Best beaches in Bari Puglia Italy
Italy

Ultimate List of the best Beaches in Bari

Puglia in Southern Italy is a wonderful destination for a beach holiday due to the many hours of sunshine and the long coastline. Bari also offers many beautiful beaches which make a beach holiday in Bari a real experience. We will show you Bari’s best beaches, which you can either discover on your own or book in advance as a private beach.
We give you an overview of the beaches in and around Bari in Puglia.

Beach Holiday in Bari: Special Characteristics

With around 300 sunny days a year, Puglia is one of the best holiday destinations in Europe, with a long and impressive coastline that offers many natural and public beaches, including those in and around Bari. Typical for this area are the rocky beaches, where you don’t just relax on sand but on white stone.

Beaches in Bari can be divided into two types:

  • Public beaches that can be used free of charge
  • Private beaches equipped with sunbeds, umbrellas and gastronomic facilities, which can be rented by the day. Bookings for private beaches can also be made online in advance.

You will also find different names for the beaches.

  • Cala means “bay” and does not necessarily mean a beach. But if a beach has a “Cala” in its name, it is always located in a bay.
  • Lido is a private beach where you can rent sunbeds and umbrellas for a fee. Usually it is a daily fee.
  • Spiaggia is a (mostly public) bathing beach that can consist of sand, pebbles or stones.

Many Italians have bought their own beach loungers or chairs and parasols to take with them on the public beach. Private beaches are used more by tourists, but are more comfortable.

puglai beaches

Peak season at the beaches

The high season in Bari starts in the middle of June, when holidays start in Italy. The high season lasts until the end of August, when the beaches in Bari are full of sun lovers, families and tourists. In the hot summer months of July and August, the temperatures can reach up to 45°C and the water temperature is a pleasant 23-24°C. Best conditions for a beach holiday in Bari.

As Bari and the Puglia region (Apulia) is also a popular holiday region among Italians, the prices for accommodation and rental cars are particularly high in the high season. In the low season May/June and September/October the water has a still pleasant temperature and is inviting for a swim. You will have more space and peace on the beaches of Bari then.


Tip: It is not common on the beach in Catholic Bari to go topless !


Bari and its long coast

The province of Bari has a long coastline where you will find many small, pretty villages. Long, secluded sandy beaches alternate with rocky stretches and magnificent bays. These places usually have their own small town beach and other natural rocky beaches just outside. At the city beaches in Bari the locals gather in the high season with their chairs and cooling boxes and spend their days on weekends and the evenings during the week.

While in the South of Puglia Salento attracts countless tourists and sun-seekers every year, the beaches of Bari and the surrounding area are not yet so well-developed and overcrowded. Here you can still see real nature and enjoy sunsets in solitude. Especially in the South of Bari town the coast is full of variety and small, romantic bays with fine sandy beaches.

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The Bari coastal villages and cities

The province of Bari has a surprising number of coastal towns worth visiting.
These include:

  • Capital of Puglia: Bari city
  • Charming Mola di Bari
  • Authentic San Vito
  • Famous Polignano a Mare
  • Lovely Monopoli
  • Little Cozze
  • Impressive Giovinazzo
  • Bigger Molfetta

Province of Bari: The best beaches

Bari

Pane e Pomodoro

The town of Bari has its own pretty domestic beach: the Bari beach “Pane e Pomodoro”(Italian: “bread and tomato”). The short sandy beach is within walking distance of the city centre and can be easily reached. It is a perfect place to relax after exploring the city and a beach near the port. All you have to do is walk along the Lungomare promenade and you will reach the city beach at its end. It is kept clean by the city of Bari, but is rather crowded in summer.

  • Mainly sandy beach
  • Public beach
  • Free of charge
  • Low access to the sea
  • No rental of umbrellas or loungers possible
  • Public toilet
  • Beach bar available ($$)

Lido San Francesco alla Rena

https://goo.gl/maps/gZtFQ9eu7DyV8FNC9

Located in the East of the city, the Lido San Francesco all Rena is a private beach of several on a long stretch. This beach in Bari consists mainly of sand and is particularly wide. It is not only ideal for a quick swim, but also comfortable for families who need comfort and want to spend the whole day on the beach. There are many gastronomic offers and facilities.

