Polignano a Mare is the Adriatic cliff town that became one of Puglia’s most recognisable images — whitewashed buildings perched on limestone karst, with turquoise sea crashing against the rock below and a small cove beach wedged in the base of the cliff. It’s the birthplace of Domenico Modugno (who wrote “Volare”), small enough that you can walk the entire old town in 20 minutes, and visually spectacular enough that its terraces and the Lama Monachile cove appear on seemingly every Puglia travel piece ever published. Staying inside the old town rather than day-tripping from Bari rewards you with the place at its most intimate — early morning light on the cliffs, the evening on the Piazza Aldo Moro, and the sea caves accessible by boat.
Search Polignano hotels on Booking.com to compare prices and check availability across all areas in this guide.
Centro Storico — The Clifftop Old Town
Polignano’s old town is a grid of narrow whitewashed alleys on a limestone promontory, with the cliff edge and its famous viewing terrace (the belvedere, with a statue of Domenico Modugno) at the seaward end. The centre is pedestrianised — cars park in the new town and the connection to the old town is through an archway on Via Conversano.
Budget (€90–130/night): B&Bs in converted old town buildings. Several family-run guesthouses on the streets around Via Roma and Via Santa Croce offer simple rooms in atmospheric positions; rates from approximately €90–115/night in shoulder season as of 2026. Self-catering apartments in the old town are often better value for 3+ nights.
Mid-range (€130–200/night): Grotta Palazzese Beach Hotel (Via Narciso 59) is the most famous address in Polignano — the cliff-side property with a restaurant literally built into a sea cave. The hotel rooms themselves are priced from approximately €200–350/night in peak season, with limited availability. If the main hotel is beyond budget, the associated beach club and restaurant are accessible as day/evening experiences. Hotel Covo dei Saraceni (Via Conversano 1) is a solid four-star in a clifftop position with sea views from some rooms; doubles from approximately €150–220/night as of 2026.
Boutique cliff-edge (€200–350/night): Several small boutique properties in the old town have terrace or balcony rooms with sea views. At peak rates these are expensive, but the cliff-edge experience — breakfast with the Adriatic below — is memorable. The best of these book out months in advance for summer.
New Town — Below the Clifftop
The commercial streets below the old town arches have standard two- and three-star hotels, more accessible parking, and lower prices. The trade-off is walking distance to the viewpoints and cove — approximately 10 minutes on foot from most new town hotels.
Budget-friendly: From approximately €70–95/night. Chain and simple independent hotels. Convenient for train travellers (Polignano station is in the new town).
Surrounding Coast — Between Polignano and Monopoli
The 15 km of Adriatic coast between Polignano and Monopoli has a scattering of beach hotels and small resorts, some with direct sea access and private beach areas.
What to expect: Less characterful than the old town, but sometimes better beach access. Rates from approximately €90–180/night depending on sea views and facilities.
Plan your trip:
- Browse tours in Polignano a Mare
- Book an airport transfer
- Get travel insurance for Italy
- Pick up an eSIM for Italy
- Search hotels in Polignano on Booking.com
Practical notes
- Book early for summer. The old town has limited accommodation inventory and the best B&Bs and cliff-edge properties fill months in advance for July and August. Early June and September are significantly less pressured.
- Sea cave boat trips. Boat tours departing from Lama Monachile explore the sea caves along the Polignano cliffs — typically 45–90 minutes, from approximately €15–25/person as of 2026. Available in good weather from May through October.
- Bari as an airport. Bari Karol Wojtyla airport is 28 km north — the most convenient arrival point. Polignano is served by regular trains from Bari Centrale (30 minutes) on the Adriatic rail line.
- Day-trip escape. Monopoli (15 km south) and Ostuni (40 km south) are the obvious day trips by car. The Grotte di Castellana (14 km inland) — the most extensive cave system in southern Italy — is 20 minutes by car.
The Polignano a Mare travel guide covers the cliffs, the beaches, the sea cave boat circuit, and the best things to do in and around the town.