Glowing white against the olive colours of the Puglian plains, Ostuni occupies a hilltop position, its lime-washed buildings winding up the side of a hillside, topping out with the bellower of Ostuni’s Gothic cathedral. Its medieval design includes winding alleys and passages, and the white paint was originally used to add light to the dark streets, then during the plague the lime washing was thought to impact the spread and was enforced. As it has grown Ostuni has spread downwards, and while some of our picks for the best places to stay in Ostuni are within its medieval heart — with fantastic hilltop-town views — others are converted farmhouses on the outskirts of town. Within Ostuni we have mainly chosen converted villas and palazzos.

The masseria, or farmhouses, on our list are ideal for foodies, because some are still producing food — which guests will savour on the restaurant tables — and they’re also bastions of peace and tranquility in the Puglian countryside. While also being a very short drive (or cycle) from Ostuni itself and from the beaches of the Puglian coastline. Some masseria are also idea for families, with not just spacious grounds on offer, but also huge suites or apartment-style accommodation.

The best places to stay in Ostuni’s historic centre benefit from incredible views of the surrounding plains, and from some seriously historic architecture and ornamentation, much of it dating from the 14th through 17th centuries. The very best views are had from the 15th century Concattedrale and many streets are lined with charming places to eat and drink. The festival of the town’s patron saint takes place between the 24th and 27th of August every year, and there’s a fantastic foodie festival slightly earlier in August too. The coast is under ten kilometres from town, ideal for lazy days on the beach. There’s also an ancient cave system nearby, and the outdoorsy opportunities of the Natural Reserve of Torre Guaceto.

The Best Places to Stay in Ostuni

For Every Luxury

• Paragon 700 is notable for being the only red-coloured palazzo in a city of white buildings, and its elegant facade, complete with French windows and balconies, is matched by elegant interiors. This is a proper boutique hotel, with eleven individually designed and decorated rooms and suites, featuring such pleasures as parquet floors, original masonry, fireplaces, and double height ceilings. In addition to peerless style the hotel also offers access to a guests-only spa, plus an outdoor pool — the only one in Ostuni — and parking — another rarity in Ostuni. Naturally the gardens, bar and gourmet restaurant are exemplary too.

For a Central Location

• In the heart of the old town, the Ostuni Palace Hotel offers a careful blend of contemporary comforts and traditional luxury. The 34 rooms and suites are large and light, decorated in toile du joie style prints and matching colours. The piano bar and chic restaurant, with its excellent selection of local wine, add an air of romance, and the spa and hot tub don’t hurt. Even though the beach is a few kilometres away, the hotel has its own private beach, complete with a beach bar — and accessed by a shuttle bus. There are family suites available too.

For a Rural Escape

• Travel around six kilometres along winding roads outside of Ostuni and you’ll come upon the Masseria Le Carrube, a rural hideaway beautifully converted from an old masseria just a few years ago. Today the property has 19 guest rooms, decorated to reference the building’s former use, and all offering the perfect opportunity for escape and peace, plus serene grounds and a restaurant specialising in vegetarian food made from locally sourced produce. And everywhere the scent of lemons. This is the sort of hotel that always feels as if you have the place to yourself, even when it’s at capacity.

For a Special Stay

• If you're looking for a unique Puglian experience, the traditional trulli of Masseria Cervarolo are amongst the best places to stay in Ostuni. Originally peasant's workshops, these trulli have been converted to sleep up to six in total comfort — there are 12 other rooms in the main building. All painted traditional white, and arranged around a lovely pool, this is the ideal choice if you want to relax, maybe take some local cooking lessons and see the highlights of the region at your own pace.

For Foodies

• La Sommità Relais is a minimalist conversion of one of Ostuni’s beautiful, white villas, which has retained all the most charming original features, and added all the mod cons. Think spacious bathrooms, exposed stone walls and masonry, arched ceilings, and a central courtyard planted with ancient olive trees. The small plunge pool has been cleverly added by one of the terraces, as has the excellent Michelin starred restaurant, and everywhere you look the views are incredible.
• Il Frantoio is a now famous, and slightly eccentric hotel, that’s been converted from a rustic, rambling masseria, with courtyards and outbuildings that spread amongst the wisteria and bougainvillea. Despite the rambling size of this property, it still has only 16 guest rooms, decorated with local antiques and trinkets. The farm still grows a lot of produce, much of which fuels the restaurant, which offers a daily eight course tasting menu and should not be missed. The restaurant spills out into an inner courtyard, which is lit up with fairy lights come evening, and people start gathering for aperitifs. The pool is set amongst ancient olive trees. Memorable for all the right reasons.
• The Masseria Salinola is another beautifully converted farmhouse, this one dating from the 17th century. Like Il Frantoio, food is still produced here, and fed into the hotel restaurant, from the extra virgin olive groves, to the kitchen garden. The hospitality doesn’t start there, though, it starts with the warm family welcome, and rustic, cosy decor. There are just ten rooms, suites and apartments, with whitewashed walls and local antiques, and an outdoor pool. There are also bikes you can borrow to cycle into Ostuni. Some of the apartments sleep up to five.

For a private apartment or villa

• If you’d prefer to stay in an apartment or private villa we recommend you visit our online partner, Booking.com.

Travel Information

• Ostuni’s closest international airport is Brindisi Airport, which is just half an hour away by car or taxi, and about an hour and twenty minutes by bus. Bari Airport is next closest, at just over an hour away by car. We note Bari Airport because it’s larger, and served by Ryanair, and some flag carrier airlines, while Brindisi is also served by Ryanair and other European low-cost carriers.
• If you plan to hire a car, which we would advise if you want to get out and explore further afield, we recommend you visit our online partner Rentalcars.
• Ostuni is landlocked within beautiful Puglia, which means it has a Mediterranean climate of hot, dry summers and mild winters, but without the sea to provide cooling breezes. So in the hottest months of July and August, Ostuni anticipates temperatures of 30+°C. November through February are the wettest months, but December is still very cheery with Christmas decorations. In spring the flowers are a wonder, perfect for walkers, and you’ll have the gradually warming centres to yourself, then there’s bustling summer, lasting until late September, and the quieter, but still very cheerful stretch between October and December, when the weather is still mild and it's possible to enjoy lunch on the terrace.

Still not sure where to stay?

• You could expand your search to include the best places to stay in Puglia?
• Include some of the best places to stay in nearby Nardò? or Galatina, or the best places to stay in Bari or Lecce?
• You might want to refine your search by the kind of accommodation you’re looking for, and consider the the best beach hotels in Puglia? the most romantic hotels in Puglia? or the best hotels in Puglia with a private beach?
• Alternatively, you could contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.