Direct buses from BRI to Taranto, Foggia and Brindisi
If you want to skip Bari Centrale completely, regional coaches from Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport (BRI) run directly to cities like Taranto, Foggia and Brindisi from the forecourt outside T1 arrivals. World Travel Guide calls out these links specifically, treating the airport as a small regional hub rather than only a Bari feeder.
Stops sit on the road just in front of T1, about a 2–3 minute walk from the arrivals exit doors and next to the local AMTAB / Tempesta bus bays. Coaches are intercity-style buses with luggage bays underneath, handy if you have a 20 kg checked bag and don’t want to drag it onto the airport train into town.
Multiple companies use the airport as an intermediate stop; you’ll see names like Marino and SITA Sud on the side of the coaches. World Travel Guide notes that some of these longer-distance routes include BRI only a few times per day, so you might see just 2–4 departures to a given city rather than anything like a half-hourly pattern.
Fares depend on the operator and distance, but expect something in the €8–€20 range for common runs like BRI–Taranto or BRI–Foggia, usually cheaper than a taxi by at least €40. Tickets may be sold online on the operator’s site, via apps, or at machines or counters near arrivals; same-day walk‑up is possible but not guaranteed on busy summer weekends.
Signage gets mixed reviews: Reddit users warn that English information at the airport coach stops is limited, and that you often have to match the company name plus destination shown on the bus to printed paper timetables posted at the shelter. One traveler heading to Gargano said it was “surprisingly painless once we found the right stop,” which took a few minutes of checking names against the schedule.
Frequency is the main downside. One commenter reported waiting almost two hours for a Gargano‑bound coach after just missing a previous departure, with departures “clustered around certain times” tied to flight banks. Regulars say they often check Marino, SITA Sud and other timetables before even booking flights and will route via Bari Centrale instead if airport timings look bad.
Practical tip: before you land, screenshot the day’s coach schedules for your route plus a backup plan via the BRI–Bari Centrale train, so you can decide at baggage claim whether to wait at the airport or head into town.