Things to do in Lecce
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Lecce Old Town: Wine & Food Tasting in Baroque AlleyYou’ll slip into a quiet corner of Lecce old town for an intimate wine & food tasting led by a local expert. Sip four regional wines paired with cheeses, focaccia, and more — vegetarian or vegan options if you want them. Expect laughter around the table and stories behind every glass, all just steps from Santa Croce’s Baroque beauty.
Lecce: Handmade Pasta & Tiramisu Class with WineYou spend a morning or afternoon making fresh pasta and tiramisu from scratch under a local chef's guidance in central Lecce. The class includes three glasses of wine or soft drinks, a seated meal of everything you've cooked, and printed recipes to take home. Small group sizes mean hands-on correction, not a lecture.Is it for me?Book this if you want to learn actual Apulian cooking techniques hands-on rather than watch a demonstration, and you'd rather not spend the afternoon researching recipes and sourcing ingredients yourself — the small group size is what makes personal correction possible in a few hours.
Santa Maria di Leuca boat tour: Caves, Punta Meliso & the IonianA 3-hour guided boat excursion departing from Porto Vecchio in Santa Maria di Leuca that traces the Adriatic coastline toward its famous caves, then crosses the marina of Leuca to the Ionian side, skirting Punta Meliso with its basilica and lighthouse. The boat stays close to the southernmost emerged land of Puglia, moving between two seas in a single morning. A guide in English, Italian or French narrates the route; prosecco, water and tarallini are included, with a bathroom stop built in.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to see the caves and landmarks of Puglia's southernmost point without arranging your own boat—the guide handles the route and the timing holds the whole day in one morning. The fixed 3-hour window works if you're moving between other stops and need to know when you'll be back.
Lecce: Group Bike Tour of Duomo, Santa Croce & Roman AmphitheatreYou’ll pedal or ride through Lecce’s winding historic center with a local guide leading your small group to Piazza del Duomo, Porta Napoli’s archway, Santa Croce’s wild Baroque carvings, and the Roman amphitheatre in Sant’Oronzo square. Expect laughter over mispronounced words, unexpected tastes along the way, and moments where history feels close enough to touch.
Lecce Baroque and Underground Tour: Private guided walkA private guided tour of Lecce covers the city's Baroque landmarks—Santa Croce Church, Sant'Oronzo Square with its Roman Column and Amphitheatre, the Cathedral and Duomo Square—and descends into the Underground Jewish Museum, built on the remains of a medieval Sinagogue with its original mikveh and mezuzah. The tour runs two hours and includes museum entry; you choose a guide who speaks English or Italian.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to see both the ornate Baroque surface of Lecce and the medieval layers underneath it—the private guide means you set the pace and ask about what interests you most, whether that's the architecture, the Roman history or the Jewish quarter's story.
Lecce: 3-Hour Canoe Caves & Snorkel TourYou paddle a canoe from Marina di Felloniche into sea caves along Lecce's Ionian coast, with two stops to swim and snorkel in clear water. The guide gives a brief safety talk first, provides all gear, and keeps the group together at a steady pace. You're back on shore by early afternoon.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Lecce's sea caves without a boat tour or a long hike—paddling puts you inside them, and the two swim stops mean you're in the water as much as you're paddling.
Lecce Sunset Boat Party Salento: DJ & Live MusicYou board at 5pm, swim in the meeting point of two seas, dance or listen to live music as the sun sets, and return by 8pm with a drink already paid for. The boat handles all the music and the mood — you just bring yourself and maybe a friend.Is it for me?Book this if you want to be on the water at sunset without arranging a boat, a DJ, or figuring out what to drink — the whole thing is already planned, and you just show up ready to move.
