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Key Info for Visitors
- Currency: EUR
- Languages: Italian, English, German, French
- Climate: Mediterranean
- Timezone: Europe/Rome
- Population: Approximately 95,000 residents
- Best Time to Visit: best time to visit Lecce is spring and early autumn for comfortable weather and fewer tourists.
- Visa Requirements Visitors from the European Union, United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and many other countries can enter Italy visa-free for short stays up to 90 days. US, UK, and EU citizens do not require a visa for tourism purposes. Some travelers may apply for an e-visa depending on their nationality. Visitors from countries outside the visa-exempt list generally need to obtain a Schengen visa prior to arrival. Visa on arrival is not typically available for Italy.
About Lecce
Lecce is a captivating city located in the heel of Italy’s boot, in the Apulia region. It stands out for its extraordinary Baroque architecture, which adorns churches, palaces, and public buildings, earning it the nickname "The Florence of the South." Visitors are drawn to Lecce’s charming historic center, where narrow cobblestone streets wind past intricately carved limestone facades. The city’s Roman amphitheater and ancient ruins add a layer of historical depth, blending the classical with the baroque. Lecce offers a vibrant cultural scene with local artisans, traditional festivals, and a lively café culture. Its Mediterranean climate ensures warm summers and mild winters, making it an appealing year-round destination. The city is also a gateway to exploring the beautiful Salento peninsula, with its pristine beaches and scenic countryside. Lecce’s unique blend of history, art, and southern Italian hospitality makes it a must-visit for travelers seeking an authentic and enriching experience.
Top Attractions
1. Basilica di Santa Croce – A masterpiece of Baroque architecture with an ornate façade and stunning interior details. 2. Piazza del Duomo – The main square featuring the Lecce Cathedral and a lively atmosphere perfect for people-watching. 3. Roman Amphitheatre – Ancient ruins located in the city center, showcasing Lecce’s Roman heritage. 4. Castello Carlo V – A 16th-century fortress offering insight into Lecce’s military history and panoramic views. 5. Museo Faggiano – A fascinating museum built on an archaeological site revealing layers of Lecce’s past beneath a private home.
Popular Activities
Explore Lecce’s historic center on foot to admire its Baroque architecture and artisan shops. Participate in local festivals such as the Festa di Sant’Oronzo, celebrating the city’s patron saint. Enjoy wine tasting tours in nearby vineyards and cooking classes to learn traditional Apulian cuisine. Relax at nearby beaches along the Adriatic and Ionian coasts or take cycling tours through the scenic Salento countryside. Evening strolls to sample street food and visit lively piazzas offer a taste of local life.
Lecce Tours & Experiences
- Top Attractions: Highlights of Puglia
- Duration Range: Explore Lecce’s historic center on foot to admire its Baroque architecture and artisan shops. Participate in local festivals such as the Festa di Sant’Oronzo, celebrating the city’s patron saint. Enjoy wine tasting tours in nearby vineyards and cooking classes to learn traditional Apulian cuisine. Relax at nearby beaches along the Adriatic and Ionian coasts or take cycling tours through the scenic Salento countryside. Evening strolls to sample street food and visit lively piazzas offer a taste of local life.
- Group Size: Intimate Groups
- Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate
- Recommended For: The best time to visit Lecce is spring and early autumn for comfortable weather and fewer tourists. Pack light clothing for summer and a light jacket for cooler evenings. Respect local customs by dressing modestly when visiting churches. Carry cash as some smaller establishments may not accept cards. Learn a few basic Italian phrases to enhance interactions. Lecce is generally safe, but standard precautions for personal belongings apply. Use public transportation or walk to avoid parking difficulties in the historic center.
Average Tour Price: $65
Lowest Price Tour: $55
Highest Price Tour: $200
269 Available Tour Excursions in Lecce
Join Enza and her family in their charming villa in Corigliano d’Otranto, a picturesque village just 15 minutes from Lecce and one of the most beautiful historic towns in Salento. Discover the joy of making orecchiette and macaroni using traditional Apulian techniques and fresh local ingredients. This immersive cooking class takes place in an authentic and welcoming Salento home, where simplicity meets tradition. Together, we'll prepare classic regional recipes using seasonal produce, handmade pasta, extra virgin olive oil, and vegetables grown in our garden or sourced from local farmers. You'll enjoy a rich table of traditional dishes passed down through generations, from orecchiette with tomato and basil to maccheroni with seafood or chickpea cream and walnut crumble – all paired with excellent local wines. We'll end the evening with a delicious jam tart, a sip of homemade limoncello, and a touch of traditional music – the true flavors and authentic spirit of Puglia.
