheltered from the winds.

Porto Miggiano sea colours are insanely blue mixed with emerald due to the reflection of the alpine trees from the cliffs. If you want to be away from the tourists, then this is your secret hideaway!

How to Get to Porto Miggiano

Porto Miggiano is almost 40-minute drive to South of Lecce. There is a paid car parking at the top of the cliff and once you arrive you will need to go downstairs using the steps, there are around 100 steps to climb down and back.

Pro Tip: Porto Miggiano is a rocky beach and requires a bit of mild level of physical activity to get to and to get into the waters, however, it is one of the most pristine beaches in Puglia and not known to many.

What to bring to Porto Miggiano, your Packing List

Given it is a free beach, visitors would need to bring their own food, towels, drinks, cooling boxes, floaters and/or beach chairs.

Porto Miggiano is unserved beach with virtually no food vendors onsite, therefore, ensure bringing your own snacks and drinks when visiting this beach.

It is important to also bring a sea shoes to enable accessing the waters without hurting the feet or slipping over the rocks.

Insider Tip!

There are no nearby places to eat to Porto Miggiano, however within a short drive, less than 10- minute, there are few nice seafood restaurants found at Porto Tricase. If you want to explore my top restaurants in this area, get your hands on this Google Map Pins for Puglia!

Top Places to Stay at Tricase

• Brando e Nico Suite Home for a traditional place to stay at the heart of Tricase historic centre and a short drive to the Adriatic Sea.
• Corte Piri a cute stay at a cute village with traditional Salentino vibes.

#2: Santa Cesarea Terme (Bagno Marino Archi) – The Secret Beach in Salento

Bagno Marino Archi in Santa Cesarea Terme is probably one of the most Italian Aesthetic Beach Clubs in Italy, oozing with “La Dolce Vita” vibes!

Why Bagno Marino Archi is a Hidden Gem Beach in Puglia

Bagno Marino Archi beach club is nestled between manmade dramatic cliffs, offering unmatched views of the deep blue Mediterranean sea colours. Bagno Marino Archi is one of the best quiet beaches in Puglia for couples.

The seawater colour and temperature during summertime is so sparkling and beautiful that you do not want to leave the sea at all and want to all day swimming and floating!

Pro Tip: Bagno Marino Archi is a rocky beach with easy access through few steps or the stairs from the beach club or the promenade.

How to Get to Bagno Marino Archi

It is almost 45-minute drive to the South of Lecce; first you drive to Santa Cesare Terme, and then you will find your destination. No buses nor trains serves this beach.

The car parking is free all year round, during July and August it is best to arrive before 9:00am to secure a car parking spot if you want to avoid parking faraway.

The Google Map Location for Bagno Marino Archi can be found here.

What to bring to Bagno Marino Archi, your Packing List

Bring your swim essentials, including sunblock creams, hat, towels, floaters. You could bring your own food and drinks to this beach, however the beach is serviced with a nice restaurant.

Places to Eat at Bagno Marino Archi

Bagno Marino Archi beach club has its own restaurant that serves amazing pizzas and fresh seafood dishes with amazing views.

It is reasonably priced, but a booking is required if you want to enjoy your food at the restaurant, or otherwise, you could buy pizza and eat it at your own sunbed.

Pro Tip: For scenic and romantic dinners, why not booking your dinner at this beach club too!

Insider Tip!

Although I mentioned earlier that this is a hidden gem beach where there are less tourists, this beach club is very popular among locals, during the months of July and August, make sure that you call the beach club to book in advance (around 6-8 weeks in advance to book sunbeds).

Pro Tip: You would need to attempt calling several times before someone answers you! Best times to call and book is in the early mornings before the beach club becomes busy!

Top Places to Stay at Santa Cesarea Terme

• Palazzo Vecchio Cocumola is an adults only stay offering stunning rooftop views with rooftop pool and freshly handmade daily breakfast.
• Terrarossa Salento Luxury Home is a private apartment close by the main attractions in the area and offers a beautiful outdoor swimming pool.
• Le Capase Resort Salento is a cliff side resort with a panoramic views of the Adriatic Sea and pool.

#3: Torre Dell’Orso – Lesser Known Beach in Puglia

My absolute first love beach in Puglia was and is Torre Dell’Orso! It was one of the first beaches I visited when I started exploring Puglia in 2019, so why Torre Dell’Orso is so special?