Orecchiette Cooking Class in Lecce: Make Apulian PastaA homemade pasta cooking class in Lecce where you learn to shape orecchiette and sagne—the hand-rolled pastas of Puglia—from a professional cook in a 1400s courtyard in the historic center. You make the dough from water and flour, roll and cut the pasta yourself, watch it cook, and eat it on site with wine and soda included; the class runs 2.5 hours and a guide speaks English, Italian or French.Is it for me?You do the work yourself—this is not a demonstration you watch, but a class where you shape every piece of pasta with your own hands. It suits anyone who wants to learn a skill they can use at home, not just taste something once and move on.
Salento Wine Tasting: Negroamaro with Local SnacksA wine tasting and winery tour in Salento where you taste Negroamaro—the region's signature wine—paired with local Apulian snacks. A guide walks you through the vineyard and cellar, explaining the wine's character and how it connects to Salento's soil and harvest. The experience runs about an hour and includes wine and food; you choose from three tasting options at checkout, each building on the same foundation.Is it for me?Book this if you have an afternoon free and want to understand what Salento actually tastes like instead of just passing through—the guide and the pairing do the work of making the wine make sense. You'll need to be at least 18 to taste the wine.
Pasta & Tiramisu Class in Lecce: Make Two Pasta Shapes & DessertA hands-on cooking class in Lecce where you learn to roll sfoglia (fresh pasta) by hand, make two different pasta shapes from scratch, and prepare tiramisu in a Cesarina's home kitchen. Small groups of up to 12 people; the class runs three hours and includes an Italian aperitivo, water, wine, and coffee. Morning and afternoon departures available.Is it for me?Choose the morning class to cook before exploring the city, or the afternoon slot after sightseeing; you'll learn hands-on in a home kitchen with a small group, so the pace stays personal rather than rushed.
Leuca caves tour by boat: Small group with swim stopA 90-minute boat tour of Leuca's caves and coves with a local guide in Italian, maximum 10 travelers, and a 25-minute swim stop included. The boat carries a minibar with one drink per person; infants and small children can travel in a pram or stroller, and service animals are welcome.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want a short outing that gets you on the water and into the caves without a long time commitment, and if a small group and a swim stop matter more to you than a longer itinerary or a bigger boat.
Lecce: Street Food Walking Tour with Local Wines & SweetsYou’ll sip Caffè Leccese under ancient arches, taste warm pasticciotto pastries, stroll golden streets with a local guide who shares stories behind every square and church, then try savory rustico paired with Salento wine. Expect laughter over mispronounced names — and leave full in more ways than one.
Private Day Trip: Castro & Otranto from Lecce with DriverYou’ll get to see Castro’s peaceful harbor and ancient castle before heading along Puglia’s coast to Otranto—where history meets seaside charm. This private tour lets you explore at your own pace with a local driver handling all the details.
Galatina & Gallipoli Day Trip from Lecce with Wine TastingYou’ll get to explore Galatina’s historic heart, taste real Salento wine straight from the source, and soak up Gallipoli’s lively seaside energy—all without worrying about transport or logistics. Perfect if you want culture, food, and authentic local moments packed into one easy day.
Santa Maria di Leuca & Specchia Day Trip: Caves & Olive MillsThis 9-hour self-guided day trip from Lecce takes you by minivan or car to Santa Maria di Leuca, the southernmost tip of the Salento peninsula, and then to the medieval village of Specchia. Your driver handles the transport; you arrange entry fees and meals separately and set your own pace at each stop. The boat tour to see the underwater caves and geological formations off Santa Maria di Leuca is the only way to reach them, and the underground olive presses in Specchia — carved from soft tufa rock in the 15th to 19th centuries — show the region's historical dependence on olive oil production.Is it for me?Book the van if your group is up to seven; choose the car for smaller parties—either way, a driver navigates between the caves, medieval town, and underground olive press while you control your own pace at each stop.
Morning Yoga in Lecce’s Historic Center at YogalabYou’ll practice yoga with certified teachers in Lecce’s historic center, inside a peaceful palazzo. It’s a welcoming space to recharge and start your day right—even if you’re just visiting.
