Looking for things to do in Polignano a Mare, Puglia? Want to know where to stay, how to get there - or just trying to work out whether it's somewhere you'd like to visit on your own Puglia road trip? Then our guide to Polignano a Mare should have you covered!

Updated March 2024 | This blog post has had a complete overhaul following our most recent return to Polignano a Mare

“Penso che un sogno così non ritorni mai più
Mi dipingevo le mani e la faccia di blu
Poi d’improvviso venivo dal vento rapito
E incominciavo a volare nel cielo infinito...”

— Domenico Modugno

A handful of years ago, back when Puglia was yet to reach the imaginations of non-Italians, an image surfaced that forever changed the course of the region’s tourism; a photo of a small pebble beach edged by limestone cliffs, white-washed houses, and the most vibrant of aquamarine waters.

This image was of Cala Porto in Polignano a Mare.

Puglia is a vast and stunning land, where aquamarine waters are the norm, limestone cliffs trace the border between land and sea, and white-wash houses proliferate, yet after three trips to Puglia, this view from the Balconata sul Mare remains one of the most beautiful, and certainly the most iconic we encountered.

Sitting just thirty minutes away from Bari, one of Puglia’s main transport hubs, Polignano a Mare has proven itself to be a destination in its own right. Whether you’re passing through on a longer road trip of the region, or visiting on a weekend break, the poster child town where poetry lines the streets has plenty to entertain - especially on a warm summer’s day.

In this guide, we’ll cover the best things to do in Polignano a Mare, as well as share personal recommendations on where to eat and drink, essential travel better tips, our pick of the best places to stay, plus advice on parking and transport connections.

This is 13 Wonderful Things To Do in Polignano a Mare.

THE polignano ESSENTIALS

Spiaggia / Take in the view of Puglia's most famous beach, then discover Polignano’s better (and quieter) beaches just a few minutes walk away.

Explore / Discover the historic centre on this excellent 2.5 hour walking tour

Drink / Grab a cocktail at Diplomatico or Sensory

Eat / Have a meal you won’t forget at Grotta Palazzese, excellent pizza at Il Quadrifoglio, fantastic focaccia at Focacceria di Delle Noci Marco or a healthy & delicious meal at MINT Cucina Fresca

Sail / Join this super popular 1.5 hour boat tour around the bay

Poetry / Follow the poetry of Guido Il Flâneur across the walls, door and steps of the old town

Coast / Take a walk (or a tuk tuk ride) along the lungomare

Stay / The super popular POSEA, the gorgeous Aquamarea, Marea B&B for affordable historic centre location or Musae al Mare if you crave a little luxury.

If you’d prefer an Airbnb, a few of our favourites include Dimora Di Mare, Itaca Home, Sogno Blu, Calumàre and Casa Mare.

our favourite Things to do in Polignano a Mare

Hang out at Polignano’s picturesque beach

Perhaps the most popular place to lay down in all of Puglia (and almost certainly the most popular things to do in Polignano a Mare).

Whilst Cala Porto - also known as Lama Monachile - may actually be better enjoyed as part of the town’s iconic view (the pebbles make it impossible to walk on barefoot), if you’re spending more than a day here in the warmer months, it’s a nice enough spot to throw down a towel and read a book. The water is also glorious in summer, and there are also some rocky areas to sunbathe and caves to swim around.

Unlike many beaches in Puglia, this one is not overwhelmed by lidos but if you fancy a sun bed over the pebbles, it is possible to rent an umbrella plus two sun beds from an establishment at the back of the beach (beneath Ristorante Il Covo dei Saraceni). Just be warned - this is one of the most expensive lidos we’ve come across in Italy, costing €60 per day for the set up!

Keep Reading // Discover our favourite beaches in Puglia

Things to Do in Polignano A Mare | Lama Monachile Beach

If you’re feeling a little more adventurous, you can also test your nerve with a spot of cliff jumping. Not one for the risk-averse amongst you, but legend has it that the limestone cliffs surrounding the waters of Cala Porto are an excellent spot from which to take a leap of faith!

