Polignano a Mare boat tour: sea caves with aperitif

Swim in the coves between caves, then taste prosecco on the water

A 90-minute boat tour departing from the Port of San Vito explores the sea caves of Polignano a Mare, including the famous Grotta Palazzese and Grotta delle Rondinelle, with a professional skipper guiding the route along the Adriatic cliffs. The tour includes an aperitif of taralli and prosecco served on board and a stop to swim in the bluest waters of the coast. Choose the shared tour with hotel pickup or without pickup, depending on your transport needs.

Step-by-step itinerary

Boat tour of Polignano a Mare caves

• Depart from San Vito port
• View Abbey and fishponds
• Visit Cala Paura cove
• See "Torno Subito" writing
• Explore Grottone cave
• Admire Blue Cave under Santo Stefano Bastion
• Stop at Lama Monachile beach
• Observe Domenico Modugno statue
• Visit Palazzese Cave and pebble beach
• Pass by islet with iron cross
• Enjoy aperitif on board
• Optional swim in sea

The Experience

The boat leaves the Port of San Vito, a working fishermen's dock ten minutes by car from Polignano's center, and heads south along the coast. A professional skipper navigates past the Abbey of San Vito overlooking the marina, then into the first coves—Cala Paura, where an iron inscription reading "Torno Subito" is set into the rock, and the Grottone, which housed a cinema in the early 1900s. The route passes the Blue Cave, named for the light that plays between water, sun and stone to turn the rock itself blue.

The tour reaches Lama Monachile, Polignano's most photographed beach, where the cliffs rise above a small tunnel cave called Grotta della Piana. From the sea you see the bronze statue of Domenico Modugno, the singer born here, standing at the top of the stairs. The Grotta Palazzese comes next—the best-known cave, which housed one of Italy's first bathing establishments in the 1920s and still contains two caverns, the smaller one with a pebble beach. The skipper also shows Scoglio dell'Eremita, a rock islet where a chapel was built in 1612 and where an iron cross, fixed in 1901, still stands.

Midway through the tour, the boat stops for a swim in the clear water. On board, you get an aperitif of taralli—a Puglian cracker—and a glass of prosecco. The whole route takes 90 minutes. You can book a shared tour with hotel pickup from Polignano, or without pickup if you prefer to meet the boat at San Vito yourself.

What’s included

• Professional skipper guiding the route.
• aperitif of taralli and prosecco on board.
• panoramic swimming stop in the coves.
• visit to the Grotta Palazzese, Grotta delle Rondinelle, and five other caves along the Adriatic cliffs.
• fuel surcharge included in the price.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Pugliamare

Is this one for you?Book the shared tour with pickup if you're staying in Polignano and want to skip the drive to San Vito; choose the tour without pickup if you have your own transport or are staying near the port. Either way, the 90-minute route is fixed, so the caves, the aperitif and the swim stop happen the same way for everyone on board.

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Top questions

What is the Grotta Palazzese and why is it the most famous cave on this tour?

The Grotta Palazzese is the largest and best-known cave along the Polignano coast, famous because a restaurant of the same name sits at its entrance. In the 1920s, the cave housed one of Italy's first bathing establishments, and it still contains two caverns—a smaller one with a pebble beach and a larger one—making it a landmark stop on every boat tour of the area.

Can I swim during the 90-minute tour?

Yes, the tour includes a panoramic bathroom stop where you can swim in the water. The boat stops at one of the coves along the coast, giving you time for a dip in the bluest waters of the Polignano coast before heading back.

What's included in the aperitif on board?

The aperitif includes taralli, a traditional Puglian cracker, and a glass of prosecco served while you're on the water, combining local flavors with the sea views.

How far is the Port of San Vito from Polignano town center?

The Port of San Vito is about ten minutes by car from the center of Polignano a Mare. If you book the shared tour with pickup, the driver will collect you from your hotel in town and bring you to the dock.

What is the Scoglio dell'Eremita rock and what can you see there?

Scoglio dell'Eremita is a small islet off the Polignano coast with a history tied to pilgrimage and faith. A chapel was built there in 1612 by fishermen, and after a cholera epidemic in 1837 it served as a lazaret before being destroyed. Today, an iron cross fixed to the rock in 1901 by missionaries still stands as a landmark visible from the boat.

Is there a difference between the shared tour with pickup and the one without?

The shared tour with pickup includes hotel collection from Polignano and return, so you don't need to arrange your own transport to the Port of San Vito. The shared tour without pickup means you meet the boat at the port yourself. Both tours follow the same 90-minute route and include the same aperitif and swim stop.