Private transfer from Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport to Polignano a Mare

Polignano a Mare sits on limestone cliffs over the Adriatic, south of Bari. Its best-known spot is Lama Monachile (Cala Porto), the pebble cove framed by the old Roman bridge, packed with swimmers and cliff-divers in July and August. The whitewashed old town winds above the sea, with terraces like the Piazzetta and the statue of singer Domenico Modugno, born here. Grotta Palazzese, a sea cave restaurant, draws diners in summer. Day-trippers come from Bari for a half-day; couples and photographers arrive year-round. Autumn brings the Red Bull Cliff Diving crowd in some years. It's a walking town — steep alleys, stairs down to the water, and small boat tours from the marina to the coastal caves. Spring and early autumn are calmer than the August crush.

From Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport the route heads south, joining the SS16 Adriatica dual carriageway that skirts Bari and runs down the coast past Torre a Mare, Mola di Bari and Cozze. It's an easy, mostly flat drive of around 45 kilometres, typically 40 to 50 minutes depending on Bari's ring-road traffic. The road stays inland of the sea for much of the way, through olive groves and low farmland, with occasional glimpses of the Adriatic. The final approach turns off toward Polignano's centre, where streets narrow near the old town. Cars cannot enter the historic core, so drivers stop at the edge — around Piazza Aldo Moro or the parking areas above the cliffs — and you continue on foot down into the alleys.

Tell your driver whether you want the old-town edge (Piazza Aldo Moro) or a specific hotel — many small guesthouses sit inside the pedestrian zone, so you'll roll your luggage over cobbles and steps for the last stretch; pack light or bring a bag you can carry. In summer the SS16 and Polignano's approach roads clog badly on weekend afternoons, so an earlier arrival slot moves faster. Cliff-side terraces get windy; a light layer helps even in June. If you're day-tripping and returning to the airport, book the pickup with buffer time, as the town's narrow streets slow driver access. For the sea caves, boat tours leave from near the marina below the old town, weather permitting — not guaranteed on rough Adriatic days.