Maskay guide

Where to stay in Bari: by the station or between the centre and Bari Vecchia?

Hotel Excelsior simplifies arrival at Bari Centrale; Boston Hotel sits in Murat between the station, shops and the Old Town. We compare rooms, breakfast, facilities and guest feedback.

Maskay editorial team Updated

Arriving by train in Bari does not leave you far from the city you came to see. Bari Centrale opens onto Murat, a district of straight avenues, shops and cafés that leads to the edge of Bari Vecchia; along Via Sparano, you pass shopfronts and squares before entering the Old Town’s lanes. The question is not simply which hotel is closest to the platform: it is also whether you want to step outside with your suitcase beside a station, stay in the modern centre or walk to St Nicholas Basilica and the waterfront.

Hotel Excelsior Bari is a short walk from the station on Via Giulio Petroni. It has single, double and triple rooms and junior suites, Mediterranean restaurant Farhà, a gym and private parking. Guests value rail convenience, breakfast and cleanliness; others mention rooms showing wear or uneven sound insulation. It is the more practical option for a late arrival, an early departure or a rail day trip around Puglia.

Boston Hotel Bari, on Via Niccolò Piccinni, occupies a more urban position in Murat. Its lobby bar-bistro serves breakfast from 07:00 to 10:30, and the address works well for continuing on foot towards Via Sparano, Piazza Umberto and Bari Vecchia. Guests often praise location, cleanliness and service, although some mention compact rooms and inconsistent air conditioning. Nearby shops and restaurants are an advantage if you plan to explore the centre without using the station as the starting point for every outing.

The route makes the difference clear. Excelsior is beside Bari Centrale, with the shopping district beginning outside; from Boston, you can walk through the same urban grid towards the Old Town, although a taxi may be easier with large luggage. For a short visit built around regional trains, Excelsior’s entrance saves steps. If you want to alternate coffee, shopping, churches and a waterfront walk, Boston offers a base further into the centre. Neither property is inside Bari Vecchia’s lanes, where vehicle access can be more restricted.

Both have an official four-star classification. Google Hotels showed 4.2/5 from 2,613 reviews for Excelsior and 4.1/5 from 1,152 for Boston; these are guest scores, not hotel categories. Choose by the specific room, included breakfast and parking cost. If you have mobility needs, ask directly about Excelsior’s accessible room; if travelling in hot weather, read recent comments about Boston’s air conditioning. The better base is the one that matches the transport you will actually use and the pace you want for the day.

Bottom line

Excelsior is practical when rail travel shapes the trip; Boston places you in central Murat, with a natural route towards Bari Vecchia. Room type, breakfast and parking can tip the decision.

Editorial selection

Options to compare

These options relate to the question. Read each profile and check current details before deciding.

01
Four-star hotel a short walk from Bari Centrale

Hotel Excelsior Bari by Farace Hotels

Via Giulio Petroni 15, 70124 Bari, Italia

4.2 /5 2,613 reviews

Hotel Excelsior is at 15 Via Giulio Petroni, a short walk from Bari Centrale. The address simplifies arrival from other Apulian cities and places guests in Murat, the orderly street grid that grew south of Bari Vecchia. From there, Via Sparano leads on foot towards Piazza Umberto and the Old Town en

Why it made the selection

Mediterranean restaurant, gym, private parking and rooms for different group sizes

Hours: Hotel reception and restaurant; confirm current breakfast and Farhà restaurant hours with the property. Verified: October 11, 2026
View Maskay profile → Official website ↗
02
Four-star hotel in the Murat district, between Bari Centrale and Bari Vecchia

Boston Hotel Bari

Via Niccolò Piccinni 155, 70122 Bari, Italia

4.1 /5 1,152 reviews

Boston Hotel Bari occupies 155 Via Niccolò Piccinni in Murat, the grid of straight avenues linking Bari Centrale with the Old Town and seafront. It is not inside Bari Vecchia, with its medieval lanes and squares, but it also does not require staying beside the railway platforms: shops, cafés and res

Why it made the selection

Lobby bar and bistro, breakfast, 24-hour reception and rooms with minibars

Hours: The hotel lists breakfast from 07:00 to 10:30 in its bar-bistro; confirm kitchen and reception service when booking. Verified: October 11, 2026
View Maskay profile → Official website ↗
Verification

Sources & references

Sources for the information and reporting discussed in this guide.

  1. Official website of Hotel Excelsior Bari by Farace Hotels ↗ Primary source Hotel Excelsior Bari by Farace Hotels · Accessed October 11, 2026

    Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.

  2. Official website of Hotel Excelsior Bari by Farace Hotels ↗ Primary source Hotel Excelsior Bari by Farace Hotels · Accessed October 11, 2026

    Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.

  3. Official website of Hotel Excelsior Bari by Farace Hotels ↗ Primary source BariExperience.com, guía local de la ciudad · Accessed October 11, 2026

    Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.

  4. Official website of Boston Hotel Bari ↗ Primary source Boston Hotel Bari · Accessed October 11, 2026

    Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.

  5. Official website of Boston Hotel Bari ↗ Primary source Boston Hotel Bari · Accessed October 11, 2026

    Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.

  6. Official website of Boston Hotel Bari ↗ Primary source Boston Hotel Bari · Accessed October 11, 2026

    Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.

  7. Official website of Boston Hotel Bari ↗ Primary source BariExperience.com, guía local de la ciudad · Accessed October 11, 2026

    Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.

  8. Official website ↗ Primary source BariExperience.com, guía local de la ciudad · Accessed October 11, 2026

    Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.

  9. Official website ↗ Primary source Hotel Excelsior Bari · Accessed October 11, 2026

    Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.

  10. Official website ↗ Primary source Boston Hotel Bari · Accessed October 11, 2026

    Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.

  11. Hotel Excelsior Bari, Via G. Petroni 15 ↗ Secondary source Google Hotels · Accessed October 11, 2026

    Google Hotels: 4,2/5 y 2.613 reseñas de esta sede; categoría indicada de cuatro estrellas. Consultado el 11/10/2026.

  12. Experiencias recientes de huéspedes ↗ Secondary source Booking.com · Accessed October 11, 2026

    Booking.com publica su propia puntuación y comentarios sobre desayuno buffet, proximidad a Bari Centrale, tamaño de habitaciones y limpieza; fuente separada de Google. Consultado el 11/10/2026.

  13. BOSTON HOTEL BARI, Via Niccolò Piccinni 155 ↗ Secondary source Google Hotels · Accessed October 11, 2026

    Google Hotels: 4,1/5 y 1.152 reseñas de esta sede; clasificación indicada de cuatro estrellas. Consultado el 11/10/2026.

  14. Comentarios de huéspedes de la sede ↗ Secondary source Google Hotels · Accessed October 11, 2026

    Síntesis de opiniones vinculadas a Google: ubicación y desayuno reciben elogios; algunas reseñas recientes mencionan cuartos pequeños y climatización irregular. Consultado el 11/10/2026.