15 Best Beaches in Monopoli Puglia, Italy You need to visit

If you plan a trip to Puglia, you must visit Monopoli and its beaches. There are so many incredible beaches to visit in Monopoli that we decided to put together a guide to the best beaches in Monopoli worth visiting. From the famous Cala Porta Vecchia located in the heart of the old town to Capitolo beach, Monopoli Italy beaches will surprise you.

Many great beaches are within walking distance from the old town; for others, instead, you will need to grab a bus or rent a car; regardless, all of the ones that we listed below are worth adding to your bucket list. So, grab your bikini and a lot of sun cream and enjoy the crystal blue water of Monopoli’s beaches.

Best time to visit Monopoli Italy

Summer in Puglia can be sweltering, with temperatures reaching 30/35 degrees. In fact, the hottest month is considered July. Therefore, the best time to visit Monopoli and enjoy its beaches is early June or September. We visited Puglia in September, and Alessia got sunburned, so you can imagine that the temperature was still pretty high. 

Puglia in winter is pretty cool as well; in fact, in late September and mid-October, you can still find nice and sunny days perfect for enjoying a day on the beach. 

Monopoli Italy Beaches MAP

Things to know before visiting Monopoli beaches

There are so many gorgeous beaches in Monopoli worth visiting, although not all of them are free to enter. In Italy, it is common to find “Lido” along the coastline, which are private beach clubs offering sunbeds, chairs, umbrellas, music, wifi, showers and many other amenities. 

The Free Beach, known as Spiaggia Libera, is a public beach free for everyone. Locals bring their own beach towels, chairs and umbrellas and find their spot on the beach. If you’re not used to hot weather and strong sun, we recommend you find some shades as Puglia in summer can be really hot.

How to get around Monopoli for the best beaches

Walking | Monopoli’s historic centre is a pedestrian-friendly area with narrow streets, alleys, and staircases that lead down to the coastline. Some of the best beaches in Monopoli, such as Cala Porta Vecchia and Cala Cozze, are within walking distance from the historic centre.

Driving | Renting a car is an excellent option for exploring Monopoli’s beaches, especially if you plan to visit more remote areas along the coast. Hiring a car in Puglia allows you to explore the beaches at your own pace. You can easily book a car rental through our link to get the best deals.

Public Transport | Monopoli has a limited public transportation system, with buses running to the town’s main beaches during the summer months. However, the schedules can be irregular, and the buses can get crowded during peak season. Therefore, checking the schedules beforehand is best to avoid any inconvenience. Alternatively, you can take a train to nearby towns and then walk or take a taxi to the beaches.

15 Best beaches in Monopoli, Puglia

• Cala Porta Vecchia
• Cala Porto Bianco & Cala Porto Rosso
• Porto Verde
• Cala Paradiso
• Grotta della Cala Tre Buchi
• Porto Marzano Beach
• Porto Ghiacciolo
• Cala Sottile
• Cala Anna & Cala Verde
• Spiaggia di Capitolo
• Calette di Torre Cintola
• Lido Santo Stefano
• Lido Colonia
• Purple Beach
• Lido Le Macchie

Best beaches Monopoli

Cala Porta Vecchia

Of all the incredible things to do in Monopoli, sunbathing in Cala Porta Vecchia is a must. Located at the edge of the old town, Cala Porta Vecchia is considered one of the best beaches in Monopoli. Locals love to hang out here and spend their morning or afternoon swimming and enjoying the sun.

Cala Porta Vecchia has a narrow sandy beach and rocky bump, allowing you to lay down your beach towel and enjoy a sunny day in Monopoli. The water is just amazingly blue, so a dip is a must. Grab a beer or a gelato along the way and enjoy a couple of hours sunbathing in Cala Porta Vecchia. 

Cala Porto Bianco and Cala Porto Rosso

Located next to each other, Porto Bianco and Porto Rosso are connected via a coastal bike path. When you visit Monopoli, you can spend the morning in Porto Bianco, going for lunch at Ristorante Pizzeria Porto Rosso and having a quiet afternoon in Porto Rosso. The turquoise blue water is unmissable in both places, and a swim is a must.

