Traditionally Bari has been better known as an exit destination from Italy rather than a tourist destination, but this is an image the city officials have been trying to shed for the past couple of decades, and their perseverance has slowly been paying off. In recent years this coastal city has begun filling with tourists looking not only to use the port as a means of travel to other destinations across the Adriatic, but also for the architecture and history that Bari itself can provide.
The duration of your stay will largely dictate the accommodation for your trip. Short-term visits are better suited to bed and breakfasts, while week-long stays are more suited to renting villas along the coast to take in the world-famous Adriatic scenery and weather. Considering Bari is the second most important city economically in southern Italy after Naples, not just for its port but also for its university, and is the entry point to the Puglia region of Italy with its many famous wines and olive oil, there is enough here to keep a traveller busy for weeks at a time. And if several weeks in a row are something that cannot be accomplished in a single trip, there are dozens of reasons to come back for several different visits.
Whether it is the nightlife district near the Swabian Castle or the old town with its many Roman ruins and buildings like the Basilica of St. Nicholas or the Cathedral of San Sabino, or the shopping promenade along the sea, Bari is a modern Italian hub of activity, and one that should definitely not be missed.