Are you planning on visiting Alberobello with kids but aren’t sure if it’s a kid-friendly town?
Are you wondering if you should add the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Alberobello to your family’s itinerary or just skip it and head to the beach instead?
I’m a mamma of three living in Italy and I first visited Alberobello as a cycling guide in 2004. And, for the last (almost) decade, I’ve been bringing my own kids to the town of the trulli. From babies to toddlers, preschoolers to elementary-age kids – they’re always fascinated with the fairy-tale town.
It’s not undiscovered, it’s crowded, and it’s ‘touristy’ – but our family loves it and chances are, yours will too!
In order to make your time in Alberobello enjoyable, smooth, fun, and stress-free, I’ve put together this guide to visiting Alberobello with kids. It’s based on my visits with my family and my visits as a cycling guide.
I trulli hope you have an amazing time with your kids in Alberobello!
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Where is Alberobello?
Alberobello is in the province of Bari on the ‘heel of the boot’ in the region of Puglia (aka Apulia) in Southern Italy. More precisely, it’s in the Valle d’Itria (Itria Valley), set about 20 kilometers from the Adriatic Sea, almost equidistant from the cities of Bari and Brindisi.
Should Your Family Visit Alberobello?
If you’re weighing whether or not to make a visit to Alberobello with your family, keep in mind that:
- Alberobello is a UNESCO World Heritage Site – it’s a special place
- Alberobello is home to the unique trulli homes – and kids love the site of them
- The town has just over 10,000 residents, and sees over 2 million visitors each year – which means it’s crowded!
- There are trulli museums in town so kids can learn about the history of the town and daily trulli life
- Alberobello is focused on tourism – you’ll see a lot of trinkets for sale and postcard stands
- It’s easy to walk around the small historic center of Alberobello, but the hills, steps, and slippery stones make it difficult with a stroller.
I’m not a huge fan of overly touristy places, but Alberobello is such a unique place that I think it’s worth pushing some of the negatives aside so kids can see this trulli special town.
We visit Alberobello every single time we are on a family trip to Puglia – and my kids are happy to return (so am I).
When to Visit Alberobello
I always recommend visiting Alberobello between the late spring and the early fall so that you can combine your visit to Alberobello with time at Puglia’s gorgeous beaches (my kids’ favorite thing to do in Puglia).
Yes, this is also the most crowded time to visit Alberobello.
If you want to visit Alberobello in a quieter period, you’ll need to come between November and February. But, keep in mind it will be too chilly for swimming. And, outside of Christmas, many restaurants and shops are closed.
If you’re in Italy for Christmas with your family, Alberobello (and nearby villages like Locorotondo) have lovely Christmas markets. Plus, seeing the trulli in twinkling lights is a treat for young and old.
Map of Alberobello with Kids
The Best Things to Do with Kids in Alberobello
You could march all over Alberobello for hours checking different trulli off your list and making sure you’ve seen it all. But, that’s a recipe for disaster if you have little ones traveling with you.
The best way to experience Alberobello is a family is to choose a few things off of the list below and move slowly through town, soaking it up, and letting others rush by you on their way to ‘see it all.’
For example, on my most recent visit with my 5 year old son, we:
- Strolled through Rione Monti
- Played at the playground
- Walked to the Belvedere in Rione Aia Piccola
- Visited Trullo Sovrano (stopping to listen to organ practice at the Basilica of Saints Cosmas and Damian and to check out the Robottega)
- Had gelato at Dolci Mille Voglie
- Said hello to the fish at the pond in Piazza del Popolo
Did we see all of the famous sites of Alberobello? No – but we had a fabulous day!
Here are some of the best things to see and do in Alberobello as a family.
Take a Stroll Through Rione Monti
From Largo Martellotta, walk uphill into Rione Monti on Via Monte San Michele.
Check out the small shops – even if you’re not a trinket lover, kids get a kick out of things like the mini trulli figurines and magnets and photos of what Alberobello used to look like.
Plus, it’s fun to walk into the trulli to see what they’re like on the inside.
When you get to Piazza Gabriele d’Annunzio, head right and downhill onto Via Monte Sabatino, or go a little further to the playground.