Price: $93.32
Duration: 3 hours
THIS TOUR IS IN ENGLISH IF YOU ARE A SOLO TRAVELER ( the tour requires a minum of 2) OR YOU WANT A PRIVATE TOUR, WRITE ME AT [email protected] Instagram page: sb_sarabianchi We will go around the old town of Lecce for about 2hrs. I'll show you the most important Baroque and Roman monuments and I'll take you to discover some hidden corners of the town. I'll tell you about its history and its traditions! Lecce will surprise you! Other things to note: - use sunscreen, the sun could be very strong in the summertime
Price: $35.44
Duration: 2 hours
What you will do will be an authentic sensory and cultural experience. Making fresh pasta by hand is a tradition deeply rooted in Salento culture and this course offers you a practical immersion in local life and customs, going beyond traditional tourist experiences. Learning will be practical and fun and the course will allow you to gain a skill that you can take home and replicate with friends and family. The course is aimed at small groups and therefore encourages direct interaction with hosts. While making the pasta with their own hands, guests will have the opportunity to ask questions, hear stories and receive personalized attention; for this, a human bond will be created that enriches the experience. The course is perfect for those traveling as a couple, family or small groups, allowing an intimate and fun sharing of the culinary experience.
Price: $116.95
Duration: 4 hours
Explore Lecce countryside and surrounding ancient villages in a eco-friendly healthy way by riding a top-quality E-bike. Total E-ride is 28kms (easy level Ride, less than 2hours on bike seat). Enjoy the authentic experience of a guided tour of an underground ancient Olive oil Mill. Try the traditional "Leccese Coffee" and a delicious Pasticciotto at Pasticceria Ascalone where the first Pasticciotto was made in 1740. Visit 2 of the 9 villages part of the "Salentine Greece" an area inhabited by Griko people, an ethnic Greek minority migrated here 3000 years ago. Very interesting they speak ancient Greek! In Galatina visit one of the most beautiful Basilicas of Puglia famous for the Giotto style's Frescoes (Santa Caterina d'Alessandria). In Galatina you have opportunity to have Wine taste of Primitivo Wine OR a Traditional Puglian Lunch (NOT INCLUDED and ONLY IF IS A PRIVATE GROUP AND REQUESTED ONE WEEK IN ADVANCE). At 12:58 we will catch the train from Galatina to Lecce (50 mins ride).
Price: $176.02
Duration: 5 hours
This tour will take you to discover the Salento west coast with Gallipoli town starting from Lecce and crossing the peninsula among typical villages and vineyards also stopping, as optional choice, in one of the most important Salento winery for a tasting experience. There will be no shortage of halts along the coast for fully enjoying the breathtaking views that will show you up. The journey will go on heading to a wonderful beach where you could swim and have refreshment before your independent tour among narrow alleys, shops and sea views of which Gallipoli will surprise you. In the case the wine tasting won't be done, like on Sunday days or depending on the cellar availability, we'll stop in Galatina for visiting its fascinating late Romanesque church of Santa Caterina d'Alessandria, built in 1390, full covered with stunning frescoes by workers from Giotto school. This option will be also selectable as "Discovering Galatina Basilica" if you prefer to skip the cellar or the beach.
Price: $135.85
Duration: 7-8 hours
After a warm and busy day in Puglia, it is time to relax and enjoy the magic of Mediterranean nights. This tour starts at sunset, continues during twilight and finishes at night. It takes place in the beautiful and peaceful countryside of Rudiae. First, we will visit the archaeological park, then, surrounded by nature, olive trees and remains of ancient civilizations, we will enjoy some stargazing and talk about myths, constellations, history, cosmology and more.
