This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in Brindisi.
Brindisi is a small, coastal city on the edge of the Adriatic Sea. It is a commercial, agricultural, and industrial port town -- home to just under one hundred thousand residents. The seafood, pizza, and other Italian specialty dishes are delicious and cheap, though you may have to wander around the waterfront or down tiny streets to find an open restaurant at times. The city closes many shops and restaurants for long lunches, and nearly all businesses are closed on Sundays.
Brindisi has six churches, a few small ruins, and an old Italian prison called Castello Svevo -- but you will probably never meet another tourist at these locations. Pick up a self-guided walking tour booklet from the Main Port Office for more information. Many travelers visit Brindisi briefly before taking an Endeavor Lines ferry to Patra or Corfu, Greece, while some use it as a resting point before traveling to Lecce or other areas in the south of Italy.
Brindisi has a Mediterranean climate, which usually means a refreshing sea breeze blowing in across the Adriatic, but temperatures can reach the forties (Celsius) during summer months -- and this is when Brindisi receives the most through traffic. In summer, Brindisi is idyllic; wild berries grow out of cracks in the sidewalk, fishermen check nets while smoking with childhood friends, local children play football in the setting sun.
Accommodations in Brindisi consist mostly of hotels, some of them quite expensive. There are also villas and bed-and-breakfasts available. Your options for hostels in Brindisi are quite limited; perhaps one reason for the low demand for hostels is that many travelers to the region are families and older couples. However, for a backpacker or a younger couple, a youth hostel in Brindisi is a smart choice.