  • Sandy beach
  • Private beach
  • Paid
  • Rocky access to the sea
  • Umbrellas and deckchairs can be rented
  • Public toilet
  • Gastronomy available
  • Parking available
  • 20 € admission for 2 persons (2019)

Polignano a Mare

Polignano a Mare is probably the most popular destination for Italians who want to stroll, bathe and eat ice cream on weekends. The impressive coastal town is enthroned on high cliffs that offer spectacular views of the sea and rocks. Due to its popularity, Polignano a Mare is quite touristically developed and can become very crowded and expensive in high season. The most famous beach is the city beach of Polignano a Mare, which is located in a small bay with fine sand in the middle of the city. The impressive location is the motif for many pictures and also instagram influencers come here to take pictures in front of the great scenery. The 20 meter high cliffs were used for the World Cliff Diving Championships in 2016 and have made Polignano a Mare world famous.

Lama Monachile / Cala Porto
(Polignano a Mare)

https://goo.gl/maps/hmmYjK8EzVTPLdHE7

The most famous beach in the Bari region is probably the city beach of Polignano a Mare, right in the heart of the city. And for a good reason.

Scenic cliffs enclosing a small bay offering a small but fine pebble beach. The old town is enthroned on top of the cliffs and offers an incomparable view over the Adriatic Sea and the Bari coast. The water is crystal clear and due to the high rocks it is mostly protected from the sun.

It was awarded with the Blue Flag (Bandiera Blu) in 2008 and 2009. The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) awards this prize to outstanding beaches and other marine environments in terms of water quality and beach cleanliness. Another award was given to it by Legambiente with “4 sails”, which distinguishes Cala Porto in Polignano as one of the most beautiful beaches in Italy.

Those who have had enough of sunbathing may discover the surrounding enigmatic sea caves or admire the rugged cliffs. Polignano is perfect for travellers who are planning a beach holiday in Bari but also want to be active. In high season Cala Porto beach is often overcrowded due to its increasing popularity, but out of season you can also enjoy quiet hours here.

Some hotels offer a spectacular view of the bay of Polignano a Mare.

  • Pebble beach
  • Public beach
  • Free of charge
  • Low access to the sea
  • No rental of umbrellas and chairs possible
  • No toilet
  • Gastronomy in the surroundings
  • No parking spots, public parking possible, but difficult

Lido Cala Paura
(Polignano a Mare)

https://goo.gl/maps/iX32DgHrKsfnznHQ7

The small bay right next to the city centre of Polignano a Mare is mainly used by the locals and is quite full. If you want to get a spot here, you should arrive early in the day.

The pebble beach itself, framed by enchanting rocks, consists of a public part and a private beach. While you can rent deckchairs and parasols on the private beach, you should have these with you on the public beach. Pedalo boats can also be hired to explore the surrounding caves. In the attached snack bar you can get delicious fried fish and drinks. A second food truck specialises in the famous octopus sandwiches.

  • Pebble beach / Stone beach
  • Public Beach & Private Beach
  • Free & Paid ($$)
  • High access to the sea
  • Rental of umbrellas, chairs and pedal boats possible
  • Public toilet
  • Gastronomy available
  • Parking available (free of charge)

Insider tip: Spiaggia di Ponte dei Lapilli

https://goo.gl/maps/z1oKphGcdMy8SDBx8

The small public beach, hidden between rocks, is perfect for those who prefer a quiet beach holiday in Bari. The crystal clear water for which Puglia is so famous can also be found here. To get to the bay you have to descend a path along the on foot. It is therefore not suitable for children. Pay attention to suitable footwear.

  • Pebble beach, unpaved access
  • Public beach
  • Free of charge
  • Low access to the sea
  • No rental of umbrellas, chairs etc. possible
  • No toilet
  • No gastronomy available
  • Parking available on the street (free of charge)

Spiaggia di Porto Cavallo

San Vito, Polignano a Mare

https://goo.gl/maps/jSePtEBnQzxApXVk8

This sandy beach owes its name (port of the horses) to the fact that until the middle of the 20th century the inhabitants and traders brought their horses here for washing. The beach of Porto Cavallo is very child-friendly and has crystal clear water. It is located in a residential area and therefore has no gastronomic amenities.