The Details | You can find Cala Porto/Lama Monachile here on Google Maps. To access it, you have to go away from the old town, across and beyond the Ponte di Polignano (maps), and then go down into a tunnel that takes you down to the beach.

Make sure to bring flip-flops or seashoes, and note that most the beach often starts to be covered in shade from around 3pm in summer due to its position beneath the steep cliffs. Also, set your expectations, as it can become quite crowded.

Did you know? // Polignano a Mare - or specifically this beach - plays host to the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series. Every year, around September, crazy adrenaline junkies will emerge through a private living room in the cliffs to dive 27 metres into the blue. It’s a true feat of both athleticism and balls, and certainly adds an interesting twist to your Puglian adventure. You can find more details on the official website.

Do note that accommodation books up very, very quickly for the dates around the contest so be sure to get your hotel or apartment sorted as soon as possible. If you’re lucky, you may even find somewhere with views of the contest from the comfort of your own accommodation, like this cute little fisherman’s house!

Explore Polignano A Mare’s Historic Centre

Whether you are visiting one of Italy’s largest cities, or a tiny forgotten town in the hills, the centro storico (that’s Italian for historic centre) will be the first place most tourists choose to seek out.

This is where you’ll find the oldest buildings, the tiniest of alleyways, impressive churches and often the most photogenic of streets, sites and vistas - and this is true of Polignano a Mare.

However, given the town’s popularity and ubiquity on pretty much every Puglian road trip, our top tip is to spend at least one early morning exploring the historic centre before breakfast, whilst the streets are quiet, and before the before day-trippers and the crowds descend.

Enter first through Porta Vecchia / Arco Marchesale, the old gate and impressive arch to the old town (maps), and follow the cobblestone streets, well, wherever you fancy. It’s a relatively small, warren-like maze of narrow streets often dead-ending with incredible sea views so just follow your nose, your intuition or your curiosity and see where you end up!

To help you out, we’ve also shared our favourite viewpoints later in the post.

Whilst we often prefer to explore on our own timetable, we appreciate that it’s not always easy to grasp the depth of Polignano’s history nor its stories from a guidebook - if you’d like to know a little more about Polignano’s past, consider taking this two-hour walking tour.

Top Tip // Located along a very narrow street, immediately right after walking through the gates, you will find a cool little bar named Vinarìa (maps). As we’ve mentioned, Polignano can become a little overwhelmingly busy at times, and this bar offers a bit of respite from the crowds. They have an excellent wine list alongside spritz etc, and do offer food (although several reviews mention the long waits if you’d like to eat).

If Vinarìa sounds up your street, don’t miss MINT Cucina Fresca located nearby. Focussing on fresh, healthy meals they offer a creative menu of modern Italian fusion cuisine - if you’re entirely plant-based, you absolutely have to eat here! It’s a small place, so if you’ve got your heart set on it for dinner, we’d recommend booking ahead. Find it here.

Grab a drink in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II

Every Italian town has a main square, and this is Polignano’s. Busy in the warmer months of the year, it’s still a wonderful place to grab a morning coffee or a late afternoon aperitivo and watch the world go by!

We were particularly fond of the cocktail bar, Diplomatico (maps) which offered standard traditional cocktails alongside some of their more unique creations but, but we’d also recommend nipping around the corner, to Sensory (maps), a delightful little wine bar which has a couple of tables outside. Alternatively, Cafe Aquamarea (maps) next door has a wonderful terrace with views of Lama Monachile, but do note that the prices are very toppy so not somewhere you’ll like to stay for more than one!

Other more historical pursuits within Piaza Vittoria Emanuele include:

Palazzo dell’ Orologio | Directly in front of you as you enter the square, gaze up and you’ll see an impressive clock (it used to be a sundial but was replaced in the 19th century) topped by bells and a statue of San Vito, the patron saint of Polignano a Mare.

Chiesa Matrice di Santa Maria Assunta in Cielo | Dating back to the 13th century (a Pagan temple used to stand in its place), whilst the outside of this church appears rather austere, its rather much more beautiful interior is definitely worth taking a quick look at. The church is free to enter but has limited opening times. Note that this is an active place of worship, so you will not be able to visit during Mass, and please be respectful and not enter in beachwear.

