Admire the profile of Vieste cut out over the Adriatic, walk along its mile-long beach and experience an unforgettable vacation in the south of Italy.
Get your camera ready because it's going to smoke 😉.
Vieste
This white village perched atop a promontory is full of scenic spots, charming locals and corners to discover.
If you manage to avoid the high season or are immune to the hive of tourists that concentrates on it during July and August, Vieste will surprise you.
Walk through the old town (circled in yellow on the map at the bottom of this page) with your eyes wide open.
Behind every corner you can find a place to dine by moonlight, small stores with local products or adorable restaurants lining the streets.
The beaches of Vieste
The beach of the Castle or della Scialara stretches for 2 km to the south.
At the nearest end of the village is the famous Pizzomunno, a huge rock isolated along the shore composed of layers and layers of limestone and flint piled one on top of the other over time.
And from here, dozens of private premises that occupy much of the sand with their hammocks and umbrellas for a fee are raffled. In Italy they are known as lido and they are the bread and butter of the coastline. Most of the ones I saw in this area include parking in the price and offer inexpensive lunch menus.
Between 'lido' and 'lido' they leave public spaces for free use by bathers who do not wish to pay for their services. These areas are usually the dirtiest and, in some of them, there is even a stream of suspicious origin. However, the further you go away from Vieste, the bigger and better (in cleanliness) they become.
The beach itself is very comfortable for families with children, as you hardly gain depth no matter how deep you go into the sea.
As I tried to get to a place where the water would cover me(spoiler: I didn't make it), I noticed that there were numerous small white crabs hiding under the sand as I passed by. I'm sure the little ones really enjoy playing chase after these little critters.
On the other hand, Viste has a second beach, that of the Convent or San Lorenzo, which is located on the north side and pales in size when compared to the previous one.
Panoramic points
One of the great attractions of Vieste is its photogenic profile cut out over the Adriatic, which delights lovers of photography.
Here are the ones we found most spectacular (marked on the map at the bottom of this page):
- Pizzomunno. At the foot of this rock you will enjoy a unique perspective of Vieste, Pizzomunno itself and the white stone cliff that separates the two.
- Castle Beach. If you walk along the coast away from the city and turn around from time to time, you will see how the image of the town floating on the sea is gaining in beauty (especially at sunset).
- Viewpoint. If you approach Vieste from the south, you will find a small unmarked viewpoint next to the road just before the beginning of the sandy tongue of the Castle. Night photos? Beautiful, but watch out for mosquitoes!
- Via Judeca. In one area of this street, the wall opens up and gives rise to the picture you can see below. If you want to take a timelapse, make a reservation at one of the restaurants with a view you will find here and enjoy the panoramic dinner.
Surroundings of Vieste
Baia delle Zagare
The 2 beaches that make up this bay are the most inaccessible in Puglia and certainly in all of Italy.
However, the effort is worth it. You only have to look at the photos of the coves and their white stone towers rising off the coast to get an idea of what I mean.
A dreamlike picture
Want to find out how to access the Mergoli and Faraglioni beaches? Follow this link.
Vignanotica Beach
But if you prefer to sunbathe next to white cliffs and swim in a blue sea, without having to worry about how to get there, there is a perfect option for you.
The beach of Vignanotica will turn a simple summer day into a day to remember.
Want proof? Here it is.
Caves
The coastline surrounding the Italian boot spur is dotted with sea caves that you can visit by boat or kayaking (my favorite).
Do you remember one of those images where the roof of the cave has disappeared, letting the sunlight in, and in the center of the cave there is a small tongue of sand like a cove?
In this area of Puglia, these caves are 100% real.
Want to see them with your own eyes? Here they are 😉
Tower and arch of San Felice
The arch of San Felice is a natural structure formed by the same accumulation of limestone that forms the cliffs of this coast.
You can get pictures like this one from the so-called Tower of San Felice.
Foresta Umbra
Although the natural park of Gargano includes Vieste, the Adriatic coast and other surrounding localities, its green lung is formed by the 'foresta umbra'. foresta umbra or shady forest, which is a real oasis during the summer.
