Why Visit Matera
Matera is one of the most atmospheric cities in southern Italy, famous for its ancient cave districts known as the Sassi. Built into limestone ravines and layered across steep hillsides, the city feels both historic and deeply lived-in. Stone stairways, cave homes, rupestrian churches, panoramic terraces and quiet courtyards make Matera a place best explored slowly.
What makes Matera especially memorable is the contrast: boutique cave hotels sit beside centuries-old dwellings, elegant restaurants occupy former grottoes, and sweeping viewpoints reveal a city that seems carved directly from the rock. Whether you are interested in history, photography, food, architecture or simply wandering beautiful streets, Matera is a rewarding destination for a short break or a longer cultural trip.
Best Things to Do in Matera
1. Explore the Sassi di Matera
The Sassi are the heart of Matera and the main reason most travelers come here. The two historic districts, Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano, are a maze of stone lanes, cave houses, staircases and viewpoints. You can wander independently, but a guided walk helps make sense of the city’s unusual layout and long history.
Recommended Experience
Matera Cooking Class
⭐ 5.00 (80 reviews)
Duration: 4 hours
From: $156.65
Start around Piazza Vittorio Veneto or Piazza San Pietro Caveoso, then follow the lanes downhill into the older quarters. Give yourself time to get pleasantly lost; Matera is full of small details, from carved doorways to hidden chapels and tiny terraces overlooking the ravine.
2. Visit a Casa Grotta
A Casa Grotta, or cave house museum, offers a simple but powerful look at how families once lived in the Sassi. These preserved interiors usually include household objects, tools, furniture and stables carved into the same living space. It is one of the easiest ways to understand Matera beyond its postcard views.
3. See the Cave Churches
Matera and the surrounding ravine are known for rock-cut churches, many decorated with fragments of frescoes. Some are located within the Sassi, while others are found across the gorge in the Murgia Materana area. Visiting a few cave churches adds a fascinating religious and artistic dimension to your trip.
Recommended Experience
Secret Matera Sassi (Private Tour)
⭐ 5.00 (63 reviews)
Duration: 3 hours
From: $223.79
4. Walk to the Best Viewpoints
Matera is a dream destination for viewpoints. Belvedere Luigi Guerricchio near Piazza Vittorio Veneto is an easy introduction to the Sassi, while viewpoints around Piazza San Pietro Caveoso reveal the dramatic relationship between the old city and the ravine.
For a wider perspective, consider heading across to the Murgia Materana viewpoint, where you can see Matera rising from the cliffs. Sunset is especially beautiful, but bring comfortable shoes and check conditions if you plan to walk.
5. Visit Matera Cathedral
Matera Cathedral stands above the Sassi and is visible from many parts of the city. Its position alone makes it worth the climb, with excellent views from the surrounding lanes. Inside, you will find an elegant religious space that contrasts with the rougher cave architecture below.
Recommended Experience
Panoramic Private Tour in Ape Calessino in the Sassi of Matera
⭐ 5.00 (30 reviews)
Duration: 45 minutes
From: $73.85
6. Discover Palombaro Lungo
Located beneath Piazza Vittorio Veneto, Palombaro Lungo is a huge underground cistern that once supplied water to the city. A visit here is short but impressive, especially if you are interested in how Matera adapted to its rocky landscape.
7. Cross to Murgia Materana Park
The Parco della Murgia Materana lies across the ravine from the Sassi and offers hiking paths, archaeological traces, cave churches and unforgettable views back toward the city. It is one of the best places to appreciate Matera’s setting, not just its architecture.
If you plan to hike, wear sturdy shoes, carry water and avoid the hottest part of the day in summer. Trails can be exposed, and the terrain is rocky in places.
Recommended Experience
Matera walking tour in English with Gaetano
⭐ 5.00 (27 reviews)
Duration: 2 hours
From: $22.38
8. Enjoy Matera’s Food Scene
Matera is a wonderful place to eat, especially if you enjoy rustic southern Italian cooking. Look for local bread, handmade pasta, vegetables, olive oil, cheeses and simple dishes that reflect the surrounding countryside. Dining in a cave restaurant is popular, but some of the most enjoyable meals are in relaxed trattorias away from the busiest viewpoints.
9. Take a Cooking Class in the Countryside
If you want a deeper food experience, a cooking class can be a highlight. The Matera Cooking Class listed on Viator takes place in the Basilicata countryside on a farm with olive trees, orange trees and organic produce. It lasts around 4 hours and is highly rated, making it a good option for travelers who want to connect Matera’s food with its rural surroundings.
10. Ride Through the Sassi in an Ape Calessino
Matera is beautiful but hilly, and the stone streets can be tiring. A short panoramic ride in an Ape Calessino, the vintage three-wheeled vehicle often seen in Italian towns, is a fun way to cover more ground without walking every staircase. It is especially useful if you are short on time or traveling with someone who prefers a gentler pace.
Recommended Experience
Tour with Guide in the Sassi of Matera aboard a Van
⭐ 5.00 (20 reviews)
Duration: 1 hours 30 minutes
From: $134.27
11. Join a Walking Tour with a Local Guide
A good local guide can transform Matera from a beautiful maze into a meaningful story. The Matera walking tour in English with Gaetano, available through Viator, starts near Piazza San Pietro Caveoso and focuses on the Sassi, viewpoints and hidden corners. At around 2 hours, it is a practical introduction for first-time visitors.
12. Try a Unique Underground Experience
After seeing the major sights, consider something more playful. Matera has an underground escape room set inside a cave, which offers a different way to experience the city’s subterranean atmosphere. It is a fun choice for couples, families or friends looking for an evening activity beyond dinner and a stroll.