If you visit Puglia in summer, you will find many locals hanging out around these two beaches. They are both free, so bring your beach towel and bikini and enjoy a dip in one of the best beaches in Monopoli, Puglia. 

Porto Verde

Less touristy than other beaches in Monopoli, Porto Verde is one of the best places for sunset. In fact, during the peak summer months, you will see many locals coming to Porto Verde and enjoying a lovely sunset. In fact, if you’re coming at the wrong time, you might not be able to find a spot as it’s a small sandy bay, although it’s still worth checking out the crystal clear water. We suggest reaching Porto Verde by walking as it’s easier, but if you’re renting a car in Puglia, you must park around Porto Rosso or Cala Paradiso parking space.

Cala Paradiso

After passing Cala Verde, you will find a tiny paradise called Cala Paradiso. It’s a proper lido offering sunbeds, parasols, toilets, showers, a restaurant and many other amenities. Depending on when you’re visiting Puglia, the prices for sunbeds and umbrellas vary, but overall, the cost for 2 sunbeds and an umbrella is €30.

It’s a pretty good deal if you plan to spend the entire day on one of the best beaches in Monopoli. The Lido takes the majority of the beach. However, there is a tiny section which is free on the side. Although it will get jam-packed, we recommend you save your spot early in the morning. Additionally, you can stay on the surrounding rocks and go for a swim in the blue water.

Grotta della Cala Tre Buchi

Not far from Cala Paradiso, this little hidden gem is a must-visit in Monopoli.

You will need to walk through rocks to be able to reach Grotta della Cala Tre Buchi, but the little “hike” is worth the beautiful beach. The turquoise water will be there to welcome you, so bring your biking and beach towel. On a sunny and warm day, it’s always a good idea to go beach hopping in Monopoli. 

Porto Marzano Beach

Discovering Monopoli Italy beaches is a must while in Puglia. We could walk to Porto Marzano Beach and enjoy the lovely afternoon as we visited Puglia in winter. On a hot summer day, there are better ideas than a 41-minute walk. Although, if you rent a car in Puglia, you can freely move from one location to another. Porto Marzano Beach is for sure another incredible beach worth visiting in Monopoli.

A little bit further down and away from the tourist radar, on this beach, you will find mainly locals enjoying their free time swimming and sunbathing. We recommend you bring a pair of flip-flops to use in the water as you might find some rocks, and if you’re not used to them, you might get hurt.  

Porto Ghiacciolo

This is one of the best beaches in Monopoli, Puglia, for a reason. From here, you have a gorgeous view of Santo Stefano castle. The beach surrounding the castle is partially private, with a lido offering sunbeds and umbrellas. Still, you have a small free portion where you can place your beach towel and enjoy a swim into one of the most incredible crystal blue waters in Monopoli.

Thanks to the springs flowing from the ground, the sea around the castle is permanently blue, but it also means cold. In fact, the name Ghiacciolo comes from this, as it means icicle. If you’re visiting Porto Ghiacciolo around sunset, we recommend you stop at the restaurant and taste some of the best seafood in Monopoli. The atmosphere and view are so romantic that you can’t miss stopping by. Ensure you order Paccheri with seafood; it’s one of our favourite Apulian dishes!

Cala Sottile

A bit further down from Santo Stefano Castle, you have Cala Sottile, one of the most popular beaches among locals. Hidden and surrounded by nature, Cala Sottile is the perfect place to escape Monopoli’ ‘s crowds. Small but picturesque, Cala Sottile is the perfect place to visit even in winter. So grab your bikini and enjoy a slow morning swimming into the spending turquoise water. 

Cala Anna & Cala Verde

Rock formations surround Cala Anna and Cala Verde; thanks to this, the water is permanently blue. The beach is completely free, and the water is just insanely blue. It’s one of our favourite beaches in Monopoli; in fact, during our stay in the city, we spend most of our time in Cala Verde. In summer, you will see many locals hanging out between Cala Anna and Cala Verde, as it’s a peaceful and unique spot to enjoy the hot summer months. 

Best beaches near Monopoli

Spiaggia di Capitolo

During our first day in Monopoli, we spent the afternoon sunbathing at Cala Porta Vecchia. We met a few locals, and they suggested we visit one of the best beaches in Monopoli, Spiaggia di Capitolo. There is a local bus departing from Monopoli city centre and reaching Capitolo. 

