Best Hotels in Polignano a Mare: Cliff Views, Cave Hotels, and Coast Stays

Polignano’s accommodation ranges from two genuinely exceptional cliff-top hotels to comfortable mid-range B&Bs in the old town and apartment rentals around the edge of the centre. The small size of the historic centre means everything is close together; the main decision is how much you are willing to pay for a sea-facing cliff view.

Cliff-Top Hotels

Grotta Palazzese Hotel

The most dramatic address in Polignano — a 5-star hotel built into the cliff face at Via Narciso 59, incorporating the famous sea cave that also contains its restaurant. The hotel has 26 rooms and suites; the best have private terraces looking directly down the cliff to the Adriatic, sometimes 30 metres below. The cave restaurant and bar (open to non-guests) are on-site.

Rates: approximately €300—600/night for a sea-view room in July and August; approximately €180—300 in June and September (as of 2026). Breakfast included.

Good for: a one or two-night special-occasion stay. The setting is exceptional; the service and room quality are very good. Book 4—6 months ahead for peak summer dates.

Note: the cave restaurant has different pricing from the hotel — dinner at approximately €80—120 per person is not included in room rates.

Covo dei Saraceni

A 4-star hotel on Vico Ingegno, directly at the cliff edge on the eastern side of the old town. 37 rooms; the better rooms have terraces or Juliet balconies with sea views. The roof terrace bar is one of the best spots in Polignano for an evening drink. More modern in style than Grotta Palazzese.

Rates: approximately €250—450/night for a sea-view room in peak summer; approximately €140—240 in shoulder season (as of 2026). Breakfast included.

Good for: couples who want a cliff-facing hotel with a more active bar and social atmosphere. The roof terrace makes it worth the supplement over inland-facing rooms.

Old Town Hotels

Palazzo Brancasi

A converted 17th-century palazzo in the old town centre on Via Brancasi — seven suites and rooms, each different, with period furnishings and careful restoration. No pool; no large common spaces — this is genuinely boutique accommodation in the Italian sense. Several rooms have small balconies over the town lanes.

Rates: approximately €180—280/night in peak season; approximately €120—180 in shoulder season (as of 2026). Breakfast delivered to rooms or served in the courtyard.

Good for: travellers who want old-town character and privacy without the cliff-view premium. Walking distance to all restaurants and Lama Monachile.

Hotel Caporusso

A family-run 3-star hotel a short walk from the old town on Via Conversano — clean, reliable, and considerably cheaper than the cliff-top options. 24 rooms; no sea views from most rooms. A pool in the garden is a useful amenity. The breakfast is good by southern Italian hotel standards.

Rates: approximately €110—170/night in July and August; approximately €75—110 in shoulder season (as of 2026). Breakfast included.

Good for: budget-minded travellers who want a hotel (rather than a guesthouse or apartment) and can walk 10 minutes to the old town.

Guesthouses and B&Bs

B&B Il Melograno

Small B&B on Via Conversano with four rooms — family-run, personal, and significantly cheaper than the boutique options. Shared breakfast room; rooms are simple but well-maintained. No sea views.

Rates: approximately €80—110/night as of 2026 in peak season. Breakfast included.

Casa Vacanze Degli Ulivi

A collection of apartments (not a hotel) near Polignano on the coastal strip — self-catering studios and one-bedroom apartments with access to a shared pool. Better for longer stays or families wanting kitchen access.

Rates: approximately €90—140/night for a studio in peak season; from approximately €70/night in shoulder (as of 2026).

Apartment Rentals

Polignano has a strong short-term rental market, particularly in and around the old town. Platforms list apartments ranging from studios in the centro storico to larger properties with sea-view terraces. Rates vary significantly but typically:

• Studio in old town: approximately €100—160/night in peak summer
• One-bedroom with terrace: approximately €140—220/night in peak summer
• Two-bedroom outside old town: approximately €100—160/night in peak summer

Self-catering makes particularly good sense in Polignano given the quality of the local food shops, bakeries, and the fish market at the port.

Where to Stay by Priority

Cliff view is the priority: Grotta Palazzese Hotel (more intimate, more dramatic) or Covo dei Saraceni (better social atmosphere, roof terrace).

Walking convenience at mid-range price: Palazzo Brancasi or Hotel Caporusso.

Lowest cost: B&Bs and guesthouses outside the old town walls from approximately €70—100/night; accept a 10-minute walk as the trade-off.

Self-catering: apartments via short-term rental platforms, particularly good for stays of 3+ nights.

Practical Notes

Car access: the old town is closed to through traffic in summer. Most hotels have arrangements with local parking or can advise; check when booking whether parking is included or available nearby.

High season: mid-July through August is the busiest period. Polignano is popular with Italian domestic tourists and increasingly with international visitors following social media attention. Book at least 2—3 months ahead for cliff-top hotels; 4—6 weeks for the mid-range options.

Off-season: April, May, and October are excellent — the old town is calm, the weather is mild, and rates are 30—50% lower than peak. Several restaurants and the cave bar close in November through March; confirm openings if visiting outside summer.