Porto Cesareo: How to get there, parking,attractions and where to eat

If the only intention of your Apulian vacation is to place yourself on one of these beaches where the sand is fine enough to seem like flour and the sea water is so clear that it leaves nothing to chance, well then don’t miss Porto Cesareo.

With it’s strong and wild colours, and endless stretches of beaches (almost 17 km) it’s one of the most sought after destinations in Apulia .

Here’s a guide with all the practical information so that you don’t miss out on anything in this place.

WHERE: How to get to PORTO CESAREO

Look at the Google indications

Porto Cesareo is found on Salentine’s Ionian coast, halfway between Gallipoli and Taranto. From our hotel in Tuglie, you take the direction of the Gallipoli Hospital and then go onto the highway heading towards Lecce. In 4 km you’ll reach the exit for Nardò. Once you’ve exited you’ll have to continue on highway 174 going towards Porto Cesareo. There are various bus lines for whenever you want to reach this location by public transit. To check the hours and bus stops I advise you to go onto the website “Salento in Bus” (That line is active from June 1^st to September 30^th)

PARKING: Is there a parking area? Do you have to pay?

A part from the classic parking lots outlined by blue lines and available scattered throughout town, there are two more central parking areas: The AF Parking area, located on Via A. Vespucci and another without a specific name but is positioned facing the beach.

ATTRACTIONS: What to do in Porto Cesareo?

The choices really are plentiful: from the beaches to the city visits with it’s splendid seafront.

For sun and beach lovers, Porto Cesareo is the best place in Puglia. With its 17 km coastline it’s impossible to be let down! There are 4 unique features of this place: the super white sand, the shallow seabed, the beach width, and the water clarity.

The Porto Cesareo coastline is entirely sandy and alternates between paid beach and pubblic beaches.

The historic centre is also very beautiful with its promenade, full of attractions. In particular, the first is full of artisanal local stores where, for example, you can buy beautiful Salentine Ceramics (even if the city best known for that is Cutrofiano) or make a delicious homemade aperitif with local delicacies like friselle and rustici.

Going for a stroll on the boardwalk is truly romantic and charming, especially if you do it in the late afternoon .

Right in front of the boardwalk you can see various small islands, the biggest of which is called “Isola dei Conigli” (Rabbit Island) because in the 1950’s they started breeding these friendly animals (they don’t exist there anymore). You can reach it with a hired boat or for the more sporty types, by swimming . Furthermore, the view is made even more beautiful by the closeness of it to the port full of small boats.

WHERE TO EAT in Porto Cesareo?

From breakfast to aperitif, for a quick break and a breathtaking view of the harbour, I recommend a stop at “Dolci Tramonti” (the name suggests the perfect time to visit , as the sun goes down). If instead you decide to stay for dinner, then there are two sweet typical restaurants: Le Zagare (I recommend trying the black spaghetti allo Jonio) or La Tavernetta-Braceria, which despite being located in a seaside town, it offers an EXCLUSIVE selection of meat, or in other words, you will find ONLY meat, side dishes, and desserts.