Polignano a Mare boat tour: Sea caves & aperitif

Two hours on the water, caves and cliffs unfolding at your own pace

A shared boat tour of Polignano a Mare's sea caves lasting two hours, departing from either San Vito Village or the City Center at times you choose. The boat carries you past limestone cliffs, through sea caves, and past landmarks including a Greek-style fishing village and an islet where a hermit monk once lived. Prosecco, soft drinks and a snack come on board. The boat has a toilet and a live guide who speaks English, Spanish, Italian or Russian. Transport to the departure point costs €10 per person round trip and is arranged separately.

Step-by-step itinerary

Boat tour exploring Polignano a Mare caves

• Embark with Venture Vibes
• Discover caves of Polignano a Mare
• Admire statue from the sea
• View iconic terrace overlooking sea
• Enjoy beautiful Polignano scenery
• See restaurant in Polignanese cave
• Visit islet of hermit monk
• Explore Greek style fishing village
• Experience lovers' cave legend

The experience

The boat leaves from one of two starting points (San Vito Village or the City Center), and you pick the departure time that fits your day. Once aboard a 2024 boat with a toilet on board, the guide takes you into the water to see Polignano from the sea, a view that changes everything about how the town sits on its cliffs. The caves open up as you move through them, each one marked by the guide with its own story: the lovers' cave where legend says couples who kiss will return more in love, the restaurant carved into the rock that you see from the water's surface, the islet where a hermit lived in solitude.

Along the way you pass an iconic terrace overlooking the sea and drift past a Greek-style fishing village built into the coastline. The boat moves slowly enough that you can take in the rock formations and the water clarity without rushing through any of it. Midway through, prosecco and soft drinks appear on board, along with a snack: a moment to sit and absorb what you are seeing rather than just moving through it.

The whole tour runs two hours. Groups stay small and mixed, so you are sharing the boat with other travelers but not packed in. If you are traveling with infants or small children, they can ride in a stroller or sit on an adult's lap. Service animals are welcome on board.

What’s included

• Prosecco and soft drinks.
• a snack served on board.
• a live guide in English, Spanish, Italian or Russian.
• a toilet on board.
• access to all sea caves and landmarks along the route.

Options for this experience

2 options

Off-peak departure from San Vito VillageGuide in 4 languages · 5 departure times: the first at 10:00, the last at 18:00Starting point in low season: Via S. Vito, 231, 70044 San Vito BA, Italy

Departure from City Center, Smart SeasonGuide in 4 languages · 10:00, 12:00, 14:00 and 16:00Starting point in low season: Via Giuseppe Arimondi, 2, 70044 Polignano a Mare BA, Italy

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: the first at 10:00, the last at 18:00Last departure this season: 31 Dec

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (8 and older) · Child (3 to 7 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, Italian and Russian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Venture Vibes

Is this one for you?Pick the departure time and starting point that match your schedule: the tour runs year-round with multiple daily options, so you can fit it into a morning, an afternoon or whenever you have two hours free in Polignano.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, Italian and Russian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 7 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What are the sea caves of Polignano a Mare like when you get there?

The caves are carved into limestone cliffs that drop straight into the Adriatic, and the boat takes you inside them so you see the rock formations, the water color and the scale of them from water level rather than from above. Each cave has its own character (some are narrow passages, others open into larger chambers), and the guide explains what makes each one notable, from the lovers' cave with its legend to the hermit islet offshore.

Can I choose what time the boat leaves?

Yes. The tour offers multiple departure times across the day, and you select the one you want at checkout. Options vary by starting point (San Vito Village or City Center), and by season, so the available times depend on which option you choose.

What's included in the price?

The boat tour itself, prosecco and soft drinks, a snack served on board, and a live guide in your choice of English, Spanish, Italian or Russian. The boat has a toilet on board. Transport to the departure point is €10 per person round trip and is paid separately.

How long does the tour last?

The boat tour lasts two hours from departure to return. Public transportation options are available near both starting points if you need to arrange your own way there.