Best beaches Puglia & nearby campings

Now that’s a difficult one! Puglia has so many great beaches that we decided to select a top 5. Our criteria are simple: we prefer sandy beaches, public or private (with decent pricing for sunbeds and umbrellas!) and preferably with a good bar/restaurant. 

Please note that many campgrounds in Puglia have prime seaside locations and therefore often have their own stretch of beach.

City-beach Otranto / Spiaggia Otranto

The city-beach in Otranto (Lungomare Terra D'Otranto) may not have the natural splendour or Instagrammable beauty, it has a superb location overlooking the old town of Otranto. Watch locals play soccer and beach-volley and enjoy a great selection of nearby restaurants, shops and takeaways to breakfast, lunch, drink or dine. A Martinucci Laboratory is just around the corner, yes...this is a patisserie and icecream laboratory!!...so go and order that chocolate Cannoli!

Camping Masseria L’Uliveto is only 800m away from the historical center of Otranto. It is located in the heart of the Salentine countryside and offers campsites and rooms. Camping guests can have breakfast at the kiosk and diner at the trattoria of the farm. 

Pilone Beach / Spiaggia Pilone

Pilone Beach is part of the beautiful Parco naturale regionale Dune costiere da Torre Canne a Torre San Leonardo, right on the beach not far from Ostuni and Monopoli. Beautiful beaches, sandy dunes, clean and clear seawater and some lively beach clubs. We particularly like beach club Lido Boscoverde which has a relaxed atmosphere, a cool bar area and great bbq sandwiches.

Camping Villagio Il Pilone is located right on the same beach. Offering great camping vacations since 1965, Il Pilone offers both campsites and mobile homes within a pine forest. Big swimming pool, tennis courts...the works!

Torre Rinalda Beach / Spiaggia Torre Rinalda

South of Brindisi the Parco Naturale Regionale Bosco e Paludi di Rauccio includes the pretty beaches of Torre Rinalda. Think crystal clear water, sandy dunes, an old watchtower overlooking the Adriatic Coast. The national park is the last part of the oak forests and marshes that in the past stretched from Brindisi to Lecce. Beach bar Humility (next to the old watchtower) serves great fresh fish at decent prices. Never had sea urchins? Well, then this is the place to go! 

Glamping and Camping Torre Rinalda Camping Village is only 15km from Lecce and covers 15 hectares of woods and dunes. Its seaside location is truly unique. The camping offers campsites, mobile homes and a glamping area with safari tents. 

Torre Guaceto Beach / Spaggia di Torre Guaceto

This beautiful beach (20km north of Brindisi) is part of the nature reserve of Torre Guaceto (Area Marina Protetta Torre Guaceto) which is a WWF oasis. This unspoilt coast with high dunes and crystal clear water attracts locals and Italians holidaying and many kite surfers as the spot is known as Puglia’s best kite-spot. Village Camping Meditur is one of the coolest places along the coast. They rent mobile homes and chalets. Their RV spots are close to the pool and beach. Their whitewashed bungalows very stylish and their wooden chalets simple but efficient.

Scialara Beach / Spiaggia della Scialara

Vieste is a pretty summer town on a promontory overlooking the Adriatic Sea. Its whitewashed houses and limestone-paved streets look amazing under the sun which shines more that 300 days per year. The city’s southern Scialara beach begins at the “Pizzomunno”, a 25m tall white rock monolith and runs for almost 4km south to Lido di Portonuovo. From the golden sanded beach you can see the old town on top of a limestone massif with the Castello Fortezza in front. Lido l'Approdo is the first lido (beachclub) next to the Pizzomunno and serves great seafood. If seafood is not your thing walk to nearby to Il Fornaio Panificio Latorre (Via Sottotenente Girolamo de Maria 2) which serves one of the best focaccias in town.

Camping Villaggio Baia degli Aranci is located directly on San Lorenzo beach on the other side of town, approx. 1.5km from the center of Vieste.