Price: $20.79
Duration: 2 hours
Make the pleasant memory of an exclusive trip indelible. Our Cranchi speedboat tour is a real experience with captains who experience the sea every day of the year. Our love for the sea will guarantee you an experience that will be difficult to forget. Our journey starts from the port of S.M. of Leuca, among tales and legends you will walk along all the caves that characterize the eastern and western coasts from a safe distance. Two swimming stops are planned in the most suggestive coves, where participants will be able to use snorkeling equipment or simply enjoy moments of relaxation on the boat. The boat, a motorboat equipped with cushions, mini bar with soft drinks, stern platform, awning, boarding ladder, fresh water shower and beach towels, will guarantee a comfortable tour in complete safety.
Price: $401.65
Duration: 3 hours
Come and visit us in our eighteenth-century Masseria, we will take you to discover the centuries-old olive trees, the stages of production of extra virgin olive oil and the ancient underground oil mill. We will discover together the history of the area, the peasant past of our Puglia and we will immerse ourselves in an expanse of centuries-old plants of unique beauty. We will create a guided tour of extra virgin olive oil tasting and we will learn to recognize the aromas and flavors of a quality extra virgin olive oil. We will thus be able to choose an excellent product, to preserve it carefully and to enhance it in the kitchen. In a nutshell: the entire oil production chain, from cultivation to bottled extra virgin olive oil, in a suggestive and authentic setting, which oscillates between past and present. The proposed visit experience takes place in a very small group, to better welcome guests and interact with them.
Price: $33.08
Duration: 1-2 hours
Our trip will take us to some of the most beautiful beaches on the Otranto coast, enjoying the whole journey surrounded by a lovely Mediterranean scrubland. I'll drive you to the Otranto city first where you can have an independent tour in the amazing old Town. Then we'll go to one of well rated bakery shop for an independent shopping of typical gluttony that you might enjoy in the first beach we'll stop along the waterfront of Otranto. The next transfer will take us to the Turks’ bay, the wildest beach you could ever seen. Here you can enjoy your time as you prefer, getting a swim or walking around the pine path discovering the amazing coves that the place offers. In Torre Sant’ Andrea, our next halt, you could find out the clearest water you’ve ever seen in Puglia. The tour is just for you, so we don’t need hurry and your visit time will be very flexible.
Price: $152.39
Duration: 7-8 hours
Live an exclusive experience with Skipper Rental (max 11 people)! Customize your tour among the caves of Santa Maria di Leuca on board our boats. Rely on our expert guides for an unforgettable adventure!
Price: $236.27
Duration: 2 hours
I worked for 15 years as a biochemical researcher of wine. Now I have transformed my dream and my passion into an activity dedicated to the world of wine, offering my clients an exclusive experience in the authentic culture of Salento wine. Thanks to my experience of online wine sales matured with my website I know perfectly all the cellars and wines of Salento. And now I want to use all my knowledge to give you the best and most complete wine experience you can find in Salento. Make yourself comfortable because the tour is about to start.
Price: $200.83
Duration: 8 hours
We will explore the marine protected area of Porto Cesaereo on board our kayaks. We will move in the calm and transparent waters of the lagoon and reach the Island of Rabbits, with its small beaches in Caribbean colors. Here we will take a short walk to discover the island from a historical and naturalistic point of view and then a stop for swimming, relaxation and snorkeling. We will then reach the tower of Porto Cesareo, a defensive system dating back to the sixteenth century and we will skirt the town's promenade and its beautiful golden beaches. If the sea allows, we will have the opportunity to observe an important site of underwater archaeology: we will observe fascinating Roman columns, lost from a ship during a storm and lying on the sandy bottom of Porto Cesareo since the second century AD.C.
Price: $64.97
Duration: 3 hours
The tour starts in Lecce old town. We will ride through tiny countryside roads surrounded by vineyards, masserias and olive trees. Coffee brake in NARDÓ where you can try "caffe Leccese" and delicious Pasticciotto. After Nardo we will soon reach the Ionian sea and take a SWIM the crystalline clear water of Santa maria al Bagno village. We will continue by cycling along the coast line (mainly cycle path) to Gallipoli. After visiting Gallipoli old town we will take a Private Taxi (INCLUDED) back to your hotel in Lecce (35 mins).