Have a dining experience you won’t forget

Hidden within an ancient cave, Grotta Palazzese, with its spectacular terrace overlooking the water, has been used for banquets and parties since the 1700s. Definitely not for those on budget (three course set menus start from around €190 per person), but if you’ve got the money to splurge, you’ll unlikely find a more magical restaurant in all of Puglia.

Tip - they also have a hotel if you’re feeling fancy. Find out more here.

If a meal at Grotta Palazzese is a little out of your price range but you’re curious to see what all the fuss is about, head to this location around lunch or before sunset, for a perfect view of one of Puglia’s most famous restaurants.

Breakfast Tip // If you’re looking for a spot to get your morning cappuccino and cornetto, we can highly recommend Bar Luna, located here. It’s set in a charming little square lined by tufo-brick houses with dark green shutters and an abundance of plants and was super popular when we visited. The plain cornetto was decent, but the chocolate was excellent!

Don’t Forget Polignano’s Other Little Beaches

Whilst you absolutely can’t visit Polignano without at least checking out the view of Lama Monachile, if the crowds are a little overwhelming or pebble beaches just really aren’t your thing, we highly recommend taking the short walk along the coast to the towns other swimming spots.

The same crystal clear waters, but significantly smaller crowds - win, win!

Grottone | The difficulty of accessing the water within this natural swimming pool (and the open sea around it) keeps a steady limit on the numbers that choose to hang out at this gorgeous swimming spot. Absolutely not one for families, we’d make a beeline here over the main beach any day of the week - just make sure you bring your sea shoes with you! Grottone is around a 5 - 10 minute walk from the large bridge, here on Google Maps.

Cala Paguro (maps) | Continue around the coast a few minutes longer and you will find Cala Paguro, a charming little cove that feels a little more like Menorca than Puglia. The small pebble beach doesn’t offer up much space, but there is plenty of flat stone areas around the little harbour which prove a very popular spot for locals to enjoy the sun and escape some of the tourist crowds.

If you’re looking for an alternative place to park, there’s a small free public carpark just behind it, with stone steps leading down to the beach.

Top Tip // If you’ve got an Airbnb or apartment with a decent kitchen (especially if it comes with a gorgeous roof terrace like this one!), and are wanting to cook up some fresh seafood, there’s an excellent fish shop - Da Pasqualino, Il Re del Polpo - right by the beach, just here. They also do simple plates of the daily catch that make a nice lunch. Note that their opening hours do vary dependent upon time of year - we recommend checking out their Facebook page for up to date times.

Plan // Our 16 Favourite Beaches in Puglia

Check Out A Famous Statue

The famous song ‘Nel blu dipinto di blu’ (you probably know it as ‘Volare’, and when we say famous, we mean super famous - it even won a couple of Grammys in 1959!) was written by Domenico Modugno, a chap from Polignano a Mare. Although he left the this coastal town whilst still a boy, he remains a charished part of Polignano’s history - so much so that the local council erected a huge statue of him that will stand overlooking the sea for many years to come.

You can find Domenico Modugno here on Google Maps.

Top Tip // Domenico’s statue is located in a large, open square lined by restaurants, somewhere that in our option at least, would make a preferable spot to have dinner - especially given the sweeping views of the sea and the Puglian coastline.

There were building works going on in the square itself during our last visit, but we did grab an early evening spritz from Malidea (maps), a cool little bar with lots of tables overlooking the sea - a pretty decent sunset spot if you ask us! The simple plates of food also looked tasty.

Grab a Sweet and Cool Treat

Are you even really in Italy if you don’t indulge in a scoop of gelato at least twice a day?

Across our two visits we’ve tried - and don’t judge us here - four gelaterias in Polignano a Mare, as well as sourced recommendations from an Italian family member that visited last summer. It’s fair to say, we’ve got you covered!

