Polignano a Mare in 2 days, on foot

This 2-day self-guided walking plan for Polignano a Mare covers 12 narrated sights in an easy day-by-day order. Each day is split into a morning and an afternoon loop, and every stop has a two to three minute audio story in the Gingerguide app.

You set the pace: this is a suggested order, not a schedule. Walk it in 2 days, or stretch it out. Reorder freely; Polignano a Mare rewards a detour.

Day 1

Morning

1. Polignano a Mare Historic Centre: The extraordinary medieval old town of Polignano a Mare, a compact limestone labyrinth perched dramatically on a cliff above the Adriatic, with views that have made it one of the most photographed towns in southern Italy.
2. Grotta Palazzese: The world-famous sea cave restaurant carved into the limestone cliff below Polignano, where dining tables are set inside a natural cavern open to the Adriatic, creating one of the most spectacular restaurant settings in the world.
3. Cala Porto & Main Beach: The dramatic main beach of Polignano a Mare, a small pebble-and-sand cove framed by limestone cliffs, accessible via a steep stairway cut into the rock, directly below the old town.

Afternoon

1. Red Bull Cliff Diving & Polignano Sport: The annual Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series event that has made Polignano a Mare world-famous, where the best cliff divers in the world compete on the dramatic cliff faces below the old town.
2. Polignano Gastronomy & Gelato: The distinctive food culture of Polignano a Mare, from the exceptional local seafood cuisine to the famous gelato tradition that has produced some of Italy's most celebrated ice cream makers.
3. Domenico Modugno & Volare: The birthplace and memorial of Domenico Modugno, the Polignano-born singer-songwriter who gave the world 'Volare', the most internationally successful Italian popular song of the 20th century.

Day 2

Morning

1. Sea Caves & Coastal Grottos: The extraordinary network of sea caves carved into the limestone cliffs below Polignano, accessible by boat, by swimming, or by snorkelling, offering one of the finest coastal geology experiences on the Adriatic.
2. Lama Monachile & Bourbon Bridge: The ancient ravine (lama) that cuts through the limestone cliff into Polignano a Mare, spanned by a Bourbon-era bridge, and providing the town's most dramatic entrance from the main road.
3. Northern Beaches & Rocky Coves: The succession of secluded rocky coves, small sandy beaches, and sea caves stretching north of Polignano along the Adriatic coast, some accessible by road, others only by sea.

Afternoon

1. Primitivo Wine & Local Agriculture: The agricultural landscape surrounding Polignano, with ancient olive groves, vineyards producing the robust Primitivo grape, and the unique local varieties including the celebrated white carrot of Polignano.
2. Evening Passeggiata & Sunset on the Adriatic Coast: The evening ritual of Polignano, the passeggiata through the medieval lanes, the aperitivo at the cliff-edge bars, and the famous sunset light on the Adriatic cliffs that has made the town one of the most romantic destinations in southern Italy.
3. Local Crafts & Ceramics: The local craft traditions of Polignano a Mare, with a strong ceramic tradition, locally produced textiles, and the traditional workshops in the lanes of the old town that produce distinctive Apulian handicrafts.

Full Polignano a Mare guide and all stops →