Boat rental in Bari — Polignano a Mare, Monopoli, Trani and tips for 2027

Bari, the capital of Puglia, is a port city with a lively old town, the basilica of San Nicola and a long seafront promenade. Its coast is low and rocky rather than sandy, cut by small inlets called lame, and south of the city it becomes more dramatic, with the cliffs and sea caves of Polignano a Mare and the coves around Monopoli. This guide covers routes, rules and practical tips for a day on the sea from Bari.

Where boats leave from

In the city, boats leave from the old port and the marinas near the Molo San Nicola, a short walk from Bari Vecchia. Along the coast there are smaller harbours in Torre a Mare, Polignano a Mare, Monopoli, Giovinazzo, Molfetta and Trani, and for the sea caves many skippered trips start directly from Polignano or Monopoli.

Routes from Bari

• Torre a Mare (about 7 NM): a small fishing village on the southern edge of the city with a watchtower and clear water over a rocky bottom.
• Polignano a Mare (about 17 NM): the town sits on limestone cliffs above the sea, with the Lama Monachile cove below the old bridge and a series of sea caves, including the one under the famous restaurant in the rock. See the boats in Polignano a Mare page.
• Monopoli (about 25 NM): an old harbour full of small blue fishing boats, and to the south a string of rocky coves and small beaches such as Porto Ghiacciolo and Cala Porta Vecchia. See the boats in Monopoli page.
• Giovinazzo and Molfetta (about 10–14 NM): two old towns with walled harbours north of Bari.
• Trani (about 22 NM): a Romanesque cathedral standing right on the water, one of the most beautiful sights on the Adriatic. See the boats in Trani page.

For more of southern Italy from the water, see our guides to boat rental in Naples and boat rental in Palermo.

Rules and licences

• Without a licence. In Italy you can generally drive a boat up to 10 metres with an engine of up to about 40 hp without a licence, within 6 nautical miles of the coast. Beyond that you need a licence, or a skipper.
• Bathing zones. In summer, boats must keep away from beaches and rocky shores in use by swimmers, usually at least 200 metres from beaches and 100 metres from cliffs, and approach only through the marked corridors at slow speed. Local rules are set by the coast guard and can differ.
• Sea caves. Enter caves only in calm water, slowly and with the engine ready to reverse; many are shallow at the entrance and busy with swimmers and kayaks in summer.
• Seagrass. Posidonia meadows are protected; anchor on sand where you can see it.

Wind and weather

The maestrale from the north-west is the most common summer wind and often picks up in the afternoon, making the open coast choppy. The scirocco from the south-east brings swell, haze and humid heat. In spring and autumn the tramontana or bora can blow hard from the north. The coast between Bari and Monopoli has few sheltered anchorages, so plan the route around the forecast and head back early when the wind rises.

When to go

The season runs from June to September, with May and October possible on calm days. In August the sea is around 26 °C, but the harbours and caves are at their busiest, especially around Ferragosto. June and September are quieter. In early May, the feast of San Nicola includes a procession of boats that carries the saint's statue out to sea.

A boat in Bari with Crystalium Booker

We are still building up our boat offer in Bari. Send us your date and number of people through the contact page and we will look for a suitable boat, and keep an eye on the boats in Bari page for new listings. Do you rent out a boat in or around Bari? List it with us.