The historic center of Bari, more commonly known as "Bari Vecchia", is a delightful discovery for both tourists and locals who live in other neighborhoods.
The ancient part of Bari is a labyrinth of alleys, often underestimated and victims of past prejudices, but today they are experiencing a strong cultural resurgence, not only because they house the relics of the world's most venerated saint: Saint Nicholas.
The richness of Bari Vecchia, the people who live there, and the aromas that are breathed in have managed to erase the memory of the fear that Bari Vecchia was dangerous, revaluing the oldest part of the city as the hub of cultural activities and experiences for both tourists and locals.
In addition to the many churches that the historic center of Bari boasts (primarily the Basilica of Saint Nicholas and the Cathedral of San Sabino), the oldest part of Bari offers a beautiful medieval castle, the longest seafront in Italy, and lots and lots of good food.
Ready to start this tour to discover the best things to see in Bari Vecchia? Let's go!
How to Get to Bari Vecchia
Bari is the capital of the Apulia region and one of the most important port, airport, and railway hubs in southern Italy. For this reason, reaching Bari, and then the historic center, is really very easy, regardless of the means of transport you use.
In this section of our guide, we will show you how to get to Bari Vecchia.
Getting to the Historic Center from Bari Port
Thousands of tourists arriving on cruises and ferries visit the old town of Bari every year. The cruise and ferry terminal in the Bari port is, in fact, adjacent to the historic center and allows you to reach the heart of Bari Vecchia in just a few minutes.
For those who enjoy walking, it is possible to reach the historic center of Bari on foot in 15 minutes.
Alternatively, the public bus, line no. 50, connects the maritime terminal with the central railway station and vice versa. The ticket costs 1.50 euros (more info on the lines and schedules of the AMTAB company here qui maggiori info su linee e orari dell’azienda AMTAB). Getting off at the Castello stop, you will immediately enter Bari Vecchia.
In the port, near the cruise terminal, you will find authorized taxi stops (here is the link to the website where you can book qui link al sito web) and a car rental service. The single ride costs 15 euros.
The Velostation offers bike and scooter rentals with the possibility of guided tours of the city starting at 10 euros.
Getting to Bari Vecchia from the Airport
The modern Bari “Karol Wojtyla” aeroporto di Bari “Karol Wojtyla airport was named the best airport in Italy in 2019.
There are several bidirectional connections:
TRAIN: Ferrovie Nord Barese (FNB) connects to the central railway station with a frequency of about 30 minutes. The journey takes about 20 minutes. The cost is 5 euros.
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