Good To Know: Trulli are typical buildings from the Valle d’Itria, and especially Alberobello. They were usually built as temporary homes, permanent homes, or storage buildings. The common form is a square base with a conical roof, formed by stacking limestome slabs from the land. You can show your kids this short YouTube video for a quick intro to the trulli.
Helpful Tip: Don’t be afraid to get off the ‘main drag’ and explore some of the smaller streets. It’s surprising how many people don’t wander – you may even be alone on some of the side streets!
Play at a Playground with a View
Villa Donnaloja playground is set above the trulli of Rione Monti. It’s tiny but there’s also some green space so it’s a good place for kids to run around without running into people or falling on the slippery stones.
Good To Know: It’s not a playground, but the Villa Comunale Gardens in Rione Aia are also nice for kids who need to run around a little bit. It’s conveniently located near the main entry point to town, there’s a little bar area for a drink or snack, there’s some shade, and nice views of Monti. And, there are picnic benches, so this is a nice spot if you want to have a snack you brought with you.
Find Symbols on the Trulli
While you’re walking around town, point out the painted symbols on the limestone slabs of the trulli roofs and the sculptures on top of the trulli.
Check out the Robottega
My son loved seeing the robots displayed outside the shop and checking out the little goods inside. It’s on your way to the Trullo Sovrana.
Good To Know: There’s another Robottega in Matera – another amazing place in Italy to visit with kids! Read our Guide to Matera with Kids.
Take a Cooking Class with a Nonna
I always recommend trying a cooking class with kids in Italy – even if your kids aren’t big helpers in the kitchen at home.
Cooking classes are a nice way for little (and big) kids to learn about Italian culture and how ingredients go from farm to table.
In Alberobello, you can take a cooking class with a nonna (grandmother) in a trullo and make local specialties like orecchiette or focaccia barese, using local ingredients (like oil from the olive trees you see!).
Helpful Tip: Even if you don’t do a cooking class, pick up some orecchiette pasta (like in the photo above) to bring home as a souvenir. Kids love eating the ‘little ears’ pasta from the area.
Find Your Favorite Viewpoint
It’s nice to walk around town amongst the trulli, but make sure you give your kids a view of the trulli from above to put the town into perspective.
We love the belvedere (beautiful view) from the Bar Villa Belvedere. Just follow the yellow sign and walk down the zig-zag stone path until you have the view you want of Rione Monti. You can also get a drink or snack at the bar and sit in the shade – perfect on a hot day!
Check Out Alberobello in Miniatura
Are there any kids who don’t love mini versions of places?
This small-scale model of Alberobello will be a quick visit (free, donations encouraged) and I think it’s worth it if you’re traveling with little ones.
Visit Trullo Sovrano
On our most recent visit, I was surprised about how much my 5-year old enjoyed walking through the museum at Trullo Sovrano. We probably spent about 30 minutes walking around and he was fascinated with the fact that people actually lived in the trulli (yes, it only really sunk in here after seeing them from the outside all day).
He most appreciated the bedroom, the weaving loom, and the food preparation area.
It’s inexpensive – so worth it even if your kids just spend 10 minutes.
Go on a Trullo Scavenger Hunt
Your kids may want to look for some of Alberobello’s most unique trulli:
- Trullo Siamese – trulli Siamese twins
- Trullo Sovrano – double-story trullo that’s now a museum
- Trullo Pia Piccolo – Alberobello’s smallest trullo
How to Get to Alberobello with Kids
You can get to Alberobello in many ways:
- Driving your own car – most flexible option; parking is the only pain with this method
- Taking the train – it’s just a 10-ish minute walk to the center from the train station; you’re at the mercy of the train schedule
- Taking the bus – possible but not my favorite options with kids/strollers; you’re at the mercy of the bus schedule
- Hiring a private driver – pricey
- Going on a private or group tour – less flexible unless it’s a private tour, can be pricey
With kids, the easiest ways to visit are with your own car or having a private driver. If you’re planning on exploring Puglia’s small towns and beaches, I recommend having your own car.
I have visited Alberobello with our own car, with rental cars, and with tour groups.
Read more about
Driving in Puglia
Taking the Train in Italy
Where to Stay in Alberobello with Kids
One of the best ways to see Alberobello without the crowds is to spend the night. Like in many popular Italian destinations, you’ll notice a dramatic difference in the spirit of the place once the daytrippers are gone (from around 6:00pm through breakfast time the next day).