Capitolo’s beaches are known as Calette del Capitolo, free beaches often visited by locals and tourists. Find your quiet spot and enjoy the crystal blue water. The best time to visit Calette del Capitolo is in the morning; it’s way less crowded than in the afternoon. 

Calette di Torre Cintola | Piscine Romane

With its particular rock formation, Calette di Torre Cintola creates a unique waterway to the beach. In fact, of all the beaches in Puglia, this is one of the unique ones. 

You can still enjoy a refreshing swim in the blue water and sunbathe for a few hours. Make sure you visit Calette di Torre Cintola before leaving Monopoli, as it’s one of the most incredible places you will visit in Puglia. Secluded through rocks that preserve Roman ruins, you will sunbathe in an authentic open-air, free-entry museum for the most unique beach in Puglia.

Best Lidos to visit in Monopoli Puglia

Lido Santo Stefano

While beach hopping in Monopoli, you will see many free beaches and private lidos along the coastline. Lido Santo Stefano is one of the most exclusive beach clubs in Puglia. The entrance fee is only €10, but on top, you need to add the extra charge for sunbeds and parking.

Although it might look expensive, it’s convenient and worth the money if you plan to stay the entire day. So plan your day out in Monopoli and enjoy the white sandy beach and the turquoise water. 

Lido Colonia

Lido Calonia is mainly a private lido, although it has a little free part for you to use. While using the Lido, you have access to all its amenities as well as the restaurant. So you can grab a bite at the restaurant (By the way, check our post about the best food to try in Puglia and continue your relaxing day at Lido Colonia.

Compared to other lidos in Puglia, Lido Colonia is pretty affordable. In fact, you pay €20 for an umbrella and 2 deckchairs. However, it’s pretty fair, to be honest, so if you want to spend the entire day sunbathing and swimming, here is the perfect spot for you.

Purple Beach

Let’s start by saying that the beach is not purple. You won’t find the pink sandy beach like in Indonesia, but the name comes from the bright purple sunbeds which line down the beach. Known for its fantastic beach parties in Monopoli, Purple beach is one of the town’s most exclusive and luxurious lidos. Thanks to its private pavilions and cute purple colours, Purple beach is the perfect place to enjoy one of the best beaches in Monopoli.

Family-friendly, with live music, and a private restaurant, you will enjoy your day at Purple Beach Lido. Depending on when you’re visiting Monopoli and if any events are happening in Purple Beach, the entrance fee can vary between €20 and €60. If you’re visiting Puglia in winter or at the end of the summer, you will pay around 20 euros for two sunbeds and an umbrella. 

Lido Le Macchie

Considered a unique place in Monopoli, Lido le Macchie is perfect for spending an entire day relaxing, enjoying the crystal blue water and sunbathing. When visiting the Lido, don’t expect to stay on a budget, they offer services, and it’s basically what you’re paying at the end of the day. The parking will cost around €6, and for 2 sunbeds and an umbrella, the price range is between €26 and €30. 

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Q&A Monopoli Italy Beaches

Does Monopoli have nice beaches?

Yes! Monopoli’s beaches are one of the most attractive and gorgeous in Puglia. 

From its Lido to free sandy beaches, Monopoli has got so many cute spots where you can go for a swim. We personally loved exploring all the beaches in Monopoli more than Polignano.

Which public beach is best in Monopoli?

Cala Porta Vecchia is one of the most famous public beaches in Monopoli. Located right in the old town, the small cove is at the entrance of the historical centre and is one of the most popular beaches among tourists and locals. 

Should I stay in Monopoli or Polignano a Mare?

Monopoli is unique, and we absolutely love it. We recommend staying in Monopoli and taking a day trip to Polignano a Mare. Polignano is way more touristy than Monopoli; in fact, prices are almost double. Staying in Monopoli will allow you to save money but at the same time to explore one of the cutest places in Puglia.

Is Monopoli worth visiting?

Absolutely YES! If we were to pick between Monopoli and Polignano, we would always choose Monopoli. The place is just amazing, plus it has so many incredible sandy beaches in Monopoli to choose from. Although, both Polignano and Monopoli are worth visiting! 

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