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Aparthotels & serviced apartments in Otranto

11 stays · 6 aparthotels and 5 serviced apartments

Aparthotels and serviced apartments suit Otranto because it is a base for a week or two on the Salento coast rather than a one-night stop. Visitors split their time between the old town, nearby sandy beaches and rocky coves, and day trips along the coast, so having a kitchen for simple meals, space for beach gear and somewhere to stay for several nights is useful, particularly for families and groups sharing.

11 stays

Where to stay in Otranto

Old town and seafront

  • first-time visitors
  • sightseeing
  • evening walks

The old town is enclosed by the Aragonese walls and holds the Aragonese Castle, rebuilt in the late fifteenth century, and the cathedral with its medieval mosaic floor. The seafront promenade runs beside it. Wikivoyage says the old centre is a limited traffic zone, so you will explore on foot and park outside.

Stays in or near Old town and seafront

Alimini

  • families
  • beach
  • birdwatching

Alimini lies north of the town and has a long golden sandy beach that the Puglia tourist board describes as perfect for families, with shallow, clear water and canoeing and windsurfing. The two Alimini Lakes nearby are listed for birdwatching. A car makes this area much easier to enjoy than staying in the old town.

Stays in or near Alimini

Porto Badisco

  • clear water
  • quiet stays
  • snorkelling

Porto Badisco is a fishing village south of Otranto described by the Puglia tourist board as a picturesque fishing village with a small sandy beach and crystal-clear waters, good for snorkelling. It is a small place compared with Otranto, so it suits those who want a quieter base and plan to drive for supplies and sightseeing. The Grotta dei Cervi (Cave of the Deer) is named by the tourist board among nearby places to visit, and the castle hosts an exhibition on Porto Badisco and the prehistory of the area.

Santa Cesarea Terme

  • coastal scenery
  • car-based stays
  • longer stays

Santa Cesarea Terme lies further south along the Salento coast, within the area between Otranto and Santa Maria di Leuca covered by the regional coastal park. It suits a car-based stay that combines several coves and viewpoints, with Otranto's old town as a day out.

Getting around Otranto

The nearest airport is Brindisi, about 90 to 95 km away; Wikivoyage describes efficient bus connections and says the drive takes roughly an hour, while the Puglia tourist board suggests a drive of around an hour and a half or a shuttle to Lecce and then the train or bus. The tourist board also suggests taking a train to Lecce and then the regional Ferrovie del Sud Est railway to Otranto, a journey it puts at about one hour. Wikivoyage says Otranto railway station is served by Ferrovie del Sud Est with a link to Lecce.

Inside the town, the old centre is a limited traffic zone, and you can walk almost everywhere in it. For beaches such as Alimini and Porto Badisco, and for the coastal park towards Santa Maria di Leuca, a car is useful, especially if you want to reach more than one cove in a day. Boat excursions to caves and inlets are also described on Wikivoyage.

Living in Otranto for longer

Otranto has around 5,500 residents, so it is a small town rather than a city. A kitchen helps for simple meals, and a car or bicycle makes it easier to explore beyond the old town. Because the old town is a limited traffic zone, check the parking arrangements for any apartment you book if you have a vehicle.

The nature around the town is part of the appeal of a longer stay: the coastal park between Otranto and Santa Maria di Leuca has rocky coves such as Ciolo, the Alimini Lakes and the former bauxite quarry, which Wikivoyage describes as a small lake in red ground. If you are relocating or working in the area, our guide to serviced apartments for relocation explains what to check before booking.

When to visit Otranto

Wikipedia classes Otranto's climate as humid subtropical, with long, hot summers and short, cool winters. The Puglia tourist board says the sea is best from May to September, with July and especially August as peak season.

Choose June or September for warm weather with fewer crowds, as the tourist board suggests. The cathedral, the castle and the old town can be explored on foot, and the coast is best seen with a car or on a boat excursion.

Otranto is a coastal town and port in the province of Lecce in Puglia, Italy, on the east coast of the Salento peninsula. It is listed among I Borghi più belli d'Italia, and its lighthouse at Punta Palascia, about five kilometres to the south-east, marks the most easterly point of the Italian mainland. Our guides to what an aparthotel is and aparthotels versus hotels explain how apartment-style stays differ from a standard room.

Long-stay tips for Otranto

Of the 11 properties here, 3 offer an in-apartment washing machine and 6 include some form of housekeeping. Each property page has a facts box, so you can compare apartments before you book.

10 properties list a full kitchen and 1 only a kitchenette, so check the room type if you plan to cook more than simple meals.

Where room sizes are published, the median apartment here is 45 m².

Moving for work? Our guide to serviced apartments for relocation explains what to look for.

Other cities in Italy

Comparing destinations? See aparthotels in Rimini, Milan, Rome, Florence, Trieste, Riva del Garda, Naples and Vieste.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best area to stay in Otranto?

The old town and seafront suit first visits and sightseeing on foot. Alimini is better for a sandy family beach, and Porto Badisco for a quieter coastal base.

How do I get to Otranto from the airport?

Brindisi is the nearest airport, around 90 to 95 km away. Wikivoyage mentions bus connections and an hour's drive; the Puglia tourist board gives around an hour and a half by car.

Is there a train to Otranto?

Yes. Otranto has a railway station served by Ferrovie del Sud Est, with a link to Lecce, which the Puglia tourist board describes as about an hour's journey.

Do I need a car in Otranto?

The old town is a limited traffic zone and best explored on foot. A car is useful for beaches and the coast outside the town.

What is Otranto famous for?

It is known for its Aragonese Castle, the cathedral with its medieval mosaic floor, and Punta Palascia, the most easterly point of mainland Italy.

How many aparthotels are there in Otranto?

We currently list 11 aparthotel and serviced apartment properties in Otranto.

Do aparthotels in Otranto have kitchens?

11 of the 11 properties we list have a kitchen or kitchenette in at least one apartment type.

Which aparthotels in Otranto have a washing machine?

3 properties list an in-apartment washing machine. Use the facts box on each property page to check.

Sources

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