So, if you’re planning on staying in the area, try to spend a night in a trullo in Alberobello and feel like citizens of the town!
Trulli e Puglia Resort – Mimmo and his crew at Trulli e Puglia have about 20 trulli scattered around town; one has room for 6 people, and many have room for 5 people; all superior trulli have kitchens
Helpful Tip: Keep in mind that staying in a trullo isn’t like staying in a hotel – the trulli are real homes from the past.
If you want to stay outside of town, excellent options include:
Masseria Torre Coccaro – Near the beach; full-on kids program includes mini water park, kids club (day and evening), beach club (off-property), and tons of activities like cooking classes, horseback riding, and harvesting olives.
I Trulli di Nonno Michele – Fenced swimming pool; grassy area for kids to play; playground; stay in a trullo; kitchens; rooms have up to 5 beds
Nina Trulli Resort – Stay in a trullo in the countryside; outdoor pool (not fenced) and garden area
Family Dining in Alberobello
Pane e Mozza (Largo Martellotta, 31) – Sit on the outdoor patio or sit inside and stare at the gorgeous tiles that decorate the restaurant. Excellent panini and also other dishes like salads, mozzarella and cheeses, and antipasto platters. You can also order the classic Alberobello panino – the Pasqualino (tonno, caperi, formaggio, salame – tuna, capers, cheese, salami).
La Pagnotella (Piazza Plebiscito, 10) – Our go-to meal in Alberobello with kids is a panino. My kids love the bread here (we live in Tuscany, home of unsalted, dry bread)! This small shop has fun combinations and beautiful views from the seating area.
Così Com’era (Piazza del Popolo, 20) – Breakfast option with fresh, local ingredients. Only open in the morning.
Gelateria Mille Voglie (Piazza Curri, 31) – This small shop serves up our family’s favorite gelato in Alberobello. We like to get a cone or cup and walk to Piazza del Popolo.
Alberobello Family Logisitics
Strollers – Leave the stroller in the car and bring your baby carrier. Alberobello’s streets aren’t stroller-friendly – they’re hilly, there are steps, and many of the worn-down stones are slippery. I’ve used a stroller in Alberobello but much prefer a baby carrier. If you need to bring your stroller because you want baby to nap, you can walk it on Largo Martellotta (the piazza at the dip between the two hills) without a problem.
Diaper Changes – If your piccolo Mario (little Mario) needs a diaper change, I recommend trying to change in a toilet in a restaurant or café. Or, use your portable changing mat and find a little corner in town for the diaper change.
Parking – When you’re driving into town, you’ll follow signs for ‘zona trulli’ and ‘parcheggi turistici.’ You don’t need to pay for a private lot, but they may come in handy if it’s a busy time of year and you can’t find a public space (blue lines on the ground). The advantage of the private lots is they are easier, but you usually need to park for a flat rate – fine if you’re planning on being in Alberobello for awhile. If you want to look first for the public spaces (what I do) – there are plenty of them – just look for the blue signs with the white ‘P.’
On our most recent visit, we parked in the Parcheggio Viale Indipendenza 2 (marked on the map).
As I mentioned, you’ll pay a flat rate for the private lots, and you can use the machines or EasyPark to pay for the public spaces.
Read my guide to Parking in Italy
Toilets – The public bathrooms on Largo Martellotta (marked on the map) are convenient for arriving and departing.
Read my guide to Bathrooms in Italy
Grocery Store – If you need diapers, snacks, etc, you can go to a small supermarket in town like Todis (Via Sindaco, 5). If you want something a little bigger, there’s a Conad just outside of the old town by the train station on Via Einaudi, 65.
Read my guide to Going to the Grocery Store in Italy
What to See and Do Near Alberobello with Your Kids
- Beaches (on the Adriatic Sea)
- Locorotondo
- Monopoli
- Grotte di Castellana (aka Castellana Caves in Castellana Grotte)
- Polignano a Mare
- Cisternino
- Ostuni
Alberobello with Kids FAQ
I’ve visited the Fasano Zoo Safari with my kids and while they enjoyed it, the animals look lethargic. If you’re not a zoo fan in general, I’d avoid this drive-through zoo.
