Polignano a Mare
A cliff-top town in Puglia, where the old town overlooks the Lama Monachile cove and sea caves on the Adriatic.
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Polignano a Mare is a coastal town on the Adriatic Sea in the Metropolitan City of Bari, in Apulia, about 33 km south of Bari. The old town sits on a rocky spur above the water, with sheer cliffs and many sea caves below it. The best-known view is Lama Monachile, a cove beside the old town that a bridge on the ancient Via Traiana spans.
Tourism is now the main economic activity, though agriculture and market gardening remain important, and fishing was the traditional base. The coast has a long record: there are Roman remains, and Lama Monachile served as a commercial harbor in the 15th century, during Venetian rule. The beaches have held a Blue Flag since 2008. Summers are long, hot and sunny, so spring and early autumn are more comfortable for walking the cliffs. The town has a railway station on the line from Bari to Lecce, and Bari and Brindisi are the nearest airports. A day trip from Bari covers the old town and the cliffs, while an overnight stay gives you time to walk the coast at a slower pace.
Polignano a Mare in five
- Come early or late to see the old townThe center is small and fills with day trippers between late morning and late afternoon. Arrive in the early morning or stay for the evening, when the streets quiet down.
- Take a boat or kayak into the sea cavesThe cliffs hide caves best seen from the water. Check the operator's license and cancellation policy, and ask about the sea state before you pay.
- Park outside the centerThe old town is small and traffic is limited. Use a car park on the edge and walk in, and check your accommodation's parking rules.Best time to visit Italy
- Use the train from BariRegional trains from Bari to Polignano take about 30–40 minutes. A car helps for Alberobello, Ostuni and the Itria Valley, which have fewer train links.
Things to do in Polignano a Mare
See all attractions in Polignano a Mare
Need to know
- Airport
- Bari Karol Wojtyła (BRI), about 30–40 min by car or train
- Getting there
- Regional train from Bari in about 30–40 min
- Getting around
- On foot in town; car for Alberobello and Ostuni
- Best base
- Near the old town
- Time needed
- 1 day, or 2–3 nights
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh12°Low7°Quiet, closedJanuaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 75 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Quiet, closed
- FebruaryPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh13°Low8°Quiet, coolFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 50 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Quiet, cool
- MarchPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh15°Low9°Mostly closedMarchPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 81 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mostly closed
- AprilPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh17°Low11°Spring, mildAprilPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 62 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, mild
- MayClear8 rainy daysHigh21°Low15°Warm, quietMayClear
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 56 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, quiet
- JuneClear6 rainy daysHigh27°Low21°Warming seaJuneClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 35 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warming sea
- JulyClear3 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°Hot, busyJulyClear
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 17 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busy
- AugustClear5 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh30°Low23°Peak crowdsAugustClear
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 32 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Peak crowds
- SeptemberClear8 rainy daysHigh26°Low20°Warm seaSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 58 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea
- OctoberClear8 rainy daysHigh21°Low16°Mild, calmOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 62 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, calm
- NovemberRain12 rainy daysHigh17°Low12°Rain, quietNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 100 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain, quiet
- DecemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh14°Low9°Quiet, coolDecemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 68 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Quiet, cool
Average daily high and low in Polignano a Mare, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Polignano a Mare
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
13
- Feels like
- 8°
- Humidity
- 89%
- Wind
- 27 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Polignano a Mare
09:37 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today16°14°100%Monday: Rain. High 16°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Tue18°13°93%Tuesday: Thunderstorms. High 18°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 93%.
- Wed17°13°0%Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High 17°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu17°13°13%Thursday: Cloudy. High 17°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 13%.
- Fri17°13°18%Friday: Partly cloudy. High 17°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 18%.
- Sat17°12°25%Saturday: Rain. High 17°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 25%.
- Sun20°15°19%Sunday: Fog. High 20°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 19%.
Updated 09:24 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
What's on in Polignano a Mare
Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city
Events calendarEvery year
- Jul–AugFestival della Valle d'ItriaCisternino, a day trip
Before you go to Polignano a Mare
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Rules for Polignano a Mare, checked
- Non-EU visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen area. Check your entry requirements on the official Italian visa portal before you book.Source
- Dial 112 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Italy.
- Santa Maria Assunta on Piazza Vittorio Emanuele is the parish church, so keep your voice low during services.
- Restaurants often add a cover charge (coperto) or service fee, so check the bill before you tip.
Plan around Polignano a Mare
Regions, cities and how to link them
Read the guideBariPuglia's capital, a short train ride away
Read the guideAlberobelloTrulli houses in the Itria Valley
Read the guideOstuniThe White City on the hill
Read the guideOtrantoA longer coast road south to Salento
Read the guideBest time to visit ItalyWhen Puglia is warm and open
Read the guidePolignano a Mare FAQ
Is Polignano a Mare worth visiting?
Yes, for a short stop with cliffs, a small old town and a beach. It is small, so a day or an overnight is enough. It is crowded in summer.
How do you get from Bari to Polignano a Mare?
By regional train in about 30–40 minutes, or by car in a similar time. Trains run through the day, and the station is a short walk from the old town.
How many days do you need in Polignano a Mare?
One day for the town and the beach, two or three if you plan to visit Alberobello and Ostuni by car. It works as a base for a short Puglia trip.
Is Polignano a Mare better than Monopoli?
Polignano is more dramatic, with sea cliffs and a famous cove. Monopoli, nearby, is quieter, with a working harbor. Many visitors see both in one day.
When is the best time to visit Polignano a Mare?
June and September give warm sea and thinner crowds than July and August. May and October suit walking. Winter is quiet, and many places close.