Stand on the seafront at the point where the old town walls meet the water and you are looking at the longest seafront promenade in Italy, with the Adriatic on one side and the alleys of Bari Vecchia behind you. Walk a few minutes inland and the streets narrow into a maze of churches, courtyards and laundry lines that most visitors never leave enough time for.
Bari suits travellers who want a southern Italian port city rather than a resort: people who will happily spend a morning in Romanesque churches and an evening in a bar on Corso Vittorio Emanuele II. It also works well for anyone using the city as a base before heading elsewhere in Apulia.
This guide covers the sights and experiences in Bari itself, drawn from what is known about the old town, the Murat quarter and the seafront, plus the events that fill the city at particular times of year.
Top things to do in Bari
1. Basilica of Saint Nicholas
The Basilica of Saint Nicholas is a Romanesque church with a gold ceiling and a crypt, and it holds many medieval attractions, including the magnificent cathedra of Bishop Elias. It is considered one of the prototypes of Apulian Romanesque architecture, which makes it the natural first stop in the old town.
On the same square, the Palazzo del Catapano and the Church of Saint Gregory are also worth a visit, so you can see all three without moving far.
2. Bari Cathedral
Bari Cathedral, also known as the Cattedrale di San Sabino, sits on Piazza dell'Odegitria. It is a Roman church even older than St Nicholas', though later refurbished in baroque style, and it is equally interesting. Entry is free.
It is close to the Church of Sant'Anna and the city harbour, so the two churches pair naturally in a single walk through the old town.
3. Castello normanno-svevo
The Castello normanno-svevo, also called the Swabian Castle or Hohenstaufen Castle, is the symbolic fortress of the city. It was built in the 12th century, then destroyed and rebuilt during the 13th century by Frederick II.
It stands in the old town, which is also the city's major nightlife district, so you can visit in the afternoon and return to the same quarter in the evening.
4. The old town and its waterfront walk
Bari Vecchia is the closely built old town on the peninsula between the two modern harbours. It is highly suggested that you take a walk along the waterfront, on top of the old city walls, which passes by the Fortino of Saint Antony, an old fort turned into a modern art gallery, and the former Monastery of Saint Scolastica, which belongs to the local university.
Be aware that the vast majority of the churches in Bari Vecchia are closed to tourists. They open on selected festivities, including Good Friday and All Saints Day, so plan church visits around those dates if the interiors matter to you.
5. Church of Sant'Anna
The Church of Sant'Anna on Strada Palazzo di Città was built between 1246 and 1247 as a synagogue, known as the "Scola Grande". It was later converted into a Christian church and entrusted to the Confraternity of St. Anna, and in 2009 it became a museum.
Its history is rooted in the period when there was a significant Jewish community in Apulia, mostly traders and farmers. The church is located in the local Giudecca and is also close to the city harbour and the Cathedral, so it fits easily into the same walk.
6. Church of Santa Chiara
The Church of Santa Chiara in Bari Vecchia was built on the site of the medieval Santa Maria degli Alemanni church, a site acquired by the Order of Saint Clare in 1429. After various renovations in the 16th century, it was completely rebuilt in its current Baroque style during the early 18th century. Entry is free.
It is a short stop rather than a long visit, and works well as part of a circuit of the old town's churches.
7. Teatro Petruzzelli
Teatro Petruzzelli on Corso Cavour is the largest theatre of the city. Its season features high quality productions of prose, opera, ballet and classical music.
Check what is on during your dates before you travel, since the theatre is best experienced through a performance rather than a look at the building.
8. An evening on Corso Vittorio Emanuele II and Piazza del Ferrarese
Bari is a lively city with a wide range of clubs, pubs, bars and discos popular among young people and adults. Many pubs are found on Corso Vittorio Emanuele II or in Piazza del Ferrarese.
If you are not a nightlife lover, you can spend an evening in the old town of Bari instead, strolling down its most famous streets and squares, such as Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, Via Sparano or Piazza del Ferrarese.
9. The Murat quarter and Via Sparano
The Murat quarter, erected by Joachim Murat, is the modern heart of the city. It is laid out on a rectangular grid plan with a promenade on the sea and the major shopping district along Via Sparano and Via Argiro.
This is the part of Bari to walk when you want the contrast with the old town: straight streets, shops and the sea at the end of them.
10. Torre Quetta
Torre Quetta is a popular summer destination. You can get there easily by taking the train from Bari station in the direction of Fasano and getting off at Bari Torre Quetta station on the seafront.
It is much loved not only by locals but especially by visitors who want to spend an evening by the sea, so it is a good choice for a warm-weather evening rather than a daytime sightseeing stop.
11. Festa di San Nicola
Saint Nicholas is the saint of the city, celebrated by the Catholic Church on 6 December. In Bari, several masses take place early in the morning, as early as 04:00, and a huge crowd and lots of fast food stands fill the old town through the night.
The city's main celebration of Saint Nicholas, however, takes place on 6–8 May with historical reconstructions, popular music and a two-day fireworks contest. Many pilgrims come from all over the world for this event.
12. Fiera del Levante
The Fiera del Levante is hosted yearly during September on Lungomare Starita. It is no longer just an exhibition, with stands for many countries in the world, but also a place for conferences and musical events.
If your trip falls in September, it is worth checking what is scheduled while you are in the city.
13. Bari International Film Festival
The Bari International Film Festival is an annual film festival held since 2009.
It is a reason to time a visit around the festival if film is what interests you, rather than something to seek out on an ordinary week.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start in Bari Vecchia at the Basilica of Saint Nicholas, then walk the short distance to Bari Cathedral on Piazza dell'Odegitria. Continue to the Church of Sant'Anna, which sits close to the Cathedral and the harbour, and add the Church of Santa Chiara while you are in the old town.
Afternoon: Visit the Castello normanno-svevo, then take the walk along the waterfront on top of the old city walls, passing the Fortino of Saint Antony and the former Monastery of Saint Scolastica. Cross into the Murat quarter afterwards for the grid streets and the shopping district along Via Sparano and Via Argiro.
Evening: Have a drink on Corso Vittorio Emanuele II or in Piazza del Ferrarese, or simply stroll the old town's streets and squares. In summer, take the train from Bari station towards Fasano and get off at Bari Torre Quetta for an evening by the sea.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see the churches of Bari Vecchia?
The vast majority of the churches in Bari Vecchia are closed to tourists. They are opened on selected festivities, including Good Friday and All Saints Day, so those are the dates to aim for if you want to see inside them.
When is Saint Nicholas celebrated in Bari?
The Catholic Church celebrates Saint Nicholas on 6 December, with masses in Bari starting as early as 04:00 and crowds filling the old town through the night. The city's main celebration takes place on 6–8 May, with historical reconstructions, popular music and a two-day fireworks contest.
How do I get to Torre Quetta?
Take the train from Bari station in the direction of Fasano and get off at Bari Torre Quetta station on the seafront of Bari.
Where do people go in the evening in Bari?
Many pubs are found on Corso Vittorio Emanuele II or in Piazza del Ferrarese. If you prefer a quieter evening, stroll the old town's most famous streets and squares, such as Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, Via Sparano or Piazza del Ferrarese.
Decide which of these fits your dates, check the festival calendar before you book, and start planning your days in Bari.