  • Sandy beach, child-friendly
  • Public beach
  • Free of charge
  • Low access to the sea
  • No rental of umbrellas, chairs etc. possible
  • No toilet
  • No gastronomy available
  • Parking available on the street (free of charge)

Spiaggia di Torre San Vito  

https://goo.gl/maps/wTtXChiYRozDMt5h6

The long, sandy and partly rocky beach at the coast of the small village San Vito offers a particularly beautiful scenery. It is also used by the locals and is conveniently located close to the harbour with its restaurants. Many historical buildings are nearby and give a very special flair to a beach holiday in Bari, such as the Torre Anticorsara or the old abbey of San Vito.

A very interesting fact: The rocky coast with its natural bays in the water has been used as an eel farm since ancient times.

  • Long sandy beach, child-friendly
  • Public beach
  • Free of charge
  • Low access to the sea
  • No rental of umbrellas, chairs etc. possible
  • No toilet
  • Gastronomy available nearby
  • Parking available on the street (free of charge)

Cala (Lido) San Giovanni 

https://goo.gl/maps/BH699V7gSLP81ykv7

The exclusive, private sandy beach is equipped with all the comforts that make a relaxing day on the beach in the Bari region. Here you can rent classic parasols as well as comfortable loungers. The pine trees that provide shadow are special here. Sports enthusiasts can use the fitness area or attend yoga courses.

  • Long sandy beach
  • Child-friendly and disabled-friendly (also water access)
  • Private beach
  • Paid
  • Low access to the sea
  • Rental of umbrellas and chairs
  • Toilet available
  • Gastronomy available
  • Parking available (free of charge)

Insider tip for scuba divers: Cala Incina

https://goo.gl/maps/7L8QmNKYXATZmChk8

The secret little bay is better known to the locals. It is a real insider tip for those who like diving and jumping from rocks. The beach consists of pebbles and rocks and has some small caves.

Those who like solitude will find the perfect location here. The rocky ledges offer the opportunity for an undisturbed stay on one of the most beautiful beaches of Bari. From the road there is just a small stairway down to the bay.

  • Small, rocky bay
  • Public beach
  • Free of charge
  • High access to the sea
  • No rental of umbrellas, chairs etc. possible
  • No toilet
  • No gastronomy available nearby
  • Parking available on the street (free of charge)

Monopoli

Monopoli has some of the most beautiful beaches in Puglia. It is only a few kilometres away from Polignano a Mare and also offers crystal clear water. Here, the coast is mostly rocky, but there is a beach right next to the old town of the charming medieval town of Monopoli.

Further South you will find a lot of small bays, each with a sandy beach. Five kilometres away is Capitolo, a collection of long sandy beaches and tourist attractions. There are also discos and campsites.

Cala Porta Vecchia (Monopoli)

https://goo.gl/maps/KHqVdBNvYqNCq6JG6

The small city beach of Monopolis Old Town is small but nice. Clear water and easy access allow a quick jump into the cool water. Those who have discovered the beautiful inner city of Monopoli should not miss this beach.

  • Small bay
  • Public beach
  • Free of charge
  • High access to the sea
  • No rental of umbrellas, chairs etc. possible
  • No toilet, no showers.
  • Gastronomy available nearby
  • Parking available on the street (free of charge)

Cala Monaci (Monopoli)

https://goo.gl/maps/SVxKyAs5TUUG7ned6

Via Marina del Mondo, 70043 Monopoli BA, Italien

The small bay with a sandy beach offers a particularly interesting experience for snorkelers and divers. There is a lot to discover among the small rocks in the sea.

  • Sandy beach
  • Public beach
  • Free of charge
  • Low access to the sea
  • No rental of umbrellas, chairs etc. possible
  • No toilet, no showers.
  • No gastronomy available nearby
  • Parking available on the street (free of charge)

Cala Susca (Monopoli)

https://goo.gl/maps/M4X7DrfT2c62GZHr8

Via Marina del Mondo, 42, 70043 Area Produttiva BA, Italien

The rocky beach with a small stretch of sand is situated in a picturesque bay and offers plenty of privacy. Locals use this bay as well as visitors, so it can get crowded during peak times.

