Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport
Also known as: Bari Airport, BRI Airport, Bari Palese Airport, Bari International Airport, Karol Wojtyła Airport, Palese Airport.
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Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport (BRI) is the main airport for Bari and central Puglia, in southern Italy. It is named after Pope John Paul II and is still widely called Palese Airport, after the Bari district beside it. It handled almost 8 million passengers in 2025.
Ryanair and Volotea fly the most routes, to cities across Italy and Europe, alongside Wizz Air, easyJet, Transavia and ITA Airways, which links Bari with Rome Fiumicino and Milan Linate. Lufthansa, Air France, British Airways and Turkish Airlines connect the airport with their hubs, and in summer United Airlines flies to Newark.
All flights use one terminal, opened in 2005, with arrivals on the ground floor and check-in and departures on the first floor. A walkway leads from the terminal to the airport railway station.
The airport stands on the coast about 8 km (5 miles) northwest of Bari city center, near the A14 highway and the city ring road, and the drive into the center usually takes 20 to 25 minutes. From here, travelers head into Bari's old town and port, south along the coast to Polignano a Mare and Monopoli, inland to the trulli of Alberobello and the Itria Valley, or west to Matera.
Airport operator, runways and traffic
- Operator
Aeroporti di Puglia
- Passengers per year
About 8.0 million in 2025
- Runway
One, 07/25, 3,000 m
- Terminal
One passenger terminal, opened in 2005
- Location
Palese, about 8 km northwest of Bari city center
Arrival tips for Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport
Flights from Italy and other Schengen countries arrive without passport checks. If you come from outside the Schengen area, such as the UK, the US, Turkey or Albania, you line up at passport control, where non-EU travelers are registered in the EU Entry/Exit System (EES).
Bari has one terminal, so there is no terminal to choose. Baggage claim and customs lead into the arrivals hall on the ground floor, where you find ATMs, a currency exchange counter, tourist information and the car rental desks.
Official taxis wait outside the arrivals exit, and the AMTAB line 16 bus and the Tempesta shuttle to Bari Centrale stop in front of the terminal. For the train, follow the signs to the railway station, reached on foot by a walkway; allow about 10 minutes to reach the platform. Pre-booked drivers usually meet you in the arrivals hall.
Italy is on Central European Time and uses the euro.
Ground transportation
The train is the quickest way into Bari; for Polignano a Mare, Monopoli, Alberobello or Matera with luggage, a taxi or pre-booked car saves changes.
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Book a transfer from BRITrain to Bari Centrale
Ferrotramviaria's FR2 line runs from the airport station, reached by a walkway from the terminal, to Bari Centrale in about 20 minutes, every 20 to 30 minutes from early morning until late evening. At Bari Centrale it uses its own building on Piazza Aldo Moro, apart from the Trenitalia station.
Tempesta shuttle bus
Autoservizi Tempesta runs a shuttle from outside the terminal to Bari Centrale in about 25 to 30 minutes, on a timetable set around the flights.
AMTAB bus line 16
Bari's city bus line 16 links the arrivals area with Piazza Aldo Moro by Bari Centrale. It is the cheapest option but makes many stops and stops running earlier in the evening than the train.
Pugliairbus coaches
COTRAP's Pugliairbus connects the airport with Matera and Taranto and with Brindisi and Foggia airports. Departures are few, so check the timetable before you land.
Taxi from Bari airport
Official taxis wait outside the arrivals exit. Trips to the districts of Bari, the port and Bari Centrale run at fixed fares set by the city; longer trips are charged by the meter or agreed in advance.
Private transfer
A pre-booked driver meets you in the arrivals hall and drives straight to your address in Bari or along the coast and inland, which suits families, groups and late arrivals.
Terminals
Passenger Terminal
The single terminal for all domestic, Schengen and non-Schengen flights, with arrivals and baggage claim on the ground floor and check-in and departures on the first floor.
Airlines and destinations
Facilities
Wi-Fi
Free Wi-Fi covers the terminal on the AdP_FreeWifi network, after a short registration.
ATMs and currency exchange
ATMs are in both arrivals and departures, and a currency exchange counter is in the arrivals area.
Information desks
An information desk is at the main entrance, and tourist information is in the arrivals hall.
Food and drink
Cafés are on the landside, and bars and restaurants serving Puglian food and wine are past security.
Shops and duty free
Shops selling local products and souvenirs are in the departures area, with duty free for passengers flying outside the EU.
Baby care
Baby care rooms are available in the terminal.
Chapel
The terminal has a chapel.
Car rental
Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Maggiore and several local companies have desks in the arrivals area.
Lost and found
Aeroporti di Puglia runs a lost and found service for items left in the terminal.
Accessibility and passenger assistance
Requesting assistance
Assistance for passengers with reduced mobility is free. Request it through your airline or travel agent when you book, and at least 48 hours before you fly.
Sala Amica
A dedicated assistance room in the departures area, staffed by trained specialists, where passengers with disabilities can wait and be accompanied to boarding. Information pillars in departures and at its entrance call for help.
Call points
Help buttons stand outside the terminal near the west-side departures doors, outside the courtesy lounge and outside the ground floor on the east side; two of them have tactile maps.