Head to one of these, and you can thank us later:

Gusto Caruso | Find it here

Bar Peppino | Find it here

Voglia di... Gelato Artegianale | Find it here

Bar Turismo | Find it here

Il Supermago del Gelo | Find it here

Plan // 14 Things To Know Before A Puglia Road Trip

Things To Do Polignano a Mare | Eat Gelato

Set sail along the coast

One of the most popular things to do in Polignano is to take a boat trip along the coast - not only will you be treated to an alternative vantage point on the historical city, but you’ll also stop at impressive caves and have the chance to swim in beautiful azure waters.

There are lots of companies that arrange this, including various touristic offices scattered about the town but if you’d prefer to book one in advance, this 1.5 hour tour is super popular, has lots of excellent reviews and even includes a glass of Prosecco! There are multiple departures each day and it costs around €35 per person; we’d recommend booking at least a couple of days ahead in high season as it often gets oversubscribed. Find out more here.

(If Polignano is a last minute decision and the above is fully booked, this two-hour option is a good alternative but we also recommend checking on Viator too).

For those that enjoy taking to the seas but prefer a little more exercise, consider this SUP tour for an alternative view back the town.

Take in the Views

Given Polignano’s stunning coastal location, there are an abundance of different viewpoints to be sought out and enjoyed. The following are our recommendations for those not to be missed:

La Balconata sul Mare | Those beach photos that we mentioned earlier? They’re all taken from this spectacular vantage point in the old town, and you absolutely can’t leave Polignano a Mare without checking it out. Find the exact spot here.

Whilst we’d normally recommend the sunset golden hour for the best photography, Lama Monachile becomes increasingly covered in shade from late afternoon onwards. For this reason (as well as the huge crowds that line up to get their own photo), we’d recommend heading here nice and early.

Pietra Piatta | This is another excellent viewpoint you should try and make time for; to access it simply follow a small stone staircase (known as ‘Scalinata Volare’ - maps) just behind the statue of Domenico Modugno that leads to a large section of flat rock. From here you’ll be rewarded with incredible views out over the old town sitting perched atop limestone cliffs, and an alternative vantage point of Cala Porto. You can find the Pietra Piatta viewpoint here.

Ponte Borbonico | This bridge that connects the two halves of Polignano a Mare is a bit of a crazy thoroughfare so we wouldn’t dally for too long, but it does offer a wonderful vantage point over Lama Monachile, the imposing limestone cliffs and the sea beyond (it’s basically the reverse view of ‘La Balconata Sul Mare’). Find it here.

Punto Panoramico Largo Ardito | Located at the beginning of Polignano’s lungomare (before this the buildings jut right up to the edge of the cliffs meaning you can’t walk along the coastline), this is a wonderful and recently developed viewpoint that looks northward, along a cliff-line that looks little different than it did 100 years ago. Find the viewpoint here.

Take a Walk Along the Lungomare

The one kilometre long Lungomare di Polignano a Mare actually makes for a wonderful early morning or late afternoon walk, offering up several other beautiful viewpoints that most visitors don’t get a chance to see.

It’s also an excellent way to visit Puglia’s only contemporary art museum, the Fondazione Museo Pino Pascali. Founded in 2010, and housed in a spectacular building overlooking overlooking the sea (in what used to be the town’s ancient abattoir), it was created to honour one of Italy’s leading 20th century artists. Open every day 10 am-1 pm, and 4-9 pm, except Mondays, entry costs €2.

You can find the museum here on Google Maps, and discover more on their website.

Top Tip // If you find yourself in this part of Polignano during the middle of the day and can’t quite face the walk in the heat, the start point of the Lungomare is where you’ll find tuk-tuks to take you on a 30 minute tour along the coast towards San Vito. We haven’t done one personally (which is why we can’t tell you how much they cost from here), but given the number of these little moto-vehicles circling around, it definitely seems a popular thing to do in Polignano! If this sounds right up your street, you can also book this tour in advance here.

Grab Some Dinner Along Via Roma

Whilst there is no shortage of restaurants around the historical backstreets and in Piazza Vittorio Emanuelle, we found the best choices and value to be along Via Roma (maps).

Pedestrianised during the summer months, this long, arrow-straight road is lined on both sides with bars, restaurants and shops serving up everything from simple pizza and pastas, to lunch time nibbles, fresh seafood, local specialities and some international cuisine. It’s got a buzzing atmosphere in the evening as well.

