Bari, the capital of Puglia, is a busy Adriatic cruise port where both MSC Cruises and Costa Cruises embark passengers and call on their Adriatic and Greek itineraries. Its old town, Bari Vecchia, is home to the Basilica of San Nicola, and the port is the gateway to the trulli of Alberobello, the cave town of Matera and the cliff-top village of Polignano a Mare.
What to Do in a Day in Bari
From the cruise terminal it is a 15–20 minute walk (or a short taxi ride) to Bari Vecchia. Visit the Basilica of San Nicola, which holds the relics of Saint Nicholas and is a pilgrimage site for both Catholic and Orthodox Christians, then the Cathedral of San Sabino and the Norman-Swabian Castle. In the lanes around Arco Basso, local women make orecchiette pasta by hand in their doorways; try focaccia barese or a panzerotto, then walk the seafront promenade (Lungomare). For a half-day trip, trains reach Polignano a Mare in about 30 minutes, while the trulli of Alberobello and the Sassi of Matera are about an hour away by road.
The tours below are not organized by the cruise lines. Bookings are made directly with GetYourGuide and you are responsible for getting back to the ship on time. If you prefer the cruise line's guarantee, contact our travel advisors after booking.
Cruise Port Address
Terminal Crociere – Porto di Bari
Stazione Marittima, Porto di Bari (Varco della Vittoria entrance), 70122 Bari, Italy
Google MapsBari Airport (BRI)
BRI (Karol Wojtyła) is about 10 km north-west of the city. Ferrotramviaria trains run between the airport and Bari Centrale in about 20 minutes, from where the port is a short taxi or bus ride away. A taxi between the airport and the cruise terminal takes 20–30 minutes.
Old Town (Bari Vecchia)
Bari Vecchia lies right next to the port: the Basilica of San Nicola and the Norman-Swabian Castle are a 15–20 minute walk from the cruise terminal, or a few minutes by taxi. The shopping streets of the Murat district and Corso Vittorio Emanuele II are just beyond.
Bari Centrale Station
Bari Centrale is about 2.5 km from the cruise terminal — 10–15 minutes by taxi, or by AMTAB city bus (e.g. line 20). Regional trains run from here to Polignano a Mare and Monopoli, and the FAL railway runs between Bari and Matera in about 1.5 hours.
Bari Weather by Month
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg. High °C | 12° | 13° | 15° | 19° | 23° | 28° | 30° | 30° | 27° | 22° | 17° | 14° |
| Rainfall mm | 🌤️ 50 mm | 🌤️ 52 mm | 🌤️ 59 mm | 🌤️ 45 mm | 🌤️ 37 mm | 🌤️ 26 mm | 🌤️ 23 mm | 🌤️ 29 mm | 🌤️ 55 mm | 🌦️ 70 mm | 🌦️ 75 mm | 🌤️ 60 mm |
Available cruises
MSC Orchestra7 days Mediterranean
Piraeus (Athens), Greece
9 Nov 2026 - 16 Nov 2026
MSC Sinfonia7 days Mediterranean
Bari, Italy - Valencia, Spain
24 Oct 2026 - 31 Oct 2026
MSC Orchestra7 days Mediterranean
Istanbul, Turkey
25 Nov 2026 - 2 Dec 2026
Costa Deliziosa7 days Mediterranean
Trieste (Venice), Italy
7 Nov 2026 - 14 Nov 2026
Costa Deliziosa6 days Mediterranean
Trieste (Venice), Italy
14 Nov 2026 - 20 Nov 2026
MSC Lirica7 days Mediterranean
Istanbul, Turkey
13 Jan 2027 - 20 Jan 2027
Frequently Asked Questions
Bari Airport has direct flights from many European cities, and Bari Centrale is on Italy's main Adriatic railway line. If you arrive by car, there is a car park at the cruise terminal, plus several private car parks nearby with a free shuttle to the ship; check current rates when booking, and book ahead in summer.
On a port call, ships typically stay 8–10 hours. Bari is also an embarkation port for MSC Cruises and Costa Cruises, so many passengers board or leave the ship here — your exact boarding time is in your cruise documents.
Yes, MSC Cruises, Costa Cruises and other lines offer excursions from Bari. The most popular are trips to the trulli of Alberobello (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the Sassi of Matera, Polignano a Mare and Castel del Monte, as well as guided walks through Bari Vecchia. The old town is easy to explore on your own; for Alberobello and Matera an organized excursion is the most convenient option.