Price: $169.17
Duration: 6 hours
I'm Bart Conterio, Mind-Body Therapist, I have developed a program of massages integrated with meditation, specifically designed for Female Psychophysical Well-Being. A 3-hour sensorial massage, capable of instilling particular emotions in a woman, that profoundly influence her state of mind and her physical and psychological well-being, in the hours, days and weeks following the massage. An infinite well-being that adapts to the needs and requirements of the woman at a given moment, based on the emotional and bioenergetic state. After a mindfulness TOUCH® session, women say they feel more alive, more serene, in perfect psychophysical peace and harmony and more connected with themselves. It's a break with a regenerating effect: some of my clients have compared their state of psychophysical well-being, after a 3-hour mindfulness TOUCH® session, to "a holiday weekend without the stress of travel".
Price: $212.64
Duration: 3 hours
Visit Lecce by bike or in the comfort of our modern and ecological rickshaws. Join a private tour and discover the most beautiful places with an expert guide. Choose between a morning, afternoon or evening departure and discover the spirit of charming Lecce. Admire historic attractions, including the Roman amphitheatre of Piazza Sant'Oronzo and the ornate Basilica of Santa Croce, as well as Piazza Duomo. You can learn about authentic local culture and traditions and sample mouthwatering foods, such as ice cream or bruschetta, and a glass of wine. Enjoy a flexible itinerary and the individual attention of your guide.
Price: $82.69
Duration: 1-3 hours
Instagram: discovering_lecce what’sApp: +3287568899 **contact me before booking if you are a smaller number of 5 people or a larger number of 15 people** **contact me before booking for tour customization requests** Lecce is a precious gem, a unique Baroque city, for centuries a crossroads of different cultures of the Mediterranean, with clear blue skies and golden palaces, we marvel with the elaborate facades of Baroque buildings and churches and with the interiors that explode in a symphony of angels, cherubs, saints and flowers! It's a magical place, where time seems to stand still!
Price: $191.37
Duration: 2 hours
With the help of your native host, you will learn to make pasta from scratch and cook it according to our local recipes. Our host will teach you about the regional traditions, culture and history.
Price: $94.51
Duration: 4 hours
Marine excursion in kayak and canoe in the splendid waters of Santa Maria di Leuca. We will paddle in this beautiful stretch of the Ionian coast and discover its most particular characteristics, its geological origins but also the charm of its ancient history with a route among the most beautiful caves.
Price: $64.97
Duration: 3 hours
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Important Tour Information
- Bring comfortable walking shoes and appropriate clothing
- Check tour cancellation and refund policies
- Arrive at the meeting point at least 15 minutes early
- Carry valid identification and tour booking confirmation
Frequently Asked Questions
Local Food & Cuisine
Lecce’s cuisine is rich in traditional Apulian flavors, emphasizing fresh, local ingredients. Signature dishes include orecchiette pasta with turnip tops, rustico leccese (a savory pastry), and pasticciotto (a custard-filled pastry). Seafood is abundant, with dishes featuring fresh fish, mussels, and octopus. Olive oil, vegetables, and cheeses like burrata are staples. Dining customs favor relaxed meals with family and friends. Noteworthy restaurants include Osteria degli Spiriti and La Cucina di Mamma Elvira, both celebrated for authentic local dishes.
Getting Around
Lecce is accessible by train from major cities such as Bari and Rome, and by car via the A14 and SS16 highways. The nearest airport is Brindisi Airport, about 40 km away, with shuttle and taxi services to Lecce. Within the city, walking is the best way to explore the historic center. Local buses connect Lecce to surrounding towns and beaches. Taxi services are available but can be limited. Renting a scooter or bicycle is popular for short trips. Transportation costs are generally affordable.
Travel Tips
The best time to visit Lecce is spring and early autumn for comfortable weather and fewer tourists. Pack light clothing for summer and a light jacket for cooler evenings. Respect local customs by dressing modestly when visiting churches. Carry cash as some smaller establishments may not accept cards. Learn a few basic Italian phrases to enhance interactions. Lecce is generally safe, but standard precautions for personal belongings apply. Use public transportation or walk to avoid parking difficulties in the historic center.
Culture & Customs
Lecce’s culture is deeply rooted in tradition, with strong family values and religious observances. Social customs include greeting with a handshake or cheek kisses among acquaintances. Festivals like the Festa di Sant’Oronzo and Carnevale di Lecce showcase vibrant local traditions with music, dance, and processions. Dining is a social affair, often lasting several hours. Visitors should be punctual for meals and respectful in religious sites. Tipping is appreciated but not mandatory.