Our picks include:

Olio Su Pane | Focussed on street food, this cool little restaurant offers small plates ideal for lunch, an early evening snack or a light dinner.

Il Quadrifoglio | They serve up fresh seafood and pasta, but you should head here for the pizzas - popular with tourists and locals alike, so be prepared to wait for a table in high season.

Buongustaio | If you’re only in Puglia for a short while, and want to ensure you taste the local specialities, head here. It’s another place for small plates, and one that’s particularly appealing for the carnivores with meat-laden sandwiches their speciality!

Baguetteria da Gianpiè | If you’re looking for a budget-friendly plate of pasta, this is the place to come - their simple orecchiette pomodoro was exceptionally good for the price!

Ruz - Cucina Confidenziale | A fantastic little restaurant offering up Puglian classics, small dishes and the odd bit of international fair (the burgers looked particularly good!). There’s also lots of vegetarian options on the menu.

Top Tip // Once you’ve got your fill of incredible food, head on over to one of our favourite Polignano finds - a little curio shop just off of Via Roma. Run by a friendly chap, it’s filled with quirky and sometimes questionable memorabilia, watches, and quite a lot of smut. We desperately wanted to pick up some trinkets for the new house but alas, Italian time keeping got the better of us and he didn’t open as promised the following morning.

We also stupidly didn’t put a pin in the map for it, but you can find it hidden away on Via Narciso.

Follow the poetry

The streets, walls and doors of Polignano’s centro storico are punctuated with poetry; poetry by a man known as ‘Guido Il Flâneur’. Whether all (or indeed, any) is his own, it certainly makes this writer from Bari a bit of a local celebrity.

Hang around the town long enough, and you may even bump into him in a local bar.

One of Guido’s most famous works are his ‘poetry steps’ - Vicolo della Poesia - a photogenic stairway tucked down a small street not far from Balconata Sul Mare. Unfortunately we didn’t drop a pin in the map for their location (and the stairs aren’t on Google Maps), but if after a little wandering you still can’t find them, any local you ask will know exactly where to point you.

Plan // 17 Useful Things To Know Before You Visit Puglia

Have a quick bite at our favourite focacceria

As travelling vegetarians (although we flirt with pescatarianism in small coastal towns and villages), we’re sometimes a little limited in food options - thankfully, this is never the case in Puglia, with an abundance of traditional meat-free dishes across the entire region.

For Polignano a Mare however, a quick snack or lunchtime treat means only one thing: a fresh-out-of-the-oven, still warm, olive oil heavy, super sweet pomodorini foccacia. There are several foccacerias in town, and you can find fairly decent offerings in most bakeries, but for the best, make a beeline to Focacceria di Delle Noci Marco.

Queues are to be expected (especially during the weekends or peak season) but trust us when we say it’s worth it! Their location here near the bridge makes them an ideal grab-and-go lunch to take to the beach!

We found nearby Fcazz e Birr (maps) to be a decent alternative, and they also have a decent amount of outdoor seating if you’d prefer to eat-in.

Foodie Activity // If you live for sampling the local cuisine, consider joining this highly-rated street food tour which includes the chance to try panzerotti, focaccia, local wine and burrata.

Where to Stay in Polignano a Mare

From luxury hotels to family run B&Bs, little guesthouses with views over the sea and contemporary boutique spaces, Polignano a Mare has a huge number of accommodation options to choose from.

However, it is important to note that this is not a cheap town to stay in, with prices being considerably more than you’d pay elsewhere in the region. Additionally, when you choose to visit will have a huge impact on the nightly rate, with even very standard guesthouses more than tripling their rates in the month of August.

If you’re travelling around Puglia on a tighter budget, we’d suggest visiting the town as a day trip on your Puglia road trip and picking a base somewhere a little less popular. The good news is that there are plenty of other amazing little towns and villages nearby, and you may well find somewhere that you love that little bit more.

Also, if you’ve got a rental car, note that much of the historical centre of Polignano is a ZTL (Zona a traffico limitato) and therefore closed off to non-residents’ vehicles. Due to this, most accommodations situated there will not have parking nearby, meaning you need to find a free space and walk, or pay for a car park (we’ve shared suggestions below).