Recommended Tours and Experiences
You can explore Matera independently, but tours are especially helpful because the city’s history is complex and its layout can be confusing at first. Here are a few well-reviewed options available on Viator that fit different travel styles:
- Secret Matera Sassi Private Tour: A private 3-hour experience focused on the UNESCO-listed Sassi and Matera’s cave-dwelling history. This suits travelers who want a deeper, more personal introduction.
- Matera walking tour in English with Gaetano: A 2-hour guided walk through the Sassi, viewpoints and atmospheric corners. A good-value option for first-time visitors.
- Panoramic Private Tour in Ape Calessino in the Sassi of Matera: A 45-minute ride through scenic areas of the old city, ideal if you want a relaxed overview or have limited time.
- Tour with Guide in the Sassi of Matera aboard a Van: A 1.5-hour private tour by comfortable van, useful for travelers who prefer less walking while still seeing key areas.
- Matera Cooking Class: A 4-hour countryside cooking experience, best for food lovers who want a break from sightseeing.
- Exclusive Private Hot Air Balloon Flight in Matera with Breakfast: A premium experience for a special occasion, offering a completely different perspective on the landscape, subject to weather and availability.
Tour availability, prices and meeting points can change, so always check the latest details before booking.
Suggested Itinerary
One Day in Matera
Start in Piazza Vittorio Veneto and visit Palombaro Lungo before heading into the Sassi. Spend the morning exploring Sasso Barisano and Sasso Caveoso, then stop for lunch in a cave restaurant or traditional trattoria. In the afternoon, visit a Casa Grotta and one or two cave churches. End the day at a viewpoint around Piazza San Pietro Caveoso or, if you have time, across the ravine at Murgia Materana.
Two Days in Matera
On day one, take a guided walking tour early in your visit so you understand the city’s history and layout. Spend the rest of the day exploring viewpoints, churches and museums at your own pace. On day two, visit Murgia Materana Park, enjoy a slower lunch, and consider an Ape Calessino ride or a cooking class in the countryside.
Three Days in Matera
With three days, you can slow down and enjoy Matera after the day-trippers leave. Use the extra time for a private Sassi tour, a countryside food experience, sunset photography, or a special activity such as a hot air balloon flight if it fits your budget and schedule.
Best Time to Visit
Spring and autumn are generally the most comfortable seasons to visit Matera. The weather is usually pleasant for walking, and the light is excellent for photography. April, May, September and October are especially appealing if you want to spend plenty of time outdoors.
Summer can be hot, and the stone streets of the Sassi offer many steep climbs with limited shade in places. If you visit in July or August, plan sightseeing early in the morning and later in the afternoon, and take a long lunch break during the hottest hours.
Winter is quieter and atmospheric, though some days can be cold or damp. It is a good time for travelers who prefer fewer crowds and do not mind a slower pace.
Travel Tips
- Wear comfortable shoes: Matera is steep, uneven and full of stairs. Sneakers or sturdy walking shoes are much better than sandals with thin soles.
- Book accommodation in or near the Sassi: Staying close to the historic center lets you enjoy early mornings and evenings, when the city is especially beautiful.
- Pack light if staying in a cave hotel: Some properties are reached by stairs or pedestrian lanes, so large luggage can be inconvenient.
- Reserve popular restaurants: Matera has many excellent places to eat, but the most atmospheric spots can fill up, especially on weekends.
- Take a guided tour early: A short walking tour on your first day helps you understand what you are seeing for the rest of your stay.
- Carry water: The climbs can be tiring, particularly in warm weather.
- Do not rush: Matera is best enjoyed slowly, with time for wandering, viewpoints and quiet corners.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days do you need in Matera?
One full day is enough to see the main highlights, but two days is better if you want to explore the Sassi, visit Murgia Materana and enjoy the city at a relaxed pace.
Is Matera worth visiting?
Yes. Matera is one of Italy’s most distinctive historic cities, with cave dwellings, stone lanes, dramatic viewpoints and a strong local food culture.
Can you visit Matera without a tour?
Yes, you can wander the Sassi independently. However, a guided tour is very helpful because Matera’s history, cave architecture and urban layout are not always obvious at first glance.
Is Matera difficult to walk around?
Matera involves a lot of walking on steep, uneven stone streets and stairs. Most visitors with average mobility can explore it, but comfortable shoes and a slow pace are important.
What is the best area to stay in Matera?
Staying in or near the Sassi is ideal for atmosphere and easy sightseeing. If you prefer easier access by car or less walking with luggage, look for accommodation close to the historic center rather than deep inside the pedestrian lanes.
Final Thoughts
Matera is not just a place to tick off a sightseeing list; it is a city to experience on foot, slowly and curiously. The best things to do in Matera combine history, landscape and local life: walking through the Sassi, stepping inside cave houses, watching sunset over the ravine, tasting regional food and learning from people who know the city well.
Whether you visit for a day or stay for a long weekend, Matera rewards travelers who give it time. Plan a few key activities, book a guided experience if you want deeper context, and leave space in your itinerary for wandering. In Matera, the unplanned corners are often the most memorable.
Recommended Experiences
These top-rated tours and activities are available through Viator.
Secret Matera Sassi (Private Tour)
⭐ 5.00 (63 reviews)
Duration: 3 hours
From: $223.79
Panoramic Private Tour in Ape Calessino in the Sassi of Matera
⭐ 5.00 (30 reviews)
Duration: 45 minutes
From: $73.85
Matera walking tour in English with Gaetano
⭐ 5.00 (27 reviews)
Duration: 2 hours
From: $22.38
