Where to stay around Lecce

Is Lecce a good base for a first trip to Puglia?

Lecce suits a first trip that puts a baroque city first and the sea second. The area has nine stays on The Puglia Edit, seven in the comune of Lecce and two in Melendugno on the coast, with estimated prices from band 1 to band 5. Plan on a car for the beaches.

Italia.it, the national tourism portal, describes Lecce as a city of Roman monuments and, above all, 17th-century buildings in the color of a blond local stone. Events during your stay are on the Lecce page on Andiamo in Puglia (in Italian).

What is there to see in Lecce, and what is on the coast?

Start with the Basilica di Santa Croce, which italia.it calls the most significant example of Lecce baroque, and the Roman amphitheatre in Piazza Sant’Oronzo.

The coast is in Melendugno. Torre dell’Orso, named after its old watchtower, has a long sandy beach framed by a pine wood and cliffs, and just north of it lies the archaeological site of Roca Vecchia, inhabited from the Neolithic to the 2nd century BC. For the beach side, Andiamo in Puglia has a page on Melendugno with what to see around Torre dell’Orso, in Italian.

What kinds of stay are in Lecce, and what do they cost?

Four of the nine are palazzi, historic townhouses, three are boutique hotels and two are masserie. Prices span the whole scale: Masseria & Spa Luciagiovanni is in estimated band 1 and Palazzo Luce in band 5. How we select explains the bands, which run from under €250 to over €1,200 a night for a double room in high season, and why most are estimates.

Patria Palace and Tivoli Palazzo 1880 Lecce are both palazzi in band 3 with a spa, and Palazzo De Noha, a four-star boutique hotel, is also in band 3. On the coast, Masseria Borgo Sentinella is in band 2 and Posia Retreat & SPA in band 3 with a private beach.

Choosing a base here

When to go

Lecce works outside beach season. The Teatro Politeama Greco, built in 1737, hosts opera and symphonic seasons, and italia.it suggests seeing the old town at sunset, especially in summer. For the sea, Puglia's regional tourism content on italia.it says the water is still warm in autumn and the climate mild. None of the nine stays confirms its opening months, so check with the property before you book outside summer.

Getting there

Brindisi (BDS) is the nearer airport, and Bari (BRI) is the alternative if the connection from your city is better. By train, three stays name Lecce station: Tivoli Palazzo 1880 Lecce says to take the train to Lecce and then a short taxi ride or walk, Mantatelurè says its shuttle waits on the platform, and La Fiermontina Luxury Home lists transfers from the station. Lecce has a historic center, so ask your stay about parking and access before you arrive. Keep the car mainly for the coast at Torre dell'Orso and San Foca. Each stay page shows its distance to both airports when its position is precise.

Towns and villages

Lecce, Melendugno, Arnesano, Calimera, Campi Salentina, Caprarica di Lecce, Carmiano, Carpignano Salentino, Castri di Lecce, Castrignano de' Greci, Cavallino, Corigliano d'Otranto, Cutrofiano, Galatina, Guagnano, Lequile, Lizzanello, Martano, Martignano, Monteroni di Lecce, Novoli, Salice Salentino, San Cesario di Lecce, San Donato di Lecce, San Pietro in Lama, Sogliano Cavour, Soleto, Squinzano, Sternatia, Surbo, Trepuzzi, Veglie, Vernole, Zollino, Torre dell'Orso, San Foca.