Hearing and visual support
A tactile path on the sidewalk leads to the Sala Amica, and elevators have Braille buttons and audible signals.
Reduced mobility
Accessible restrooms are in the terminal, ambulifts are used for boarding by bus, and reserved spaces with elevators are in the multilevel parking garage.
Parking
Apcoa runs the parking lots for Aeroporti di Puglia; check availability and current rates on the airport website before you travel.
P1AB Short Stay
Short-stay parking beside the terminal, for drop-offs, pick-ups and short visits.
P2 Media
Medium-stay parking inside the airport, close to the terminal, which you can book online ahead of your trip.
PM Media Business
A large medium-stay lot, with spaces for drivers with disabilities reached through the P1 entrance.
P3 Long Stay
Long-stay parking for longer trips, which you can book online ahead of your trip.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Bari airport from the city center?
Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport is in Palese, about 8 km (5 miles) northwest of Bari city center. The FR2 train reaches Bari Centrale in about 20 minutes, the Tempesta shuttle takes 25 to 30 minutes, and a taxi or pre-booked car usually takes 20 to 25 minutes, depending on traffic on the ring road.
Is Bari airport the same as Palese airport?
Yes. Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport stands beside the Palese district of Bari, so many people still call it Bari Palese or Palese Airport. It is named after Pope John Paul II, born Karol Wojtyła. Its code is BRI, and it is the only commercial airport for the city of Bari.
How many terminals does Bari airport have?
Bari airport has one passenger terminal, opened in 2005, which handles every domestic, Schengen and non-Schengen flight. Arrivals and baggage claim are on the ground floor, and check-in and departures are on the first floor. Because there is only one building, everyone who lands exits into the same arrivals hall.
Is there a train from Bari airport to Bari Centrale?
Yes. Ferrotramviaria's FR2 line runs from the airport station, reached by a walkway from the terminal, to Bari Centrale in about 20 minutes. Trains leave every 20 to 30 minutes from early morning until late evening. At Bari Centrale they use a separate building on Piazza Aldo Moro, so allow time to change to Trenitalia.
Is there a bus from Bari airport to the city?
Yes, two. The Tempesta shuttle leaves from outside the terminal and reaches Bari Centrale in about 25 to 30 minutes, on a timetable set around the flights. AMTAB city bus line 16 also runs to Piazza Aldo Moro, more cheaply but with many more stops, and it stops running earlier in the evening.
Where do I find a taxi at Bari airport?
Official taxis wait at the stand outside the arrivals exit. The city of Bari sets fixed fares from the airport to its districts, including the old town, Murat, the port and Bari Centrale, with all surcharges included, as long as the ride makes no stops. Trips beyond the city are charged by the meter or agreed before you set off.
How do I get from Bari airport to Polignano a Mare or Monopoli?
Polignano a Mare and Monopoli are on the coast south of Bari, about 45 to 55 minutes away by road. By public transportation, take the FR2 train to Bari Centrale and change to a Trenitalia regional train along the coast. A taxi or pre-booked car takes you straight to your address, which is easier with luggage.
How do I get from Bari airport to Alberobello?
Alberobello, the town of the trulli, is inland in the Itria Valley, about an hour's drive from the airport. By public transportation, take the train to Bari Centrale and continue with Ferrovie del Sud Est toward Martina Franca, which stops at Alberobello. A taxi or pre-booked car goes door to door to your trullo or hotel.
How do I get from Bari airport to Matera?
Matera, in the neighboring region of Basilicata, is about an hour's drive west of the airport. Pugliairbus and Marozzi coaches run from the airport to Matera, and Ferrovie Appulo Lucane trains leave from Bari Centrale, sometimes with a change at Altamura. A taxi or pre-booked car takes you straight to your hotel.
Which airlines fly to Bari?
Ryanair and Volotea fly the most routes from Bari, across Italy and Europe, alongside Wizz Air, easyJet, Transavia and ITA Airways, which serves Rome Fiumicino and Milan Linate. Lufthansa, Air France, British Airways and Turkish Airlines fly to their hubs, and United Airlines adds a summer route to Newark.
What do I need to enter Italy at Bari airport?
Italy is in the Schengen area, so flights from other Schengen countries arrive without passport checks, and arrivals from outside it, such as the UK, the US or Albania, go through passport control. Non-EU travelers are registered in the EU Entry/Exit System (EES), with fingerprints and a photo. Check the visa rules for your nationality before you fly.
Is Bari airport the same as Brindisi airport?
No. Puglia has two main airports. Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport (BRI) serves Bari and central Puglia, including Polignano a Mare, Monopoli and the Itria Valley. Brindisi Airport (BDS), farther south along the Adriatic coast, is closer to Lecce and the Salento. Check the airport code on your ticket before you plan your onward trip.
Where can I park at Bari airport?
Apcoa runs the parking lots for Aeroporti di Puglia. P1AB is short-stay parking beside the terminal, P2 is a medium-stay lot close to the terminal, PM is a large medium-stay lot, and P3 is for long stays. P2 and P3 can be booked online ahead of your trip; check current rates on the airport website.