Monopoli is located on the east coast of Italy about 40 km from Bari, Italy. If you’re looking at a map it’s located right at the boot of Southern Italy. The west coast gets many visitors to popular spots such as Naples, the Amalfi Coast, the Italian Riviera, and so many more. In recent years the east coast has been gaining more and more visitors searching for places not as crowded and well known. While there is no bad place we’ve been to in Italy, we were excited about going to see a different side of this amazing country. Here is our guide to visiting Monopoli on Italy’s East Coast including top things to do!
We loved the relaxed feel that Monopoli has. It’s not a huge city so while you will find anything you could need, it also has that small Italian charm. In the main square every night we spotted groups of friends sitting and just talking and playing cards. It felt like one of the most authentic areas in Italy we visited because of how immersed with locals we felt. Not to mention it’s also beautiful and unlike any other place we’ve visited in Italy!
Getting to Monopoli
The train from Rome to Monopoli took just under 5 hours and was really easy! With our Eurail Global Pass we needed a seat reservation which cost 10 Euros each because it was a high-speed train. The train station in Bari is large so you can easily connect there coming from other parts of Italy. There is also an airport in Bari as well.
The train station in Monopoli is small and is located on the outskirts of the main town area. It’s a small area though so it’s still completely within walking distance. We walked to our Airbnb in no more than 15 minutes without much difficulty.
Wander Around the White Streets
The streets of Monopoli reminded us so much of Greece. We were so surprised by how white the town is! Small, cobblestone pedestrian-only streets make up most of the town area. You will find plenty of bars, restaurants and food options within the town. It’s like a maze of streets, some more crowded while others were so quiet and empty. We honestly found no ugly streets in Monopoli and we couldn’t stop taking pictures!
It can be a little tricky finding something specific because they all do start to look similar. But there are signs scattered around and it’s really not a bad place to get a little lost!
Read More: Day trip to Cinque Terre
Walk Along the Water
On the southern edge of the town area there is a beach called Spaggia Cala Porta Vecchia where you will see many people swimming and laying out. From there you can continue walking along the cliffs to find many viewpoints and hidden swimming spots. If you look up walking directions on Google Maps it will most likely tell you to walk on the road. While it is mostly rocks and dirt, you can absolutely walk along the water and you should!
Along the way there are so many small beaches and beach coves. It does get pretty remote along the coast the farther away you walk. But we also found that there were very few other people at almost all the beach coves we stumbled upon. The water splashing against the rocks is so beautiful and you get amazing views the whole time!
- Whenever you’re ready to get back to the main road there are quite a few pathways that lead back from the cliffs. Walking along the road can get you to the town area quicker (although you do lose the views). From the farthest point we walked (Lido Colonia) back to town took us no more than 50 minutes so it’s very doable!
Visit Lido Colonia & Cala Copacabana
Cala Copacabana is a beautiful beach cove! We reached it by walking along the coast from the main town area and stumbled upon it. There was one family there but other than that it was completely empty! It’s larger than some of the other beach areas so you can easily lay down and enjoy it for a while! There are no amenities though so plan ahead.
You will get to Lido Colonia as you keep walking on from Cala Copacabana. It was so quiet and beautiful! There was only one other person there when we got there and once he left soon after, we had it all to ourselves. It’s beautiful with the rocks on either side of the water. This is a really good photo spot especially in the late afternoon!
Another beautiful spot nearby is Grotto della Cala Tre Buchi. It’s right before Cala Copacabana if you’re walking south from Monopoli!
Read More: 10 Things To Do in Venice, Italy
Watch the Sunset in the Monopoli Port
Walk down to the water and you’ll see the very picturesque blue and red fishing boats in the port. There is a walkway around the harbor where you can walk around, look at all the boats and enjoy the sunset. Every night we walked around there was a man playing the piano along the water!
The way the sun sets behind the buildings in the harbor is so pretty each night! There are plenty of benches to sit on and just enjoy. You can walk out on the jetty to the end and look back to get an amazing view of the buildings of Monopoli! There is also a lighthouse, Faro Monopoli, at the end.
Take a Day Trip
There are a lot of nearby day trips to other amazing places. Just one train stop is Polignano a Mare with a beautiful beach and Grotta Palazzese, a well known restaurant set in the cliffs. Lama Monachile Polignano a Mare is a beautiful, small beach set in between the dramatic cliffs. It is small so in the summer moths you’ll want to get there early for a spot.
Nearby is also Alberobello where you can see trulli houses, white round buildings with straw roofs. We were interested in seeing this unique place but without a car it is challenging to get to so it’s something to consider if you’re visiting the area.
Check out our Photos to Inspire You to Visit Monopoli, Italy for more pictures of this beautiful area!
Indulge in Amazing Food
There are quite a few restaurant and food options in Monopoli. We had a (pricey) drink at CarloQuinto. Drinks were a little more expensive here but the location along the water had amazing views! The ambiance definitely contributed to the price. By the time we left the place was packed with people drinking and eating.
We ate really good seafood at Polpo Matto. The grilled octopus was so good and it’s a great option if you’re looking for a nice, seafood place. It is also located right in the middle of the town so it is very easy to get to regardless of where you are staying.
Travel Truth: The only thing we wished Monopoli had was a larger grocery store with more variety. We found a small one and then a few fruit and vegetable stores but none of the bigger ones like Carrefour or Coop that we found in other parts of Italy.
If you’re looking for a cheaper option we got pizza from The King Street Food two nights in a row because it was so good and really cheap! You can eat it in their outdoor courtyard or get it from the take away counter around the corner!
Overall we had an amazing time in Monopoli and would really recommend it to others! It was a nice contrast compared to some of the busier, touristy cities and we will definitely be going back to Monopoli in the future!
