Monopoli, Italy boasts one of the most breathtaking stretches of coastline in Puglia. With crystalline waters, hidden coves and rocky outcrops, Monopoli is truly home to some of the best beaches in Puglia – and home to some of the best beaches in Puglia.
Whether you’re seeking out a peaceful spot for your kids to swim or a secret cove for sunbathing, Monopoli’s best beaches have something for every traveller.
Some beaches attract locals while others attract tourists, but there’s one thing they have in common: these are truly one of the most beautiful beaches in Monopoli. I’ve built this list over three different visits to Monopoli. There’s no gatekeeping here – these are some of Puglia’s best beaches.
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The Best Time to Visit Monopoli
Monopoli, Italy is truly beautiful year-round – but the best time to visit Monopoli is summertime. If you’re looking to visit the best beaches in Puglia, the months of July and August can be excessively hot, so consider visiting in May, June or September.
During the summer months – especially August – it can get really packed on Italian beaches, especially in Puglia. On weekends, expect umbrella-to-umbrella traffic as families start early and stay all day.
Want to skip the peak beach season? I’ve even visited in early October and had some great beach weather and sunny, 25C weather.
13 Best Beaches in Monopoli
Three visits to Monopoli and counting, and these are the most beautiful beaches in Monopoli, Italy. Save them now and thank me later.
Porto Bianco
Porto Bianco is perhaps one of the best beaches in Monopoli thanks to its prime location, stretch of sand and crystal clear waters. Located just 15 minutes from town, this family-friendly beach is designated as a “free beach” – and it’s always crowded on a summer weekend.
You can opt to sit in the sand, the rocks off to the side or lounge on the grassy bank just above. The water here tends to be calm and beautiful; there are a couple tiny restaurants nearby, but I’d recommend bringing food.
Porto Verde Beach
Porto Verde Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Puglia – and one of my all-time favorites.
It’s smaller than other beaches, with just a small stretch of sand and rocky cliffs. But I love the calm, pristine waters; on a clear day, you can swim out into the cove and reach nearby beaches (like Cala Paradiso, which isn’t as beautiful but does offer sunbeds and umbrellas).
Porto Verde Beach is truly the definition of a hidden gem and remains one of my favorite beaches to this day.
Lido Pantano
Looking for a paid beach with a great selection of lounge chairs, facilities and restaurants?
Lido Patano is located on Monopoli’s northern shores and offers perhaps the most affordable beach chair and umbrella combo in Monopoli (that is to say: around 50 Euros – trust me, the others are often double). If you want a seat here, come early or show up after 2 pm, when prices are discounted (see their prices here).
Lido Patana is full of locals, and you can see why: the beach has a great restaurant attached and a long stretch of shallow, clear waters. It’s the perfect place to swim for all ages.
The only downside? There are some old silos to the right of the beach – when laying down, you won’t notice it, but it’s a bit of an eyesore.
Cala Monaci
One of Monopoli’s hidden gems remains Cala Monaci, a beautiful inlet about 15 minutes north of downtown.
The crystalline waters stretch out into the ocean, allowing for plenty of swimming; one downside here is there’s not much shallow water before the water dips deeper.
There’s plenty of sandy beach here, and on either side of the beach, you’ll find some covered areas to lay down.
This beach also has a permanent walkway and ramp down to the sand for wheelchair users.
All in all, this is one of my favorite spots in Monopoli!
Spiaggia di Cala Porto Rosso
Next to Porto Bianco, you’ll find another one of my favorites: Spiaggia di Cala Porto Rosso. This is the beach that first made us fall in love with Monopoli, and it’s easy to see why: located in a sheltered inlet, this crystalline beach offers stunning waters on a beautiful day with a restaurant nearby.
From Monopoli, you’ll need to walk about 20 minutes south – just past Porto Bianco. This beach is great because it has shallow swimming waters, a good amount of sand for your beach set-up and plenty of rock areas around to soak up the sun without the crowds. This beach also has a permanent walkway and ramp down to the sand for wheelchair users.
Porto Marzano
Continue down Via Procaccia and past several lidos and you’ll find the narrow road down to Porto Marzano, a stunning little inlet with a small slip of sandy beach, protected by a rocky outcrop that guarantees wave-free waters.
There’s free parking nearby (expect to drive 15 minutes from Monopoli), or, alternatively, a 5 Euro paid parking lot. Porto Marzano hosts a small cafe, but as usual, I always recommend bringing everything you need with you to the beach.
It’s a perfect family-friendly beach; unfortunately, for those with limited mobility, this beach is difficult to access.
