Bari to Monopoli and Back: Our Travel Experience

Last year, in 2025, we set off from Bari to Monopoli to discover one of Puglia’s most charming seaside towns — and find out what makes this little coastal gem so special.

We could hear the bells of the Basilica Cattedrale di Maria Santissima della Madia from our Casa Mia apartment

We flew from Dubrovnik in southern Croatia to Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport (BRI). And wow, that Ryanair flight was quick! ✈️

We were barely in the air before it was almost time to land—it took less than 30 minutes!

We looked at how to get to Monopoli by train or private car transfer and decided to take the train to Bari Centrale, then another train to Monopoli.

This guide will show you exactly how we do this, with insider tips to save you some confusion along the way.

👉 See how our visit to Monopoli went and discover what we recommend doing there!

How we got from Bari Airport to Bari Centrale (main train station)

Landing at Aeroporto di Bari-Palese, as the locals call it, was smooth and hassle-free. ✈️

The airport is about 57 km north of Monopoli and has connections to destinations across Italy and Europe, making it a convenient gateway to Puglia.

The airport was surprisingly small and simple to navigate, especially compared with Rome Fiumicino, where you can walk quite a distance between terminals and services.

After collecting our luggage, we quickly reached the main hall, with car rental desks, cafés, and small eateries.

We weren’t sure where to go for the train to Bari Centrale, but luckily, the information desk staff were happy to point us in the right direction.

Picking up our luggage at Bari Airport was quick and easy

🚶 Finding our way to the train station

We left the building, crossed the road, and entered the building opposite.

We took the escalators down, and to the right, we found a few train ticket machines.

🎟️ Buying train tickets from Bari Airport to Bari Centrale is so easy

1. Select “Bari Centrale” on the screen
2. Choose how many tickets you need and pay by card or cash (costs €5.30 one way).
3. Your ticket prints instantly — no need to validate it again.

We walked through a short tunnel (2–3 minutes) to the platform, where we scanned train tickets enter, the platform.

We easily bought our train tickets to Bari Centrale at the ticket machines

🚉 About the train to Bari Centrale

Don’t expect a dedicated airport express — these are regular local trains (the FM2/FR2 lines) that connect the airport with Bari Centrale.

You’ll likely be sharing the ride with commuters and locals, especially during rush hour, but that’s part of the fun.

• ⏱ Journey time: about 15 minutes
• 🚆 Frequency: every 20–25 minutes
• 🕔 Operating hours: roughly 05:26 AM – 11:38 PM
  
  

You can catch a train from Bari Airport to Bari Centrale every 20–30 minutes

Taking the train from Bari Centrale to Monopoli

After getting off the train at Bari, we once again had absolutely no idea where to find our train to Monopoli. 😂

After wandering around for a few minutes looking slightly lost, we finally asked a member of staff.

They pointed us across the street to the station serving trains to other cities in Puglia and beyond.

😄 Next time, we’ll hopefully look a little less confused. 🚆

Buying train tickets from Bari to Monopoli

Since we didn’t have our tickets to Monopoli yet, we stopped by the Trenitalia ticket office.

The staff were friendly, the line moved quickly, and we were sorted in just a few minutes.

You’ve got a few options for getting to Monopoli: regional trains (the most frequent), Intercity, and Frecciarossa. All are comfortable and get you there without too much fuss.

We went for the Intercity (€9), which came with reserved seats—so there was no need to validate the ticket.

The regional train was the budget option at just €3.90, but remember to validate your ticket at one of the small yellow or green machines before boarding.

And if you fancy travelling a little faster, there’s also the Frecciarossa, which costs around €20.

👍 Good to know:  Once you buy Bari to Monopoli train tickets at Trainline, they arrive to your email, you can easily change the travel date and time even on the day of travel.

Modern, comfortable trains running between Bari Centrale and Monopoli

Our Bari to Monopoli train ride

The platforms are all on the same level, just around the corner, so finding our train was nice and easy. 🚆

With a little time to spare, we popped into a nearby café for a quick espresso and pastry—because honestly, that’s just how you do it in Italy. ☕🥐

The train was almost empty (we travelled in October, so we imagine summer is a whole different story!), which meant we could pretty much pick any seat we wanted. 😄

And then came a nice surprise: the journey was quicker than advertised. It was supposed to take around 30 minutes, but we arrived in just 20 minutes. Not complaining!

Arriving to Monopoli Train Station

Monopoli’s train station is small and unmanned, so it’s a good idea to arrange a taxi in advance.

This is especially helpful if you’re staying in the Centro Storico or arriving with lots of luggage.

There were a few local taxis waiting, but we decided to walk — a mistake, as we quickly got lost!

Luckily, a kind local lady offered to show us the way all the way to Casa Mia, our apartment just outside the old town. Grazie mille! ❤️

For the return journey, we arranged a private transfer through our host. It cost €20 for the short 3–4 minute ride.

Getting back from Monopoli to Bari

Our flight back from Bari Airport wasn’t until the evening, so we had plenty of time to get our first taste of Bari and soak up the city’s vibe. ☀️

We left our apartment in Monopoli around 11 AM (our host kindly arranged a transfer for us) and hopped on the 11:30 train to Bari. 🚆

👉 We booked our train tickets on Trainline and had them ready to go on our phones—easy peasy! 📱

We left our luggage at Stow Your Bags luggage storage

The place is just a few minutes’ walk from the train station (Piazza Aldo Moro 29), making it a super convenient option for storing your luggage for a few hours.

It felt secure, and plenty of tourists use it too—we certainly weren’t the only ones! 😄

🧳 Good to know: We booked a locker online in advance and received a code to open it. Two medium-sized suitcases fit comfortably in one large locker.

We paid around €19 for 5 hours—not exactly pocket change, but worth it for a few carefree hours of exploring Bari!

We spent the afternoon getting lost in the charming streets of Bari Vecchia

Taking a private car transfer from Bari Airport to Monopoli

Want to skip the trains?

A private car transfer takes you straight from Bari Airport to your accommodation in Monopoli, with a driver waiting for you at the airport.

It’s ideal if you’re travelling with lots of luggage or kids, or simply want a more comfortable, hassle-free journey. 🚗

The same applies if you’re already in Bari — you can arrange a direct car transfer to Monopoli.

👉 We’d happily recommend Welcome Pickups, which offers reliable private transfers throughout Italy.

Prices for a Bari Airport–Monopoli transfer start from around €115 per car, depending on the time and vehicle.

👍 Best organised trips from Bari to Puglia

Renting a car at Bari Airport

Want to explore Puglia independently and visit places like Alberobello, Locorotondo, or Ostuni? Or perhaps you’re staying at a masseria that’s only accessible by car?

In that case, picking up a rental car at Bari Airport is a great choice.

DiscoverCars offers many affordable deals from Bari Airport.

To get to Monopoli by car, you'll need about 45 minutes.

Take the SS16 coastal highway heading south (follow signs for Brindisi/Lecce, then take the Monopoli Nord exit and follow the signs to your hotel or apartment.

⚠️ Note that Monopoli’s Centro Storico is a ZTL (limited traffic zone) for residents only.

Cars entering the area are automatically fined by cameras, with hefty tickets often arriving months later.

👉 Rent a smaller car rather than an SUV. Puglian old towns and countryside lanes are often very narrow, making compact cars much easier to maneuver and park.

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