Best Beach Hotels in Puglia, Italy

Located on a cliff in Torre Dell'Orso, Hotel Belvedere offers spectacular panoramic views of the Adriatic Sea. It's on a quiet residential street, under a 10-minute walk from the turquoise waters at both the beautiful Baia d'Oriente and Torre Dell'Orso beaches, and also a short walk from the sleepy main town.

Located on a beautiful nature reserve in Salento, Vivosa Apulia Resort is a short walk through a wooded path to a gorgeous private beach. There, guests will find soft white sand and crystal-clear water, as well as tons of lounge chairs and umbrellas and a beach bar with snacks and drinks. The beautiful beach, as well as the resort's spa and multiple pools, offers a place to truly unwind and relax, while the sports facilities, kids’ activities, and nighttime music and dancing create a lively atmosphere, so the hotel has the best of both worlds.

The 28-room Masseria Torre Maizza is a chic retreat in the picturesque countryside of Fasano. The country town is slightly inland from the coast, but the hotel provides a free shuttle to the beach (less than 10-minute drive). There, the hotel runs the Coccaro Beach Club, a gorgeous venue with a lounge, boutique, restaurant, and private terrace. Yoga and Pilates are offered either on the beach or in the olive groves of the property.

The mid-range Le Cale d’Otranto Beach Resort is a large, 424-room resort with stone buildings, beautiful landscaping, two outdoor pools, and a private beach with a nearby swimming cove. The hotel is about a 10-minute drive from Otranto. There are plenty of outdoor activities included in the mandatory resort fee, including tennis, volleyball, and archery. There is also a team coordinating activities for guests, and all-inclusive packages are available.

Le Dune Suite Hotel is located at the edge of the village of Porto Cesareo, but it's all about the beach. The hotel has a private sand beach with sunbeds and beach umbrellas and a beach restaurant overlooking the pretty scene, and guests can walk along the shore to neighboring beaches, stopping for a cocktail at a one of the local beach bars on the way.

The 149-room Hotel del Levante sits right on the beautiful white sands of Torre Canne beach. With its crystal-clear water, the beach can get crowded, but the hotel has its own sectioned-off area with blue lounge chairs and umbrellas. A large swimming pool is right next to to the beach, along with a smaller kids' pool surrounded by lounge chairs, manicured hedges, trees, and grassy areas.

A 10-minute drive south of Gallipolo, the mid-range Costa Brada Resort has a peaceful location with direct access to a gorgeous, private beach. This dreamy spot is slightly removed from the party establishments along the coast, and has beautiful gardens, a big outdoor pool, and a playground on-site. Umbrellas and beach towel service are included in the room rates.

Surrounded by pine forest, Hotel Club Astor is set in a nature park and a five-minute walk from a fine-sand beach. Easy access to this beautiful beach is the hotel's best amenity -- just be aware that you'll have to pay a fee for first- or second-row placement on the sand, and extra on top of that for a lounger instead of a chair. All rooms come with a beach umbrella.

Right by the beautiful Ionian Sea, the hotel is located within the Marina di Ugento natural reserve. At the hotel's private sandy beach, the water is a beautiful turquoise blue and there are two lounge chairs for every room and a beach bar. However, the designated area is very small and narrow, and there is a fee to sit on one of the loungers in the front row.

A two-minute walk from a sandy beach, Residence Rivamare Ugento offers simple apartments designed for longer stays -- in-room kitchenettes, free parking, coin-operated laundry, and babysitting services are among the amenities. There’s no on-site restaurant or swimming pool, but the pristine, uncrowded beach is one of the best in the area (note that the hotel charges extra for beach chairs and umbrellas).

This family- and budget-friendly compound offers a variety of accommodations (mobile homes, bungalows, rooms, and campsites) in a beautiful, natural setting. There’s a big outdoor swimming pool surrounded by trees, but the hotel's private cove is the real stand-out. To reach the gorgeous cove and small, sandy beach, guests must walk through a tunnel cut into a seaside cliff and walk along a wood deck.