It is full of trails immersed in naturesurrounded by tall, leafy trees that give no option to panoramic views.
However, the silence, coolness and shade offered by these giants are a real pleasure for your senses in high season. Don't miss out.
Villages of Gargano
Within the Gargano Park there are other towns that are also worth visiting, such as Monte Sant'Angelo, Vico del Gargano or Peschici.
When to go
The owners of the accommodation told us that in July and August it was very crowded as it is a very popular holiday destination for the Italians themselves.
Because of this, June and September are the ideal months to enjoy Vieste and its surroundings without giving up good temperatures.
Our visit occurred in early/mid-June 2017 and, despite the fact that summer had not yet begun, we saw quite a few travelers in the area.
Where to stay
Vieste is a town dedicated to tourism, so you will find hundreds of options for all tastes.
In our case, we are looking for budget accommodation with parking and kitchen facilities.
We sacrificed the proximity to the coast to get better prices and ended up in the apartment complex Argeste Club Vancanzejust a 15-minute walk from the center of Vieste or its beach.
The apartment was small and simple, but functional.
It consisted of 1 bedroom, bathroom, living room/kitchen and 2 patios or terraces, a front entry one that offered good sunsets and a private back one that we did not get to use.
We had parking at our own door, the bed was very comfortable and the stay was very quiet thanks to the fact that there were hardly any guests in the resort during those mid/low season days.
The only problem is that we found no welcome set in the kitchen (scouring pad, detergent, garbage bags, etc) and the bath soaps were scarce.
In any case, when we brought it to the attention of the front desk, they lent us kitchen equipment without any problems. In addition, we got an offer for less than 45€ per day/2 persons (without breakfast).
In mid-June in Vieste, that price is a bargain..
Where to eat
At noon we ate sandwiches while hiking or relaxing on the beaches. And, even though we spent 5 nights in Vieste, we ate most of our dinners at home.
There was only one exception:
The Guarda che Luna restaurant has acceptable pasta and fish dishes and a delicious 'peccato di gola' dessert that lives up to its name (sin of the throat). However, what really makes this establishment stand out is its view. Spending the evening dining on its terrace gave us the opportunity to take one of the most characteristic photographs of Vieste as night fell.
The price? Two courses + 1/2 liter of wine + dessert + 2 tangerine digestives(mmm...) for 42€.
What we never sacrificed was the gelato (I've checked, in Italy there is no bad gelato ). If you want to try original flavors, I recommend Gelateria Maggiore. It has high prices (4€), but it is worth it.
Budget
- Lodging: 220€/5 nights/2 persons (22€ per person per night).
- Meals: 130€/2 persons (13€ per person per day)
- Kayak: 20€ /2 hours / 2 people.
- Gasoline: 50€ at the most (what it costs to fill a tank).
In total, we spent 420€, 210€ per person for our 5-day stay in Vieste and the Gargano natural park.
Useful Links
- Hotel offers in Vieste.
- Argeste Club Vancanze.
- Flights to Italy:Trabber,eDreams,Momondo, andVueling.
- Get 5% off when you purchase travel insurance with IATI.
Are you on a tour in Italy visiting Puglia and the Gargano Park? Then this is of interest to you:
- Baia delle Zagare, how to reach the 2 most inaccessible beaches in Italy.
- Enjoy a day at the beach under the white cliffs of Vignanotica.
- Discover the Gargano sea caves by kayak.
- Explore the 15 trails that crisscross the umbrian forest of Gargano.
If you have any questions about Vieste and surroundings, leave me a comment at the bottom of the page and I'll be happy to help you 🙂 🙂
Hi Celi:
I was last month in Vieste.
We fell in love with this town. They were just celebrating "love" and everything was decorated with hearts and there was even a giant artificial moon. DJ, fireworks and an orchestra played.
Everything was wonderful. Thanks for this recommendation.
Best regards,
Caro.
How wonderful, Carolina! I imagine Vieste was beautiful with that ambiance.
I'm glad you enjoyed it so much. Thank you very much for leaving me this comment on your return. With readers like you it's nice to keep writing my experiences in the blog.
A hug!