When it comes to choosing travel destinations for 2026, you may be looking for places a little off the beaten path, but many of us don’t have the time to traverse the world exploring far-flung locations.
One way to discover new destinations is to look in Lonely Planet’s guidebooks, and a new title called The Mediterranean includes a list of top off-the-beaten track destinations to explore in this sun-drenched part of Europe. Coming in at number one is an often-overlooked city that’s not usually high on tourists’ bucket lists, but has a mix of culture and beaches, and best of all, can be reached by a short flight from the UK.
Bari in Italy is the capital of the Puglia region, with a port that overlooks the sparkling Adriatic Sea. At the heart of the city is Bari Vecchia, the old town, where you’ll see the roots of the capital and some of its oldest buildings. Surrounded by ancient walls, the area is made up of narrow, cobbled streets, and buildings full of character.
One of its most iconic sights is the Basilica of Saint Nicholas, an 11th-century church that’s an important pilgrimage spot for Catholics and Orthodox Christians. Among its treasures are Romanesque statues and a medieval bishop’s throne. It’s also home to the relics of Saint Nicholas, the inspiration for Santa Claus, as well as a tomb which reportedly holds most of his remains.
The old town also has a famous alley, Strada delle Orecchiette, where its famous pasta is made. Local nonnas sit on wooden tables outside their homes making Puglia’s ear-shaped pasta, orecchiette, which translates as ‘little ears’. You can pick up some pasta-making tips from these experts, and buy a bag of fresh pasta to take home with you.
Look out for the city’s unique local dish, Spaghetti all’Assassina, when you visit local restaurants. This unique pasta dish is cooked in a pan, rather than boiling water, giving it a charred texture. It’s then finished with a spicy tomato broth, giving it an intense flavour and texture.
Bari’s position on the coast means it has some beautiful beaches right on its doorstep. Pane e Pomodoro – which literally translates to bread and tomato – is a small, sandy beach close to the centre with calm waters for swimming. Its unusual name comes from the local habit of snacking on these simple ingredients.
The city beaches can get crowded, but it’s easy to access the beaches along the Puglia coast on trains from Bari Centrale. Visit nearby Polignano a Mare, home of the beautiful Lama Monachile beach, a narrow bay which leads to sparkling turquoise waters, shallow enough to swim and splash around on hot days.
You can also take a bus to the north of the city to Lido San Francesco, a wide stretch of sandy beach. It’s home to a large beach club where you can rent a sunbed and parasol, as well as enjoy amenities like chilled cocktails being delivered to your lounger. However, like most Italian beaches, there are some free spots to find if you don’t mind lying on the sand.
Ryanair offers flights to Bari from London-Stansted year-round from as little as £18 one-way in January. From March, they’ll be starting a Bristol to Bari route, and they also offer seasonal flights from Edinburgh from April to October from £33 one-way. British Airways and easyJet also offer seasonal flights from London-Gatwick.
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