Why Torre Dell’Orso is a Hidden Gem Beach in Puglia

First, Torre Dell’Orso is often described as the Caribbean beach among locals, because of it has very soft white sandy beaches and very shallow waters!

You could walk for hundred meters inside the water and it is still at your waist level. The sea is very clear and clean and has a large stretch of beach space! it spans over 800 meters of sandy beaches.

Also, to entre Torre Dell’Orso beaches, you will walk through a beautifully naturally scented huge Alpine trees, short walk, less than 2-minute on a wooden path, and then you will be rewarded with the most stunning views of the sea.

How to Get to Torre Dell’Orso

Torre Dell’Orso is less than 30 km distance from the Baroque City of Lecce and can be reached easily by car.

Like all other beaches in Puglia (and in Italy generally) arriving before 9:00am gets you a good car parking spot. The parking spots at Torre dell’Orso are paid, you can download the EasyPark app and pay directly through the app.

What to bring to Torre Dell’Orso, your Packing List

Bring your summer essentials, sunscreen creams, towels, hat, umbrella if you don’t want to rent a sunbeds, beach chair and your food and drinks.

Due to the fine sandy beaches, a sea shoes are not required.

Pro Tip: In Torre dell’Orso, you can find many shops and restaurants and bars to purchase all your beach essentials, foods and drinks.

Places to Eat in Torre dell’Orso

There are many places to eat and drink and you will find some sellers roaming the beaches selling fresh fruits and/or ice creams, just make sure to carry cash if you wish to buy from beach vendors.

If you want a specific place to eat at Torre dell’Orso, check out my Google map pins for Puglia, showing my top restaurant selections in this area.

Insider Tip!

Torre Dell’Orso is a well serviced area, where you don’t need to bring anything with you apart from your swimming essentials!

Also, there are many beach clubs at Torre dell’Orso renting sunbeds with an umbrella that include the use of changing room and toilet, no reservation is needed, it is on first come first serve basis, and the pricing is reasonable!

Top Places to Stay in Lecce

For my favourite and top unique stays in Lecce, check out my other article listing all my top stays in Lecce, offering luxury and unique experiences at the heart of the Baroque city.

#4: Baia dell’Orte – The Secluded Spot near Otranto

Baia dell’Orte is the ultimate relaxation beach destination in Salento and a secluded spot near Otranto!

If you are a fan of a crystal-clear waters, being a part of the largest natural parks in Puglia and enjoy rocky beaches in a secluded place and not far away from a main city, then Baia dell’Orte is your ultimate relaxation and secret beach in Salento and probably in Puglia!

Why Baia dell’Orte is a Hidden Gem Beach

Baia dell’Orte has unique characteristics, first, it is located on a privately owned land that spans over 120 hectares on the rocky part of the Adriatic Coast.

Second, in this land you will find organic farms, horse stable while passing by the land’s Alpine trees. Third, Baia dell’Orte is the home of the famous nature formation attraction Bauxite Cave, which is a cave you can access it through a small trek and you will be welcomed with blue lake waters surrounded by the Apulian rich in mineral red terrain.

How to Get to Baia dell’Orte

Getting to Baia dell’Orte is less than 5-minute drive from Otranto port or 30-minute drive from Lecce. Only way to get to Baia dell’Orte is by car, there are no bus nor train services to this beach.

Once you arrive to the gated estate, you can park your car outside for free and walk a short 10-minute distance to the free beach.

Google map pin for Baia dell’Orte is here.

Pro Tip: if you booked your beach stay with Baia dell’Orte directly or booked for lunch, you get to park securely for free inside the estate and use their Golf Cart cars to transport you to the beach for free.

What to bring to Baia dell’Orte, your Packing List

Whether you are using the paid or free beach, you would need to pack on your summer beach essentials, towels, sunscreen creams, hat, sunglasses and a book.

If you are using the free beach, you have the option whether to dine at the beach only restaurant or bringing your own food and drinks.

Pro Tip: Baia dell’Orte beach has no network mobile signal, not for calls nor for internat. Although if you pay for the sunbed at the beach, you get the Wi-Fi password, the reception is weak and quite often not working, which makes this beach perfect for relaxation and outside the hustle and bustle in cities.