Cala Cozze
To the south of Monopoli, you’ll find several small calas, or small coves, hidden on the shoreline – all within walking distance. Close to Cala Porta Vecchia (later on this list), you’ll find Cala Cozze.
Cala Cozze isn’t ideal for kids or those with limited mobility, but this little cove has beautiful clear water and a few rocks for lounging beneath the Lungomare Portavecchia. One of the big upsides: it’s just 10 minutes from Monopoli along the coastal path.
Pro tip: if you visit, make sure to stop at the bakery Panificio La Portavecchia, one of my favorite focaccia spots on the south side of Monopoli.
Spiaggia di Porto Ghiacciolo
We found Spiaggia di Porto Ghiacciolo when biking around the Monopoli region. We just kept biking and biking…and found this gem.
It’s seriously the most fun little spot. Located off a short road, this locals-only beach is the perfect swimming destination.
It’s everything you want from your local Italian beach spot: a fresh cafe cooking up light Italian lunch fare, plenty of clear water to swim around in, and even a small little castle right above the water. What’s not to love?
Cala Sottile
Just south of Porto Ghiacciolo, you’ll find another stunning, locals-only spot: Cala Sottile. This tiny cove is beyond breathtaking, with crystal-clear blue waters that glimmer on a sunny summer day. On a summer day, the unspoiled Cala Sottile can get busy quickly, so be sure to arrive early. The rugged, natural beach doesn’t have any amenities, so make sure to bring everything you need.
Pro tip: if you’re driving, park at San Stefano Campground. Parking here can be tricky, and this is the best option – but you’ll still need to walk. Otherwise, you might get lucky on Contrada Santo Stefano.
Cala Verde
Cala Verde lies south of Cala Sottile, and much like its neighbor, Cala Verde is a beautiful hidden spot with the most pristine, breathtaking beaches.
It’s truly one of the best beaches in Monopoli, if not one of the best beaches in Puglia. Find low-lying cliffs and a small stretch of sand on this wild section of coastline; you can swim out for miles here, soaking up the clear waters and sunshine.
One thing to keep in mind: this beach offers no facilities. Unfortunately, it’s not accessible for those with limited mobility either.
Cala Porta Vecchia / The Monopoli Town Beach
Cala Porta Vecchia lies just south of Monopoli’s historic city center, with the skyline as your backdrop. This picturesque and unique swimming spot is perfect for sunbathers who want a couple hours break in the water.
Just a short walk from the city center, expect Cala Porta Vecchia to be packed in the summer – but that’s part of the charm, too. Pick between laying down along the strip of rocks beneath old city walls and the watchtower – with stairs on the right. You’ll also find a narrow strip of sand, too.
In the summer, you’ll find the coastline busy; it’s a popular spot for daytrippers coming from Bari (one of the best things to do in Bari is, in fact, heading to the beaches in Monopoli).
There’s nothing on the beach here, but there are restaurants and cafes nearby.
Samantha Tatro is a Czech-American third culture kid who grew up living and traveling abroad. Many years later, after living in California and working as a journalist, she decided to take the leap and move abroad again…this time to Prague, Czech Republic. Samantha started Undiscovered Path Home to help couples and solo female travelers find the courage to visit countries – and locations – off the beaten path. Her work has appeared in Bon Appetit, NBC News, The Adecco Group, and more.
12 comments
I did not know there were so many incredible beaches in Monopoli! My brother is visiting monopoly next week so I am sharing this blog post with him!
That’s amazing – I hope he loves it down there!! 🙂
There are so many beautiful beaches! I would probably go late-September to avoid the crowds and the crazy heat.
Late September is the perfect time! And truly – SO many incredible spots!
I love this part of Italy and swam some of this beaches, even warm enough in October. Beautiful post, makes me long for a return.
You’ve gotta go back! And yes, October isn’t too bad either 🙂
Hello! I didn’t even know there are so many beaches available in Monopoli. I always thought it is a tiny town!
There’s a surprising amount of beaches in Monopoli! I left out a bunch too 🙂
This is the first time I have heard of Monopoli, Italy, and it looks stunning. Great beaches, beautiful weather and clean water. I visited Italy in Winter and only went to Rome and Venice. I definitely missed out.
It’s a great little hidden gem – so much to love! and the beaaaaaches!!
Wow, these beaches all look so good, it’s hard to choose a winner. I haven’t been to Monopoli, but now I’ve read this post, it may just make it onto my never-ending bucket list!
It really is such a special place – with so many beautiful beaches!