Hotels & Guest Houses

POSEA | One of the most popular places to stay in Polignano, whilst the marine-inspired decor doesn't necessarily warrant the price, the incredible views over Lama Monachile certainly do! Rooms are clean, comfortable, light and bright, and there’s a large rooftop terrace for guests to enjoy. Find out more here.

Marea B&B | Family owned and run, Marea is a new B&B in the old town. Good amenities including a fresh breakfast in your room each day, as well as that elusive private parking (difficult to find in Polignano). Doubles from £70 a night.

Palazzo Maringelli | Clean and sleek contemporary design in the centro storico, Palazzo Maringelli comes highly rated. Rooms are super clean and renovated with class and high-quality furnishings, and the service, excellent. Doubles start from £99 per night.

Musae al Mare | One of the most luxurious properties in Polignano a Mare’s historic centre, Musae al Mare offers three exquisite boutique suites just 20 metres from the sea. All rooms are decorated to a high standard, include large terraces overlooking the water and private hot tubs.

Aquamarea | This absolutely gorgeous boutique B&B offers beautiful rooms in a traditional setting but with a stunning contemporary uplift. Located in the heart of the historic centre, it’s best feature is the incredible views over Cala Porto from both many of the rooms that the wonderful roof terrace / bar area. Highly recommend.

Dimora Talenti offers up similarly excellent rooms with exceptional views, but if you’re not so bothered about having a balcony, consider the stylish BAYIT Charming Place.

Suite Minerva | Located just outside the historic centre, the recently remodelled Minerva offers a small number of excellent and modern rooms, with friendly and helpful staff. The best part? It’s remarkably well-priced with rooms for less than £100 in August!

Biancomare is another great value room-only option but if you’re looking for something a little fancier in the centro storico, consider the highly-rated Dimora Anderì, which also has an excellent roof terrace.

Alternatively, if you’d prefer to be a little further outside of Polignano A Mare - away from the hustle and bustle but only a short walk or taxi ride into town and places to eat - there are some really excellent nearby hotels, including Echi di Puglia Marsento - an absolute gem located on the beach, about a 15-minute walk from the centre of Polignano - and the stunning Masseria Le Torri, a boutique guest house which seamlessly combines contemporary style with traditional Puglian architecture. Honestly, it’s beautiful!

Airbnbs & Apartments

Polignano is not short on Airbnbs and rental apartments (there are literally hundreds), and couples or small families only requiring one or two bedrooms will find lots to fit most travel styles and budgets. Note that the closer you are to the water - especially if you’re craving a view over the sea - the higher the price.

To save some money, consider looking just outside the historic centre (these will often come with a little more space too).

We’ve got a separate post on the best Airbnbs in Polignano a Mare, but have included a few of our favourite picks below.

Allure 84 | An excellent choice for a couple on a budget, this delightful first floor apartment is furnished with one-of-a-kind pieces, an original tiled floor, and traditional design. It’s just lovely. From £105 a night in summer.

Apartment With Sea View | Not to everybody’s taste, but the hipster within us is certainly drawn to this apartment. Super cool design including vintage furniture plus a pretty awesome roof terrace to boot! From £85 a night in summer.

Casa Lucia | Ideal for those that love the idea of staying in the old town but crave modern amenities. Large living spaces, an excellent kitchen and terrace overlooking the beautiful streets of Polignano’s centro storico. From £96 a night in summer.

Other excellent value Airbnbs include:

La Terrazza di Angelica, Casa Vigiò (especially considering it has a large rooftop terrace),and the super contemporary A casa di Paolo.

Dimora Di Mare | The most expensive option on this list (starting at £270 per night in summer) but the only Airbnb we’ve found with a small pool on its private roof terrace! This space is huge, with sun loungers for four people, plus a dining and chill out area. The interior of the property is a little on the small side but decorated to a high, modern standard throughout. Located in the historic centre.

If you can’t stretch to the above, but can’t get the idea of lazing in water in your own private terrace, take a look Itaca Home, a large, modern, one-bedroom property that offers a hot tub instead!

