Bari Transportation

I was only in Bari to catch the ferry to Dubrovnik and had been told I could walk to the ferry station. I had plenty of time so off I set from the train station. It was just that bit too long for me - especially dragging my suitcase. And I think it was too much for my suitcase because just as I dragged it onto the ferry much, much later, the handle came off. It took me more than an hour, although I didn't get lost. I checked I was going the right way several times and people were very helpful. I think everyone knows where the ferries leave from.

There are three sorts of passage. Cabins, reclining seats and deck tickets. I had tried to get a reclining seat, to be sure I could get on more than anything, but there were none left. You see, deck tickets have to be bought at the ferry terminal before the sailing. You can't pre-book them.

When I got to the ferry I found the ticket office didn't open until an hour before sailing - and what an absolute bun fight! Not enough staff, rude and indifferent staff - ah well. Nobody seemed to know that we had to fill out forms, and when word passed down the line, nobody knew where the forms were.
Then we got into Customs and the guy didn't know which boat was sailing or where it was. Finally a mini bus arrived to take us to the ship. Lots of chaos and slackness.

There is a cafe at the terminal, and plenty of clean bathrooms.
And the trip on the boat was very very pleasant indeed. The bar staff and the duty free staff were charming and helpful and the ferry was well appointed. And sailing into Dubrovnik just at dawn was stunning.

But next time I will take a taxi from the station. There was a rank just outside.

The port of Bari is one of the principal of the Adriatic sea.
The main naval connections are : Bar(Montenegro),Dubrovnik(Croatia),Durazzo(Albania),Corfù-Igoumenitsa-Patrasso(Greece).
Now Bari is also a stage for cruising ships that sail in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea,the passengers of which can enjoy the new "Terminal Crociere",where you will find all you need to plan your (unfortunately short...) visit (maps,infos,etc...).
The AMTAB bus n°20/ connects the harbour with the city center (Railway Central Station - Piazza Aldo Moro).

INFO FOR CRUISING PASSENGERS (if you don't follow an organized tour or simply if you want to walk alone):
The port is in front of the Old Town,1 Km about far from the city centre;when you go out from it,you have 2 possibilities,if you want to walk and have not much time: if you turn left,following the Lungomare Imperatore Augusto and the old wall,you can reach the Basilica of San Nicola and,more ahead,Piazza del Ferrarese,C.so Cavour and C.so Vittorio Emanuele II,a wide boulevard that skirts the Old Town;if you turn right you can reach the Castle, the Cathedral and,more ahead,Piazza Libertà (called Piazza Prefettura,seat of the Piccinni theatre,the town hall and the Prefecture palace) and C.so Vittorio Emanuele II.The best thing to visit the main attractions of the Old Town,would be to reach San Nicola's,and then,trough the Old Town,the Cathedral and the Castle (you can follow the high bell-tower!).
HOWEVER,MY PERSONAL ADVICE IS TO VISIT THE ENTIRE OLD TOWN,NOT ONLY ITS 3 MAJOR ATTRACTIONS.

There are at least 4 buses from Bari to Naples per day with Autolinee Marino. Departures are at 0840, 1030, 1200 and 1630. The bus takes just over 3 hours, leaving from the street behind Bari train station and arriving at Napoli Garibaldi Station.

In my, admittedly limited, experience the Italian railway system seems well-run, relatively inexpensive (certainly compared to the UK) and connects all the major towns and cities. Bari is on the main Eurostar City route down the eastern coastline and has regular services to and from pretty much anywhere in the country. For instance, there are direct trains to and from Rome with an average journey time of under 5 hours and with a standard fare of around 40 Euros.

Bari Centrale is the city's main station and is situated about a 10 minute walk from the city centre and about 25 minutes from the ferry terminal. The station is adjacent to the main bus terminal with both local services (including to the port) and other further afield destinations.

On the station concourse there are usually plenty of taxis which are, once again in my limited experience, reasonably-priced and hassle-free - you just have to be prepared for a steroetypically Italian-style ride as the driver gets in his practice for his Le Mans debut ;)

Just one small word of advice though - use the regular taxis, don't be tempted by the guy with the oily misfit of a suit who'll offer you a cheap deal: but HEY! That's the same pretty much anywhere isn't it?

Bari is connected with all the other main Italian(Rome,Milan,Turin,Naples,Bologna,etc...) and Apulian cities by the TrenitaliaFS trains,by the Ferrovie Sud-Est and the Ferrotramviaria:Bari-Barletta;with Basilicata by the Ferrovie Appulo-Lucane.The Central Railway Station,from which depart the TrenitaliaFS trains,is situated in Piazza Aldo Moro,terminus of many autobus,thanks to which it's possible to reach the port,the airport and other destinations.The other regional trains depart also from the other Railway Station in Piazza Aldo Moro(on the right of the Central Station).

If you are planning a tour in Puglia, don't forget that there are some low-cost companies connecting BARI to some italian and european cities.

The list of companies:

--- >RAYAN AIR

www.ryanair.com

connect BARI to FRANKFURT HAHN, LONDON STANSTED

---> VOLARE WEB

http://www.volareweb.com/

connect BARI to MILAN LINATE

---> BLU EXPRESS

http://www.blu-express.com/cgi-bin/airkiosk/I7/181002i?BV=2&LANG=IT&LFF

connect BARI to ROME FIUMICINO

---> HAPAG LLOYD EXPRESS

http://www.hlx.com

connect BARI to KOLN, FRANKFURT, MUNICH, STUGGARD

---> VIRGIN EXPRESS

http://www.virgin-express.com/

connect BARI to BRUSSELS

---> ALPI EAGLES

http://www.alpieagles.com/

connect BARI to MILAN LINATE, VENICE, VERONA, MOSKOW (until 2007 april, 6)

---> MYAIR

http://www.myair.com/

connect BARI to BERGAMO ORIO AL SERIO, TIRANA

Last update 2006/11/26.

Bari can be reached from the airport as follows:

SHUTTLE SERVICES
"Autoservizi Tempesta" http://www.autoservizitempesta.it/index2.html

offers a shuttle service connecting Bari-Palese airport to Bari railway station.

BUS SERVICES

"AMTAB" http://www.amtabservizio.it/

bus no. 16 to the centre (Piazza Moro)

timetable on:
http://www.amtabservizio.it/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=194&Itemid=67

TAXI SERVICES:

Radio Taxi tel. no, +39 080-5543333

It's easy to reach the most beautiful towns in the Province of Bari by car: the two-lane state-road ss16 (it's very similar to the "autostrada",but it's free;blue road signs) connects all the towns of the Province of Bari (and not only) on the Adriatic sea from north to south passing trough Bari's bypass;so it's easy and quick to reach many beaches and small villages,and bigger towns on the Adriatic coast,or nearby to it,
as,from north(following Foggia) to south(following Brindisi): Barletta-Andria,Trani,Bisceglie,Molfetta,Giovinazzo,Palese (the suburb seat of the airport),BARI,Torre a Mare(a very beautiful suburb,very animated during the summer),Mola di Bari,Conversano,Polignano a Mare,Monopoli-Capitolo (but it's possible to continue on this way up to Lecce,passing through Fasano-Savelletri,Cisternino,Ostuni,Torre Canne,Brindisi,etc.).Near the exit "Polignano a Mare",there are also the detours for Castellana Grotte and Alberobello,that aren't situated on the sea o nearby to it,but in the inside of Puglia.
About the other towns in the inside of Puglia,it's more difficult to explain.

However,if you need an help,you can contact me.