What People Say About Living in Brindisi

Parmi les most beloved cities by expats visiting Puglia, beyond Bari et Lecce, il y a Brindisi, a city of around 81,000 people that sits exactly between the two, about 50 km from each.

A truly fascinating, but most of all, connected, place. Indeed, besides having its own aéroport international – Papola Casale, less than 10 minutes from the city centre – you’re also lucky to have the port. This means that every day, ferries leave regularly for Greece, Croatia and Albania, making Brindisi a great option for anyone looking for a base to travel.

But why is this place attracting more and more expats? In this article, we’ll discover what it’s actually like living in Brindisi year-round, and we’ll try to give you an answer using both our data and the insights from people who live there.

Life in Brindisi: What People Say

Brindisi is definitely a well-served city. As our data shows, there are plenty of restaurants, supermarkets, gyms, health clinics and even some schools. Not surprisingly, it’s attracting many expatrié familles as well:

“I’m originally from Australia but have lived in Brindisi my whole adult life. Out of the three, I’d rank it above Bari and Lecce. Once you’ve sorted out the basics, schools, services and all that, it works as a great home base for southern Italy: international airport, ferries to Croatia, Albania and Greece, all close by. I’ve got three kids and never had a single problem here.“

Compared to the bigger cities nearby, Brindisi is definitely quieter, but also pretty abordable. Despite being a tourist destination, prices are still reasonable. It could be a great base for anyone travailler à distance: connectivité internet is very fast (324 Mbps avg. download speed), and there are several beaches just a few minutes away.

“Gorgeous town, amazing port, and the restaurants right along the dock are great. The small towns nearby and along the coast throw a “festa” almost every night. It’s also the perfect launchpad for day trips across Salento, the beaches there are stunning. And since it’s not heavily promoted, it doesn’t get crowded either. Highly recommend.“

Transport and Connectivity in Brindisi

As mentioned earlier, one of Brindisi’s main draws is its connectivity.

Papola Casale Airport is just 10 minutes from the city centre. It’s not a major hub, so don’t expect long-haul flights, but it covers regional and European routes well. If you need more options, Bari’s Karol Wojtyla Airport is about an hour away.

“I always fly in and out through Brindisi airport. Getting through the airport and picking up a rental car is super easy here.”

The city also has a gare with regular connections to Ostuni (20 min), Lecce (25 min), Monopoli (40 min) and Bari (1h), plus a local bus network that’s surprisingly easy to navigate:

“With the local buses you can easily reach Alberobello, Locorotondo and Ostuni. Local transport is dead easy and dirt cheap, one-way ticket is 1.20 euros if you grab it at a tobacco shop. Use the Moovit app for routes and timetables, it’s a lifesaver.“

Brindisi also has regular ferry connections to Greece, Croatia and Albania. So for anyone who loves to travel, that alone makes it hard to get bored.

Now, many of you might be asking: “Okay, but can I live there without a car?“ The answer is yes and no. Within the centre, you can get by comfortably on foot or bike. But if you’re living here full time, the lack of a car will start to feel limiting – public transport schedules can be patchy, as we discussed in our podcast. Don’t count on catching a late train or bus back from dinner in a nearby town.

Where to Live in Brindisi: Housing & Cost of Living

Brindisi is quite affordable compared to Ostuni, Lecce and Bari. Property prices average around €1,197/m², so for a 100m² home you’d be looking at roughly €120,000 – though prices vary significantly by neighbourhood:

Data: Immobiliare.it – reference period June 2026

Among families, Casale is one of the most popular areas: it’s quiet and has several schools nearby, though at €1,461/m² it’s also one of the pricier parts of town. Santa Chiara is another favourite – well-served and conveniently located, at around €1,182/m².

To put this in perspective, consider that in Lecce prices average around €1,644/m² ( so €164,400 for 100m²), while nearby Ostuni averages €2,604/m² (so €260,400 for 100m²). As always, we suggest you take a long trip and rent for a while before buying. But when you consider that you’re in a large, well-served and well-connected city with beaches just a few steps away, the price is really hard to beat. If you’re still unsure, you can easily explore different options with our Town Explorer.

Challenges of Living in Brindisi

Premièrement, emplois outside tourism are scarce. This is a general problem in the South of Italy, which is also why we’d suggest Brindisi especially to remote workers – fast internet, some coworking spaces and the sea on your doorstep.

Deuxièmement, soins de santé is average. The nearest hospital is just 6 minutes away and the ASL Brindisi covers the province adequately, but according to nos données it’s not excellent (66/100). That said, unless you have specific chronic conditions, the area has several health clinics within a 30-minute drive.

Troisièmement, summer heat. The climate is pleasantly Mediterranean for most of the year… Brindisi is one of those places where you can easily find people going to the beach until October – but during summer, especially August, expect crowds and very high temperatures.

Fourth, public transport outside the city has its limits. Within Brindisi itself and nearby popular towns things work reasonably well, but the smaller surrounding towns aren’t well-served. If you’re planning to live in a nearby village and commute or travel regularly, you’ll want a car.

Fifth, Italien is not optional. Not everyone speaks English here. If you’re arriving without Italian or without a serious plan to learn it, daily life will be harder than you’re expecting. That said, you’re still choosing a very popular area among expats – there’s already a growing international community, and an international school that goes from early years to high school.

Brindisi by the Numbers: Key Data

• Score de qualité de vie : Bonne (80/100)
• Qualité de l'air : Good (84/100)
• Seismic Risk: Moderate to Low
• Hôpital le plus proche : Ospedale Antonio Perrino – 6 min by car
• Vitesse de l'Internet : Fast (Avg 324 Mbps download)
• Transport: The city is well connected and served by a local bus network.
  • Train station: Brindisi Centrale (12 min), San Pietro Vernotico (20 min), Brindisi Perrino (9 min)
  • Aéroports : Papola Casale, Brindisi (42 min), Karol Wojtyla, Bari (60 min), Lamezia Terme (150 min)

If you want to explore all the specific details about Brindisi, visit its Profil de la ville Magic Towns.

Is Brindisi Right for You?

✅ Choose Brindisi if:

• Vous êtes un travailleur à distance looking for fast internet (324 Mbps), coworking spaces and the sea on your doorstep.
• Vous êtes moving with family and need schools, health clinics, supermarkets and green spaces – all within reach.
• You want to live somewhere bien connecté, 10 minutes from the airport, with a train station that puts all the nearby cities within easy reach.
• Vous êtes à la retraite and looking for a quiet, affordable place near the sea, with an established expat community nearby.

❌ Pensez-y à deux fois si :

• Vous devez find work locally, outside of tourism. Opportunities are limited.
• You struggle with chaleur. August in Puglia is genuinely intense.
• Vous voulez vivre car-free in the surrounding countryside. Public transport outside the city isn’t always reliable, and schedules are limited.
• You have specific health conditions that require regular hospital visits. Healthcare quality here is fine for everyday needs, but definitely not among the best in Italy.

Réflexions finales

Brindisi scores 80/100 on quality of life, sits below the regional average on property prices, and has an international airport ten minutes from the centre. For a city of 81,000 in southern Italy, that’s a strong starting point.

Pour remote workers, the combination of fast internet, low property prices and an airport ten minutes from the centre is genuinely hard to find elsewhere in Puglia. For families, Casale and Santa Chiara offer schools, services and a quiet daily life that works. For retirees, the mild climate, the port and the affordability make it a compelling option.

Jobs outside tourism are scarce, Italian is non-negotiable. But for the right person, Brindisi might be a much smarter choice than the more obvious alternatives.