  • Rocky / sandy beach
  • Public beach
  • Free of charge
  • High access to the sea, not suitable for small children
  • No rental of umbrellas, chairs etc. possible
  • No toilet, no showers.
  • No gastronomy available nearby
  • Parking available on the street (free of charge)

Lido Pantano (Monopoli)

https://goo.gl/maps/mDKWzxfBYFneG5hDA

Via Marina del Mondo, 70043 Monopoli BA, Italien

The large private beach is comfortable and pleasant to spend the whole day at. Along a tiny bay you can book sunbeds on the sandy beach or on the rocky section. In Summer this beach is rather touristic.

  • Rocks / sandy beach
  • Private beach
  • Paid, $
  • Low access to the sea, suitable for small children
  • Rental of umbrellas, chairs etc. possible
  • Rental of kayaks and pedal boats
  • Toilet, showers
  • Gastronomy available (sandwiches)
  • Own parking spaces available ( for a fee)

Spiaggia di Cala Porto Bianco (Monopoli)

https://goo.gl/maps/Em5Xni1u3h4xRapHA

Via Procaccia, 70043 Monopoli BA, Italien

A small bay with a fine sandy beach and clear water. Popular among tourists in summer. The beach is located directly at the city of Monopoli and can be easily reached by foot.

  • Sandy beach
  • Public beach
  • Free of charge
  • Low access to the sea, suitable for small children
  • No rental of umbrellas, chairs etc. possible
  • No toilet, no showers (but will be built)
  • No gastronomy available nearby
  • Parking available on the street (free of charge)

Spiaggia di Cala Porto Rosso

https://goo.gl/maps/TMSj3pZcRJzzvM78A

Via Galileo Galilei, 24, 70043 Monopoli BA, Italien

The twin of the Spiaggia di Cala Porto Bianco is this sandy beach right next to the town of Monopoli. It is easy to reach and offers a quick swim after a stroll through the city. Here there is a lifeguard, which makes the beach perfect for children. A special feature is the large cave, where you can place yourself in if you arrive early enough.

  • Sandy beach
  • Public beach
  • Free of charge
  • Low access to the sea, suitable for small children
  • No rental of umbrellas, chairs etc. possible
  • No toilet, no showers (but will be built)
  • No gastronomy available nearby
  • Parking available on the street (free of charge)

Spiaggia di Santo Stefano

https://goo.gl/maps/wF6ykDhs3wmtVmN39

Contrada Santo Stefano, 70043 Monopoli BA, Italien

Beautiful private beach next to a medieval castle. This is a very special flair. The water is crystal clear here, as on all beaches in the Bari region. In the ratings, the service level scored well and child friendliness was confirmed.

  • Sandy beach
  • Child-friendly and disabled-friendly (also water access)
  • Private beach
  • Paid $$
  • Low access to the sea
  • Rental of umbrellas and chairs
  • Toilet available
  • Gastronomy available
  • Parking available (subject to a charge)

Die Strände von Capitolo

https://goo.gl/maps/7AGTzSifCHg2hBLHA

Capitolo has always been the centre of the local nightlife around Monopoli and a point of interest for many inhabitants of the nearby cities. In recent years many restaurants and seaside resorts have been built. The sandy beaches are crowded on weekends, especially on Friday evenings, Saturdays and Sundays. There is a small town with hotels, restaurants and bars.

Torre Cintola

https://goo.gl/maps/fPWhV5JqLWoMiVZf9

The public beach of Torre Cintola, which takes its name from the 16th century coast guard tower located here, is characterised by a series of bays nestled in the high limestone cliffs typical for the local landscape. These are small, artificially created sand beds that were once used to extract blocks of tufa, a local soft rock. These were then used for construction. Nearby there are both parking spaces for a fee and a large free parking lot.

The stretch of coast between Torre Cintola and Lido Azzurro is characterised by the presence of low cliffs and beautiful beaches. It is an ideal refuge for those who love the tranquillity of clear, deep water and fishing. The cliffs are made of limestone, on which you can observe the presence of petrified remains of crustaceans and the phenomenon of dolines caused by wind erosion. Free and paid parking is available nearby and the area is connected to the city by public transport.

Hi, I am Susanne. Good food, history and traveling are my passion. I write about it whenever I can. Thanks for reading this article.

One Comment

  • Sabrina

    Thanks for the list. we have been here and fiund a good beach. Recommend Capitolo, its awesome! ?

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