Getting to Salento: Flights, Airports and Travel Tips
Salento is the very tip of Italy's heel: it looks far away on the map, but it's easier to reach than you might think. Here's a practical, honest guide to getting here — by plane, train or car — and to getting around once you've arrived, all the way to our masseria in Carpignano Salentino.
By plane: Brindisi or Bari
Salento is served by two airports in Puglia:
- Brindisi (Salento Airport) is the closest: it's the natural gateway to Salento. From the area around the masseria it's about an hour's drive, along a straightforward route towards Lecce.
- Bari is bigger and usually offers more connections, including international ones, but it's also further away: from the masseria, allow around two hours by car.
Our advice: always compare both airports. Sometimes a flight into Bari wins on schedule or price, but factor in the extra transfer — with children or heavy luggage, the hour you save by landing in Brindisi is often worth more than the discount.
By train
If you'd rather take the train, the station to aim for is Lecce, the terminus of the main lines running down the Adriatic coast: high-speed and Intercity trains arrive here from Rome, Milan and Bologna. From Lecce you can continue into the Salento countryside on the local lines or — far more conveniently — with a hire car picked up in the city.
It's a good option if you're coming from the north without any rush and want to skip the long drive: you travel rested and only rent a car for the days you actually need it.
By car
Driving down means committing to the journey, but it gives you the freedom to roam from day one. From northern and central Italy you follow the Adriatic motorway down into Puglia, then continue on the dual carriageway towards Lecce and Salento. To give you an honest idea of the timings: from Rome it's about six hours of driving, from Milan nine to ten. It's the choice for those who want to explore at their own pace, stop along the way, and bring everything they need for the beach.
The most important tip: you'll need a car
Here's the most useful practical point of all. Salento is a spread-out land: beaches, villages and historic towns are scattered across the territory, and public transport — especially in summer and in the smaller towns — doesn't cover everything. To truly experience Salento — switching between the two coasts, reaching the villages, returning each evening to the quiet of the countryside — a hire car is practically essential.
Two tips from people who live here:
- Book your rental well in advance for July and August: demand is sky-high and prices climb fast.
- Pick up the car as soon as you arrive (at the airport or at Lecce station): rates are generally better and you save yourself an extra leg of the journey.
The final stretch: reaching the masseria
The masseria sits along the Strada Provinciale 153, between Carpignano Salentino and Castrignano dei Greci: open countryside, olive trees and barely any traffic. Set your sat nav to "Masseria Montanari, Carpignano Salentino" and you'll get here without any trouble; parking on site is free. If you're arriving in the evening or have any doubts about the last stretch, just drop us a line: we'll send you precise directions.
In short
- Plane + rental car is the most convenient combination for most travellers: Brindisi if possible, Bari as the alternative.
- Train to Lecce + rental car is perfect if you're starting from the north and don't enjoy long drives.
- Your own car makes sense for families loaded with beach gear and for anyone who wants to make stops along the way.
The masseria is centrally placed: the Adriatic sea is about twenty minutes away, Lecce half an hour, Otranto twenty minutes. A comfortable base from which every destination is within easy reach for a day trip. If you're unsure about the best route for your dates and starting point, write to us: we're happy to point you in the right direction.