A day on the coast
Polignano in the morning, Monopoli in the afternoon
Two trains each way, 4-5 km on foot
- 08:30
Day trip: Polignano a Mare
30 minutes by train from Bari Centrale
The white town on the cliff: Lama Monachile bay, the historic centre built on the rock and the sea caves you can visit by boat. Trains leave Bari Centrale every 30-60 minutes and cost a few euros.
Alternative day trips from Bari Centrale: Trani (35 min), Monopoli (35 min), Alberobello (1h30), Matera (1h20).
- 09:30
Lama Monachile and the old town
Polignano a Mare
The bay between two rock walls, with the Roman bridge in the middle and the houses of the old town hanging above it. Then the alleys: balconies over the water, the terrace of the old abbey, and the statue of Domenico Modugno on the seafront.
Go down to the beach early: the bay goes into shadow in the afternoon and is packed in July and August.
- 12:30
Lunch over the water in Polignano
Centro storico, Polignano a Mare
Raw fish, orecchiette or a simple panzerotto on a terrace above the bay. Polignano is small and busy: a dozen tables with a view is all you need.
Book the day before in high season, or eat at 12:00 before the day-trippers arrive.
- 14:00
Monopoli: the old port
Centro storico, Monopoli
Ten minutes further down the line, Monopoli is the working-harbour version of Polignano: a walled old town on the sea, fishing boats pulled up in the marina, the cathedral on the square and white alleys without the crowds.
The train from Polignano takes 8 minutes and the station is 10 minutes on foot from the old town.
- 16:00
Cala Porta Vecchia
Monopoli, old town beach
The town beach right under the walls: white pebbles, shallow turquoise water and the old town behind you. Around the coast, Capitolo and Porto Ghiacciolo are the longer beaches with lidos.
No shade in the afternoon: bring water and an umbrella, or swim early and visit the old town after.
- 18:00
Train back to Bari
Monopoli station → Bari Centrale
Regional trains back to Bari run every 30-60 minutes and take about 40 minutes. Dinner in Bari, on the seafront or in the alleys of the old town.
Check the last trains on the day: after 21:00 the service thins out quickly.