Places to Eat at Baia dell’Orte

Baia dell’Orte have an outdoor scenic restaurant, that needs booking during weekends and August. They serve fresh food from their land farm and fresh seafood, the food is very tasty and worth the pennies!

Pro Tip: Make sure to bring enough cash with you if you are using the restaurant and paying for sunbeds, sometimes the card machine doesn’t connect properly to the network resulting in unsuccessful card payments!

Insider Tip!

Baia dell’Orte beach is a true secluded beach club in Puglia, booking the sunbed and lunch at the restaurant is an experience by itself, they offer very scenic view to the sparkling sea waters while relaxing on their sunbeds and enjoying a limited to no connection to the outer world.

Top Places to Stay in Otranto

• Hotel Palazzo Papaleo is a 5 stars luxury hotel at the heart of Otranto city centre with beautiful alfresco original walls paintings, easy access to the sea and the Otranto cathedral and castle.
• Masseria Dei Monaci, a beautiful Salentino style stay offering stunning views of the Adriatic Sea and very short distance from Orte beach.
• Masseria Muntibianchi AgriResort Resturant & Spa, a beautiful agritourism stay just outside Otranto, offering a relaxing world-class Spa and ambience.

#5: Santa Caterina the Offbeat Beaches in Puglia

I call Santa Caterina the Positano of Puglia! Why? Because Santa Caterina reminds me so much of Positano for having the colourful cliff side villas overlooking the sparkling Mediterranean Sea.

Did I mention that Santa Caterina is a POSH place too?!

*Photo credits for Santa Catarina by the talented Lana

Why Santa Caterina is a Hidden Gem Beach

Santa Caterina is a popular beach frequented by the locals, where virtually there is no tourists hanging around in the area! That is why it is the best offbeat beach in Puglia if you want to indulge in the Italian lifestyle!

Furthermore, because Santa Caterina is located at the Ionian Sea, the westside of Puglia, the sunsets are Firey and magical! Sipping your favourite cocktail while watching the sun setting behind the blue horizons is just WOW!

How to Get to Santa Caterina

To get to Santa Caterina, driving around is the best way. It is less than 25-minute drive from Lecce or less than 15-minute drive from the picturesque town of Nardo!

Once you arrive, there are many paid parking lots to park the car using the APP EasyPark.

Pro Tip: The Blue Parking lines in Italy, they mean paid car parking spots. The white lines, either they are free to park spots or for a short period, usually less than 30-minute.

What to bring to Santa Caterina, your Packing List

At Santa Caterina there are beach clubs offering renting sunbed and umbrellas for a fee or people could use the free beaches to access and staying in the rocks.

If you booked a sunbed in a beach club, usually foods and drinks from outside are not allowed to be consumed inside the beach club. However, at the free beaches, make sure you pack your beach essentials in addition to sea shoes to protect your feet from the rocks.

Places to Eat at Santa Caterina

Santa Caterina is packed with top notch seafood and pizza restaurants; my top choices are:

• Lido Beija Flor is great to spend the day in their beach club and in the evenings it turns into a delicious seafood restaurant and a bar, reservations during weekends and high season is recommended.
• La Santa Bar for scenic Sunset Aperitivo and Drinks, no need to book unless dining at their restaurant.
• Barrueco Pizzeria offers a very tasty and casual outdoor dining by the sea dining experience, reservations are a must.

For more beach clubs and luxury seafood restaurants at Santa Catarina, my Google Map Pins is the best directory I created!

*Photo credits for Santa Catarina by the talented Lana

Insider Tip

Staying in the nearby hidden gem Nardo town which is less than 15-minute drive gives you the Baroque style stay and close to Santa Caterina bustling coastal town.

Both Nardo and Santa Caterina bustles with life during July and August with many events held for free at the main town squares.

Top Places to Stay at Santa Caterina or Nardo

• Relais Palazzo Vaglio is a recently restored palace at the heart of Nardo city, still has some historic features such as the ceilings and flooring, a very Romantic stay.
• Palazzo Muci a beautifully Salentino designed palace with a lush garden and picturesque Swimming Pool in Nardo.

Other Secert Beaches in Salento, Puglia

There are many secret beaches in Salento that are known by locals only, but despite being secret, during August the beaches in Puglia gets lots of crowds as the hot weather prompts all locals to cool down by the beautiful cyrstal waters!

Which beach is your favourite, do you want me to create your ideal Apulian escape? get in touch now!