The coastline around Monopoli is one of its strongest suits. The town itself has a small sandy beach near the centro storico, but the better spots are a few kilometres north and south. Cala Porta Vecchia, just below the castle, is a tiny rocky inlet — very photogenic and very crowded in summer. Southward, towards Capitolo and Egnazia, the coast opens into longer sandy stretches with clearer water. Some beaches have lido-style operators with sunbeds and umbrellas for hire; others are free and accessible by path or by boat.