A Weekend in Polignano a Mare, Puglia: The Definitive Guide
Planning a weekend in Polignano a Mare, Puglia’s most popular beach town? Plan your perfect weekend trip with our short travel guide.
You’ve most probably already seen photos of Polignano a Mare all over social media, most likely before even knowing that it was Polignano a Mare- historic, white-washed villas perched precariously on the edge of staggering sea cliffs, everything surrounded by a wave of every shade of blue.
And the beach- the smallest in Italy, surrounded by high limestone cliffs with crystal clear, turquoise water lapping at its shores.
Whether you’re visiting Polignano a Mare as part of a longer trip around Puglia or you’ve come to this sublime beach town just for the weekend, Polignano a Mare is the perfect place to spend a couple of days living la dolce vita.
In this guide, you’ll find all the best things to do in Polignano a Mare, the best Polignano a Mare beach and my favourite places to eat, drink and stay.
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How to Get to Polignano a Mare?
Polignano a Mare sits on Puglia’s beautiful, rocky northern coast, just 30 minutes south of Bari, one of Puglia’s main hubs. It’s a relatively easy place to get to especially coming from Bari.
Car – The best way to get around Puglia is to rent a car and drive. While Polignano is easily reachable from Bari by public transportation, if you are planning to visit other parts of Puglia like Locorotondo, Alberobello, Ostuni or Lecce on a road trip it’s best to have a car.
When renting a car in Europe, I personally always use Auto Europe to find the best online deals for car rentals- they really do have the best rates. Click here to find the best rates for your travel dates
When renting a car in Puglia and for Polignano a Mare rent the smallest car you can- the roads in Polignano and other towns in Puglia are tiny and it helps to have a small car.
Tip for Parking Polignano a Mare: Once you get to Polignano you’ll need to find somewhere to park as you won’t need your car while exploring the town.
Polignano a Mare is a small town but it gets really busy, especially in the summer season when parking can be an issue.
The best thing to do is to book a parking space in Polignano a Mare with your hotel. A few hotels have parking included but most charge about €20 per day which is actually much cheaper than having to pay per hour for a whole day in a metered spot.
You could try to find parking on the street- either free (white lines) or paid (blue lines) but it is difficult in high season.
Alternatively, there are a few large parking lots – see ‘Car Park in Polignano a Mare’ – on Google Maps, it’s located just outside the historic centre which charges per hour.
Train – From Bari Centrale, you can reach Polignano a Mare by train in under 45 minutes with tickets costing less than €5 one way.
If you’re visiting Polignano a Mare just for the weekend from Bari or Bari Airport this is the best way to get there.
From Bari airport, you’ll need to get another train from the airport to BARI C.LE FNB station, walk to Bari Centrale and then take the train to Polignano. For more information and to book tickets check the Tren Italia website here.
Top Things to Do in Polignano a Mare
Polignano a Mare is a town for being rather than doing. The pace of life here is slow, it’s all about taking a wander, heading to the beach and enjoying the Italian way of life by sipping spritzes and feasting on plates of antipasti.
Having said that there are a few leisurely things to do in Polignano. Make sure not to miss these must-dos when in town.
Stroll Along the Lungomare and Take Pictures from Largo Ardito Viewpoint
One of the best things to do in Polignano a Mare is to just stroll around and one of the best places for that stroll? The lungomare (promenade) of course.
While Polignano’s lungomare is somewhat ‘broken’ due to all of the dramatic limestone cliffs, it’s best to head to the eastern part of town or to Largo Ardito for the best stretch and some of the best views of the town.
Make sure to come here for the best views at sunrise when the golden light beautifully lights up all the cliffs and whitewashed facades. It is, quite honestly one of the best views you’ll see in Polignano a Mare if not the whole of Puglia.
Wander into the Church of Saint Mary of the Assumption
On Polignano a Mare’s main square, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II you’ll find the town’s main church, the church of Saint Mary of the Assumption.
When walking by it’s worth popping in, not just for a respite from the heat but also to wander around and check out the lovely ceiling frescos and ornate altar.
People Watch and Bathe at Cala Porto
The Polignano a Mare beach that the town is famous for is Cala Porto or Lama Monachile which occupies a small, pebble-studded stretch in between rolling limestone cliffs that’ll you’ll no doubt have seen before online.
While it’s not the most comfortable beach to lay a towel down on- those large pebbles aren’t the best for laying on or walking over, it is a nice spot to relax for a while or go for a quick dip.
The water here in the summer is divine and it does make the perfect place to cool off. If you’re someone with an adventurous side, you can also do a bit of cliff jumping here.
In fact, Cala Porto does have a bit of a reputation for being a great and perhaps, somewhat lucky place to take the plunge.
Snap a Photo from Pietra Piatta
One of the most iconic viewpoints of the town, a photo from here is a must when spending a weekend in Polignano a Mare.
Located over the overside of Cala Porto- the famed Polignano a Mare beach, you can get to Pietra Piatta by heading over the viaduct bridge to the Monumento a Domenico Modugno and heading down the staircase to the rocks just behind the statue of the famed Italian performer.
The large limestone cliffs flatten out making a great place to relax, enjoy the sunrise, meditate and take photos.
Walk toward Cala Porto along the rocks and you’ll get to the famed Polignano a Mare photo spot. You can enjoy it at any time but it is best at sunrise.
Go SUP
There are many ways to enjoy the pristine waters of Polignano a Mare and one of the fun-est is definitely SUP.
Not only is it a great workout, but going for a paddle will allow you to explore Polignano a Mare beach a little more as well as all the little grottos hidden in the limestone cliffs below.
You’ll be able to paddle from cala to cala and really take advantage of the pristine waters below.
Taking a SUP tour is by far the best way to go with SUP in Polignano as a knowledgeable guide will be able to point out all the best spots which you might miss otherwise.
The guide will also give you a briefing on the ins and outs of SUP. Check out the best SUP tour in Polignano and Mare here.
Grab a drink at Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II
Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II is Polignano a Mare’s main square. Here you’ll find the town’s main church and important buildings as well as many restaurants, cafes and street performers.
You’ll no doubt come across this piazza at some point while exploring the centro storico but the best thing to do here is to grab a table at any one of the cafes or restaurants, order a coffee or Aperol spritz and enjoy the atmosphere.
Explore Polignano a Mare Beach
Apart from Cala Porto, there are many other great beaches nearby that make a great place to relax and pass the afternoon. Polignano a Mare beaches however aren’t really the sand type.
Calas or coves in the area are characterized by rocky outcrops and pebble beaches on which most people just throw down a towel anyway.
The best Polignano a Mare beaches nearby are Cala Paguro and Lido Cala Paura, just a short walk up the main road or Cala Eremita and Cala Port’Alga further south.
These fisherman’s coves are pristine spots with crystal clear water that make the perfect place to relax and swim for a while.
READ MORE: Polignano a Mare Beaches: Uncovering the Resort Town’s Top Beaches
Museum of Contemporary Art Pino Pascali
If you’re walking the lungomare you’ll soon come to the Pino Pascali Contemporary Art Museum which is worth a look. Housed in a lovely building overlooking the ocean, they have a good collection of local contemporary art that’s worth checking out.
Unfortunately, the museum was closed when we visited so you might want to check the opening hours on their website.
Like the photos in this post? Many are actually available as high-quality photographic prints you can buy and display on your walls at home. Shop the Roam & Thrive pr