Matera lies 65 km southwest of Bari in neighbouring Basilicata, reachable in about 1 hour 20 minutes by car via the SP100 and E847, or roughly 2 hours by direct Marozzi/FlixBus coach from Bari Centrale (€8–12 each way). The town is famous for the Sassi, two districts of cave dwellings — Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano — carved into a limestone ravine and inhabited continuously for some 9,000 years, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and frequent film location. A practical one-day arc starts mid-morning in Sasso Caveoso, descending past rock-cut churches such as Santa Maria de Idris and a casa grotta that shows how families once lived alongside their animals. Around midday visitors can climb to the Duomo on the spur dividing the two Sassi for panoramic views over the Gravina ravine, then break for lunch on cucina povera staples — orecchiette, crusty Pane di Matera IGP and fava-bean purée with chicory — at a trattoria along Via Bruno Buozzi. The afternoon suits the cooler, photogenic light of Sasso Barisano and the belvederes on the opposite canyon rim within the Murgia park, the classic vantage for the cave-city panorama. Spring (April–June) and autumn (September–October) are the best windows; summer middays are punishingly hot on the pale stone, and arriving by 10 AM beats both the heat and the tour-bus crowds. The Sassi are a maze of uneven steps and steep alleys, so sturdy shoes and water matter, and several rock churches charge a small entry of around €3–5. Although Matera sits just over the regional border from Puglia, it pairs naturally with an Apulian base and is one of the most rewarding day trips from Bari.
How to get there
- Car via SP100/E847 — 65 km (1h 20 min)
- Bus: daily Marozzi/FlixBus from Bari Centrale to Matera (2h, €8–12 one way; marozziviaggi.it)
- Organised day tour from Bari: €40–60/person including guide (viator.com)
Location
Sasso Caveoso, 75100 Matera MT, Italy
40.6635, 16.6043 View on map
Highlights
- Wander Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano, UNESCO cave districts inhabited for some 9,000 years
- Tour a casa grotta showing how Matera families lived in the caves until the 1950s
- Photograph the Gravina ravine panorama from the Murgia belvederes across the canyon
- Taste Pane di Matera IGP and cucina povera orecchiette in a Sassi trattoria
Tips for visiting
- Wear sturdy shoes with grip — the Sassi are a steep maze of uneven stone steps and alleys.
- Take the Marozzi or FlixBus from Bari Centrale (2h, €8–12); driving is faster but parking sits outside the centre.
- Arrive by 10 AM to beat both midday heat and tour-bus crowds at the main viewpoints.
- Book a casa grotta visit (around €3–5) and carry water, as shops are scarce deep in the Sassi.
When to visit
Visit in April–June or September–October and arrive by mid-morning; midday summer heat on the pale Sassi stone is intense and tour buses fill the viewpoints after 11 AM.
Accessibility
The Sassi are steep and largely stepped, making wheelchair and limited-mobility access difficult; the upper town around Piazza Vittorio Veneto and some panoramic belvederes are reachable on flatter ground.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to Matera from Bari without a car?
Direct Marozzi and FlixBus coaches run from Bari Centrale to Matera in about 2 hours for €8–12 each way. The slow regional FAL train requires a change and takes longer, so the coach is usually the better public option.
Is one day enough to see Matera?
Yes. A single day covers both Sassi districts, a casa grotta, the Duomo viewpoint and lunch. Staying overnight adds the floodlit evening Sassi but is not essential for a first visit.
When is the best time to visit Matera?
April–June and September–October offer mild weather and good light. Summer middays are very hot on the exposed limestone, so spring and autumn are most comfortable.