Sogno Blu | Once a fisherman’s home, this charming little Airbnb may be on the small side, but its incredible views over Polignano’s most famous cove make it a popular choice for couples and those looking for a traditional space to call home during their time here.

Calumàre | This absolutely gorgeous townhouse is probably our favourite property in Polignano. It’s been fully modernised in a minimalistic, clean and stylish contemporary manner but retains the best of traditional Puglian design. Honestly, it’s just wonderful. A huge bonus is the beautiful terrace with views out over the historic centre.

Our second favourite Airbnb in Polignano a Mare? Almost certainly the fabulous Casa Mare. The classic Puglian white backdrop is delightfully accented with bold colour choices and light wood, with a modern aesthetic throughout. Also has a great terrace.

A Casa di Elena | This super popular one-bedroom townhouse is split over multiple floors and features a clean modern design, and a basic kitchen. The sea view from the little terrace is its main selling point though.

Marianna 25 is another fantastic option.

How to get to Polignano a Mare

From Brindisi and Bari Airport

If Polignano is your first (or only stop) in Puglia, you will be flying into one of two airports: Brindisi or Bari.

Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport (BRI) is quite a bit closer, at around 55 km away, whereas Brindisi Papola Casale Airport (BDS) is located approximately 80 km from Polignano a Mare; which you use will likely depend upon the flight connection available from your home town. We have personally used both, and don’t really have a preference.

By Rental Car | By far the easiest way to reach Polignano from both airports is with your own rental car. In fact, both times we’ve visited this town, we’ve done so as part of a Puglia road trip, and highly recommend this as the best way to discover the region.

There are lots of different car rental companies at both Bari and Brindisi Airports, but do note that it is super important to book your hire car in advance if travelling in high season as although the supply is large, it is finite - and Puglia is now a very popular destination!

Top Tip // We rarely go direct when hiring our road trip vehicles, instead preferring to use two popular rental aggregators to compare costs and find the best deal. The two companies we use are AutoEurope and RentalCars - both of which we have had only excellent experiences with.

If you’re planning on renting a car during your time in Puglia, we highly recommend reading our post ‘Nine Essential Car Rental Tips for Travellers’, for general tips on how to save money on your car hire and avoid some common vehicle rental mistakes, as well as our specific post on driving advice for Puglia, alongside our road trip itinerary.

Bari & Monopoli to polignano by car

If you’ve got your own rental car, it’s a straightforward 35-minute drive from the centre of Bari to Polignano a Mare, and just 15 minutes from Monopoli.

As mentioned, most of the historical centre is a monitored ZTL no-go area, so you won’t be able to enter or drive through it with a car - and fines are very common on unaware tourists.

This means you need to park elsewhere, even if you have accommodation in the old town.

As with any of Puglia’s most popular towns and villages, parking can be a tad problematic if you’re not arriving somewhere first thing in the morning, and whilst there is limited paid street parking, we’d recommend heading to one of the town’s several paid car parks rather than persevering down a warren of one-way streets to find a free space. Two of our preferred options are:

· Parcheggio Marco Polo has a convenient location, and charges €1/hour or €10/day - find it here

· Parcheggio San Francesco e Sant'Oronzo charges €1.50 per hour - find it here

Bari & Monopoli to Polignano to By Public Tranpsort

If you will be navigating Puglia by public transport, the good news is that unlike some more out-of-the-way destinations in the region, Polignano is very easy to reach with public transport.

From Bari | Trains leave from Bari central station very frequently throughout the day. Journey time is approximately 30 minutes and you can expect to pay around €3 depending on time of day.

It is possible to get a bus, but it’s more expensive and takes longer so we wouldn’t recommend it.

If you’re visiting Bari, then why not check out our Bari city guide.

From Monopoli | Trains leave Monopoli station every 30 minutes throughout the day and the journey time is just 12 minutes. Tickets cost around €1.20 per person.

To check times, availability and book your ticket for either of these routes you can either use Trenitalia or Omio (a website that allows you to check trains and buses at the same time and book tickets in your own language).