Lecce to Gallipoli E-Bike Tour with Swim, Farm Tasting +Taxi back
Description
Your adventure begins in the heart of Lecce’s old town, where we set off on e-bikes and follow peaceful countryside roads lined with vineyards, traditional masserias, and ancient olive groves. Our first stop is at the Farmer house (Pantaleo). Here you will try Olive oil and wine while Pantaleo's wife serves us puglian snacks. Next stop is Nardò, a charming baroque town where you’ll enjoy a relaxing coffee break. Try the famous caffè leccese—espresso over ice with almond syrup—and pasticciotto pastry. From Nardò, we ride toward the shimmering Ionian Sea and reach the seaside village of Santa Maria al Bagno, whose crystal-clear waters offer the perfect chance for a refreshing swim. We then continue cycling along the scenic coastline—mostly on dedicated bike paths—until we arrive in Gallipoli, known for its historic old town set on an island and surrounded by turquoise water. From Gallipoli a private taxi (included) will take you back to your hotel in Lecce in about 35 minutes.
Tour Options
Itinerary
You’ll leave Lecce by cycling through the narrow alleys of the old town, avoiding traffic completely. After just 10 minutes, you’ll already find yourself riding through the peaceful Lecce countryside.
Meet the Local – Pantaleo’s Farm Stop This unforgettable stop brings you into the heart of authentic Puglian life. You’ll meet Pantaleo, a warm and welcoming local farmer whose family has produced olive oil, wine, chickpeas, and flour for generations. Step inside his home and feel like part of the family as he shares stories of rural traditions and guides you through the craft of making extra-virgin olive oil and Primitivo wine. Meanwhile, his wife prepares fresh friselle with tomato and other homemade treats—simple, delicious flavors that embody Southern Italy. It’s an intimate, genuine encounter that turns your e-bike tour into a cultural journey.
After a 26 km ride (about 1 hour and 30 minutes) through the peaceful Lecce countryside—surrounded by ancient olive trees and traditional stone farmhouses—you’ll arrive in the historic town of Nardò. Your first stop is the iconic Bar Parisi, a beloved old-school café where locals have gathered for generations. Here you can enjoy an authentic Pugliese late breakfast: the refreshing caffè leccese, a warm and creamy pasticciotto, and the savory rustico. Nardò itself is a treasure. Its beautifully preserved Baroque center invites you to wander through elegant alleys lined with noble palaces, hidden courtyards, and centuries-old churches. Take your time to explore this charming town, rich in history and timeless Southern Italian atmosphere.
After an 8.5 km ride (about 30 minutes) along traffic-free countryside roads, you’ll reach the sparkling Ionian coast and arrive in the seaside village of Santa Maria al Bagno. Here, you can enjoy a refreshing swim in the crystal-clear waters of its sheltered bay—an ideal break before continuing your ride. If you prefer to relax on land, you can savor a gelato or enjoy a light lunch while soaking in the laid-back seaside atmosphere.
After a 14 km ride (about 35 minutes) along the scenic coastal route, you’ll arrive in Gallipoli. Explore the historic center of this ancient fortress town, perched on a small island and linked to the mainland by a 17th-century stone bridge. Gallipoli’s old town is almost entirely encircled by 14th-century defensive walls, offering a striking window into its maritime past and centuries of coastal battles and trade. You’ll also have the chance to enjoy another refreshing swim at the town’s charming beach, right beneath the old walls.
After visiting Gallipoli’s old town, you’ll leave the bikes there and relax as a private taxi takes you directly back to the door of your hotel in Lecce.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(60)
I highly recommend Puglia Bike Experience for anyone in Lecce looking to explore surrounding area by bicycle. The business owner Marco was extremely helpful in recommending the group tour Lecce to Gallipoli with guide. He also fitted me perfectly to an e-bike. The guide Tom knew his way around and always made safe riding a priority. We visited a vineyard and tasted their wine, as well as "friselle", a local specialty home-made - while we watched - with the property's own fresh twice-baked bread, olive oil and fresh tomatoes. Yummy! Tom also shared so much of his knowledge about the history of the area. Unrelated to this particular tour, the next day Marco set me up with a lovely itinerary for a self-guided country-side and sea coast tour. He even checked in with me a couple times on WhatsApp for support. If I get back to the area, I'd probably sign up for another tour!
It was a fabulous tour with interesting stops. Bikes were great and easy to ride. Tom was a great guide. Would highly recommend this tour. The countryside was lovely.
The most fantastic day. The bikes we modern and comfortable our guide Tom was fantastic and really looked after us on the 55km ride made sure we we well hydrated and safe Marco was great with all the communication prior to the ride. Would definitely recommend
We had such an amazing time! Tommy, our guide, was wonderful. Very safe, engaging, knowledgeable about the area and history. It was a totally fun and diverse way to see Puglia, riding through the countryside, stopping at a local farm, breaks at cafes, and ending at a beautiful beach. Very unique, and wonderful way to get an in depth look at the region and have a blast. E-bike was top notch too. Thanks to the fantastic team who made this trip happen!
A very good tour. Lovely to cycle on small roads in Puglia with little or no traffic. Nice and interesting stop at the vineyard with tasting and visits among the vines. It’s also great to have time to swim in the Ionian Sea. The final destination of Gallipoli is an interesting historical place. Good and stable electric bikes, very comfortable. Marco and his team are fantastically nice and knowledgeable. We felt very well taken care of from the first to the last moment. Extra thanks to our guide Tom; knowledgeable and committed, interesting and interested. In addition to good guidance and a lovely bike ride, we also had several hours of rewarding conversations. Highly recommended!
The bike tour was a fantastic way to experience the Puglia countryside and many beautiful small towns on the way to the island of Gallipoli! Our guide Tom was the best. He shared history of the areas along the route and we loved engaging with him during our stops. We had amazing olive oil and wines with Pantaleo and his wife at the farm stop. The primativo wine was our favorite! A great lunch and swim at Santa Maria al Bagno was another fantastic stop. Tom helped make this ride one of the highlights of our trip! To top it off, Marco gave us a fantastic recommendation for a local pizza ristorante - La Pagghiara! The BEST - grazie Marco and Tom!!
I took my journey to another level with this tour. I love sports very much and cycling to another city passing through wonderful places is perfect! Special highlighted for our guide Thomas, super attentive, careful and told the story of each place we passed. As a guide he deserves maximum note. I just say it's super worth it, so I repeated the next day to another city.
We had a wonderful e-bike tour, cycling through beautiful olive tree fields and along the stunning coastline — bellissima! Our guide, Tom, was fantastic: fluent in both English and Italian, very knowledgeable, and always made sure we felt safe and comfortable along the way. The tour was the perfect mix of relaxed biking, interesting stories and local insights. Highly recommended if you want to experience the beauty of Puglia in a fun and authentic way!
My partner and I had this experience booked for us through our hotel, and it was a fantastic day! The team and especially our guide were great, and we had a full day biking through some wonderful places. I felt that we were able to see so much and we got a great feel for the area. Would definitely recommend!
I joined this bike tour yesterday and it was an absolutely fantastic experience! The route was beautiful and varied, and I especially enjoyed the farm visit and the relaxing lunch break at a fish restaurant with delicious food. A special thanks to our guide Tom — he was friendly, knowledgeable, and very engaging throughout the entire tour. He made everyone feel comfortable and welcome. I can highly recommend this tour and also Pulia Bike Experience. Would definitely do it again!
