Why go
The geography helps separate three kinds of outing: the compact old-town peninsula, the longer coastal frontage and trips towards inland towns. Climate matters most when combining exposed waterfront walking with city visits. Planning around heat and rain makes those combinations more useful than treating every part of Bari as equally sheltered.
The full story
Bari Vecchia sits on a small peninsula that gives the older city a close relationship with the sea. Beyond it, the urban area spreads across a broad, low plain. Inland, towards Bitritto, Modugno and Bitonto, the land begins to rise towards the Murge. Giovinazzo lies along the coast to the north and Mola di Bari to the south. The Mediterranean climate brings generally hot, dry summers, though coastal humidity can make the heat feel more demanding. Winters are milder and wetter. These are broad seasonal patterns, so use a forecast to make decisions for a particular day. For a central visit, distinguish time among buildings from time exposed on the waterfront. On a hot day, shorten the open coastal walk and give more attention to indoor visits with confirmed access. In unsettled weather, leave flexibility for the seafront rather than making it the only focus of the day.