Otranto Day Trip from Lecce: Coastal Villages & Swimming

The Bauxite Lake sits in an abandoned quarry, its water the color of rust against Mediterranean scrubland.

A full-day tour from Lecce to Otranto and the Salento seacoast, with stops at the Bauxite Lake, Palascia Lighthouse, Torre Sant'Andrea and Poetry Cave. Your group travels alone in an air-conditioned vehicle with a live guide. The schedule stays flexible so you can linger at swimming spots or explore the ancient city on your own pace. Children from age 12 are welcome. Bring swimwear and comfortable shoes.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Otranto and nearby seacoast

• Transfer from Lecce to Otranto
• Visit Otranto Cathedral and Castle
• Transfer from Otranto to Bauxite Lake
• Walk and enjoy Bauxite Lake viewpoints
• Transfer from Bauxite Lake to Palascia Lighthouse
• Walk and admire views at Palascia Lighthouse
• Transfer from Palascia Lighthouse to Torre Sant'Andrea
• Swim and relax at Torre Sant'Andrea
• Have independent lunch near Torre Sant'Andrea
• Transfer from Torre Sant'Andrea to Torre dell'Orso Beach
• Walk and swim at Torre dell'Orso Beach
• Enjoy sweets at Torre dell'Orso ice cream shop
• Transfer from Torre dell'Orso to Poetry Cave
• Visit Poetry Cave and see natural pool

The experience

The day starts with a 45-minute drive to Otranto, one of the coastal villages in Salento where Romans, Byzantines, Ottomans and Aragonese left their mark. You get free time to walk the ancient city (the Cathedral, the Byzantine-style Saint Peter Church, the Castle and the walls that ring the old town) at whatever pace suits you. After that, short transfers take you through the landscape: ten minutes to the Bauxite Lake, where an abandoned quarry filled with water and ringed by red earth has become a focal point for visitors. Another ten minutes to the Palascia Lighthouse, the tall white tower at Italy's easternmost point, where a path along the rocky cliff opens onto views of the Adriatic.

The swimming stops come next. Torre Sant'Andrea holds the Faraglioni cove, where the water is the clearest in Puglia and steps carved into the rock lead down to it. A sandy beach sits nearby if you prefer. You can eat lunch at one of the seaside restaurants with terraces overlooking the water, or skip ahead. Five minutes away, Torre dell'Orso stretches as the longest sandy beach on this stretch of coast, with a famous ice cream shop on a terrace above it. The final stop is Poetry Cave, one of the most beautiful natural pools in the area. You can descend the carved steps to see the water, though swimming is no longer permitted there to protect the site.

The whole tour runs seven to eight hours. Your group travels alone, so the schedule bends to what you want to do: linger longer at a swimming spot, spend more time in Otranto's streets, or move through faster. The vehicle is air-conditioned and pickup from Lecce is included. A live guide speaks either English or Italian, depending on which option you choose at checkout.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle for the full day.
• live guide in English or Italian.
• pickup from Lecce.
• independent tour of Otranto's historic center.
• access to the Bauxite Lake, Palascia Lighthouse, Torre Sant'Andrea and Poetry Cave.
• all fees and taxes.

Options for this experience

2 options

Available in English and Italian10:00Pickup is included

Tour conducted in the Italian language10:30An online translator is available: you'll be accompanied by a guide who speaks Italian and can converse in other languages through the translator. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesSundayDepartures at 10:00 and 10:30

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (20 and older) · Youth (12 to 19 years) · Under 12: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for back problems

Operated by A casa delle Salentine

Is this one for you?The flexible schedule means you set how long to stay at each stop: linger in Otranto's streets, spend an afternoon swimming at Torre Sant'Andrea, or move through all six sites at a steady pace. Choose the morning or afternoon departure that fits the rest of your day in Lecce.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

In English, at 10:00. In Italian, at 10:00 and 10:30.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 19 years). Under 12: they can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How much time do I get to swim at Torre Sant'Andrea and Torre dell'Orso?

The tour builds in stops at both beaches, but the exact time you spend swimming depends on your preference. The schedule is flexible and adjusts to what you want to do. Torre Sant'Andrea has steps into the water and a nearby sandy beach. Torre dell'Orso is a longer sandy stretch. Bring your swimsuit and plan to use the time as you wish.

What is the Bauxite Lake and why does it have that red color?

The Bauxite Lake formed in an abandoned bauxite quarry and is now surrounded by Mediterranean scrubland. The red color comes from the ground of the quarry itself. A short walk on a dirt road takes you to viewpoints around the lake, which has become a popular stop for visitors in recent years.

Can I visit Otranto's Cathedral and Castle on my own, or does the guide take me through them?

Otranto's historic center is yours to explore independently during your free time there. The Cathedral, Saint Peter Church, Castle and surrounding walls are all in the ancient city, and you decide which ones to visit and how long to spend at each.

Is lunch included, and where do people usually eat?

Lunch is not included in the tour price. At Torre Sant'Andrea, several restaurants with terraces overlook the sea and serve local food. You can eat there or bring your own. Other stops do not have dining options nearby.

What should I bring besides swimwear?

Wear comfortable shoes for walking through Otranto's streets and the short dirt path at the Bauxite Lake. Bring sunscreen, a hat and water. If you plan to swim, pack a towel and dry clothes. The vehicle is air-conditioned, but the stops involve sun exposure.