Polignano a Mare

Dramatic Cliffs and Crystal Waters

Polignano a Mare stands on limestone cliffs overlooking the Adriatic Sea in Puglia’s southern coast. The town features whitewashed houses stacked above deep blue water, with narrow streets leading to small harbors where fishing boats rest. Local stone buildings keep interiors cool during hot summers while offering views of terraced vineyards and olive groves below. Fresh seafood is common on menus, often paired with regional wines from nearby hills. The area attracts visitors seeking authentic coastal life without crowded tourist spots.

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Town in Italy

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$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 7.9

General Safety:	8
Health & medical:	8
Accessibility:	6
Tap water:	9

Read details

3/5

English is spoken in tourist areas, hotels, and restaurants, but in local markets and smaller shops, Italian is preferred. Learning basic Italian phrases can be helpful.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Polignano a Mare Summary

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Famous for dramatic seaside cliffs. Swim in small coves, walk scenic viewpoints, enjoy cliffside dining and explore charming old streets.

Place score

7.5

Best at:

Sea

Walkable

Cosy towns

Spotless

Fine dining

Personal score

Suited for

👶 8

Families

🧓 7

Seniors

🛡️ 9

Travel Beginners

❤️ 9

Couples

Italy – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type C , Type F Type C: Type F: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Euro (EUR) £1 ≈ €1.19
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 Cashless payments are widely accepted in Italy, particularly in cities. While larger establishments and chains are fully cashless, smaller shops may still prefer cash. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is customary in Italy, especially in restaurants where 10-15% is typical. Tipping for taxi drivers is usually rounded up or 5-10%. Small tips for hotel staff are also appreciated.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is allowed in Italy, especially in public squares and during festivals. In some regions, it is illegal to drink alcohol in certain areas like public transport or near schools.
Public smoking:	Smoking is banned in indoor public spaces and on public transport. Designated smoking areas are available outside.

Ferragosto (August)	Many businesses close, and Italians take holidays. It’s very busy in tourist areas.
Christmas (December)	Christmas markets and festivities are popular, expect higher prices and crowded attractions.
La Befana (January)	Celebrated on January 6, the Epiphany is a public holiday with festive events, and some businesses close.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 112 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Uber, Free Now, ItTaxi
Other:	Italy's tourist infrastructure is well-developed, but some rural or historical areas may require extra planning for accessibility.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Polignano a Mare, Italy

🌤️

Jan

🌬️

Feb

☀️

Mar

☀️

Apr

☀️

May

☀️

Jun

🔥

Jul

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Aug

☀️

Sep

☀️

Oct

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Nov

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Dec

High season:	June - Sep.
Shoulder season:	April - May, Oct.
Crowdedness:	7 (Many tourists)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Many hotels, restaurants and beach clubs close November to March, main season May to September

The small Lama Monachile beach is packed June to September, best visited early morning

Don't miss

🏘️ Explore the charming old town’s narrow stone alleys
🏖️ Relax at the picturesque Lama Monachile beach cove
🎵 Visit the Domenico Modugno statue and feel the music
🌊 Walk the scenic coastal Lungomare promenade
🚤 Take a boat tour of sea caves and hidden grottos

You've been here?

Why travel to Polignano a Mare?

This charming town is home to one of Italy’s most famous beaches, Lama Monachile, a stunning cove surrounded by cliffs. The old town is a maze of narrow alleys leading to scenic terraces overlooking the sea. Food lovers will find some of Puglia’s best seafood here, with fresh catches served in cliffside restaurants. And if you're a thrill-seeker, this is one of the world's top cliff-diving destinations.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Centro Storico
2 Lama Monachile
3 Arco Marchesale
4 Cala Paura
5 Complesso monastico Abbazia di San Vito
6 Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II

🎡Places for activities

1 Cala Porto Rosso

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Grotta Palazzese
2 Grotta delle rondinelle
3 Grotte di Castellana
4 Grotta Ardito
5 Lama di Cala Incina

🛍️Shopping

1 Gioielleria Carrieri

🎈Events

Red Bull Cliff Diving Championship
Festa di San Vito
Summer Music Festivals
Sagra del Polpo (Octopus Festival)
Easter Celebrations
Nativity Scenes in December
Ferragosto Fireworks
Food and Wine Tasting Events
Carnival Festivities
Local Art Exhibitions

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Arrive early; cliff viewpoints and Lama Monachile fill quickly.
Explore the whitewashed old town via Arco Marchesale, then follow the seafront promenade for views.
For sea caves, take a small boat tour; many grottoes are only accessible from water.
Skip peak midday heat: swim late afternoon, then catch sunset from Lungomare Modugno’s cliffs.

How to travel to Polignano a Mare

The nearest airport is Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport (BRI), about 50 km away. Trains run from Bari to Polignano a Mare regularly, taking around 30 minutes. Rental cars and buses are also options for reaching the town.

Access summary

From Bari Airport (BRI): Train or car via Bari, about 1–1.5 hours.
From Bari city: Direct regional train to Polignano a Mare, around 30–40 minutes.
From Brindisi Airport (BDS): Train or car via Bari/Brindisi, roughly 1.5 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Polignano a Mare

Accommodations range from boutique hotels in the old town to cliffside B&Bs and luxury cave restaurants. Many visitors stay in Bari or Monopoli for more hotel choices.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Antico Mondo Rooms & Suites

9.8

Palazzo Giuditta

9.2

Borgobianco Resort & Spa – MGallery Hotel Collection

9.4

CASA NAVE

9.1

Albergo Diffuso Monopoli

9.8

Hotel Il Melograno

9.4

Playa del Mar - Adults Only

8.0

B&B Casa Dorsi

9.0

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Polignano a Mare

Walking is the best way to explore the old town. Taxis and rental bikes are available. For exploring the coast, boats and guided tours are recommended. Trains connect Polignano a Mare to other Puglian cities.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-16 %

Daily expenses in the region are around 16% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend considerably less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-3 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to EUR) is 3% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs (Data for Bari, Italy - 32 km away)

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£52	£114	£290
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£21	£45	£90
🍝 Food per day	£26	£60	£157
🚕 Transportation per day	£5	£9	£43

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£27
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£14
🍟 Fast food combo	£9
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£9.50
☕ Cappuccino	£1.60
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£2.70